Honeymoon Safety

Your honeymoon is a chance for you and your spouse to celebrate your marriage and your love just the two of you. But for some couples, the honeymoon can be tragic. Just today, I was watching an old episode of a news magazine show that reminded me about George and Jennifer Smith, the newlyweds whose honeymoon ended in tragedy when George went missing from their cruise. Just last month, a British couple honeymooning in Antigua was brutally murdered in their hotel room hours before they were scheduled to go home. The couple, Ben and Catherine Mullany, both eventually died as a result of the injuries sustained when they were shot.

I realize that these couples are the exception. Rarely will newlyweds have such horrific honeymoons. Still, you and your new husband or wife should take the proper precautions for your honeymoon. It's better to be safe than sorry. Here are some things you can do to protect yourself:

Before you leave for your honeymoon, especially if you're going to a foreign country, make a photocopy of your passport and plane tickets and leave the copies with someone you trust. It will be helpful to have copies on file if anything should happen to you or should you lose it. You might want to bring a copy with you whenever you are walking around in foreign countries as well in case any authorities want to see it to avoid losing the real thing.

Consider getting travel health insurance. For some people, who are ill or are risk takers and adventure seekers, who could more easily have an accident, travel health insurance is worth it. At the very least, you should look into it. I for one seriously injured my knee while on vacation in Italy, and my husband-to-be Antonio had kidney stones while he was on vacation in the United States. His stay in the emergency room cost us $5,000. Now, he always gets travel health insurance.

Keep your wits about you during your honeymoon. Yes, this is a vacation, probably the best of your life. And you and your new husband or wife should have a great time. But getting so drunk that you don't remember things or put yourselves in danger is a bad idea. In fact, the Smiths were allegedly drunk the night George went missing on the cruise ship. His wife reportedly told authorities that she didn't remember much of what happened the night her husband was lost at sea. You always want to be aware of what's going on around you, especially if you're in a new place that you don't know very well.

Love sometimes makes you blind to what's going on around you. Be careful about the new company you keep at the cruise, resort, hotel, restaurant where you and your spouse are hanging out. You just met these people and they might try to take advantage of your post-wedding daze. You don't have to be cold. But don't share personal information like addresses or social security numbers and get together with strangers in well-lit, public places. Don't bring them back to your room or go to theirs, where you could end up cornered.

It sounds trite but using your gut and acting on instincts is always wise. Taking precautions, however, does not mean you have to be a killjoy. Be sure to have fun with your spouse. You only get one first honeymoon!