4 Honeymoon Destinations That Won't Break the Bank

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There's no reason you have to drop a ton of cash on a romantic getaway.

The average newly married couple spends nearly $4,500 on their honeymoon, reports Brides.com. If that's outside your overall wedding budget or you'd rather spend that money on something else, we've gathered a list of four honeymoon destinations that don't cost an arm and a leg. Here, we're figuring airfare from Chicago, Illinois, since it's near the center of the U.S.

1. Bali

The Indonesian island of Bali is exotic and affordable. For example, a stay at the beautiful Sanur House in the seaside town of Sanur can cost as little as $46 per night. The fantastic thing about the Sanur House? You don't give up luxury for the price. The hotel features fine dining and a sweet boutique, as well as access to sandy beaches, lush terraces, volcanic mountains, palaces, and spiritual sites. If your ideal honeymoon includes taking a jungle trek followed by a tour of temples, Bali may be the right fit for you.

Planned six months in advance, a roundtrip flight from Chicago to Bali will set you back around $750 per person. Past travelers have spent an average of $18 per day on meals (per person) and a little over $8 on local transportation.

2. Canada

If you're the outdoorsy type, The Dorothy Motel in the resort town of Banff (in the province of Alberta) is a dream come true.

Nestled beneath the peaks of Mount Rundle and Cascade Mountain, the area includes more than 4,000 square miles of parkland. Your honeymoon can be spent among wildlife like elk and grizzlies. Just beyond the Dorothy Motel is Upper Hot Springs, Tunnel Mountain, and Banff Gondola. There's downhill skiing, snowboarding, horseback riding, and float trips. Banff Avenue -- the main road near the motel -- features boutiques, souvenir shops, and enough chateau-style buildings to remind you that you're on vacation.

You can book a room at The Dorothy Motel for as little as $130 per night, and roundtrip airfare from Chicago is less than $400 per person. While you could easily spend $150 on a nice meal in town, Banff has enough dining options to let you eat less expensively. The motel offers a "Best of Banff" discount booklet and complimentary access to the local transit system.

3. Belize

If you're looking for a slice of heaven at a bargain price, look no further than the Hotel Del Rio on the island of Ambergris Caye. This beachfront hotel features thatched-roof cabanas and access to a host of activities. You can visit the second-largest barrier reef in the world a half-mile away, go diving, snorkeling, fishing, or lie on the beach. Restaurants and bars are just a 15-minute stroll down the beach.

Room prices start at $74 per night, and roundtrip airfare to Belize runs approximately $725 per person. Once on the island, you can rent bicycles for less than $20 per day and spend $4 to $13 for a meal per person.

4. Maine

More interested in honeymooning in the stateside? On the southern coast of Maine, between the Atlantic Ocean and Ogunquit River, is the town of Ogunquit. In addition to romantic beaches, lighthouses, and coastal views, the town is known for the Ogunquit Museum of American Art, full of works by Maine artists.

A luxury king room with a balcony and fireplace at Ogunquit Hotel and Suites costs less than $195 per night, while a king room comes in at under $150 per night.

Booked six months in advance, roundtrip airfare from Chicago will run you less than $300. The complimentary continental breakfast can keep your meal costs low, and if you like to walk, activities like the Ogunquit Playhouse are less than two miles away.

Ways to save money on your honeymoon

Planning ahead is one of the best ways to save on your honeymoon. Here are a few others:

  • Opt for a local honeymoon. Google the most romantic spots in your state. There's a chance you've never heard of some of them or you've never visited. The ability to drive to your honeymoon is your first cost saver. The second is your ability to bring things along, like that special bottle of champagne you've been waiting to open.
  • Use airline miles. If you're planning to fly, start using a travel reward credit card as early as possible. The sooner you begin, the sooner you can book your flight with no out-of-pocket expense.
  • Search for discounts. If you're open to where you want to honeymoon, allow the destination with the deepest discounts determine where you'll be going.

The truth is, the only two people who matter are you and your spouse-to-be. Choose a place that looks fun but won't leave you saddled with debt. If you do decide to take out a vacation loan to pay for your post-wedding trip, shop around to find a loan you can easily afford to repay as quickly as possible.

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