Over the past few weeks I have received emails requesting information and ideas on what to pack for your honeymoon or next romantic adventure. I decided to share some ideas to help you make sure you have just what you need! Make a list or use our checklist located on our website.

When packing for your honeymoon it is important to have a check list in addition to a few little secrets to make your wardrobe go further and won’t burst out of your bag!

Here are just a few must pack items…..

Fold up beach/travel bag (even if you are not going tropical, pack this extra bag so you have something to take extra purchases home!)

Toiletries
• Shampoo & Conditioner
• Additional hair products: (Hair Dryer, Gel or Spray, Anti Frizz products, Hair ties & clips, Hair brush or comb)
• Razor & shaving gel & Moisturizers

• Birth Control/Lubricant
• Mini plastic bags filled with various medications: Imodium, Aspirin or Advil, A gentle laxative, A water pill, your vitamins
• Q tips, cotton balls (your hotel may have this)
• Perfume & deodorant
• Nail polish (to touch up)

Clothing
• 2 bathing suits (if you are not going tropical, one suit is fine)
• Sexy Pajamas (hello, it’s your honeymoon!!)
• Bras & Panties
• One formal dress (unless your vacation has more then one formal evening planned!)

A Wonderful hat! This way your face is protected!

For every pair of shorts you pack have 2 shirts with it.
• Pack one pair of slacks with two tops
• Pack 3 sundresses

Don’t Forget to leave a contact list to whomever is watching your house.  This way they can always contact you in case of an emergency!
Must Do’s:
Must bring something with SPF for your lips too! You do not want to spend your honeymoon burned LIPS!
Have a secret stash of cash hidden on you at all times!
Have copies of your passport & travel documents.
Have emergency contacts & doctors information with you & have a detailed list of you and your partners list of medications

Romantic Must haves:
Try the Scandle Candle to heat things up….

The Tan Towel or Self Tanning creams.  Don’t over sun and risk a bad burn. And who does not look extra sexy with some great tanned skin!

Your camera and or video camera.  If you plan on being alone and want to capture photos together then don’t miss the x-shot, the portable photo saver!

We hope these ideas help!  Check back often for more on some great what to pack items!

 

Last week honeymoons.com asked newly married couples to share with us what they did and where they went on their honeymoon.  We were overwhelmed by the amazing response and the outstanding honeymoon experiences! Just wait to you see what our couples were willing to share!

One particular couple traveled 9,000 miles from San Francisco all the way to the Maldives in the Indian Ocean!  However, it was well worth the long voyage because once they arrived, they were greeted with blue skies and crystal blue waters.

They Shared:

My husband and I went on the trip of a lifetime for our honeymoon in
September 2011. We traveled over 9,000 miles from San Francisco to the
Maldives in the Indian Ocean to stay at the Conrad Rangali Island resort.
It was everything we imagined it would be and more. It truly was barefoot
luxury.

 

Our private beach villa, with an outdoor bathing pavilion and plunge pool,
was mere steps from the white sand beach.

We drank champagne every day, read on loungers on the beach or at the pool and had fresh fruit and cold water delivered to us, and feasted on amazing meals.

We also enjoyed a sunset cruise, a multi-course dinner with the Sommelier in the wine
cellar, many luxurious spa treatments, a bathing experience via room service and
nightly happy hours with tropical drinks while watching the sunset.

One of the best nights was the champagne reception in the underwater restaurant and a private dinner on the beach to celebrate my birthday.  It was amazing.

Thank you to Nicole Shorter and her husband for sharing their wonderful honeymoon!

Few resorts in the world can truly claim they are the “Only” Resort with the best location…..but when your resort is the only one on the island and have 360 degree views of only water and sand…Peter Island Resort can make this claim with no exaggeration! It truly feels like your own piece of heaven.

The beauty and serenity of the British Virgin Islands is only intensified on Peter Island. Located next to Norman Island in the BVI’s, Peter Island boasts its beautiful beaches, scenic views and untouchable service along with a stunning very romantic location.

