London - The traditional two-week honeymoon in a tropical paradise is becoming a thing of the past, a survey suggests.
Thanks to pressure on finances, newlyweds spend £1 000 (about R18 000) less on their first holiday as a married couple than they did ten years ago.
While the average honeymoon in 2005 would cost the equivalent of £4 114 by today’s prices, typical newlyweds now spend £3 000.
Couples are going away for shorter periods, as well as choosing less far-flung destinations.
Only half as many as a decade ago get away for a fortnight, with many now preferring a shorter “mini-moon” – for example, a long weekend away.
And one in ten don’t bother with a honeymoon at all, according to the survey by LateRooms.com.
Almost half of the 2 000 couples surveyed either stayed in the UK or ventured no further than the Continent for their break.
One in five said the pressures of work meant they didn’t have time to go away for two weeks.
Meanwhile, 30 percent said the fact they had to pay for their wedding – or contribute heavily to the cost – meant they couldn’t afford an extravagant trip.
Daily Mail