How Long Should Honeymoon Be?

You shouldn’t feel forced to go on a honeymoon at all, just as you shouldn’t feel guilty for wishing to escape the world for a month or more.

How long a honeymoon should last largely depends on the couple’s budget, work obligations, other responsibilities, and destination.

Regardless of your ideal honeymoon length, focus on collecting experiences, creating memories, and reliving all your worries.

A Week

The average duration of a honeymoon among U.S. couples is 7-10 days, although many decide to extend their dream getaway for two weeks. A week is arguably the perfect honeymoon length.

Firstly, a week is sufficient to see the most exciting places in most destinations. Vacations can be tiring, too, and finding a worthy activity for every day of your month-long honeymoon isn’t simple.

As a result, couples choosing month-long trips often waste time doing nothing because, let’s face it – everyone needs a rest sometimes. There are days when all you want is to stay at home or lie on the beach.

In contrast, weekend getaways tend to feel too short. Imagine arriving in a beautiful, scenic location only to go away in two days without even experiencing everything it has to offer. That’s simply upsetting.

A week is a sweet spot for people who want to spend their honeymoon actively and see as much as possible without getting overwhelmed or tired of traveling.

Secondly, a week is the typical work leave duration. Some employers are happy to give their just married employees two weeks or more, but it isn’t always possible.

Lastly, a week-long honeymoon is usually the optimal choice budget-wise. Airfares are often costly, but a week is enough time to enjoy the destination to the fullest, making the ticket price worthy.

Meanwhile, month-long honeymoons can cost over $10,000, and not everyone has the money after spending over $30,000 on average on the wedding party.

A Month

The etymology of the term “honeymoon” implies that it should last a month. Who wouldn’t like to spend an entire month in a dream destination with their significant other? Unfortunately, only the luckiest of us can afford it.

It isn’t even about the money, although that’s a vital factor affecting the decision-making. The main problem with long honeymoons is that most people can’t get so much time off work.

A month-long honeymoon is an excellent option for freelancers, entrepreneurs who can work remotely, or people who can take unpaid leave and have sufficient savings. The tricky part is that both partners should meet these criteria.

As a rule of thumb, if your budget is limited and you’re picking between a week-long vs. month-long honeymoon, choose the former.

It’s better to spend a week living in luxurious hotels and collecting experiences than a month budgeting and thinking about what else to see.

If neither time nor money is a concern for you (lucky you), a month-long honeymoon is a valid option. However, choosing a destination worthy of spending a month isn’t that simple.

Many couples choosing a month-long honeymoon go on a road trip across the U.S. It’s a perfect chance to get acquainted with the U.S. heritage and find new favorite vacation spots in this diverse country.

Road trips across Europe are also popular. Frankly, you can explore most major European cities in a couple of days due to their moderate size, so a month is sufficient to get familiar with entire Western Europe.

Tropical islands are another decent option for an extended honeymoon, especially if you’d like to connect with mother nature or try out every extreme sport imaginable. However, sunbathing and drinking cocktails never gets boring.

A Weekend

Weekend honeymoon getaways are perfect for domestic trips and favored by couples interested in local heritage.

A two-day long honeymoon is also an excellent option for couples struggling to get extra vacation time. Maybe you’ve already spent your days off. Maybe your work is too demanding, and no one can replace you while you’re off.

The budget is often a deciding factor for couples choosing short honeymoons. Some partners save for a house or other significant purchases; others don’t have a lot of money left after paying for the wedding. Furthermore, not everyone earns a fortune in their twenties.

The biggest drawback of a weekend honeymoon is how fast it passes. That’s obvious and expected, but realizing that your honeymoon is over after just two days can be discouraging.

Pick a destination you can explore fully throughout the weekend to avoid this feeling. You may get acquainted with the surroundings of your home region, visit a spa out of town, or pick one major city like New York.

Of course, weekend getaways aren’t limited to domestic travel. You’re free to fly to Europe or a tropical island but consider whether paying extra for international airfares is worth it.

Consider Your Budget

No one can prohibit you from dreaming of exotic locales you will visit during your honeymoon. You may imagine yourself spending a year away from the city rush, surrounded by scenic mountains, with only your loved one by your side.

However, we don’t live in a fairytale, and the budget often plays a significant role in determining the best honeymoon duration.

Adequately evaluate your financial possibilities and think about what matters the most for you – fun entertainment, visiting your dream destination or spending more time vacationing. Most couples have to compromise on one or two of these points.

For example, a week-long honeymoon in an all-inclusive Maldives resort may cost more than a month in Eastern Europe. What’s more critical for you – getting a quality tan and listening to ocean waves or spending more time away?

There’s no right or wrong answer. The goal is to find a sweet spot between the destination, duration, and vacation quality. Draw a line on your maximum honeymoon spending and research options that fit your budget.

You should also consider how much time you can afford to spend off-work. How much will a two-week-long vacation affect your following paycheck? Think ahead to avoid unexpected pitfalls.

Consider Your Vacation Time & Routine

Sometimes, the money isn’t the problem, but work doesn’t let go. Maybe you have no vacation time left. Maybe you’re an irreplaceable worker. Maybe you have your own business and can’t leave it for too long.

At the end of the day, you also need to coordinate your vacation time with your partner, which isn’t always possible. Sometimes, both partners get two weeks off, but only a week overlaps.

In contrast, some people can work remotely and can skip this section entirely. Everyone’s work and routine are different, so consider your situation when making the decision.

However, “routine” refers not solely to work. Think of how you spend your days at home and what other obligations you have.

Suppose you help your sister by bringing your nephew to baseball training every second day. You don’t have to compromise your honeymoon to help anyone, but can she find someone else to do it for long?

Someone else’s kids may not be your problem, but it gets trickier when you have your own kids, pets, or plants. Not that they’re equal, but it’s your personal responsibility in every case.

Consider whether you can trust your pets, plants, or children to someone close. Even if your parents or friends are happy to help, you shouldn’t abuse their kindness.

Some couples with kids go on a family honeymoon. The presence of children can also affect the honeymoon duration. You’d need an extra suitcase for all the necessary supplies to live on a tropical island with a toddler for a month.

Often, going on a shorter honeymoon trip for peace of mind is better than spending a month away from home worrying about all the responsibilities you’ve abandoned.

Consider the Destination & Activities

Some honeymoon destinations have enough attractions and gorgeous places to explore for an entire month. Others can be walked through entirely in under a week.

For example, you’ll likely get bored in Paris after two weeks. The city is undoubtedly romantic and has a rich cultural heritage, but it simply isn’t that big.

In contrast, you can spend over a month on a road trip across the country or on a wild island with lots of outdoor activities like diving, hiking, and sunbathing.

If you believe that vacations are for resting, one to two weeks is the optimal honeymoon duration unless you’re very, very stressed from work. Honeymoon cruises are an exception – you can venture oceans for months.

On the other hand, if you’re an explorer at heart and are always up to new activities, you’ll find something to do for every day of a month-long trip.

Lastly, think about where you genuinely want to go, research how much a vacation there costs, and consider how much time in your dream destination you can afford.