The Island, which is full of areas to hike and explore, all while offering 360 degree views from anywhere offers the peace and quiet honeymooners are in search of.

Those couples looking for that romantic couples massage will enjoy the 10,000 square-foot spa facility, along with luxurious indoor treatment rooms, oceanfront couples retreat suites, indoor couples suites, raised infinity pool, ocean-side Jacuzzi, tranquility garden, and secluded beach.

Some of my favorites about this resort…..Peter Island Resort offers a little something for everyone.  Guests can be as chill as they choose or as involved as they desire.  The hotel offers very nice dining, although a bit pricey, the food is very well done and presented wonderful.  For couples, it offers a resort with a children’s policy of kids only over 8.  And since there is not much for kids to do, you find yourself in at atmosphere that is truly adults only.

I truly found that the Resort had one of the best boutique “gift” shops I have seen throughout my travels in the Caribbean.  Trust me when I say, you just can’t leave without buying something for yourself or a friend, it offers a wonderful variety of unique items and has a little something for everybody.

This resort at night is ultra romantic, with fire lit paths and the quietness of the island, all you can hear is each other and the ocean.

There is always something fun going on and they even have a band playing on the beach during the day making this a very fun place to sit in the sun and enjoy the ocean.

Turtles.  As a turtle lover, The bays surrounding the resort are full of these wonderful creatures and if you just keep an eye out, you are sure to see one.

Some of my warnings and what I consider the “Must Knows” before booking….. There are no TV’s in the room, however limited TV/ DVD players available upon request, I would do that in your reservation if this is important to you.

If you are a couple who likes to explore multiple dining locations or experience locals, this may not be the place for you, as you have to take a 30 minute ferry ride to see locals or experience multiple shops and restaurants.

In the off seasons, I have heard that some of the dining options on the island are not always open, check with this prior to booking.

These property is big, as it takes up the entire island, if you don’t like to walk or you are out of shape and don’t enjoy walking to or after dinner, this may not be the place for you.

The St. John Westin

If you are looking for a place to go with kids that is safe and close to the US,  this is definitely the spot for you.  However, those looking for romance and seclusion, this is not the hotel to choose. Although located in a very secluded cove on St. John, the hotels beach and pool get very crowded and offers no escape from children or crowds.

Upon arriving at the Westin, with our little dog, we were checked in and I loved the layout of the lobby.  Breezy and open, I immediately felt relaxed.  We happen to have had our dog with us and they treated him like part of the Westin Family.  It was the best part of this hotel experience.

The hotel feels very large and you are escorted around on a golf cart and for anyone who has a big kid in them, you will enjoy this part.

The hotel offers a variety of WONDERFUL restaurants in addition to one the best things I have seen at a hotel in the Caribbean.  A New York Style Deli where you can go and order food as you like it, sandwiches, soups, pizzas and even pints of ice cream to take back to your room.  It is a wonderful idea and so great for those looking to save money on dining out after a long day at the beach.

The Hotel offers a wide variety of tours and excursions around the island along with a variety of activity.  For those wishing for the Villa experience they offer what looked like gorgeous villas on top of the bluff.

My Favorites….

I loved the Deli ~ awesome way to have casual meals.

We enjoyed the food and even room service, although not consistent, was always very good and fast.

The Pet Friendly Policy.  Our dog was welcomed and given his own dog bed, bowls and toys!

The New Balance Fitness Rentals ~ For $5 for your entire stay, those who have forgotten work out gear can rent sneakers, socks and work out gear.  This was awesome.

Programs and Entertainment ~ There is always something going on and they offer a wide variety of entertainment.

My Warnings….

Ask when the last time your room was renovated upon booking or checking in.  Our room, although we paid over $600.00 per night was motel level in quality. The bathroom had dirty old tile floors and the very old carpeting in the room made me feel like the room was even more dirty then it really was.

