Before You Honeymoon In Costa Rica
By Kathleen Terrana

There are many online companies that offer romantic honeymoon getaways on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts of Costa Rica. Having just returned from Costa Rica myself, I would like to offer some suggestions that you probably will not find online or in a guidebook.

When we planned our trip, we assumed that most people in Costa Rica would understand English fairly well. At several hotels, the front desk clerks spoke practically no English. The same goes for bus drivers. The staff at the car rental agency spoke the best English. They were able to give us needed recommendation for food and site seeing. I highly recommend translating some key Spanish phrases before your trip, such as Where is the bank, bathroom, hotel?

The Pan American Highway runs through Costa Rica and is a reliable, well-paved road. However, many side roads in Costa Rica are very bad and full of deep potholes. I recommend that when you rent a car, take out the full coverage (usually an additional $20 per day on top of the regular fee). When you take the side roads, you need to allow more time to reach your destination. In some cases you may be only going 25 miles per hour.

Colones are the national currency and are very easy to translate into American dollars. If an item says 5,000 colones, just drop the 3 zeros and multiply the other number by 2. In other words, 5,000 colones is equal to 10 American dollars. If you need to convert other currency into colones, you can do that online at www.xe.com/ucc/ (Universal Currency Converter).

The rainy season in Costa Rica runs from May through December. Hotels are cheaper and there are fewer people on the roads and in the restaurants. My husband and I traveled in September, and experienced rain on only a few days of our trip. It would rain heavily for about one hour and then stop completely. We would spend the time indoors having a lovely Costa Rican lunch, and by the time we finished the rain was gone.

Bring a good camera and lots of film. Because of the rain, you will see some of the most beautiful exotic plants and flowers. The volcanoes are breathtaking and you can even hear the rumbling. The waterfalls are located off of the side roads, so drive slowly and allow more time. Even in the cities, you will want to photograph the ornate wrought iron that covers all the windows and patios in Costa Rica. After your honeymoon, you will want to have some of these amazing pictures enlarged to put in your new home.

Kathleen Terrana is the owner of Beautiful Bridal specializing in discount tiaras, veils, bridal and bridesmaid jewelry. Visit our site for additional wedding tips, advice and information.

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Last Minute Honeymoon Cruise Options
By Kenneth Koch

Cruises booked at the last minute may be stressful to plan, but are still an enjoyable vacation option. If you are planning to elope or just enjoy being spontaneous, a last minute cruise may be just the thing for you.

Last Minute Cruise Deals Finding the Bargains
You must be flexible if you are on the lookout for last minute cruises. If you are looking for a specific itinerary or departure date, then a last minute cruise may not be right for you. On the other hand, if you are fine with not knowing where you will be sailing up to nearly the last minute, then let the search for last minute cruises begin!

Travel agents are the best resource for finding last minute cruise package deals. An agent specializing in cruises will be able to inform you of last minute discounts, offers, and cruise availability. By visiting the cruise lines website, you can learn about exclusive special deals and last minute cruise offers. If you need to know about departure dates, itineraries, and departure points as early as possible, it is best to check back with the sites frequently in order to make arrangements as soon as the last minute cruises become available.

Keep in mind that your cabin selection will be limited when booking a last minute cruise. In addition, you will probably have less than a month to prepare for your cruise. If you are flexible, however, you will be able to have a great time on your cruise, even if you are not staying in a luxury cabin.

Benefits and Pitfalls of Last Minute Cruise Packages
Despite the monetary savings of last minute cruises, there are a number of additional benefits to this type of honeymoon cruise. First of all, it is fun, spontaneous and wild. If you are eloping, this fits in perfectly with the experience. In addition, you might embark on a journey to a location you would never have thought of visiting if not for the last minute cruise discount. This can result in an eye-opening experience as you visit countries or islands you never dreamed of seeing.

Of course, if you are someone that needs to have your honeymoon cruise well planned out in advance, a last minute cruise is probably not right for you. You most likely will not have the time to explore the shore excursion options available with the cruise, let alone to book them ahead of time. You also might get stuck in a small and cramped cabin that includes bunk beds, which is not particularly romantic for a honeymoon cruise. You also will probably be unable to add special packages, such as honeymoon cruise packages, to a last minute cruise deal.

If you have no problem with making last minute honeymoon cruise arrangements of it the thought even excites you a little than a last minute cruise deal is a good choice for you!

Kenneth Koch is the owner of Your Wedding Place.com, a resource for brides featuring wedding articles and tips. For more honeymoon cruise related articles, tips and ideas visit http://www.yourweddingplace.com/wedding-planning/category.php?pg=honeymoon-cruise-ideas

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