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PrintHoneymoons With Heart
Socially conscious couples skip the cabana scene in search of a good cause.
While most newlyweds envision a honeymoon spent relaxing on sugar-white sand and swimming in cool ocean waters, some couples are side-stepping beachside retreats in favor of helping children or improving living conditions in impoverished countries. Known as “service honeymoons,” these trips with a cause are increasingly popular with today’s socially conscious couples. Brides and grooms are putting their romantic getaways on hold and instead contribute their honeymoon dollars—and their newlywed bliss—to a greater cause.
“We’ve been so lucky, and we just wanted to find a way to give back,” say Salt Lake newlyweds Kate and Alberto Reyes, who are planning a volunteer trip with Habitat for Humanity building homes in Mississippi for Hurricane Katrina victims.
Whether it’s building new homes, educating children, or caring for abandoned newborns, there’s a service honeymoon sure to suit every couples’ interests. But before you say sayonara to your cruise reservations, you’ll need to do some serious research and planning.
Consider your background. Are you or your fiancé fluent in a second language? Does taking care of children melt your heart, or does pounding away with a hammer and bucket of nails sound more appealing? Do you want to travel abroad or remain in the States? Use your interests and talents to help you decide what type of trip will be the best fit.
Do some research. Most organizations that sponsor service trips have Web sites where you can watch videos of volunteer work, read blog entries from volunteers and find lists of available projects worldwide. Investigate an organization’s reputation by searching its name in the online archives of newspapers and non-profit databases. Also, educate yourself about the area you plan to visit by searching through books, Web sites and travel magazines.
Ask questions. Consult organizations about the living conditions volunteers can expect while participating in a service trip. What will sleeping and bathing arrangements be like? How much, if any, communication can you have with the outside world? How labor-intensive will your trip be? Get all the facts.
Read the fine print. Before booking your trip, look at the cost of all expenses, including registration fees—which can cost hundreds of dollars—airfare, travel expenses within the country and hotel accommodations, if available.
Plan ahead. If you decide to go global, find out through your organization the proper identification you’ll need to travel abroad, such as a birth certificate or driver’s license, and whether you’ll need a passport. If you do need a passport, keep in mind it can take at least six weeks—often longer—for passport applications to be processed and approved.
Visit your doc. To avoid serious illness while traveling abroad, make an appointment with your doctor to determine if you will need vaccinations depending on the country you’re visiting. Get your shots at least four to six weeks before your trip.
For a Good Cause: Organizations that offer service trips
Global Volunteers
At a cost of $800–$3,000 per person, Global Volunteers offers one- to three-week-long service trips around the world, from teaching English in China to helping homeless children in Peru. Visit globalvolunteers.org.
i-to-i
This British organization sends more than 5,000 people a year to 30 different countries, and offers 500 international service projects like coaching football in Kenya or conserving fuzzy pandas in China. Visit i-to-i.com.
Habitat for Humanity
If you’re looking for a service trip stateside, Habitat for Humanity is the perfect fit for you. Help restore homes lost in Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast or build homes for needy families in other parts of the country. Visit habitat.org.