Save your paperwork. Those who are promised anything from the hotel or from your package such as special deals and/or package promotions need to make sure they hold onto your paperwork to verify.  We were guaranteed a late check out and were harassed all day by the staff to leave and had to prove to hotel staff with our paperwork  that were promised a late check out and then room to 4pm.

The most disappointing part of this hotel was the beach and pool chair ratio per guest.  There simply was not enough chairs for the guest and they allow guests to reserve chairs and never use them. If you were not out by the pool or beach securing your spot by 6am, assume your planting your butt in the sand.  Same goes for raft rentals.  We ended up renting a cabana for the day which guaranteed us our own private spot for the day but if you did not want to spend the extra money, then set your alarm and get there early.  We also over tipped a beach assistant to help us find some chairs when we arrived later then planned, this helped the situation as well. The chair issue seems to be a main issue as people around us were fighting with other guests all day over whose chair was whose.

The beaches just get better and better with every turn in Praia de Pipa
The moment you touch the sand at Praia de Pipa you know you are in a special place, with steep Neapolitan-colored cliffs in both directions, dolphins jumping at Praia dos Golfinos, and the wonderful cobble stone streets cross-hatched on the hillside. If you are considering a romantic getaway to the northeast coast of Brazil, Praia de Pipa is not to be missed.

(Above) As we explored beyond the main beach, we were rewarded with this amazing view down the coast. This is one of dozens of beaches comprising Pipa, each secluded in its own tall cliff cove.

 

Pipa is an wonderful blend of artisans and honeymooners alike. You can enjoy the local musicians and jewelers about town, or you can spend your days in the spa overlooking the magnificent cliffs and shopping along the cobblestone streets.

 

The rock formations were amazing all along the coastline, especially when the three colors were so distinct, as seen here at Praia de Amor, with the black lava rock, white sandstone and the red-clay top layer.

 

A view looking down to Pipa, a short hike from town. Like many of the beaches they can only be accessed during low tide, so get a jump on the day if you plan to explore.

Long arching coves make this region excellent for exploring. This cove is called Praia dos Golfinos, which means beach of the dolphins, and it did not disappoint, we saw numerous Flippers frolicking about.

The waves at Pipa were awesome in the morning at low tide. We rented some boards and got in a few hours. Anne caught her first true wave (not counting the ones she grew up boogie boarding in California). As an added bonus some dolphins came by for a visit during our session.

Here, some local kids getting in one last game of futebol on the sandbar before the sun retires for the day. One of our favorite times each evening is the 30-40 minutes after sunset, the sky is even more beautiful than during sunset and the reflections are magnificent. Plus, you usually have the beach to yourself since most jet the moment the sun crosses the horizon.

Pipa was phenomenal—charming town, amazing food, great nightlife, and a never-ending supply of beaches to explore. If you are looking for a relaxing get-away on the coast of Brazil, make sure Pipa is on your short list.

Much love from Brazil,
Mike & Anne
www.HoneyTrek.com

Their Ultimate Hideaways and Insider Tips Will Be Revealed on Honeymoons.com
A recently married New York couple, Anne and Mike Howard, are making their dreams come true and taking off on a 500-day honeymoon to search out the world’s most romantic places and most memorable adventures.

Sponsored by destination wedding and honeymoon expert, Honeymoons.com, Anne and Mike will post their own travel tips and secrets via their blog on Honeymoons.com. Couples who are about to embark on their own honeymoons or romantic trips can follow Anne and Mike around the globe via their blog on Honeymoons.com as well as the couple’s own blog, HoneyTrek.com

Their itinerary will take them through five continents, exploring big cities, small towns and remote areas. It will include luxury and boutique hotels, as well as 2-4 star properties and even beach huts and mountain cabins around the globe. At each stop, they will blog about their out-of-the-box experiences and share their insider tips on outstanding places to stay and exciting things to do—or not to do—as they begin their new life together.  Future honeymooners   who may not have as much time to travel will get plenty of ideas of where to go and what to do as they follow the Howards around the world.

