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Everytime we start to discuss our honeymoon… you’d think we were making the biggest decision of our lives. Mr. Flamingo and I can’t seem to agree on our choices. On my side, ever since I’ve been small I’ve wanted to go to Europe - especially Italy. I am half Italian so it only make sense that I would want to visit my father’s homeland. Thinking ahead, I’ve figured that maybe my honeymoon will be my only chance to visit Europe before I settle down and start a family.
I would also like to visit Paris because Mr. Flamingo lived in France for a year, and I would love to see where he stayed and at the same time experience it. Now you might be saying it’s going to cost us a fortune, but I would like to backpack in Europe, sleep in hostels, meet new people and all of that. Knowing that I want to visit two very expensive cities, I was thinking of maybe splurging on one night in Paris for that extra romantic touch.
Image source: Italy- Patrizia Giacomini,
Paris - gettyimages.com Disney- Disney Honeymoons.
Mr. Flamingo doesn’t feel like going to Europe because obviously he’s done it. His dream honeymoon would be Disney. He finds it to be romantic and since he’s a child at heart, would love to experience it (he’s never gone before)… he even told me to bring my wedding dress so that we can take pictures next to the castle. I agree it would be magical, but I’ve been to Disney. Also, Disney is something I see ourselves doing with our future kids, Europe not so much.
I even suggested going to Disney Paris, but that doesn’t interest him. He wants to stay there for the whole week or two. I’m afraid that I will get fed-up if we do this. Mr. Flamingo wants to go to Europe and experience it with me, but would like to do so when we are older and when we can afford to spend the money. I completely understand his point of view.
We keep going back and forth and I don’t know what to do. HELP!!! What do you think we should do? And for those who have gone to Disney… how was it? I would love to hear the pros and cons.
Check the prices! You can spend waaaay more on a week or two at Disney than you might if you do a Euro trip like the kind you’re describing. Paris and Italy are excellent places to do on a budget, in my opinion, because with a little research you can really eat well for not too much. And good food will keep you happy. That trip on a budget won’t kill your romantic buzz, but the Disney trip so totally could.
Oh sounds tough. Although I gotta say Disney will be cheaper! However, I also think that Disney should be reserved for when you have family/kids. I’m on your side my dear. I’d rather go to Italy and/or Paris if I had it my way. Is there a 3rd option that may be cheaper?
I guess for us it was easy to decide. We wanted to rest and relax but also see a few sights so a Carribean cruise was perfect for us. Also, we love to travel, so our honeymoon didn’t have to be super far or expensive.
Miss Flamingo, your fiance would be crazy to pass up a trip to Europe in favor of Disneyland. I just don’t see how there’s any argument there on his part!!
Mr. R and I really want to go to Florence in Italy. The original plan was to go and live there for several months. But with the weak dollar I am not sure that Europe is worth the cost. Even in hostels you are going to be paying much more than you would have even six months ago.
Also I am not sure what type of travelers that you guys are, but you should think about season also. Mr R and I really like to travel off-season when there are few other travelers. I don’t like to wait in line behind three hundred other American tourists, but we don’t mind less than perfect weather or missing some tourist attractions.
Is there anyplace that you both want to see that neither of you have been? Mr R and I are going to S. America partly cause neither of us has ever been there.
Or try and go to a part of Europe that is less explored and have an adventure. Croatia is absolutely gorgeous and has a coast that easily rivals Italy’s, but is less traveled and therefore cheaper.
If you are both that adamant, maybe you should find a neutral compromise that’s neither Europe nor Disney?
Disneyland (Calif.) or Disney World (Florida)? Because whoever said that Disney could be more expensive that Europe is completely correct. I’ve been to Disney World probably 15-20 times (including last May) and the expenses quietly rack up. What about spending a week at Disney (there are four parks, Downtown Disney, which has a Cirque Du Soleil show, and tons of other stuff to do) and then a week in the Florida Keys or Miami or something? Two weeks to me seems like too long a time at Disney, but a week would not get boring. There is so much to do (and we barely even went to the Magic Kingdom - the park with the castle).
Personally I’d like Europe, but we’re going on an American mini-moon after the wedding in August and saving money for a 2009 honeymoon to Iceland! Yes … Iceland! We wanted to go somewhere where no one would ever think to go. It’s awesome - google it!
Thanks everyone for your input. Well, we still have some time to think about it. We even considered Mexico but we’ve been down south together (cuba) so I wanted to do something different.
I didnt take into consideration the Euro being more expensive now with the US dollar. I think we might just end up going to Disney either way (im sure I will be really happy about my decision)… but if you have other suggestions not too expensive… feel free.
I would try and stay away from disney. Disney is fun when you go as a child or go w. children b/c they get so excited at seeing Goofy walk around, the HUGE castle (which really isn’t that nice, European ones will be much more impressive), and little children love the rides. The rides at disney are really geared towards little ones, not toward adults. You’re instinct is right–Europe now, Disney with kidos later.
I live in England and it’s wonderful over here. You guys will have a very memorable time.
