Honeymoons Even Sweeter With Discounts, Packages

Getting married can be pricey, and often the honeymoon trip adds insult to injury; it can cost thousands. For honeymooners without rich parents, I have four suggestions that will kick off married life in style without socking it to your pocketbook. My modest proposals are a combination of old standbys and options that might not have occurred to you.

Las Vegas: Have the nuptials on a weekend, then hit Las Vegas during its cheapest time of the week--Sunday evening through Thursday. Bally’s Las Vegas, telephone (800) 634-3434, offers a “Super Celebration Package” that covers those five nights for $371 per couple and throws in two buffets, a show, spa discounts and other extras. And if you want to say “I do” in Vegas, A Little White Wedding Chapel, tel. (800) 545-8111, is a prime budget pick: $40 for a drive-through ceremony or $55 inside, plus $35 for the license.

Orlando: Even if you don’t get hitched by Mickey Mouse, you can join the legions of couples who flock to Orlando for fun and sun. One honeymoon package at Sierra Suites, tel. (800) 830-4964, comes with a studio suite for six nights, bubbly ‘n’ blooms and a rental car, all for $654 for two.

Caribbean: Sail along in the Windjammer Barefoot Cruises fleet, tel. (800) 327-2601; Internet https:// www.windjammer.com. The best deal on a cabin with a double bed is the 122-passenger Legacy out of San Juan, Puerto Rico, which visits that country’s Culebra island and four of the Virgin Islands. Six nights start at $975 in August, $1,100 in October, per person. The “Barefoot Honeymoon” package tosses in souvenir T-shirts, a bottle of champagne, gift basket and so on (plus a later anniversary cruise at half price).

Italy: Here is a splurge, but a reasonably priced trip nonetheless. If you can spare two weeks, consider spending them amid the rolling scenery, ancient hill towns and wineries of Tuscany. An agency called Idyll, tel. (888) 868-6871, Internet https://www.untours.com, can set you up for 14 nights in an apartment (sometimes in an old abbey, vineyard or farmhouse) with a rental car for $3,750 per couple from New York. That includes air fare and transfers from Florence. Add about $250 per person for air fare from Los Angeles.