Anne Collins Howard, 29, is a decorating and design editor and her husband, Mike Howard, 34, has been a digital media strategist and entrepreneur since 1999. After working hectic full-time jobs for years, they knew their honeymoon was their big chance to indulge in the exotic and far-flung places they’d always dreamt about.

As they travel to some of the world’s most romantic places and embark on once-in-a-lifetime excursions, they will share every enviable detail on Honeymoons.com.  They’ve planned a mix of everything from extreme adventure travel to relaxing days on sun-drenched beaches, amid some of the world’s most breath-taking scenery.
Traveling with romance as their guide, they are leaving their itinerary flexible as they fall in and out of love with each new locale. Chasing summer, they are timing their trip for the best weather and optimal times to experience each country’s wonders.
Starting their journey on the comfort of Copa Airlines, they have just landed in Brazil to revel in the world-famous Carnaval,  will go on to tango in Argentina, safari in Tanzania, scuba dive the Maldives, wander the temples of Thailand, and ring in Chinese New Year in Asia…and this is only the beginning.
“Whether it’s 16 days or 16 months, there is no bonding experience better than travel,” says Anne. “So when it came to planning our honeymoon, we thought an around-the-world trip would be the ultimate foundation for our new life together. We hope our story will inspire other couples to discover all the wonders the world has to offer. See you on the road!”

About Honeymoons.com
Since 1996, the goal at Honeymoons.com is to cover the world and provide in-depth travel and resort information to brides- and grooms-to-be. The site’s in-depth resources help the destination honeymoon market research and book the ultimate escape. Whether it’s a destination wedding, a custom itinerary, a honeymoon package or an all-inclusive honeymoon resort, Honeymoons.com helps newlywed couples book the dream vacation getaway.

Calling all men who want to capture one of the best moments of your life!

***

Tides Riviera Maya’s ‘Paparazzi Proposal’
Captures Candid Memories of Life’s Most Romantic Moment

Men should be jumping on planes with their loved ones and heading to Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya, Mexico!  Getting engaged is one of the most important moments in a couple’s life,  and while you will remember it forever, what if you could also capture it with candid photos?  Couples will come away from the proposal with a keepsake like none other: a photographic documentary of the special moment and your emotional reactions to it?

The Tides Riviera Maya has created the Paparazzi Proposal to assure that guests who are getting engaged will, indeed, remember the moment forever – and feel like celebrities when they look back on that romantic time.  Prospective grooms can ask the resort for a  “paparazzi” to take secret shots of the proposal. But that’s not all:  the photographer also secretly shoots the two of you at various moments during your stay, then surprises your fiancé with a CD of images capturing the special time together. Because hundreds of images are taken, to easily view them they are loaded into a program that allows you to quickly scan through the photos creating a movie effect.

As a favorite escape for romance, The Tides Riviera Maya caters to couples with special services designed to assure that their stay is exceptional. The Paparazzi Proposal evolved in response to a guest’s request – and was so successful that it is now offered to anyone planning to pop the question.

Favorite Places to Pop the Question:
The Tides offers some exceptionally beautiful places for prospective grooms to propose:
§         On the deck at the edge of the Pier, at a table for two, overlooking the warm Caribbean water with the lights of Cozumel in the distance
§         In the jungle, surrounded by lush tropical foliage, in a little clearing with benches and spider monkeys romping overhead
§         Next to a waterfall in a jungle spa room for couples
§         On the patio of your luxury villa, with candles lighting your private plunge pool
§         On an outdoor daybed for two, on the sandy beach at the ocean’s edge

The Tides Riviera Maya is a serene hideaway that merges every luxury amenity with dramatic sea and jungle, bringing together the best of the destination. The public areas –including the restaurant and lounge, swimming pool and day beds – are set by sugary white sands lapped by the warm Caribbean. Behind this open beachfront area are all of the private villas immersed in a jungle ambiance, dense with ferns, palms and guava trees, that is the playground of a resident family of friendly spider monkeys. Every villa features a completely private patio and plunge pool, outdoor shower, and a high-ceiling, thatched-palapa roof that resonates with the jungle environment. A maze of pathways meanders gently through the landscape, leading guests on a journey of the senses.

