A honeymoon may be an once-in-a-lifetime experience for you so you want to make sure you do all you can to ensure a smooth and more than romantic getaway. Here are 10 things to bear in mind when planning your honeymoon.

• Plan ahead
  Often, couples are so busy planning their wedding that the honeymoon plans get relegated to the bottom on the task list. You would do well to give yourself ample time to plan the trip. Use a professional travel agent to help you. Book your honeymoon travel reservations as far in advance as possible from a travel agent. When talking to your travel agent, ask for package deals and honeymoon upgrades.

• Research
  Do a bit of your own research on the destination you are intending to visit. Get a good guidebook to take along with it. Make it a fun project for you and your fianc?to do together. Besides, after all, this honeymoon is for both of you. If you make all the decisions, you'll feel guilty if things don't go perfectly. Conversely, if you don't take part in planning, you may end up dissatisfied.
  
• Set a tentative budget
  Talk about your expectations and priorities so you can agree before you go about what you'll splurge on and where you'll skimp. This way, you'll avoid money hassles en route. Suggestion: Don't skimp on your accommodations. Even if you think you won't spend much time in your room, you'll probably be sorry if it's not special. And after all, this is not the kind of vacation you do annually!

• Don't go for too much
  Don't try to do too much, especially for the first couple of days. You would need that time to recuperate from the wedding (if you go on your honeymoon right after the wedding) and also to settle in from the travelling especially if you are on a long haul journey. A honeymoon should be well paced and not try to cover too much. The idea is to spend time with your new partner.

• Take all necessary travel precautions
  Like on all trips, observe the necessary – your passports, money, medical travel kits, credit cards need to be kept carefully. Copies of important documents including your insurance certificate should be made and kept separately. If you are using traveller's cheques, record the numbers and amounts and date and place of purchase and keep that information handy. Record important numbers – including those for your bank and credit card companies in case your wallet is lost or stolen. Honeymooners may not be in the right frame of mind to remember these basics but you don't want to minimise the chances of any unpleasant events to spoil your honeymoon.

• Take lots of photos
  You definitely want to document this one for your keepsakes! If you are going digital, remember to pack along your charger and extra memory sticks as it is unlikely you will be bringing along your laptop to download your photos as you go along.

• Keep a travel journal
  This trip may be worth documenting – even if it is just a sentence or two to describe the day. A nice idea would be for each partner to write about each other and things you discover about one another along the way. This journal will be good for laughs years down the road.

• Plan on special events
  Plan at least one or two special evenings – whether be it a fine dining experience or a theatre show, even if you are on a tighter budget. If you are planning a theatre show, or dinner at an exclusive restaurant, buy tickets or book a table ahead to avoid disappointments. These special evenings will give you an excuse to glamour up. Remember to bring along evening wear.

• We're honeymooners!
  Tell the world you're honeymooners! You may receive special surprises along the way. Hotels, for example, who know you are on honeymoon, may likely throw in a few special touches.

• Stay cool
  Planning (and participating in) a full wedding and starting a new chapter in your life can be stressful, but on your honeymoon, tell yourself to relax and ease up. Stay flexible on your plans for your honeymoon. Expect that some things may not go as planned. Relax and enjoy yourself!

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