I have been so excited about featuring this next honeymoon! This is Melissa and Dan’s honeymoon escape to Hawaii. The newlyweds spent 5 nights at the Fairmont Kea Lani on Maui and then another five nights at the St. Regis Princeville on Kauai. Melissa and Dan were looking for a combination of beach, romance, and adventure, and Hawaii fit the bill perfectly!
Maui was a perfect introduction to Hawaiian culture. The couple spent their time enjoying a catamaran excursion where they had the opportunity to “snuba” (a fun combination of snorkeling and scuba diving) and they also spent a day exploring the waterfalls and beautiful views on the road to Hana. They also went on a Hawaiian cultural canoe experience, complete with whale sightings and sea turtles!
After their adventures on Maui, the newlyweds made their way to the breathtakingly beautiful island of Kauai, the “ultimate Hawaii experience” in their opinion. Melissa and Day spent time in Hanalei Bay, snorkeling and and stand-up paddle boarding (best workout ever!). They also went zip-lining at Princeville Ranch, relaxed in the luxurious hotel spa, took a spectacular helicopter tour of the island, and enjoyed stunning sunsets each evening prior to delicious dinners.
After their trip, Melissa and Dan had some spectacular advice for other couples preparing for their honeymoon: “Don’t hesitate to splurge a little – it’s your honeymoon! Pamper yourselves with a couple’s massage, rent a convertible to drive around with the top down, and don’t hesitate to book that helicopter ride. Also, take lots of photos and video – it’s such a special time and it’s fun to capture that newlywed/honeymoon bliss!”
Well said, if you ask me! Interested in planning your honeymoon to Hawaii? Contact us! hello{at}everafterhoneymoons.com
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:
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.
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.
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?
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?
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
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.
Married in October, 2010, Naomi and Jamie, from Montreal, were smart in wanting to avoid the cold for their honeymoon. So they up and left for much warmer waters in Hawai’i in December. With the spirit of adventure in them, they wanted to make sure they were surrounded by nature and have plenty of access for hiking. So for their honeymoon, they did an island hop and visited Maui, Big Island, and Oahu.
Some of their goals for their honeymoon were to have a good combination of sightseeing and relaxing so they were able to hike, see the North Shore villages, visit the rainforest, snorkel and more.
The three factors that were most important for them for their honeymoon were that it had to be fun, relaxing and breathtaking.
Naomi and Jamie were kind enough to share some of their favorite memories from their honeymoon.
- Favorite hotel: Hotel Hana Maui
- Favorite hotel room view: JW Marriott Ihilani (Ko Olina, Oahu)
- Favorite beach: Mokule’ia Beach (Oahu)…also best spot to realize you’re standing on the crash site of Jack, Kate, Sawyer, and co.
- Favorite turtle sightings: Black Sand Beach (Big Island) & A-Bay (Big Island)
- Favorite place to get stuck in a flash flood: Tiny mountainside road to Kahakuloa Village
- Favorite candy: Chocolate Donkey Balls (Big Island) and coconut M&Ms
- Favorite ice cream: Dole Pineapple Plantation (Oahu)
- Favorite spot to watch the sunset: Marina in Lahaina (Maui)
- Favorite breakfast: French toast with coconut syrup
- Favorite lava tube: Volcano National Park (Big Island)
- Favorite free facial: Steam vents at Volcano National Park (Big Island)
- Favorite interactive natural phenomenon: Sleeper (magic) grass
- Favorite rainbow-colored tree bark: Hana Highway (Maui)
- Favorite restaurant: Mama’s Fish House (Maui)
- Favorite place to swim face to face with a turtle: Hanauma Bay (Oahu)
- Favorite TV station: Maui Visitor Channel 7
- Favorite place to watch surfers: Sunset Beach at Sunset (North Shore, Oahu)
- Favorite dessert: Chocolate-haupia pie at Ted’s Bakery (North Shore, Oahu)
- Favorite place to watch a barefooted, sprinting torch-lighter: Buddha point at Hilton Waikoloa (Big Island)
Interested in going to Hawaii for your honeymoon? Contact us! hello{at}everafterhoneymoons.com
