Skip to content

Top Navigation

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • FOOD
  • HOLIDAYS
  • ENTERTAINING
  • HOME
  • GARDENING
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING
  • WEDDINGS
  • SHOP
  • DIY
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS
  • LIFE
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Pin FB

Explore Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • Explore

    Explore

    • Tips on Organizing Your Home

      Tips on Organizing Your Home

      From the kitchen and bathroom to the bedroom and laundry room, here are 40 ways to simplify, streamline, and banish clutter throughout the house. Read More
    • These Are the Paint Colors You'll See Everywhere in 2022

      These Are the Paint Colors You'll See Everywhere in 2022

      Upgrade your spaces with new—and old—classics. Read More
    • 39 Make-Ahead Holiday Dishes That Are Perfect for Festive Family Gatherings

      39 Make-Ahead Holiday Dishes That Are Perfect for Festive Family Gatherings

      These classic recipes will help you get a head start on the festivities. Read More
  • FOOD

    FOOD

    See All FOOD
    • Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Drink Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Quick & Easy Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
    • Cooking How-Tos
    • Baking
    • Menu Planning
    • Food News & Trends
    • Wine
    • Mastering the Holiday Meal
    • What's for Dinner
    • All Recipes
  • HOLIDAYS

    HOLIDAYS

    See All HOLIDAYS
    All of Our Best Valentine's Day Crafts to Make from the Heart

    All of Our Best Valentine's Day Crafts to Make from the Heart

    Express your love with handmade Valentine's crafts like paper cards, gift ideas, and decorations.
    • Valentine's Day
    • St. Patricks Day
    • Passover
    • Easter
    • Mother's Day
    • Father's Day
    • Fourth of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Hanukkah
    • Christmas
    • New Year's Eve
  • ENTERTAINING

    ENTERTAINING

    See All ENTERTAINING
    Will We Entertain Differently in 2022? These Are the New Trends Hostesses Should Bookmark

    Will We Entertain Differently in 2022? These Are the New Trends Hostesses Should Bookmark

    Secure your role as the host with the absolute most.
    • Seasonal Entertaining & Decorating
    • Baby Shower Ideas
    • Dinner Party Ideas
    • You're Invited
  • HOME

    HOME

    See All HOME
    How to Hang and Arrange Pictures

    How to Hang and Arrange Pictures

    Amp up your home décor with perfectly placed frames.
    • Home Design & Decor
    • Paint Colors & Palettes
    • DIY Home Projects
    • The Well-Kept Home
  • GARDENING

    GARDENING

    See All GARDENING
    Six Houseplant Mistakes to Avoid This Winter

    Six Houseplant Mistakes to Avoid This Winter

    Don't let your varieties fall victim to the perils of poor cold-weather maintenance.
    • Container Gardening
    • Flower Gardens
    • Houseplants
    • Landscaping
    • Vegetable Gardens
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    How to Deep Clean Your Oven with Baking Soda

    How to Deep Clean Your Oven with Baking Soda

    Our easy tips will make this cleaning task a lot less daunting.
    • Cleaning
    • Storage & Organization
    • Laundry & Linens
  • WEDDINGS

    WEDDINGS

    See All WEDDINGS
    Your Ultimate Wedding-Planning Timeline

    Your Ultimate Wedding-Planning Timeline

    Ready, set, go! Our no-nonsense guide will help you learn how to plan your wedding like a pro.
    • Real Weddings
    • Wedding Party
    • Wedding Planning & Advice
    • Wedding Ceremony & Reception
    • Wedding Jewelry
    • Dresses & Style
    • Wedding Beauty & Wellness
    • Wedding Registry
    • Wedding Showers & Parties
    • Love & Marriage
    • Wedding Travel
  • SHOP
  • DIY

    DIY

    See All DIY
    How to Knit: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide

    How to Knit: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide

    Learn how to knit your own mittens, hats, scarves, and more. We'll take you through the step-by-step instructions and teach you how to cast on, knit, purl, and cast off.
    • Dyeing
    • Holiday Crafts
    • Kids' Crafts
    • Knitting
    • Paper Crafts
    • Sewing
    • Rescue & Revamp
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    Your Complete Guide to Restoring Moisture Back Into Your Skin

    Your Complete Guide to Restoring Moisture Back Into Your Skin

    Take a multi-pronged approach if you're experiencing excess dryness.
    • Beauty
    • Health & Wellness
    • Live Well
  • LIFE

    LIFE

    See All LIFE
    • Family
    • Pets
    • Travel
    • Net Worth
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. marthastewart.com
  2. Weddings
  3. Wedding Travel
  4. Destination Weddings
  5. 7 Questions for Travel Agent Jennifer Doncsecz on Destination Wedding Planning
Martha Stewart Weddings

7 Questions for Travel Agent Jennifer Doncsecz on Destination Wedding Planning

Skip gallery slides
Pin

1 of 7

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

How is working with an agent beneficial for couples booking destination weddings?

sip10_mcomp_doncsecz_port.jpg

Travel agent Jennifer Doncsecz of travelbyvip.com is known for her travel savvy and insider perspective on under-the-radar destinations. Here, she shares her best advice on planning a destination wedding.

