Posts Tagged ‘Honeymoon Travel’
CNN posted a great article about destination weddings and honeymoons that I wanted to share with you.
Take a look.
Destination Weddings and Honeymoons
If you are planning a honeymoon and don’t know where to go – EXCELLENT IDEAS HERE!
Happy planning!
How about honeymooning in a tent cottage? Built by hand, as not to disturb the surrounding environment, the tents are connected by elevated walkways to prevent soil erosion. Trade winds cool the rooms. Prepare to bathe with biodegradable soap with pull chain showers – which of course drain into the surrounding vegetation.
They also offer 3 other eco-accommodation options for your enjoyment
Of course, you get the beauty and serenity of the Virgin Islands – including gorgeous blue water, white sand beaches, hiking trails and exceptional views!
Check out the Maho Bay Camps on the web and see how they can help you be eco-conscience and also have the honeymoon of your dreams!
Happy planning
Ah, what’s better than a wonderful and eco-friendly get away after a hard year (or so) of planning?
In years past, vacations could be hard to plan, especially if you want to go in eco-style, but now – in the age of eco consciousness – simple!
Ha!
Check out this eco-sweet honeymoon destinations to keep your toes warm and also help the enviornment.
Fiji Resort – Savusavu Bay – Owned by the son of the late Jacques Cousteau, Jean-Micheal wanted to share his Father’s love for land and water, while sustaining the indigenous people of Fiji – their ways and their culture. The eco-friendly amenities include, marine life protection programs, meals prepared from the properties own organic garden and edible landscaping, the areas first recycling program, and the use of coconuts as bottles as the new recycled bottle!
It’s located on the picturesque island of Vanua Levu – and a 17 acre coconut plantation.
How interesting, eh?
Check out Fiji Resort online!
I love it! Can I go?
Happy sunning!
As you plan your honeymoon, take advantage of the awesome deals!
Royal Caribbean – Dollars Off and Spa Treatment
Sailing Window: Jan. 5th, 2010 – Dec. 31, 2010
Booking Deadline: Jan. 31, 2010
Up to $200 off and a Complimentary Spa Treatment
Carnival Cruise Line – Book a Cruise and receive a FREE Coupon Booklet!
Sailing Window: Jan. 15, 2010 – Dec. 31, 2010
Booking Deadline: Jan. 22, 2010
This booklet is filled with tremendous savings on on-board restaurant discounts, spa treatment, excursions, etc.
Booklet is valid until 4/20/2010
Celebrity Cruise Line – Up to $100 savings on Celebrity Cruise Line
Sailing Window: Jan. 15, 2010 – Dec. 31. 2010
Booking Deadline: Feb. 28, 2010
Norwegian Cruise Line – NCL: Upgrades, On-board Credits, Reduced Deposits & Coupon Booklets
Sailing Window: Dec 28, 2009 – Dec 31, 2010
Booking Deadline: Mar 14 2010, 11:59PM
Note: Book select cruises between 12/13/2009 – 3/14/2010 and receive up to a 6 category upgrade, reduced deposit or up to $300.00 on-board credit and a coupon booklet!
Classic Vacations – European Adventure
Sailing Window: Dec 28, 2009 – Apr 30, 2010
Booking Deadline: Apr 27 2010, 10:59PM
Save between $125.00 and $500.00 or more on your European adventure when visiting any participating property. *
Call Loren Adams at Destinations Reached for more information.
Bon Voyage – and enjoy the savings!
Our resident travel agent stopped in to answer our questions.
Enjoy!
When I was in college, I used a travel agent once to book my flight home. I know you book hotels, but what else do you do?
In addition to booking hotels, I sell the following:
-All-inclusive packages
-Bed and Breakfast
-Cruises
-Car rentals
-Tours/excursions
-Convention space
-Reserve/block rooms for destination weddings/renewals/anniversaries/reunions, etc.
Why should we use a travel agent, when we can book our honeymoon on Travelocity or another online source? Money is pretty important to us. What if the online source is cheaper?
