Happy Wednesday everyone! For round two of our Destination Spotlights, I am super excited to feature the one and only, Turtle Island Resort in Fiji. As one of the most exclusive and romantic places in the world, this property is just about as amazing as it gets. Don’t believe me? Check it out for yourself…
Turtle Island is located in the Yasawa Group of islands in Fiji, a short 30 minute seaplane ride from Nadi, where Fiji’s main airport is located. This 5-star resort consists of only 14 private villas and at any one time, there is a maximum of only 28 guests. Each of the 14 private villas, or “bures,” are scattered across the island, allowing each guest their “own slice of exotic island paradise.” The island also has 14 white, pristine beaches that can be reserved for guests’ privacy or used for any of the activities provided on the island, such as snorkeling, scuba diving, horseback riding and more.
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| View from the Ocean of one of the Villas |
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| One of 14 Private Beaches |
Every night there is a dinner party held at several different locations around the private island, offering guests a wide array of exquisite cuisine and an unlimited supply of fine wine and cocktails. The Resort was also chosen as the location for the most recent Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition photo shoot.
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| Private Dinner Party for Guests |
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| Champagne Lunch on a Private Beach |
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| Romantic Private Dinner for Two |
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| Romantic Private Dinner for Two on the Dock |
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| Relaxing in the Shade of Your Own Private Beach |
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| Horseback Riding Around the Island |
Right now, Ever After Honeymoons if offering a Turtle Island Resort Package. For $10,500, you receive a 7-night, all-inclusive stay in a beach front Grand-Bure on Turtle Island. All food, drinks, and activities (including everything from scuba diving, to horseback riding) are included. The package does not include flight costs and can be used anytime between now and August 2012. If you are interested in booking this package at the Turtle Island Resort, send us an email, hello{at}everafterhoneymoons.com
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| View of the Main Cove of Turtle Island |
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| Can the water get any clearer? |
I’ll be spending my day wishing I was laying on that beautiful beach!
If you would like to visit this resort, contact us! hello{at}everafterhoneymoons.com
Rome is such an amazing city. Every time I visit I love it more and more. Besides the obvious tourist attractions in Rome I love just wandering around small side streets, going in little boutiques, and of course eating at wonderful restaurants!
First up are my favorite pizza places. Da Bafetto is a famous pizza restaurant (pictured above) at Via Governo Vecchio, 114. It is only open for dinner and has long waits so get there early! Another great pizza place is La Montecarlo at Vicolo Savelli, 13. There are tables outside and it is really inexpensive- the perfect place to grab a quick lunch! And finally Pizzeria dar Poeta at Vicolo del Bologna, 45 in Trastevere. This is an amazing restaurant down a tiny street. There are a ton of great pizzas to pick from. We loved the pizza with buffalo mozzarella. They have amazing bruschettas as well.
Ottobre 1980 is also on Via Governo Vecchio. Cute little place with great food!
Another place we loved is Vinoteca Novecento at Piazza delle Coppelle, 47. We sat outside and got a plate of meats and cheeses. Yum!
And finally our favorite pasta restaurant in Rome. Le Mani in Pasta is a wonderful little place at Via Dei Genovesi, 37 in Trastevere. Amazing food, fun atmosphere and the prices were incredibly reasonable.
For gelato my pick is San Crispino (pictured above) at Via della Panetteria, 42. They have really unique flavors like fig, ginger & cinnamon, honey and plum. It was fun to try something so different!
Next week I will be featuring the Amalfi Coast!
Now onto some of our favorite food finds in Florence!
We were on a mission to find (in Summer’s words) “life changing pizza”. And that we did! We spotted a tiny restaurant buzzing with locals with a large wood burning oven and a small menu with just 2 options: Marinera and Margherita. Sold!
I think the pizza chefs had a crush on us- they made our pizzas in the shape of a heart! This restaurant is called Cucina Toscana Vini and is located at Via dell Isola delle Stinche 19. Bonus- the incredible gelato shop Vivoli is just a few doors down!
Another favorite was Osteria Belle Donne located at Via delle Belle Donne 16. This was a place I found on my first trip to Florence and have made sure to return on each visit since then! Small hidden restaurant, hand written menu, friendly service, amazing food and really reasonable prices- my kind of place!
We also loved a small meat and cheese shop I had heard about called Il Santino. We had a glass of wine and tried a number of different cheeses, salamis and prosciuttos. Everything was so amazing and it was fun to try so many different things! It is located at Via Santo Spirito 60.
A few doors down is their restaurant Il Santo Bevitore located at Via Santo Spirito 66. We didn’t get a chance to go there but I have heard amazing things so check it out and let me know what you think!
If you have any other restaurant recommendations to share I would love to hear them!
The first stop on my trip was Florence. This was my third time visiting Florence- I love this city! It is large enough to have a lot to explore, but not so big that it feels overwhelming.
We were in Florence because my travel partner Summer Watkins of Grey Likes Weddings was asked to style the wedding for Dale and Meredith Benfield. Here are some pictures of the gorgeous reception taken by Becker. See more of his amazing images here.
And the glowing newlyweds! Thank you Dale and Meredith for allowing me to be a part of your special day!
And back to Florence. We stayed at The Four Seasons which was just unbelievable. It is a converted 16th century convent with expansive beautiful gardens. It was a real treat to get to stay at such a fabulous hotel! I would absolutely recommend this hotel to anyone visiting Florence.
Our room and our bathroom. Everything felt so grand!
The Four Seasons is slightly outside of the main area of Florence, but still just a short walk to everything. The street the hotel is on has many small restaurants and shops. This area had a much different feeling than the areas directly surrounding the tourist attractions which I really enjoyed.
The view of the gardens from our room
Next I will be posting some of our favorite food finds in Florence!
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?
Interested in escaping to one of these destinations for your honeymoon? Contact us! hello{at}everafterhoneymoons.com
