When a great opportunity comes around, grab it.
My fiancé and I have been planning our honeymoon for some time, and our indecisiveness and desire to visit so many places made it a bit of a challenge. In addition, an array of obstacles including scheduling around work, social obligations, weather and, of course, budget, further complicated the planning process.
We were initially jetting off to Croatia to explore historic Dubrovnik, island hop between Hvar, Brac, Vis and Krk, and explore the beautiful Plitvice Lakes National Park. Airfare costs eventually drew a red line through this option.
Then we were headed to Mexico to lounge on the beaches of Riviera Maya, trek through ancient ruins and hike mangroves and tropical forests. Some safety concerns and hotel prices put a damper on this adventure.
Finally, after spending hours weighing Europe and Asia with the Caribbean and South America, a deal alert popped up on Google Flights’ Discover Destinations feature for a $400 round-trip flight to Paris.
I went to Paris once before several years ago and, as so many do upon their visit, I fell in love — the architecture, food, culture and history offered an experience I remember fondly to this day. However, I didn’t consider France an option when planning our honeymoon because I assumed the prices wouldn’t fit our budget. After hours of destination comparison, we decided this confusingly low price was a sign, and we hit the button.
We’re now creating a France itinerary inclusive of historic Normandy sites, Mont-St.-Michel, a wine and chateaux drive through the Loire Valley and a couple nights in Paris in a beautiful Airbnb in the city’s 18th arrondissement in a charming theater quarter.
It’s our ideal honeymoon, combining a warm destination, outdoor activities, history and great food and wine. While I’m first and foremost a planner, this was simply one of those situations in which all the planning in the world wouldn’t have equaled our spur-of-the-moment decision.
A bientôt, Paris!
— Nicole Quasté, assistant editor
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