It also goes by the old saying, “You get what you pay for.” On-line travel engines do not sell the product, they sell the price. And, there’s nothing worse than entering your honeymoon suite with roaches and stained linen on your beds due to booking a hotel based on the price and not on what was recommended. You can never be too sure in trusting on-line reviews.
Travel engines are not always cheaper either. As travel agents, we are well connected. And by working with an agent that’s in good standing with many vendors, they are most likely to offer you a better deal with better perks. Remember, price does not always outweigh value, especially not on your honeymoon.
How much do you cost?
I do not charge a service fee for trips that are paid in full. If a payment plan is arranged or assistance is needed with booking air or car rentals, then a $15 service fee is implemented.
Can you get me any deals? Better than what I can find online?
Yes, I receive promotions daily. Another good thing about working with an agent is that sometimes promotions are only offered to agents working with honeymooners. They are not always released to the public in order to reserve space for those celebrating special occasions.
Do you have an office? Frankly, I’ve traveled all over the tri-state area looking for wedding vendors. I’m tired.
Clients are welcome to my home office anytime located in Baltimore County (Windsor Mills, MD). Or, I am available to meet with couples within a reasonable radius.
I’m not really sure what I’m doing. Right now, I am just looking online. Can I meet with you anyway?
Sure, it’s my job to guide couples in the right direction. Prior to meeting, I suggest couples calling me first to make sure we both at least have an idea as to where they would like to travel.
I am having budget concerns. The wedding has gone over budget and I don’t have a lot of money to spend on a honeymoon. Can you help?
Most certainly. I not only assist couples in planning honeymoons based on interests, but based on budgets that are fitting to each individual couple, also.
Do you specialize in any particular destinations? What if I decide to go to a location where you do not specialize?
Yes, my agency specializes in Mexico, the Caribbean, and the U.S. Although, one of the great things about working with a certified agent is knowing that they are well-connected and knowledgeable about the world, even though they don’t specialize in that particular destination. I am still able to tell you several do’s and don’ts about certain destinations. I also network with a number of agents and vendors. I can assure you that I would not send a couple on their honeymoon without knowing that it is securely planned and reserved through credible service providers.
What if something happens on the honeymoon – like I get mugged? What do I do? Do you offer travel insurance (or work with a company that does).
This is a good point. I strongly encourage you to read my blog, “When Tragedy Strikes: How to Safely Plan Your Dream Honeymoon”. Safety is key and knowing what to do and what not to do is even more important. I always review and discuss the latest events taking place at couples’ desired destination prior to making reservations and departure. This is why it’s important to purchase travel insurance in case of emergencies.
In extreme emergencies, remain calm as much as possible. Locate a local emergency official as soon as possible. Afterwards, notify your hotel’s security, and then contact your agent to assist in contacting emergency contacts, such as insurance carriers, medical providers, even family members. Travelocity and Expedia can’t do that for you.
I spent thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars to make sure that I had a “green wedding”. It is really important to us. I want to make sure that our honeymoon is also “green”. We want places which offer organic food. We want to stay in sustainable locations powered by wind or solar. We want a really natural experience. Can you help?
Sure. Eco-friendly or “green” honeymoons are all the rave right now, and many hotels and resorts are on board. Selecting a location that concerves energy via solar power and uses organic linen is not such a hard task anymore. Check out the following “green” locations that made Island magazine’s top list for 2009…
- Deer Run Bed & Breakfast, Big Pine Key
- Milia Mountain Retreat, Crete
- Turtle Island Resort, Fiji
- Paradise Bay Eco Escape, South Long Island, Australia
- Ibo Island Lodge, Mozambique
Thanks to Loren Adams of Destinations Reached Travel Consulting Service.
Happy Planning!
Ibo, Mozambique
A unique, beautiful, and serene honeymoon destination
Although one cannot deny the activities which attract honeymooners from around the world; such as, scuba diving, the many magnificent beaches that await, the most pristine and unexplored island reef ecosystems in the Indian Ocean that provides refuge for 10 globally threatened bird species and five globally threatened turtle species, and the rich biodiversity – Ibo Island Lodge has also contributed positively to the Ibo way of life!
