While assisting in planning a honeymoon or other vacations, travel agents piece together each part of a trip from airline tickets and properties to excursions and experiences. iStock/Oleh_Slobodeniuk
Leave the stress of honeymoon planning to a professional.
The Honeymoon: a vacation that couples will never forget. Whether it’s packed with adventure or relaxed moments on a beach, the trip serves as a way to celebrate a new chapter in newlyweds’ lives.
After planning a wedding, organizing the details of a honeymoon can be overwhelming. Instead of taking on that stress yourself, consider leaving it to a professional. We turned to Jaime Buss, an agent with Woodbury’s Travel Leaders, who has more than 27 years of experience in the field. When it comes to planning a memorable honeymoon, Buss has suggestions and insider knowledge up her sleeve.
“I want to make sure a couple walks away from their honeymoon thinking it was what they’ve been dreaming of their whole life,” she says.
While planning a honeymoon can include complex details, Buss says to take it one step at a time. She recommends starting to plan about 11 months in advance, but she’s also successfully pulled together a trip in as few as six weeks.
The first step is choosing what type of honeymoon a couple desires and what the budget is to make their dreams come true. “I’ll find out exactly what they’re looking for,” Buss says. “Are they looking for adventures like ziplining, hiking or swimming with elephants? Or do they want to decompress and relax with a massage on the beach? Maybe they want a combination of both.”
Regardless of the thrill or relaxation factor, the budget is discussed right away. Buss knows if a couple has extensive travel experience, they have a general idea of what a trip costs. On the other hand, a couple with less travel experience may need more guidance to fit budget needs.
“Experience in traveling can definitely impact the cost of the trip,” she says. “I make sure the budget fits, and then we start considering options to make sure they have an amazing experience without jeopardizing the quality of the vacation.”
So, how does a couple know a travel agent is right for them? Buss says the industry has changed in the nearly three decades she’s been in it. What used to be booking airline tickets for a family to visit a relative across the country has transformed into organizing elaborate details across the world.
“I can piece together a trip from start to finish,” Buss says, noting fees for the agency start at $35 per person. “I really play the role of concierge. I take care of all the little details so it’s relieving stress on the couple.”
Another perk of Buss’ years as an agent comes from her personal travel experience. “I’ve toured a lot of properties, and I’ve done site inspections at more resorts than I can count,” she says. “I’ve gone on trips where I’ve seen seven properties in one day.”
When visiting a vacation property, Buss checks out pools, room types, lounges, spas, restaurants, nearby areas of entertainment and more. She says she’s constantly taking notes and pictures to help give couples a first-hand recap of the experience. “I like to help a couple think outside the box and come up with some suggestions they’ve never even thought of,” she says.
Buss says she understands travel is a huge investment of time and money. And, a honeymoon is the trip of a lifetime. “I really enjoy knowing that I played a small part in creating a big memory,” Buss says. “I want a couple to walk away feeling good about the experience they had.”
Let’s Get Away
Jaime Buss shares her top travel destinations. “Many honeymooners are looking for a relaxing, intimate setting that provides ways to decompress … combined with some options for adventure and exploration,” she says. She finds the Caribbean and St. Lucia to be popular locales for newlyweds.
For an unforgettable experience, Buss recommends Thailand. “[It] offers affordable 5-star accommodations, unparalleled hospitality, delicious cuisine, world-class spas, and charming villages and cities,” she says, noting experiences include taking care of an elephant for a day, visiting temples and palaces, strolling through flower markets via rikshaw and kayaking among limestone cliffs and through island caves.
Travel Leaders
Facebook: Travel Leaders / Market Square Travel
