There are so many questions about travel right now and if you are planning a honeymoon or already have your honeymoon booked, chances are you have been searching for answers. So today travel expert Jordan from Journey Bound Travel Co. is joining us to answer your questions and provide you with his five tips on honeymoon planning during this time when almost everything is uncertain. He is sharing his insight on what is happening right now in the travel industry, the impact that COVID-19 is having on travel, and how you can protect your honeymoon and investment in the future.

From Jordan at Journey Bound Travel Co…

It’s an unusual and challenging time for everyone. How do you not feel paralyzed, wondering what’s next and how long this will last? My heart goes out to anyone directly affected by COVID-19. Especially those still going out there every day, on the front lines. They are fighting this virus for the rest of us. Most importantly, my heart goes out to the medical staff who are working tirelessly to test, treat, and triage patients in an unprecedented time of unknown and chaos. Another shout out to those working for the essential local businesses. They are still out there putting themselves at risk for the sake of others. You know who you are. THANK YOU!

Impact of COVID-19 on honeymoon planning

My heart also goes out to the brides and the grooms who have been planning their wedding and looking forward to their honeymoon for months (and maybe years!). Brides and grooms are being forced to cancel and postpone weddings and honeymoons at a pace we have never seen before.

So, here are the big questions during this challenging time:

When and where will we be able to travel again?
How do you confidently move forward in the honeymoon planning process?
How do you protect your honeymoon investment?

We’d like to offer five tips on navigating this unprecedented and unpredictable travel landscape. In this article, you’ll get a high level overview of these tips. You’ll learn how to carry on with honeymoon planning without putting thousands of dollars at risk. To get all of the important details of the five tips that will help you save your honeymoon, read the full article on the Journey Bound blog. Before getting into the tips, we’d like to address the elephant in the room…

When will it be safe to travel again?

One of the biggest questions we’ve been getting is related to timing. This affects couples who already planned their honeymoon as well as those who were just starting to think about it.

Yes, we will travel again. Travel will be back stronger than ever. But, there is an implicit unknown to this virus and no one has a crystal ball. All we can do is follow the guidelines detailed in this article and weigh these factors against your own risk tolerance. For more detailed insight on this topic, read the full article on the Journey Bound blog...

Tip 1 - Pay attention and be strategic

There are so many moving pieces right now and a lot of misleading information being portrayed in the news. Given the unknown of this virus, the best we can do is make educated decisions and put ourselves in the best position for success. Our go-to resources for reliable global guidelines and notices related to health and travel continue to be the CDC and WHO:

CDC travel notices

WHO travel advice

Use these resources during the honeymoon planning process to make decisions on where to go and where to avoid. For more detailed insight on this topic, read the full article on the Journey Bound blog...

Tip 2 - Don’t book with an OTA

To be clear, online travel agencies (OTAs) are mass-market companies like Expedia, Priceline, and Orbitz. They offer travelers low priced packages for flights and hotels. These packages can be easily booked online without having to speak with anyone.

The problem with going this route, especially during uncertain times, is the exact reason they claim to be so easy to book a vacation. You are not dealing with a real human! So when it comes time to cancel or reschedule your trip, it can become near impossible to make any progress or get in touch with someone. No human touch means no empathy and no advocate. This reduces your chances to get your money back or rebook to make the most out of an unfortunate situation.

The COVID-19 outbreak is an extreme case. But, you should see the horror stories travelers are experiencing when trying to get help from these companies. Customers are literally being told not to call because they cannot handle the volume. Bookit.com straight up folded. They left travelers completely stranded without any support. This is a direct quote from their website:

In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Crisis now unfolding, BookIt.com has paused normal operations, and the international destinations we service have closed their borders to arrivals.

Due to the nature of this unprecedented pandemic, we have had to close our call centers in Florida, Jamaica, and El Salvador. This, effectively, means that we will be unable to provide agent assistance in cancelling any upcoming trips.

What?! For more eye opening examples of how OTAs have failed to handle the overwhelm, read the full article on the Journey Bound blog...

Tip 3 - Book direct with reputable travel suppliers

If you are going to book your honeymoon on your own, book direct and with reputable suppliers. This means hotels, airlines, tour operators, transfer companies, etc. And pay close attention to what they are offering for cancellation and postponement. Pay particular attention to the following:

The offer - What are they offering if you cancel or postpone?
The dates - What booking dates does the policy apply to and how long is their offer valid for?
The deposit - Do they require money up front or just a credit card guarantee?

Many reputable travel suppliers are being much more flexible than normal given the circumstances. Even so, it is still important to pay close attention to the details and terms of what they are offering. For more insight regarding the specific details you should be paying attention to, read the full article on the Journey Bound blog...

Tip 4 - Consider “Cancel For Any Reason” travel insurance

Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) travel insurance is the ultimate security blanket for risk averse travelers. This is especially true during uncertain times like this. Yes, it is more expensive than a normal travel insurance policy. Normal policies cover things like illness and injury that prevent you from traveling or end your trip early. But, with CFAR coverage, you can literally cancel for any reason up to 48 hours before your trip.

This coverage is not for everyone or every scenario. But, it should be something you consider during these uncertain times. For more details on CFAR travel insurance and what it covers, read the full article on the Journey Bound blog...

Tip 5 - Work with a Travel Advisor

Take into account everything we’ve discussed in this article. When planning your honeymoon, it is a lot to handle. Especially for someone who does not know the ins and the outs of the travel industry. And, we haven’t even talked about actually designing and planning your honeymoon, aka the fun part! Oh, and you also have that wedding to plan…

Honeymoon planning is overwhelming and time consuming during normal circumstances. Add to that the chaos and uncertainty of a global pandemic. And a wedding to plan at the same time while navigating the same uncertainty and risk. It seems like an insurmountable feat! This is where a professional can help.

Travel advisors can help you navigate everything we’ve talked about in this article. We’ll make recommendations in your best interest, based on what would make you feel the most comfortable. We know this industry inside and out, and we have formed strong relationships with travel suppliers worldwide.

We are your advocate and your best interests are always at the forefront. OTAs are leaving customers high and dry in dire times. To get in touch with a hotel or airline directly these days, you’re likely waiting on hold for hours. Or you’re being told to call back when you are within 24 to 72 hours of your trip.

We have contacts and we will get in touch with the right people and vouch for you! You can feel at peace knowing that your financial investment in your honeymoon is protected during these unprecedented times. Most importantly, we will get to know you as a couple and design an awesome honeymoon for the two of you.

Your honeymoon is more than just another trip. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to take as long you want and go wherever you want on the most epic trip of your life. We all go to our favorite barbers and work with financial advisors. It’s not because they are the cheapest. It’s because we know them and we know they will take care of us. When investing so much time and money into this once in a lifetime vacation, why do it any differently?

To learn more about Journey Bound and how we can help with your honeymoon, visit us at www.thejourneybound.com/honeymoons/. We look forward to the opportunity to get to know you as a couple and design the honeymoon you’ve been dreaming of!

V E N D O R S
MMW Honeymoon Planner: Journey Bound Travel Co.
MMW Photographer: Allie Dearie Photography