A major renovation is currently in progress at the resort that will be completed in December 2011. The highlights include: 11 new villas, bringing the total to 41 villas; a new entrance, motor court and reception area; a new grill restaurant by the sand and a reconfiguration and remodeling of the existing lounge and fine-dining restaurant; a complete redo of The Tides Villa and cosmetic upgrades to the other existing 29 villas; and a new gym and gift shop.

The Tides is organically connected to, and embodies, the destination’s historical roots. It melds luxury with Mayan cultural and spiritual influences to shape an inimitable guest experience not found at any other resort on the Riviera Maya or anywhere else. All guests arrive to a Mayan Blessing, performed by the Mayan shaman on staff, designed to release you from your cares and worries and step into a new, relaxed beginning at The Tides Riviera Maya. La Marea, the fine-dining restaurant that is being relocated to an ocean-view loft, serves “Mayaterranean” cuisine blending Mayan cooking and Mediterranean techniques. At the spa, Mayan healing techniques and traditions infuse every aspect of the guest experience.

The six-acre resort is on the Caribbean coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula 40 miles south of Cancun and its international airport, and three miles north of popular Playa del Carmen, known for its beach scene, restaurants, boutiques and nightlife.  From The Tides, guests may stroll miles of beautiful white-sand beach along the spectacular Riviera Maya coast. The resort has its own pier where guests sunbathe, enjoy massages, savor romantic dinners, and may be conveniently picked up by boat for snorkeling, diving and other excursions. Opened in 2002, the resort originally was called Ikal del Mar, becoming The Tides Riviera Maya in 2006.

About The Tides
The Tides collection of hotels and resorts enjoys superlative coastal locations and chic-by-the-shore settings that invite guests to unwind and reconnect. Each Tides destination offers culturally inspired leisure and wellness experiences delivered with style, spirit and intuitive service. With The Tides South Beach in Miami, Florida as its flagship, the collection also includes The Tides Riviera Maya on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and The Tides Zihuatanejo on Mexico’s Pacific Coast. Forthcoming developments include The Tides Sugar Beach on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia, which is currently operating as Jalousie Plantation. The official website for The Tides is www.thetidesresorts.com.

For additional information on The Tides Riviera Maya or to make a reservation:  toll-free 866-332-1672, reservations@tidesrivieramaya.com, or www.tidesrivieram

A couples dream MINI-MOON!

A great trip AND complimentary nights! Check out these hotels offering special packages providing guests with complimentary nights this Summer and into Fall – one in the heart of Rome and the other in the Costa Rican Rainforest.

Experience the Grand Hotel Via Veneto in Rome!  Guests are rewarded this  summer  with Complimentary Nights

ROME, June 22, 2011- “Grand hotel via Veneto” (www.ghvv.it), Rome’s newest five-star luxury hotel, which delicately and painstakingly married two 19th Century buildings to create a modern day masterpiece, is giving back with an exclusive promotion from July 19th to September 10th offering guests a complimentary night with stays of at least three nights in either Superior or Deluxe rooms ranging from €290,00 to €390,00 per night, complete with daily breakfast and a welcome aperitif for two, as well as a complimentary room upgrade based on availability.

Looking for something a little more exoitc or tropical….then “Fall” into some great savings with free nights at Nayara Hotel in Costa Rica starting this August!

COSTA RICA, June 22, 2011 – Everybody loves free stuff; particularly when it involves extending a stay in paradise. Nayara Hotel, Spa & Gardens (www.arenalnayara.com), a luxury retreat set amongst 15 acres of lush tropical gardens and Costa Rican rainforest boasting 44 spacious individual ‘casitas’ overlooking the active Arenal volcano, is allowing guests to extend their immersion in these remarkable surroundings by offering four night stays for the price of three in any suite category from August 15, 2011 – November 10, 2011.  The 4×3 Suite Special, which applies to Casita Suites and Nayara Suites, includes daily breakfast for two and welcome cocktails and starts at $795 per couple, per stay, averaging to less than $200 per night.

