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Dollar$ and $ense

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I’ve had money on the mind a lot lately. In part it’s due to my latest obsession: The Secret Currency of Love, a book of essays by famous women writers and their relationships with the greenback. I’m also really excited about Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.

But I think my dreaming of moolah is really thanks to a presentation on planning your honeymoon I recently did for the virtual travel show hosted by your favorite bridal mag and Zip to David’s Bridal. I talked a lot about setting up your budget and sticking to it. I also told folks to remember those incidentals—taxis, travel tariffs, tips and other things that begin with a letter other than T—can really add up. And let me say it again: Double it for incidentals. Take it from me, your friendly experienced expert, who just happens to be (finally) planning her own honeymoon.

That’s right, lovely readers, after a year plus of marriage, the Hubz and I are hitting the road. We are so beyond excited for our trip of a lifetime that we are counting down the minutes untilour time at the &Beyond Lodge, near the largest waterfalls in the world—Victoria Falls. Then, two nights at a private game lodge in Botswana and another two at the &Beyond tented camp, Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp, on the country’s amazing delta. He-lll-oooo, super coolness. We’ll also be spending a few days in Cape Town and the Cape Grace Hotel, which has been named the best hotel in the entire continent of Africa. Can you imagine!?! Oh-eem-gee, I’m dying with excitement.

Anyhow, as one may imagine, there’s a lot of prepping involved in a trip like this, plus a slew of incidentals. Here’s my pre-trip list:

  • Extra pages in my passport (to put country visas): $142 plus shipping
  • Malrone script (to fight malaria): $35 per person (that’d be the Hubz and me)
  • Shots (to combat gnarlies): $50 per person
  • Travel insurance (required by the safari company): $160 per person
  • Taxi to the airport: $35 plus tips
  • Experiencing the most amazing adventure with the one I love: Priceless (sorry, I couldn’t resist)

I didn’t included gear (I’ve got to hit up NorthFace for a rain-resistant windbreaker and American Apparel for leggings) nor did I put new clothes (hello, cute shirt dress and another pair of Toms) because those are things I would buy for any big trip. But those can add up as well. Moral of the story: Give yourself a serious cushion when it comes to organizing you duckets. You’ll be so much happier in paradise.

Swak and happy planning!
xoox, Jenna

P.S.! Check back here for more blog entries on my total trip of a lifetime.