Planning Your Honeymoon Via Review Sites: the Top 5

[Karen Cole]

photo: Isamare


Your dream trip may be a relaxing getaway or an adrenaline fueled adventure, but no matter your destination, make sure you get the vacation you deserve by thoroughly researching your options. Reviews by previous guests can help you make informed decisions and can take some of the guess work out of picking the perfect location, so that you can have an unforgettable honeymoon.

Whether your ideal vacation is at an all-inclusive tropical resort or a quiet bed and breakfast, there are a dizzying number of options available to couples planning their honeymoon. Once you've settled on a budget and destination, it's important to do your research and read reviews of hotels and resorts written by guests and experts. Look for these qualities in any review website you use:

• It's easy to use and navigate 
• Reviews are based on first-hand experiences
• There are plenty of recent, up-to-date reviews
• There are extra resources such as travel guides or forums available

Below are the five best ratings websites to use to help ensure your dream vacation doesn't end in disappointment.

TripAdvisor

An extensive website with an active community of reviewers.

The largest and best known travel ratings website benefits from an extensive community of users, which means you'll have access to a large number of reviews and active forums. Travel guides and information on cruises and road trips are also available.  The site has become so critical to many hotels' business models that some are now employing hotel reputation management software to help them manage reviews on this site.  Although this has become somewhat common for businesses to do, it’s good to be aware of when you are reading through the reviews.

Zicasso

Personalized luxury honeymoon packages created by experts.

If you're dreaming of a customized trip of a lifetime, Zicasso can match you to experts, who will use your description of an ideal getaway to create a personalized package. The site is well-designed, and has a section specifically for honeymoons. Users are encouraged to leave reviews, which are sorted based on destination, and experts are dropped from the site if their rating falls below a certain threshold.

Oyster

Expert, unbiased reviews and unedited hotel room photos.

Nothing could be worse than arriving at your honeymoon suite and discovering that your hotel or resort is not at all what you dreamed it would be. Oyster uses professional reviewers who are hired to give honest and unbiased reviews and ensure that what you see in pictures on the hotel's website is what you actually get. It's worthwhile to explore their section devoted to destination wedding resorts if you're planning on tying the knot away from home.

Cruise Critic

A rating site specifically for cruise vacations.

All-inclusive cruises continue to be a popular option for honeymooners, and Cruise Critic helps you sort cruise vacations by destination, rating, or cruise line. Similar in style to TripAdvisor, and managed by the same company, it's an easy to use site with plenty of information. It also has the option to search for specialty cruises for gay and lesbian couples, disability-friendly cruises, and themed trips.

Cheap Caribbean

Bargain packages and last minute deals.

With ratings assigned both by the website's staff and by users, Cheap Caribbean is a great place to get a deal on resorts throughout the Caribbean and Mexico. A feature that makes this site unique is its 'Packages and Promotions' section. If you're searching for a bargain, don't mind booking during unpopular travel seasons, or are looking for a last minute reservation this website will help you stretch your travel budget.