There is no wonder that from a cliff 1000 feet above the sea you will feel like you have found heaven. This will be confirmed once you turn around to see the luxury Hotel Caesar Augustus offering you one of the most spectacular vistas on the isle of Capri!

From the rooms and grounds of this marvelous luxury hotel, guests can enjoy views over the  Bay of Naples. The bird’s eye views include the breathtaking scenery of Mount Vesuvius, Sorrento, Ischia, and unique views of the island of Capri, celebrated by the famous novelist Axel Munthe, whose Villa San Michele is nearby.

Located on a cliff, high above the Bay of Naples in Anacapri, the hotel occupies one of those rare historic sites that has hosted not just celebrity, but nobility and newlyweds since the 9th century A.D.

The property has 55 guest rooms and suites arrayed with stylish Italian furnishings, as well as balconies and terraces with spectacular sea and island views. As the island’s only Relais & Chateaux address, Hotel Caesar Augustus is as inviting indoors and out, with open-air features including private outdoor spa treatment rooms – perfect for couple’s massages – as well as al fresco fitness, Turkish bath and relaxation areas surrounded by natural rocks and plantings.

 

This incredible experience does not stop with the view, since romance has long been a tradition at Hotel Caesar Augustus, couples are in for a decadent and memorable experience.  Imagine a blissful start to your married life with a luxury suite accommodation at Hotel Caesar Augustus. Guests can arrange with the hotel to handle all of their transfers to and from the hotel and the port of Capri.

 

 

Couples can also request champagne, flowers and a gift in your suite upon arrival to surprise one another followed by daily breakfast served to your guest suite or enjoy a candlelit gourmet dinner at La Terrazza de Lucullo.  Be sure to reserve a  private boat or taxi to tour the Isle of Capri and don’t forget to schedule a couples massage at the Hotel Caesar Augustus Spa!

 

 

www.caesar-augustus.com

Drum Roll Please….

And the AWARD goes to…….

With the first annual Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards “underway” those looking for the best cruise possible should take notice of this years FIRST place winner, The SeaDream 1.

The SeaDream 1

 

The hard to impress cruise critics gave their VOTES and The SeaDream I placed #1 for Service in the Small Ship category! Carolyn Spencer Brown, Editor in Chief of Cruise Critic announced, “Cruise Critic members who have reviewed the ship are clearly very happy with their cruise experience,” Carolyn went on to say, “SeaDream I gets excellent ratings for service, which is attentive and formal, without being fussy or intrusive.”

 

If you ask me, WHAT MORE could a cruiser or HONEYMOON ask for!

 

 

Cruise Critic issued awards based entirely on reviews/ratings submitted by cruisers when they posted a cruise review. Cruise Critic, the online guide to cruises, is one of the most influential travel sites on the web. With a world-renowned editorial staff, it provides objective cruise reviews, features, ports-of-call profiles and destination information.

With some vacations on the sea getting labeled as boring or boats being referred to as overcrowded people movers, the SeaDream Yacht Club offers something new and exotic for couples looking for a true yachting experience. The best thing about it, these ships are casual, unstructured and high end with aspects that appeal to even the most distinguished traveler.

The company boasts, “no clocks, no crowds, no lines, no stress.”

Together with their sister vessel SeaDream II, SeaDream I both offer Chic and stylish decor, personal service, state-of-the-art facilities all while surrounded by a crew of 95! Offering an intimate yachting journey combined with an all inclusive structure including alcohol & gratuities, ocean-view accommodations, luxury spa and world class cuisine! There is no wonder honeymooners find themselves attracted to this amazing and romantic experience.

Itineraries include the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and the Amazon. “It’s yachting, not cruising” Enjoy the difference. For further details visit www.SeaDream.com or phone 800 707-4911.