Looking for honeymoon locations that don’t require a passport? While it is fun to travel outside the country, there are many fun things to do that are not too far from home. Here the top five honeymoon locations that are right here in the United States!Hawaii: Of course this is considered to be the number one honeymoon destination in the United States, perhaps in the world. This may be a bit more expensive than other US honeymoon locations, but it is well worth it! Long white sandy beaches, incredible sunsets over turquoise water, endless summers, hidden coves, five star hotels, and incredible cuisine, what’s not to love!

New York: imagine a romantic horse drawn carriage ride through Central Park or watching the sunset from the Empire State Building. There is plenty to do in the city including shopping, site seeing, entertainment such as Broadway plays, and world famous gourmet cuisine. Or get out of the city and take a drive to Niagara Falls. Just 500 miles from the city you can immerse yourself in the best Mother Nature has to offer. Spend the night in a romantic Bed and Breakfast for a truly intimate experience.

First of all you may want to go during the off season.  The top value seasons are January 1 – February 13, August 3 – October 1, and November 30 – December 18.  Most likely you were planning on taking some vacation time off of work for your wedding and honeymoon, so why not plan to make it during one of these times.  You will save hundreds of dollars on hotel rooms and air fare and you may even want to spend that extra money to stay at one of the deluxe resorts.  You will want to avoid the peak season times which are the summer and holidays.  At these times the prices will sky rocket and the crowds will be unbarable. 

One of the best kept secrets for saving money on a Disney honeymoon is to rent Disney vacation club points.  The Disney Vacation Club is a timeshare by Disney.  Some families that own these timeshares, for whatever reason, may not be able to use their points for that year and will sell them at an incredible price.  When using these points you can stay at some of the most incredible villa resorts such as Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, The Beach Club Resort, and the Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas. 

Another great way to save big on your Disney honeymoon is to purchase the meal plan.  I know the sticker shock may make you shy away, but think about how much this meal plan actually saves you.   Through the meal plan you get one quick meal (such as a meal at a fast food restaurant), one snack (such as an ice cream), and one full meal (appetizer, entrée, and dessert) per day.  This works out to be about $30 per day per adult.  These meals can be anywhere in the park or at one of the resorts so you can even use them at your own hotel. 

Image by Wha'ppen via Flickr

Mexico, Hawaii, Caribbean, and Europe have been are the most popular honeymoon destinations.  Although these destinations are gorgeous, and you can get some amazing deals, some couples want more unconventional honeymoon ideas.  So I put together a list of ten of my favorite unique honeymoon ideas.  The first on my list of unique honeymoon ideas is…

Costa Rica!

For those couples experiencing Costa Rica for the first time, be prepared to be amazed.  This Central American destination is full of pristine beaches, scenic coastlines, rich cultures, and exotic wildlife.  Costa Rica is perfect for a unique honeymoon destination because the landscaping and climate varies so much within the country that within an hour’s drive you will feel like you have entered a new country.

The exotic wildlife is really the pride of Costa Rica.  Imagine waking up in your hotel room and looking out your window to see a tree full of monkeys.  Or laying on the beach and watching a red macaw fly overhead.  To see some of the amazing wildlife in the jungle, consider taking one of their world famous canopy safaris.  An extensive system of zip line and pulleys are arranged throughout the upper jungle allowing you to explore the exotic animals while flying high in the sky.

The Locals in Costa Rica use the term “pura vida” which means “pure life” in English.  This is their motto and will epitomize your experience in Costa Rica. 

There are lots to do for the adventurous couple.  Aside from the amazing canopy safaris, there is also amazing surfing beaches, hiking, scuba diving and other water sports to keep you occupied.  However the beaches are amazing so if you want to just lay out and relax you will have no problem here.

Some honeymoon ideas for staying in Costa Rica is to try and book your vacation for the winter months.  The summer is extremely hot and humid and almost unbearable.  Also keep in mind that while English is a second language in this country, it would still be a good idea to learn a little Spanish.  Important phrases like “bathroom” or “how much” will suffice.  Also the monetary exchange rate is very good for US and Canada so you should be able to find some great deals for vacation packages and souvenirs. 

There is no one answer since your attire will vary depending on the location.  Are you planning an all inclusive vacation to Mexico or are you planning on cruising the glaciers in Alaska?  For the purposes of this article I will assume you are planning to be gone for at least a week.  Here are a few essentials you should pack while you are on your honeymoon.

It is a good honeymoon idea to bring lots of sunscreen to your destination.  Yes, even if you are traveling to someplace cold like Alaska, the sun can still be quite damaging due to the reflection of the water.  The best way to ruin your honeymoon (and all your pictures) is to turn lobster red from a sunburn and have to spend your entire time in the hotel room recovering.  In many destinations like the Caribbean the sun is much stronger than what we are used to so make sure to lather up! 

