Best Summer Honeymoon Destinations for Your Wallet

John S Kiernan, Managing EditorMay 28, 2014

John S Kiernan, Managing Editor
May 28, 2014

2014 Best Summer Honeymoon Destinations for Your Wallet
The average honeymoon costs upwards of $4,000. That’s a lot of money no matter who you are, especially as we emerge from one of the most significant economic downturns in history. After all, the average household has around $6,000 in the bank and owes $7,000 to their credit card company. And that’s not even to mention the $1.11 trillion we owe student loan companies or the 26% of people who are behind on medical bills.

Perhaps it will help that people are waiting longer to get married in the face of financial turmoil. The median age at first marriage in 2006 – before the downturn – was 27.5 for men and 25.5 for women, according to Census data. By 2013, it had risen to 29 for men and 26.6 for women. Regardless, some cost cutting is certainly in order because you definitely don’t want to start marriage behind a mountain of debt. Not only is money one of the most popular subjects of arguments among couples, studies have shown, but financial arguments early in a relationship are also the top predictor of divorce.

With that in mind and considering that honeymoon planning typically picks up pace in the summer months, WalletHub decided to lend a hand by comparing 100 of the best domestic honeymoon destinations based on 13 key metrics which collectively speak to the affordability, weather conditions, romanticism and activities that each city and town bring to the table.

Table of Contents

Main Findings

Overall Rank	Destination	Budget Rank	Activities & Romanticism Rank	Weather Conditions Rank
1	Chicago, IL	17	10	9
2	Las Vegas, NV	2	5	34
3	Los Angeles, CA	14	17	4
4	Philadelphia, PA	15	13	12
5	New York, NY	47	1	9
6	Honolulu, HI	12	11	17
7	Boston, MA	35	6	14
8	Washington, DC	5	3	68
9	San Diego, CA	23	12	19
10	Seattle, WA	51	2	19
11	Santa Fe, NM	52	23	7
12	Maui, HI	47	7	38
13	Sedona, AZ	54	31	3
14	Baltimore, MD	7	30	41
15	New Orleans, LA	11	4	93
16	Miami, FL	3	32	60
17	Houston, TX	9	27	57
18	Detroit, MI	24	46	6
19	San Francisco, CA	26	9	72
20	Phoenix, AZ	8	38	43
21	Austin, TX	26	19	55
22	Asheville, NC	34	28	33
23	Columbus, OH	21	59	18
24	Charlotte, NC	16	50	27
25	Kauai, HI	57	20	22
26	San Antonio, TX	32	24	54
27	Savannah, GA	50	21	38
28	Indianapolis, IN	42	50	11
29	Poconos, PA	40	37	25
30	Charleston, SC	58	8	58
31	Fort Myers, FL	4	44	65
32	Denver, CO	41	26	45
33	Marco Island, FL	18	53	31
34	Orlando, FL	1	18	100
35	Delray Beach, FL	21	63	1
36	Dallas, TX	38	36	49
37	Santa Barbara, CA	53	33	27
38	Santa Monica, CA	31	55	27
39	Palm Springs, CA	36	48	42
40	Naples, FL	9	16	99
41	Key West, FL	60	15	69
42	Laguna Beach, CA	46	71	5
43	St. Petersburg, FL	29	40	77
44	Napa Valley, CA	68	24	48
45	Nashville, TN	26	29	85
46	Memphis, TN	56	52	25
47	Palm Beach, FL	6	76	51
48	Cape Cod, MA	83	14	51
49	St. Augustine, FL	18	22	97
50	Jacksonville, FL	18	33	94
51	Islamorada, FL	37	54	60
52	Catalina Island, CA	95	64	2
53	Fort Worth, TX	55	56	47
54	San Jose, CA	33	74	45
55	El Paso, TX	63	79	13
56	Ocean City, MD	70	47	27
57	Sanibel Island, FL	24	68	65
58	Del Mar, CA	30	87	16
59	Lake Tahoe, CA	79	35	50
60	Martha's Vineyard, MA	87	39	56
61	Taos, NM	66	70	22
62	St. Pete Beach, FL	43	62	77
63	Kennebunkport, ME	58	76	21
64	Monterey, CA	62	41	81
65	Amelia Island, FL	74	43	63
66	Telluride, CO	67	67	44
67	Key Largo, FL	63	58	67
68	Niagara Falls, NY	61	75	36
69	Lanai, HI	73	80	15
70	Carmel, CA	72	44	81
71	Breckenridge, CO	44	57	92
72	Duck Key, FL	44	84	60
73	Green Mountains, VT	13	89	73
74	Dolores, CO	91	93	8
75	San Luis Obispo, CA	83	65	76
76	Bluffton, SC	69	86	58
77	Gatlinburg, TN	77	61	86
78	Nantucket, MA	94	65	64
79	Bar Harbor, ME	81	49	89
80	Jackson Hole, WY	80	42	95
81	Santa Rosa Beach, FL	82	91	32
82	Cape May, NJ	88	69	80
83	Boca Grande, FL	38	81	98
84	Yosemite National Park, CA	99	88	40
T-85	Aspen, CO	83	60	90
T-85	Mackinac Island, MI	91	78	73
87	St. Michaels, MD	89	92	37
88	Wrightsville Beach, NC	49	84	90
89	Little Torch Key, FL	75	90	69
90	Greenough, MT	71	99	34
91	Adirondacks, NY	97	72	75
92	Big Sur, CA	93	73	81
93	Chetek, WI	78	97	51
94	Ojo Caliente, NM	96	96	22
95	Sundance, UT	65	98	84
96	Grand Canyon, AZ	98	83	88
97	Steinhatchee, FL	86	82	96
98	Black Butte Ranch, OR	75	100	79
99	Darby, MT	90	95	71
100	Walland, TN	100	94	86

