Ciao- Off to Italy!

I am so excited to say that I am off to Italy for 2 weeks!  I am going to be staying at some incredible hotels that my clients have loved.  Plus I will be checking out places to recommend to my clients that choose to celebrate their honeymoon in Italy.  I am so looking forward to the Italian architecture, espresso, pasta, boutiques, wine bars, and of course the gelato!

I will be starting with a few nights in Florence at The Four Seasons.

Then I will be staying in Rome at The Fortyseven Hotel.

After that I will head down to the Amalfi Coast where I will be staying in Sorrento at La Minervetta.

Can we pause for this view?!?!  WOW.

Followed by Eden Roc Suites Hotel in Positano.

Then I am ending my stay with a couple nights in London at The Arch Hotel.

I will not be responding to any new honeymoon inquiries during my time away.  I will be following up on all new inquiries upon my return in early April.

I look forward to sharing more details about these wonderful destinations and hotels!

Hotel Spotlight: Ubud Hanging Gardens Luxury Hotel & Spa Resort

Lately, many inquiries have been coming in for more unique, relaxing honeymoons in exotic destinations.  Without a doubt, Ubud Hanging Gardens Luxury Hotel and Spa Resort stands out.

Ubud is known as the center of arts and culture in Bali and the nature setting is unbelievably breath-taking.  Tucked away in rice terraces of Bali Indonesia, Ubud Hanging Gardens is a boutique styled hotel with only 38 private villas and suites.

Each villa has their own private terrace and plunge pool, which guarantees guests a gorgeous view of the natural surroundings.  Which is pretty perfect for honeymoon couples!

The hotel also offers amazing spa services at their Ayung Spa.  Situated close to the riverbanks, guests listen to the relaxing sound of the water while getting pampered the Balinese way.

Lastly, Ubud Hanging Gardens now offers a package inspired and based on the novel, "Eat, Pray, Love". 

Explore the island’s most magical temples, enjoy dance performances inspired by Hindu scriptures and meet artisans who bring ancient lore to life in art.

Sounds perfect, right?  If you are interested in a honeymoon to Bali and staying at this beautiful hotel, contact Ever After Honeymoons!

Honeymoon Adventure Ideas from Martha Stewart Weddings

I picked up the most recent Martha Stewart Weddings issue the other day just to check out their Honeymoons section.  I loved that the theme was unforgettable honeymoons that included places to stay that are anything but ordinary.  From treehouses to glamping to taking a train trip, all of the picks from the issue were simply amazing.  Here are a few of my favorites for each of their categories:

The Tree Hotel

Harads, Sweden

Ever wonder what it'd be like to stay in a tree house?  Well here's your opportunity to.  The Tree Hotel in Sweden offers you the chance to say in these amazing works of art that stand elevated anywhere from 12 to 20 feet off the ground and look over some gorgeous Scandinavian landscape.  The notion of staying up all night to see if the midnight sun ever really sets would make for a pretty romantic night. If you are into architecture and design, just being in these tree houses would be enough, I'd say.

El Capitan Canyon

Goleta, California

Who knew that a place like this existed in California?  I know I'm not one for straight up camping, but I could go with glamorous camping, aka "Glamping".  El Capitan Canyon, slightly north of Santa Barbara, offers Safari Tents- a spacious canvas tent raised on a wooden deck with screened windows.  And right outside, you get your own private picnic table with a grill and a fire pit.  Cozy on up with your loved one or bike on over to the ocean which is close by.  

Odysseus Cruising

Gulf of Gokova, Turkey

How nice would it be to have your own private cruise?  Well, that's exactly what Odysseus Cruising is.  Sail around the Gulf of Gokova known as the Turkish Riviera.  Your own private cruise will be just you two, the captain, a chef, and a pair of stewards on a 75-foot gulet for eight days.  Jump in for a swim anytime, relax on the deck, or ask to go ashore anytime you choose.  Really, does it get any better than that?

Rovos Rail

Cape Town-Pretoria-Victoria Falls, Africa

 

Love the idea of traveling in an Edwardian era style carriage through Africa?  Escape for 6 days and savor the world's most breathtaking views of Victoria Falls with Rovos Rail.  Each room has their own shower which is typically unheard of in in train travel.  The train ride also includes a night's stay in Pretoria and day trips to the historic diamond town of Kimberley where De Beers still has an operating mine.  However, I do believe it's the mile-long water curtain of Victoria Falls that's for the win. 

