Weddingbee Blog

… may not be Mr. Swan and me. Yes… can you imagine that? Me, who takes pride in ticking off yet another country on my travel list, may not actually go on a honeymoon. Don’t get me wrong. We’ll take a trip eventually, but in my mind, it just won’t be a honeymoon. Here are some of the criteria that we have discussed, and for the most part, have agreed on for a honeymoon destination:

1. We’d like to be in a place that has activities/sites AND be able to relax, preferably by a beach
2. We’d like to go someplace we’ve never been before
3. This is always important to me: I’d like to learn about a new culture and to get to experience some of that culture.

Picking a honeymoon is easy for most people, especially here in the U.S. Many people opt to spend a week on the beach in the Caribbean, Mexico, or Hawaii. Well, I have to admit that those options don’t really make Mr. Swan and I jump out of our seats very much.

First, I am from the Caribbean, and most of my family lives there to this day. Seriously, I can pick up my cell phone, call my family, and I’ll have a free place to stay for at least a week (and a few free meals) if I absolutely wanted to. Plus, I hope that the Caribbean one day will offer more/be known for more than just its great beaches and pretty darn good cricket players. There’s lots of interesting history, beauty and smart people there. These countries can and should offer more to the world.

Let’s put it this way: I would never go to Paris and never leave my hotel/resort. Period. I know the Carribean offers lovely, affordable options for an exotic getaway. I encourage anyone going to a Caribbean island (or anywhere else, for that matter) to get out and meet the locals and sample some local food and culture.

Anyway, the Caribbean is out of the question. Getting married during prime hurricane season doesn’t necessarily help either (I hear you, Miss Gloss). Secondly, Mr. Swan has this irrational disinterest in Hawaii, and lastly, I’ve been to Mexico.

Also, there is the little pesky issue of… ummm… MONEY. As you can tell from a previous post, budget is our new favorite word, and it’s forcing us to reconsider whether we’ll even have a honeymoon. For someone who has had a bank account dedicated solely to travel, and a mental checklist of trip possibilities, it’s like being LOST.

BUT, if we do have a honeymoon, where would yours truly want to go?

BALI!!!!

I’ve never been to Asia, and I feel like I can’t call myself a seasoned traveler without a trip there. Plus, who doesn’t want to go there? I know other bees have gone there or thought about a trip there, but check out these pictures below. Aren’t these pics reason enough?

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While I love the idea of Bali, it is very far, and expensive to get to. A trip that is almost twenty-four hours long, coupled with a hefty price tag on the flight makes a sista kinda think a bit.

Maybe we could go somewhere a bit closer… like Greece!

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Still, as much as it would not beas crazy of a plane trip, and even with the decline, the Euro is still kicking the U.S. dollar’s butt, even with the better exchange rate. I’m too old to stay in a hostel, so maybe I need to keep thinking.

The million dollar question will be whether or not we can find our characteristics I mentioned above at a price we might like. Maybe Mr. Swan will surprise me, and we will be able to go to one of my dream locations.

Stay tuned…

Money aside, where is your dream honeymoon locale?