Honeymoon & Travel | Travel Tips
Find travel tips and information.

• Insure Your Safety
  From medical emergencies to lost luggage, travel insurance has got you covered. by Jenna MahoneyTickets? Check. Hotel reservations? Check. Hot new bikini to show off your bridal bod? Check. It seems you’ve got everything set for your honeymoon, but you may be forgetting one small but crucial item—travel insurance. Here’s the lowdown.Protect your assetsHoneymoons are special—and expensive—purchases, and travel insurance protects your investment. “If an illness, accident or other unforeseen circumstance forces travelers to cancel or interrupt their plans, they face two major financial losses,” says Dan McGinnity, vice president of AIG Travel Guard, a travel insurance provider. “One is the money invested in nonrefundable prepayments and the other are the medical expenses that are often not covered by health insurance.” Travel insurance can protect against those hindrances, including delayed flights, lost luggage and medical emergencies. Some policies also recoup your money if your airline folds.Lost and foundExperts cite a more than 70% increase in delayed or lost-baggage incidents in the past year. And while most airlines compensate for lost and delayed luggage, the payout is a set and uniform sum—generally less than $200. (To add insult to injury, many airlines require that you appear in person at the airport to receive payment for delayed baggage.) With insurance you’re more likely to receive compensation for lost, delayed and damaged bags based on your needs. Bonus: many plans protect against theft.Stormy weatherCall it global warming or the El Niño effect, there’s definitely something in the air. Record-breaking weather patterns have been wreaking havoc on popular honeymoon destinations around the world. If your transportation arrangements or accommodations are directly affected by severe weather, your premium can provide reimbursement for prepaid, nonrefundable expenses. And in the case of evacuation, additional travel expenses can be covered. In order to be reimbursed for losses, you must purchase travel insurance before severe weather is forecasted or predicted. In sickness and in healthAll the stress and excitement of planning your big day can affect your immune system. Factor in some different foods and water and you just may come down with something. Fortunately, travel insurance will cover your medical expenses and—if necessary—your trip home. Plus, your plan can refund your money for unused hotels stays that you already paid for. The same is true if you have an accident and need medical assistance. Transportation (like air lifts and ambulance rides) is often covered, as are medical procedures and medication that your usual health plan may not include. And while most standard travel policies exclude emergencies occurring while partaking in extreme sports like hang gliding and bungee jumping, McGinnity notes that Travel Guard’s new My Travel Guard product is one of the first active plans. On time arrivalExperts suggest buying travel insurance at the same time you book your vacation. Most major travel sites offer it as part of the package. You can also get a plan separately and as late as the day before departure. (Get recommendations at user sites like igougo.com). But keep in mind that “most policies include additional coverage if purchased within 15 days of the initial trip deposit date,” says McGinnity. While most of these plans are valid for a single trip, frequent fliers can opt for an annual policy. The bottom lineGenerally speaking, travel insurance plans don’t have premiums or deductibles. And the average cost is $50 per person per vacation. Not having to forgo your honeymoon due to unforeseen complications—priceless.
• How to Book a Great Honeymoon Excursion
  Your destination will probably offer plenty of activities to choose from. Here’s how to take the guesswork out of booking great excursions. by Jenna MahoneyAt one time, the perfect honeymoon consisted of finding a beach, slathering on the baby oil and lying in the sun—and bed—for an entire week. Today, couples are looking for a little more excitement, a little more adventure and a lot more action. Enter the excursion: a guided tour of local sites and activities. Here are some tips to book the best. Venture forth! Think of an off-site excursion as a vacation field trip that helps you experience the happenings outside your resort. There are a variety to fit your interests and they can vary in length (from an hour to a full day) and activity level (an easy-paced walking tour or a hardcore heli-hike). Serious shoppers, for example, might spend the day exploring local bazaars in Marrakech, while literature buffs may prefer a personalized tour of the Hemingway Home & Museum in Key West. Similarly, you can opt for larger group excursions or more intimate one-on-one experiences. Be an early bird. “The best time to plan an off-site excursion is while you’re making your honeymoon travel arrangements,” says Amy Ziff, editor-at-large at Travelocity.com. Many travel agents, hotels, cruise companies and websites have established relationships with tour operators, so if there is something you know you simply must experience at your chosen destination—like learning to surf at Waikiki Beach, the birthplace of the sport—it will be easy to do. If you’re unsure about the excursion options, contact your hotel concierge as soon as you make your arrangements. That way, you’re more likely to get your first choice of activity, group size, time and day. Play it safe, not sorry. You’ll always want to work with a reputable tour operator. And whatever you do, don’t follow the guy at the end of the dock who promises you the best deal on the island. Ziff suggests checking websites such as IgoUgo.com for peer reviews; guidebooks like Frommer’s, Foder’s and Lonely Planet have sites that offer pricing, contact info and reviews for excursions across the globe. Or stop by the tourism office at your destination to check their list of local guides and transportation providers. And if you have doubts about the validity of the operator, take a pass. Another thing: If you’re doing an active tour, like rappelling or swimming with the sharks, make sure you and the operator have insurance. Act on a whim. If Bali Hai is calling, but you failed to make arrangements for a day hike, don’t worry. Fellow guests may have suggestions for local outings. Talk to them about their vacation experiences. Did they have a fabulous fishing trip off the coast or an unforgettable tour of a nearby museum? Get their views on what they liked about their excursion and what they didn’t. Also, most large resorts (and cruise ships) have desks in house, with tour operators available exclusively for guests. If groups aren’t your gig, have them arrange a private outing. If you’re staying at a hotel with concierge service, use it. Concierges have great relationships with local vendors, so they’ve got the lowdown on the best excursions—and deals. Cost analysis. “As a rule of thumb, the smaller or more private the tour group, the more expensive,” explains Ziff. “And of course a helicopter ride will cost more than a sunset walking tour.” Most excursions require payment upon booking. Incidentals like equipment deposits can be paid for at the time of your outing. In all countries, tipping is customary. According to Ziff, “It’s usually appropriate to tip around 10% of the excursion price.” If your guide went above and beyond normal duties, such as showing you Hemingway’s favorite bars, or if the tour was physically demanding, like rock climbing in Utah, consider upping your gratuity to 20% of the excursion’s cost.
• Concierge At Your Service
  No request is too small, no desire too whimsical. Your friendly hotel concierge is always willing (and able) to help.by Jenna MahoneyYou had the perfect wedding, and everything went just the way you imagined it. Now it's time for the honeymoon, but after all the effort you devoted to wedding planning, all you want to do is kick back and let someone else make your day-to-day arrangements. Luckily, hotels have a handy helper, called a concierge, who is there to help you make the most of your honeymoon. All you have to do is ask. Can Do Attitude Found at four- and five-star hotels and resorts, a concierge is a member of the hotel staff who assists guests with information and services. The concierge's main function is to provide you with the best experiences outside the hotel. He or she will advise you on local must-sees, offer suggestions for excursions and can make it all happen. Concierge service is complimentary, and it provides as much or as little assistance as you like. The best concierges belong to an elite organization called Les Clefs d'Or or "keys of gold." Their 3,300 members work in 37 countries and wear a lapel pin featuring two crossed gold keys to exemplify the utmost in professionalism. Stellar Service Beyond arranging your sightseeing excursions, these pros can book spa treatments and give shopping recommendations. They also make dinner reservations and get hard-to-score seats—World Series, anyone? Concierges have relationships with area vendors; their Rolodexes are packed with the names of fellow hospitality helpers, and they're hooked into the latest local happenings and hot spots. Plus, those names have weight: Hollywood hangout Spago, for example, is more likely to have a table for The Ri