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Planning
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Best Months
Budgeting
HM Registries
Money-Savers
Packing Tips
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Planning Checklist
Staying Healthy
USA Tourism Links
World Tourism Links
More Planning Help
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Planning Checklist •
Getting It All Done
Six Months to One Year
Ahead
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Three to Six Months Ahead |
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Buy travel tickets if you haven’t already
done so.
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Buy at least one guidebook for your
destination. With a marker pen, highlight what interests you: museums,
restaurants, a beach renowned for its beauty. If you’re a history or
literature buff, read books about the area you’ll be visiting.
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If your honeymoon plans involve driving
or moving around, you’ll need a trusty map; get one now and study it from
time to time.
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Reserve car rentals. Ask for written
confirmation.
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Arrange for passports if you’re traveling
abroad. Women who intend to adopt their husband’s last name must keep
their maiden name on the passport until they’re actually married.
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If you’re going abroad and plan to travel by
train, investigate bargain-saving train passes. Many—the Eurailpass,
for instance—must be bought in the United States and are unavailable in
the countries where they will be used.
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Begin redeeming frequent-flier miles for your
honeymoon tickets, if you'll be using them. Blackout dates abound and complications sometimes
develop,
so allow plenty of time.
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If you’re going abroad, find out if you need
inoculations. If so, make
appointments to get your shots a month or so before you leave.
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Make a list of what
you’ll be bringing. Expect to revise it frequently between now and
your departure.
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Buy clothes and any other items you’ll need,
such as a travel iron or cross-country skis.
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If you’re going abroad and don't speak
the language at your destination, buy a phrase book and
learn a few important phrases.
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Refill any prescriptions.
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Gather written confirmations for various
reservations: hotel, flight, seat assignments, car rental, etc. If you
can’t find them, obtain duplicate copies. You’ll want to have all
confirmations with you.
If you need new luggage, buy it now.
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Buy travelers checks. Even
though you'll probably use your bank’s debit card to withdraw cash, it’s a good idea to bring a small
amount of money in traveler’s checks in case of emergency (for instance, you
might lose the card or bank computers could be down just when you need an
infusion of cash).
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Gather the clothes, toiletries, and other
items you plan to bring.
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If either of you is disabled, be sure
you've made arrangements for guide dogs, wheelchairs, specially-equipped rental
vehicles, etc. Such arrangements usually require a minimum
48 hours notice, but it’s best to reserve way ahead.
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Record the numbers of credit cards and
traveler’s checks you’ll be taking on your honeymoon, making three
photocopies. If you’re going abroad, make three copies
of your passports and appropriate visas, too. Put one copy of this information
in the bride’s luggage, the other in the groom’s, and leave a third copy
with a family member or friend. If you lose your credit cards or passport,
having photocopies will ease the replacement process considerably.
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Arrange with the post office to hold mail
while you’re gone, or ask someone to pick it up on a regular basis.
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Store jewelry, legal documents, or other
valuable items in a secure location. Safe deposit boxes are invaluable for
such purposes.
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Set a timer so that house lights go on and
off as if you were at home. Ensure that bulbs connected to a timer don’t
burn out by replacing them with new bulbs.
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Leave duplicate car and house keys with a
trusty neighbor in case you lose your own while away.
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Complete final packing.
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Reconfirm all honeymoon reservations.
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Confirm transportation to the airport.
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Set the refrigerator and water heater on low to conserve
resources and save money while you’re gone.
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Turn off all appliances
and electronics such as the computer, television, DVD, and heaters.
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Lock all doors and
windows securely.
Bon Voyage & Happy
Honeymoon!
All written
material ©WGH
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