The Good Life

Globetrotting Honeymooners

Go on a world tour or stay in a castle — sit back and let these travel planners organise your dream honeymoon

When your wedding is just around the corner, you would want everything to be planned right down to the last item, including the honeymoon. After the hullabaloo of a big fat Indian wedding, why wouldn’t a couple be excited about a getaway?

But gone are the days when a couple would have to turn to their friends and family for suggestions or pour over magazines and websites to plan the perfect itinerary. Now, honeymoon planners such as Welgrow are here to make your holiday a memorable one. Not only does Welgrow look after the minute details but they also customise it in accordance with the couple’s preference. An exotic vacation for a week can cost between Rs.7 million and Rs.10 million, depending on the number of days. “Whether it is wine tasting or renting a European villa for your celebration, we make sure that we provide the couple what they have always dreamt of,” says Radhika Khanjio, founder of Welgrow. She adds that their clients mostly reach them through word of mouth. Amongst the most exuberant honeymoons WelGrow has ever planned, a 27-night holiday explored places such as Maldives, Kruger, Cape Town, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Zanzibar and Dubai. “Each of our clients has varied interests and we plan everything from reaching the edge of space in a MiG-29 flight in Russia to herding cattle in Australia, and hosting a celebration in a private capsule aboard the London Eye. They also seek rare accommodations such as an igloo in Norway, a private castle all to themselves, sleeping under the stars or going to the North Pole or the South Pole,” adds Khanjio.

A Travel Duet is another such company which helps newly-weds to experience their dream holiday. Explore Mexico together or have the time of your life at Bora Bora, this company has your back. “Rs.4 million for a week has become the new bracket for rich couples who want to go on a customised holiday,” says Pritish Shah, founder. The company has planned trips as expensive as Rs.5 million for a week for couples. These high-end vacations also come with perks that make the stay easy and comfortable. Shah adds that the company appoints a manager to accompany the couple from the gates of the hotel to the airport. The manager caters to the demands of the couples so that there are no complaints. November to March is the time when the company gets the most number of client requests, as it is a good time to travel. However, bookings start from August as planning takes time. A Travel Duet plans only foreign trips, which is what makes them different from the others.

Last summer, Tripoetic planned a world tour for a newlywed couple — one of their highest planned vacations. This company is another one on the list which mixes luxury with class, and plans everything for the couple. “Even though there are different itineraries, what is common is that the couple gets to travel in first class or business class, whether on a train or plane,” says Gunjan Indrayan, CEO of Tripoetic Travel Planners. An 18-day trip would cost about Rs.4 million and vary on the basis of duration. Indrayan recalls that they had once planned a trip where the couple stayed for three days in a glass igloo in Finland. The couple had flown in their private jet to the USA. January is the time of the year when Tripoetic gets the most amount of requests. The company has also planned vacations during New Year to Costa Rica, along with a cruise party in Sydney. It is now time for you to relax and let the honeymoon planners create a wonderful holiday for you.