So what do you think?  Which would you like to go on?

Honeymoon Hotspots for 2011

Last month, Ever After Honeymoons was featured on Glamour's Save The Date.  I was asked to list 5 honeymoon hotspots for 2011, and here is what I came up with:

Riviera Maya, Mexico

Perfect for couples who are looking to get away, but don’t want the hassle of a 10+ hour flight! It’s a quick trip from most U.S. cities and offers beautiful beaches and luxury resorts—most of which come with private pools and service fit for royalty. Nearby downtown Playa del Carmen is perfect for a night out.

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Bali, Indonesia

It’s like two or three honeymoons in one: You’ll find beaches, jungles, and exotic culture, plus super-friendly people. Famous for its villas and private pools, it’s a great destination for newlyweds who are desperate for some solitude and relaxation.

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Croatia

One of Europe’s best-kept secrets! Europeans have been vacationing in Croatia for years, and recently it’s been gaining popularity with Americans. The coastlines, small islands and unbelievable national parks are great for adventurous couples!

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South Africa

Go on a safari to Kruger National Park, enjoy the lively city of Cape Town, admire Table Mountain and take a day trip to enjoy the spectacular Victoria Falls. South Africa has a little bit of everything.

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California Coast

One of the most popular destinations in the world, driving down California Coast makes for the perfect road trip honeymoon. Rent a fancy convertible and stop in small towns, go wine tasting, and enjoy the beautiful views and gorgeous beaches.

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Each one of these destinations guarantees a spectacular and breathtaking view, however, each has their own individual unique qualities that caters to everyone.  Which one is your favorite?

Real Honeymoon: Kauai

I have a special Honeymoon to share with you today.  I planned Kathryn from Snippet and Ink's honeymoon to Kauai, and they had an incredible time.  Kathryn and Ryan got hitched in December and they knew that they wanted to go somewhere warm.  They decided to go to Kauai and stay at the gorgeous St. Regis Princeville!

 

Kathryn said, "The pool was my favorite part of our trip, second only to the helicopter ride. I could happily have stayed there, sipping chilled citrus water (or a mai tai) and reading my book, for the entire 5 days we were on the island. Right on the beach, with amazing views of Hanalei Bay, plus awesome poolside service, lounging with my new hubby. Really, does it get any better than that?"

"The overall feel of our room was a sort of refined contemporary Hawaiian – sophisticated, comfortable, elegant but not fussy. And yes, the view is pretty much unbeatable."

Although it did rain one of the days while Kathryn and Ryan were there, they decided to spend it at the resort’s Halele's Spa.  After they got their massages, they enjoyed tea and cookies in the spa’s lounge, followed by the sauna and steam room.  Kathryn points out that "the steam room is intense. I kind of loved it. Stepping out of it to an ice cold face towel felt amazing. (You can also book certain spa treatments in oceanside cabanas. )"

Below is  the view from their Ocean View room.
"Stunning is the only word for it, even with the shoddy photography. We were pretty lucky with the weather on our trip, and only had one day of rain the whole time. The next morning, we counted at least 15 waterfalls that had appeared on the cliffs outside our window."

Kathryn and Ryan also opted to upgrade to a convertible.  "Kauai’s not a big island, but I promise, if you plan on leaving your hotel at all, a convertible is totally worth it – it made all of our sightseeing infinitely more fun."

Kathryn's favorite part of her honeymoon was was a helicopter tour of the island. 

"There are several companies to choose from, and we opted for Jack Harter's doors-off tour, recommended to us by the St. Regis concierge who was super helpful with setting everything up. Doors-off literally means there are no doors on the helicopter, which makes an already indescribable experience even more breathtaking. We saw parts of the island you can’t see any other way, dipping into canyons, getting up close to waterfalls, flying along sea cliffs of the Na’Pali Coast. Kauai might not offer the nightlife or shopping scene of other Hawaiian islands, but its beauty is unparalleled and a helicopter tour is totally worth it."

Kathryn and Ryan spent their time watching the stunning sunsets at the St. Regis Bar. The view was undoubtedly spectacular for them and gave them the chance to relax and soak in all their surroundings.

Thank you, Kathryn and Ryan for sharing your honeymoon with us!  You can read more on Kathryn's blog in her honeymoon post.  She's also included many useful tips to help with your honeymoon.