Well, seeing that half of our honeymoon was Disneyworld in Florida… we definitely had a great time there! We went to Yosemite for some nature and romantic hikes etc. first, and then followed that up with Disneyworld. Two completely different places, but we had a BLAST at both.. and I think both of us were thoroughly satisfied with our choice. Maybe you can do some sort of dual-honeymoon as well? =)
Yeah I have to say as much as Disney does not appeal to me at all for a honeymoon I’d be pretty bummed if my fiance wanted to go to places I’d already been and especially to some place I use to live in…there’s not much fun in that. Maybe you can do Europe but to countries he’s never been/lived in or just pick a third option like asia, australia, africa, latin america.
I was always a little jealous of friends who went to Europe when I was younger and I could never really afford the trip but I have to say, I’m happy I waited to see Europe when I could afford to and could stay in a few nice places and have a few nice meals. Remember also your money doesn’t go nearly as far with the Euro exchange rate…pretty much almost doubles the cost of things as prices are higher there anyway.
I think Disney Paris would have been the perfect compromise!
Personally, I wouldn’t pass up the chance to go to Europe now, while you are still child-free and can explore freely. I’d save Disney for a time when you could see it through the eyes of your children.
My advice is to scrap both ideas and find a place that both of you have never been and really want to go.
I agree with you that Disney would be more fun once you have kids but I also agree with not going to Europe until later in life. Even backpacking and staying in hostels is going to be expensive because of the weak dollar.
I have been to Europe, but My husband and I have been to Disney World 3 times, and Disneyland once. After Disney World, Disneyland doesn’t measure up, so if that is the thought I would vote Europe. If it is between Disney World and Europe it is a harder choice. First, Disney is a different place traveling with and without children (we have done both). Disney without children does involve park rides, but also gourmet dinners, luxury spas, late night clubbing, and any other host of activities that might tickle your fancy. With extras, it is also not cheap, so I would really do your homework if you are trying to make a monetary decision. Definitely stay on Disney property. This is where I think the biggest contrast would be to your European vacation. Disney hotels make everything easy for you. Your biggest choice will be which bus to get on each morning (to get to the park of choice).
Now that I have expounded on Disney, your European vacation sounds fun, and sounds like a drastically different experience than Disney would be. Backpacking, catching trains, finding hostels and sharing bathrooms would be an adventure. You will see far more intellectually interesting things. It will involve more pre-planning or thinking on your feet than Disney would as you want to change locations frequently.
If it were my choice, I would weigh how I think I feel immediately after the wedding and am heading out. How lazy or adventurous would I want to be? How guilty would I feel if I choose to miss a sight in either location to spend a little extra time relaxing with my new hubby?
Trust me, whatever your choice you will want to go back, so I wouldn’t consider either location scratched off the list completely.
Miss Robin, Miss Flamingo is Canadian. Our dollar is strong right now, making the US Disney trip more appealing from a financial viewpoint, but still not ideal as a honeymoon locale. Surely Mr. Flamingo has some other ideas?
I would definitely vote for Europe - either Paris or Italy or both. My fiance and I went to Italy for vacation, and I totally wanted to stay in hostels, but he vetoed it. However, we managed to stay at nice but fairly inexpensive B&Bs and hotels in all the cities we visited. If you do your research well, you should be able to find something nicer than hostels, because after all, it is your honeymoon. =)
As someone that loves Disney: please do not go there for your honeymoon. You can definitely go to Europe for way cheaper, and if you have a week or two, you will certainly spend less in Europe than at Disney. It is easy to find inexpensive B&Bs in Italy- Paris is bit harder, but still possible. Disney is great- but you will be able to enjoy it just as much, if not more when you have children. Taking children to Europe is much more difficult- plus, a lot of the wonderful things about Europe do not translate very well into travelling with children- such as 3 hour dinners, walking around aimlessly, historical tours, wine, etc.
i’d pick europe as well. and as many commenters have said before me, you can definitely go to europe for cheap! esp considering that you’re willing to backpack for the most part. and maybe you can consider going to eastern europe, which is a lot cheaper than the western parts (spain, italy, france, etc). there’s budapest, croatia, prague -all are very beautiful and honeymoon-worthy!
Europe! We’re going to Italy for our honeymoon and I couldn’t be happier. For awhile, we thought about going somewhere a bit closer to home but your honeymoon is a perfect opportunity to take a longer trip if you can afford it. And if you plan to start a family in the near future, international trips will be much more difficult. I’m with you — Disney is for when you have kids.
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Mrs. Flamingo, Montreal, Canada Age and Occupation: 25, Graphic Designer Fiance's Age and Occupation: 30, Nursing Student Engagement Date: December 2004 Wedding Date: June 21, 2008 Venue: Imperia Hotel (modern chic hotel) About Me: I am a passionate designer who loves anything pretty. I heart all paper products (eco-friendly of course). My passion revolves around anything considered glamour; vintage and modern. In my free time, I love reading Martha mags, designing jewelry and making a pit-stop at Starbucks for a chai latte. I'm also a chocoholic at heart and my family drools over my homemade truffles.
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