Ask The Experts: Tips for Saving on Your Honeymoon

We turned to travel industry, wedding and personal finance experts for money-saving insights that honeymooners can use in order to minimize the cost of their trips and start marriage on the right financial foot without sacrificing fun or value. You can check out their tips below.

What are some of the best money-saving tips for honeymooners?

What are the biggest honeymoon money-wasters?

What destinations offer the best value proposition?

How much should couples spend on their honeymoon?

Ask the Experts

Amy Levin-Epstein
Senior Features Editor, TheKnot.com
Read More

Teresa Belcher
Founder of HoneymoonIslands.com
Read More

Nancy Barkley
Founder of Honeymoonsandgetaways.com
Read More

Frederick J. DeMicco
Professor and ARAMARK Chair, Department of Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management, University of Delaware
Read More

Lynda A. Dias
Assistant Professor of Hospitality Management , NYC College of Technology, CUNY
Read More

Juline E. Mills
Professor & Chair, Department of Hospitality & Tourism, University of New Haven
Read More

More Experts

Methodology

In order to identify the Best Honeymoon Destinations for Your Wallet, we first had to identify the most attractive honeymoon destinations in the United States (this study did not take international destinations into account). We did so by first analyzing the published research on the subject and compiling a list of 100 domestic destinations that have been pointed to by popular media in recent years as being particularly nice honeymoon spots. We also included the 26 largest cities in the U.S. because while they may have been deemed “too obvious” to appear on other best and worst lists, they are nevertheless dominant vacation destinations.

We then compared our list of popular vacation destinations based on the 13 key metrics listed below, using the corresponding weights to construct our overall rankings. The three overall categories in which the metrics were grouped below were used for organizational purposes only and did not have any bearing on the overall rankings.

Note: When comparing hotel and car rental prices we used Aug. 23 – Aug. 31 as the travel dates. In assessing the weather, we looked at historical averages for Aug. 23.

Budget

Lowest Price of 4-Star Hotel: 1
Lowest Price Available for Standard Rental Car: 1
Sales Tax: 0.5
Prevalence of Affordable 4.5+ Star Restaurants: 1

Weather Conditions

Difference Between the Historical Average Temperature for Aug. 23 & Ideal Temperature (75°): 1
Historical Average Precipitation for Aug. 23: 1
Historical Average Humidity for Aug. 23: 1

Activities & Romanticism

Beach Quality (Oceans & Lakes): 1
Number of Bed & Breakfasts per Capita: 0.5
% of Romantic Hotels: 0.5
Number of Attractions: 1
Number of Activities: 1
Number of Nightlife Options: 1

Source: Data used to create these rankings is courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau, the Kayak.com, the Tax Foundation, the Weather Underground, Tripadvisor and Yelp.

Questions & Answers

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