Another honeymoon idea for packing is to pack as little as possible.  Especially if you are traveling to a warm climate, you really should stick to very light clothes, just a couple bathing suits, some layers incase it gets cold, and a few nice outfits to go out in.  Other than money, your passport, and your camera you really will not need much else.  So leave the extra toys and gadgets at home.  Remember the less you pack, the more room you have for souvenirs!

When packing I is always a good honeymoon idea to plan and check your bag.  With new rules and regulations changing everyday at the airports it is just easier than trying to get away with carry-on bags.  Plus you would hate to get to the airport and then have something seized like your shampoo or toothpaste.  That means that you will be spending time and money on your honeymoon buying simple essentials such as these when you could be out enjoying the beach.

Another great honeymoon idea is to pack dryer sheets in your wardrobe.  This will give your clothes a fresh laundered smell instead of that dry musky luggage odor and will also help prevent wrinkling. 

Image via Wikipedia

Looking for an all inclusive vacations that are low key and kid free?  Even if you love kids, your honeymoon is no time for them.  There are tons of incredible all inclusive vacations that are open to only adults.  Here is some of my top favorite all inclusive adults only vacations. 

Mexico is known for being the Mecca of all inclusive resorts.  Typically these adults only all inclusive vacations are found in the Riviera Maya, Cancun, and Tulum areas however if you would prefer to stay on the pacific side of the country, try the Golden Crown Paradise Resort in Puerto Vallarta.  This unique resort features all ocean view and ocean front rooms. 

Just a little side note: I am often asked what the difference between an ocean view and ocean front room.  An ocean view room could be a little bit of a walk from the ocean but will still have an ocean view.  Ocean front rooms are directly located on the beach or are as close to the beach as you can get in these hotels.  Beware of a partial ocean view because that could mean just a peek-a-boo view where you have to actually lean outside your balcony to see the ocean. 

Ok back to top adults only all inclusive vacations.  The Golden Crown Paradise offers nightly shows and entertainment, free non motorized water sports, six deluxe al la carte restaurants, three cocktail lounges (where all your cocktails are included), and a gorgeous pool and Jacuzzi.  A deep tissue massage will melt away the stress of planning a wedding and the location is perfect, just steps away from the marina, shopping, and local restaurants.

If the Caribbean is more your style try Galley Bay on the incredible island of St. Johns.  Created for those seeking a true Caribbean getaway this resort offers a pristine beach front location, gourmet dining, luxury accommodations, unlimited water sports, and other activities and entertainment.  Set amidst 40 acres of tropical gardens, a magnificent lagoon, and a bird sanctuary that is just steps away from this very small resort.  This resort   features only 70 rooms so make your reservations very early in advance. 

Honeymooners especially appreciate these deals because it allows them to have a luxury five star vacation while still staying on a budget.  With all inclusive vacations you will be able to plan out your budget to the last dollar.  That’s because everything is prepaid.  All of your meals, cocktails, activities, and entertainment are all included so the only other costs you will incur are for souvenirs.  

One of the best resorts is the world famous Sandals.  All Sandals resorts are world famous for their incredible all inclusive vacations.  Enjoy some of the world’s most incredible beach front settings at one of these unbelievable resorts.  These lavish and innovative award winning hotels house up to eight world famous gourmet restaurants.  Spring for the more expensive suites and live in the lap of luxury with your own private butler.  Trained at the British Guild these butlers are fit to serve the queen.    All guests at the Sandals resorts enjoy water sports such as wind surfing, paddle boating, snorkeling, scuba diving and much more.   You can find Sandals resorts in Ocho Rios and Negril in Jamaica, St. Lucia, Antigua, and Grand Bahamas.

Mexico also has some amazing adults only all inclusive vacations.  My favorite resort is the El Dorado Royale.  With this incredible hotel, the sky is the limits.  All suites include an indoor Jacuzzi and an outdoor hammock your terrace or balcony.  Since it is your honeymoon, consider splurging on an incredible swim up suite.  These suites offer a lazy river pool right outside your front door that connects to the main pools.  Also getting a Casita Suite would be a real treat!  Casitas are in a private secluded section only available to those who are staying in the Casitas.  Each casita has a semi private pool with its own swim up bar and are also guaranteed dining at the restaurants with reservations.

First of all let me explain a little about myself.  I am a former travel agent, I grew up in California but moved to Minnesota for two years.  Recently I moved back to California; however I got a real taste of how the other half lives.  Boy, I really do not miss those winters!  Anyway throughout the years I traveled everywhere for business and pleasure.  I have also had the privilege to planned hundreds of honeymoons for happy couples. 

So back to the honeymoon blog.  Here you will find all kinds of useful information for planning your honeymoon.  Whether you are looking for relaxation, fun, adventure, romance, or all of the above you are sure to find some good information here. 

Want some good ideas for that tight budget?  How about an all inclusive luxury vacation to Mexico for as little as $200 per night per person.  I will tell you how to get these incredible deals.  Whether you’re looking for all inclusive beach vacation or a European adventure this honeymoon blog will have it all.