What's a Mini-Moon? 6 Quick Getaway Ideas
If you don't have the time or the money to take an elaborate honeymoon, consider a shorter vacay closer to home, a.k.a. a mini-moon!
Taking some time out to relax and recharge after your wedding is an important part of bonding with your new spouse and basking in the glow of your marriage. But your post-wedding trip doesn’t have to be long, far away, or expensive.
These days, many couples are opting for “mini-moons” instead of traditional honeymoons—and we are totally on board!
A mini-moon is a shorter post-wedding holiday taken at a destination closer to home. This usually means a getaway of four days or fewer at a location that does not require air travel (unless it’s a puddle-jump flight of less than hour—say, for example, Los Angeles to Las Vegas).
There are plenty of reasons to take a mini-moon instead of a honeymoon, the biggest being cost. A shorter holiday that doesn’t require air travel will be far less expensive than a week in an exotic locale—your wedding was costly, after all, so we wouldn’t blame you for wanting to save a little dough after the big day. You can always use your first year of marriage to save up for a bigger one-year anniversary trip.
Lack of vacation time is also a big reason many newlyweds opt for a mini-moon over a honeymoon. When you’ve taken time off from work for your wedding, and you only have, say, 10 vacation days for the whole year, a mini-moon might be a better option than no honeymoon at all.
Some couples also find that they prefer shorter trips—they’re less intense and can reduce travel anxiety. Ultimately you know what’s best for yourself and your marriage, so don’t feel like you have to take a long for faraway honeymoon just because it seems like “the thing to do.”
Now onto the fun part: choosing a mini-moon destination! This is an opportunity to get creative. If there’s somewhere nearby that you’ve always wanted to visit, take the opportunity now to do it up right. Just be sure that you and your partner are on the same page about the type of holiday you want to have—something active and adventurous, or super relaxing? A destination in the city, or an out-of-town hideaway? You can, of course, visit a restful bed and breakfast and go on a one-day hike if you both want different things from your trip; this is the perfect chance to practice communicating and compromising!
Here are a few mini-moon destination ideas to get your creative juices flowing:
1. Go camping.
2. Take a road trip.
3. Hide out at a cabin in the woods, a bed and breakfast on the coast, a farmhouse in the country or some other out-of-the-way destination.
4. Book an uber-fabulous hotel in your own city and have a staycation—don’t forget to play tourist and visit museums, historic sites and restaurants you’ve never been to!
5. Go to a weekend-long music festival (if that’s something you’ve always wanted to do!)
6. Take a ski trip (if it’s seasonally appropriate).
A few things to keep in mind when you’re booking your trip: Even though you’re taking a mini-moon, call it a honeymoon! You might land yourself some room upgrades or free champagne. Also, don’t be afraid to splurge on a nice dinner or an activity you’ve always wanted to try (zip lining, anyone?) It’s your honeymoon, after all, and you’re saving big by taking a shorter trip—so enjoy yourself!