Kevin and Fiona established this first Ibo Island Eco Lodge in 2007. They built Ibo Island Lodge with a sustainable tourism ethos – giving back to the island community and assisting in the conservation and education of visitors and staff alike.
Poverty among the island’s 4,000 residents was driving slash-and-burn agriculture and habitat loss, unsustainable fishing, and illegal hunting of marine turtles and sharks. The opening of the Eco Lodge presented numerous new jobs and a viable economic alternative for Ibo Island’s community. It helps enforce national park regulations and engages community members in park patrolling. Ibo’s community trust fund encourages and supports entrepreneurial projects by local people.
Ibo Island Lodge in Quirimbas National Park, Mozambique is an outstanding example of how eco-tourism, sustainable economic growth and conservation can go hand in hand.
Happy Traveling!
Let’s find a honeymoon destination! Thank you to Loren Adams of Destinations Reached Travel and Consulting Services for this awesome list!
The top travel destinations according to Frommer’s, Lonely Planet, and Concierge.com
Morocco (Marrakesh)
Italy (Venice)
Burma
Cuba (Havana)
Thailand
Philippines
South Africa
Costa Rica
Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)
Antarctica (Paradise Bay)
Kyrgyzstan
Sri Lanka (Colombo)
India (Kerala)
Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates)
France (Paris)
Antarctica???? Are you kidding me? Okay…I had to look it up because I was so amazed. It looks cold. I love cold, but this place looks very cold.
I could see myself cruising around because It is very beautiful, peaceful, romantic and relaxing.
Just bring a coat!
And maybe a hat and some gloves. You know – just in case you want to take-in the breathtaking views outside your cabin!
Happy honeymooning!
Is planning the honeymoon the best part of the wedding planning process? I have no idea, as I have never planned a honeymoon. To help you with the honeymoon portion of the planning process, I have invited a wonderful person, friend and professional to discuss the importance of utilizing the professional services of a travel agent.
Enjoy!
In planning the perfect honeymoon, the words paradise and romance automatically filter your head. Yet, in order for those two things to happen, working with a travel agent to properly plan your honeymoon is vital when it comes to preparing for an unforgettable get-away.
First, give yourself six months to a year to plan your honeymoon. If your heart is set on traveling to the likes of Paris or Johannesburg, a year is advised; unless you are a frequent visitor of that particular destination. “Time is money!” may sound cliché, but precise. Allotting ample time to plan your honeymoon will afford you more promotions, more time to save, and prevent you from having to pay rush fees. Let’s not forget experiencing less stress and yielding last minute disasters. Next, talk to newlyweds about where they spent their honeymoon. They can provide recent updates about where they spent their honeymoon and how they enjoyed their experience.
Selecting a certified travel agent is a very important task. In doing so, do your homework. Ask for referrals and be sure to do background checks. By working with an agent, you should feel at ease knowing that you are working with a professional who is knowledgeable about the travel industry. With an industry so broad and ever changing, it is a travel agent’s responsibility to stay up-to-date on current events, airline advisories, vendor updates, etc. I would never send a couple on their honeymoon to a destination experiencing political upheaval or to a resort with extremely bad service and unreliable accommodations. Agents also perform frequent site inspections. Inspections tell you the real deal. They help distinguish the difference between what the Internet reveals and what resorts and cruises really have to offer.
Agents are experienced travel advisors who are trained on the ins and outs of the industry. We have years of experience, relationships with industry vendors and resort/hotel management, and collect tons of referrals. Agents also take frequent courses and attend seminars to increase their travel knowledge and level of certification. Always be sure to inquire about certifications and how current they are. Often times, people do not want to spend the time or the money to work with an agent for many reasons. But, keep in mind, all travel agencies operate differently. So be sure to ask plenty of questions.
Now that the ring has been set and the guest list is in full effect, it’s time to contact your trusted travel agent. It’s my duty to prepare you for an experience of a lifetime!
Loren Jackson Adams, Certified Agent and Destination Wedding and Honeymoon Specialist
P: 410-900-7440
