Say “YES” to the honeymoon

As the late Elvis warned in his hit song “It’s Now or Never”. As I look back over 16 years of marriage and 3 kids I can assure you nothing could be truer. If you don’t take a honeymoon with in the first year of marriage ideally the first month you will find that life gets in the way. You will find that you can’t find the time or the money to justify this right of passage.

You are only newlyweds for a short time. Take this opportunity to revel in the freedom you have during your special time when you are madly in love with each other. The memories you will make during this special trip will be your life preserver you hold on to when the storms of life threaten your union. In addition by making it a priority to take a honeymoon you are telling your spouse they are worth it. It also gets your marriage off on the right foot and sets the standard for the future. By intentionally taking a break from the dizzying deadlines and schedules that a wedding sometimes demands you will appreciate this important opportunity to remember why you said “I DO”. Building this skill early on will create a pattern of putting your marriage first which will serve you well.

You have one shot make it count. When deciding on a honeymoon this is not the time to skimp. While it doesn’t have to land you in the poor house decide what your budget is. If you dream of Hawaii but can only afford Mexico, make it the best Mexico experience your budget affords. This may mean a five night getaway with a butler vs. 10 nights in a standard room. Don’t be that guy who cuts corners by saying, “Just eat a big breakfast, skip lunch and we can share dinner”. This vacation style or attitude does not leave room for romance.

Packing Like a Pro with Jen Maki

Many people overlook important details when it comes to packing for their trip. Let’s start with some of the most obvious, travel documents. These have your confirmation numbers and detailed info regarding transfers tours and other special details of your trip. Passports or ID’s for domestic travel are necessary if traveling by air. It is my worst nightmare to leave for the airport and have forgotten my passport at home and it should be yours as well. Put preventative measures in place to ensure you don’t miss your flight because your passport is at home. Set reminder alarms, put notes in your car or sleep with it if you have to.

In your carry on you will need to follow the 3-1-1 rule implemented by TSA. Any liquids, gels, or aerosols need to be 3 oz or less. If you have a 6 oz bottle of perfume that is half empty be prepared to hand it over to TSA. Put all of your liquids in a clear ziploc bag and leave it on top. This way it will be easy to grab and pull out of your suitcase for the security checkpoint. Medicines should also be packed in your carry on. in the unfortunate event that the airline lost your bag you may be without clothes but you won’t be without your medication. It’s not a bad idea to also bring copies of your prescriptions. Don’t forget the charging cords. With all of the memories you will capture through pictures and video you are sure to need to recharge.

In your suitcase get creative. Nest smaller bags inside so you can bring your treasures home in the extra bags you have packed. Often overlooked when traveling to a tropical climate is humidity. This can wreak havoc on overweight baggage since the humidity is sucked up into your clothes your bring home heavier bags. The airlines are not forgiving when it comes to overweight bags. you are better off separating into more bags rather than paying overweight fees. As far as clothing goes pack for your destination. Consider what you will be doing. Do you have plans to go out to a nice dinner? How about horseback riding in the ocean? Care to climb a waterfall? All of these require a unique dress code. For men don’t forget long pants and a collared shirt for dinner. Adventurous activities require longer pants and at a minimum closed toed shoes. I once missed an opportunity to meet Tony Stewart at a Nascar race because I did not have closed toed shoes; the required shoes to be allowed in the pits.

Last but not least don’t forget your sense of humor. They say “The world is a book and those who don’t travel read only a page” whether your book is a documentary or resembles more of reality show having a sense of humor will make the ride smoother.