Shari and David love to discover new places by serendipity, so when they took off for Bali, they definitely planned on renting a car once they arrived. "Our travel agent suggested that since we weren't used to driving on the left and didn't speak the language, we should hire a car and driver, but we really wanted to be on our own," said David."It worked out great. Each evening, we'd talk to our hotel concierge and chart out the next day's route. Then we'd read about the places we planned to visit. Of course, we did get a bit lost once or twice, but that was part of the fun . And we met so many people."

Elaine and Kevin, on the other hand, felt that driving around a strange place was not for them. "Driving is too much like work," said Elaine."We wanted to see the island [Barbados], and we didn't want a tour with fifty people getting on and off at each stop. Our hotel recommended a private guide, and we liked her so much that we went out with her twice. She took us to meet the owner of a working plantation, gave us a real feeling for the history and politics of the island, and even packed a gourmet picnic for us and dropped us off for a few hours at a secluded beach."

Renting a car or hiring a private guide means that you can explore at your own pace without adhering to schedules. Depending on where you'll be honeymooning, guided tours, public transportation, and hotel shuttles may also be available. You may even decide to reach your honeymoon destination by train or bus. Your travel agent, hotel, or the tourist office can tell you what's available. You'll learn about these and other options and how to make the right choice for you.

Auto Excitement

There's little to match the excitement of hopping behind the wheel and being free to follow your whims as you explore new places. You might even consider renting your dream car-perhaps a snappy BMW convertible, a stately Lincoln Continental, or a sporty Porsche. If you have a special model in mind, ask your travel agent or car rental company if it is available. Otherwise, you'll choose a size/price category: economy/subcompact, midsize, or luxury. Specify any features that are important to you such as air-conditioning, cruise control, or a large trunk.

Car Rental Realities

Paula and Andrew had planned to drive along the California coast for their honeymoon, but when they filled out the paperwork at the rental car counter, the clerk took one look at their licenses and told them they were too young. "You have to be twenty-five, but no one told us that. So there we were, old enough to get married, but too young to rent a car," said Andrew."Fortunately, the clerk took pity on us, made some phone calls to competing companies, and found us a car we could rent. I don't know what we would have done otherwise. Our honeymoon would have been ruined." Paula and Andrew were lucky. If you're under twenty-five, be sure to ask if there is a minimum age when making your reservations. For insurance reasons, many rental car companies won't rent to drivers under that age. Some will, but they add a surcharge.

You may be surprised to learn that rental car companies are increasingly checking drivers' records and refusing to rent to drivers with several convictions for moving violations or driving while intoxicated.

If you don't have a major credit card, it's worth getting one. Otherwise, you'll probably need a sizable cash deposit as well as prearranged approval. You'll also need valid licenses; if you're going abroad, you may need an international driver's license. Your local Automobile Association of America (AAA) office can provide you with one, even if you're not a member.

Additional charges can also add up to quite a shock. The low rates you see advertised in newspapers and magazines are often pumped up by a number of surcharges, some mandatory, some avoidable. These can include state and city taxes, airport fees (if you are picked up at the airport by a car rental company that isn't located on the airport grounds), mileage charges, and drop-off charges (if you aren't returning the car to the same location from which it was rented). Ask about any surcharges and factor them in when comparing rates. Some firms also ask for a refundable deposit, which may reduce the amount you can charge to your credit card during your trip.

Before You Go

When you fill out the paperwork for your rental, you'll face decisions about a set of optional charges for insurance and liability waivers, which you'll be asked to either accept (and pay for) or decline (and be responsible for damages in case of an accident) .You can save as much as $20 a day by checking in advance to find out what coverage you already have.

Ask your insurance agent: What does my auto insurance cover when I rent a car? Does that coverage apply outside this country? Am I covered if the car is damaged in an accident or I'm hurt? What if other people are injured? Am I covered if the car is stolen or vandalized? What additional coverage might I need?

Read your credit card terms: What coverage is provided if I use this credit card to rent a car? Do you provide primary coverage, or do I still have to collect from my auto insurance company first?

Ask the rental car company: What insurance, waivers, and other options do you offer? What type of coverage is required for overseas rentals? Is it included in the rate? Is an international driver's license required? Are there limitations on which countries we can drive through without purchasing additional insurance? Are there any other legal or insurance regulations we need to be prepared for?

Traveling by Train

In many areas, trains are the best way to get where you're going. You can relax and watch the scenery, get up and walk around, and even meet people as you go. In areas such as Alaska, California, and the Rockies, excursion trains take you through some of the country's most dramatic landscapes, whereas on the East Coast, trains often rival planes for city-to-city travel.

If you plan to do a lot of hopping around, a rail pass may also offer significant savings over airline tickets or point-to-point rail tickets. In the United States, Amtrak offers rail/hotel packages, regional "All Aboard" rates, and off-peak and other special fares. In Canada, VIA Rail offers similar service. Both can be booked by travel agents.

In Europe, trains connect most of the popular destinations-even small cities and resort areas-with reliable and convenient service. A variety of rail passes are available, including single-country, regional, and all-Europe passes as well as flexible passes that don't require your travel to be on consecutive days. Also check out student and youth discounts. However, unless you'll be traveling quite a bit, you may save money by buying point-to-point tickets. You may also want to consider rail packages that include a rental car or bicycles once you reach your destination. For details, call Rail Europe or the national tourist office of the country you're interested in.

Public Transportation

In major cities, the best ways to get around are walking or using public transportation or taxis. Many cities have tour buses that offer a good overall orientation and let you get on and off at major sites for a day for a fixed price. Also check with the tourist office about city passes; these sometimes combine a transportation pass with free or reduced admission to museums and other attractions.

Many attractions in resort areas provide free hotel pickup and drop-off, and some resort areas provide free shuttle service around the resort and to nearby points of interest. Many even provide transportation to and from the airport.

Get more information from our Honeymoon Planning Kit which includes 12 Honeymoon Planning Checklists and our 31 Chapter Honeymoon Planning Guide. Click here to visit our download page.