An agent can negotiate a group hotel rate, then renegotiate as your date gets closer, when hotels know more about their occupancy levels (low occupancy equals deals!). When you book a block of rooms directly with an online travel site, you always have to pay the full fee up front. But with an agent, final payment sometimes isn't due until a month prior, which gives you loads of extra time to firm up your guest list.

1 of 7

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 7

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

If a couple scouts a property, can they receive a discount if they book their wedding there?

bs_0207_carjoy.jpg

Absolutely. Some places offer rebates or credit if you end up reserving more rooms. Use the money to buy your guests a round at the bar.

2 of 7

3 of 7

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Are there discounts for group air travel?

ws1607_sum08_piggybank.jpg

Yes! If at least 10 people are flying to your wedding, American Airlines, for example, will create a savings code -- usually 5 percent off -- for your guests. It doesn't matter if they're flying from the same airport or not.

3 of 7

Advertisement

4 of 7

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

How can newlyweds score upgrades?

istock_000002167694_0510.jpg

Let your hotel know it's your honeymoon when making your reservation. They're usually happy to give you a little something extra -- a welcome bottle of Champagne, breakfast in bed, or even a better room -- at no extra charge. That said, adults- and couples-only resorts cater almost exclusively to honeymooners and don't normally offer added perks.

4 of 7

5 of 7

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Any rules to live by when arranging flights?

bp103410_1107_calendar2silo.jpg

Generally, travel is cheaper in September. Kids in the States are back in school, Europeans are home from summer trips, and it's hurricane season in the Caribbean and Mexico. Midweek flights can be money savers too. If you're country-hopping, consider a "circle trip," which many airlines offer. It starts and ends at point A, but includes stops in between. The total should be less than buying a bunch of one-way tickets.

5 of 7

6 of 7

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

What issues do travelers often overlook?

ft_jun05msl01.jpg

Luggage fees (some airlines charge per bag; others, like Delta, give you one free on international flights), visa requirements (many cruise lines leave it to you to arrange visas for their ports of call), and ever-changing passport requirements (for countries like Costa Rica, your passport must be valid for 30 days after arrival, but others, like Fiji, count three months past departure date).

6 of 7

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 7

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

What are your go-to tips for long flights?

sip10_mcomp_doncsecz_travel.jpg

Pack a blanket that comes in a bag -- you can use the bag to cover the airplane pillow. (Try Donna Karan's version, shown; $200, donna karanhome.com.) Healthy snacks, like trail mix, are a must, since airplane food is either prepackaged or pricey. And I always like to study up on my destination. DK Eyewitness Travel Guides are great (shown, us.dk.com).

Any advice for those who decide to make their own travel plans without an agent?
If you can, book well in advance. Sign up for airline and hotel e-blasts, and monitor their Facebook and Twitter pages for deals, too.

7 of 7

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    `
    Martha Stewart Weddings
    View All
    • This Couple Traded Their Original Wedding Venue—Central Park's Boathouse—for the Bride's Childhood Home in Illinois
    • These Are 20 of the Best Bridal Shower Favors Under $10
    • What to Bring to Your First Wedding-Dress Shopping Appointment
    • 3 Eco-Friendly Wedding Flower Ideas That Are Simple and Impactful
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 7 How is working with an agent beneficial for couples booking destination weddings?
    2 of 7 If a couple scouts a property, can they receive a discount if they book their wedding there?
    3 of 7 Are there discounts for group air travel?
    4 of 7 How can newlyweds score upgrades?
    5 of 7 Any rules to live by when arranging flights?
    6 of 7 What issues do travelers often overlook?
    7 of 7 What are your go-to tips for long flights?

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    Martha Stewart

    Learn More

    • Contact Us
    • Customer Service
    • Media Kit
    • Martha's Blog
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • FAQ
    • Corporate
    • International
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithMartha Stewart is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Martha Stewart. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.marthastewart.com

    Sign in

    View image

    7 Questions for Travel Agent Jennifer Doncsecz on Destination Wedding Planning
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.