David & Jaime Caldwell of Cambridge, MA, took some time between their summer wedding in New Orleans and their December honeymoon in Spain and Morocco. The anticipation made the trip all the sweeter for these two newlyweds.

Jaime, who’s a freelance food publicist and recipe developer (plus a part-time foodie/lifestyle blogger) and David, a 2nd year law student at Harvard Law, say this trip was “a fabulous opportunity to explore exotic places with each other.” That’s Seville, Spain below on Christmas Eve.

Jaime adds, “Ours was an active honeymoon with a lot of cultural immersion. I would highly recommend it to those looking to experience something exotic and a bit out of their comfort zones.” For them, food was a huge highlight of the trip. Below is a photo from their incredible 23-course dinner (no, that’s not a typo!) at La Terazza del Casino in Madrid.

That shot at the top is these two on the flight oversees. She says, “David’s parents gifted us with first class tickets to and from Spain. This was the first and probably last time we will ever be able to fly in such style and we enjoyed every second of it from the reclining seats to the free movies to the fantastic dop kits to the delicious multi-course meals!”

Melody and Kevin spent their time in Belize at the Victoria House resort in Ambergris Caye, which she describes as, “luxurious, clean, friendly, with excellent service.” This just so happens to be the very same resort that another one of our couples, Melody and Dave chose. These pairs don’t know each other, but were all equally impressed with the luxury accommodations.

Victoria House has it’s own dock, which not only provides for some great sunset viewing, but is also the launching spot for many of the area’s best attractions. From here, you can board a boat to go snorkeling, scuba, fishing and more. Boats dock here nightly to pick guests up to head to nearby resorts for dinner.

All those activities are fun, but Melody and Kevin took plenty of time to do some chilling on the beach as well. Victoria House has plenty of chairs – and hammocks – for guests to relax in.

When they tired of the beach, they also spent time getting sun poolside.

It was the little touches that really made the resort a stand-out for Melody and Kevin. She notes the “lush manicured lawns and gardens, amazing high thread-count sheets and a gorgeous canopy over our bed” among the memorable details.

For these two, it was the warm hospitality that they loved most. Melody says, “From the moment we were greeted at the front door to the moment we checked out, we felt very welcomed and taken care of.” Love this shot of Mel looking serene and relaxed, just like a honeymooner should!

After Brooklynites Melody and Kevin Aberg tied the knot in Middletown, CT, they couldn’t wait to board their flight down to Belize for a romantic honeymoon. Melody, who works in marketing for a book publisher and Kevin, who does credit and risk management for a trading firm, wanted a trip that offered them a little adventure and a whole lotta relaxation. Melody says that Belize is a destination that, “felt like a few different honeymoons in one.”

Costa Rica, the South of France and Tahiti were all incredible destinations these two also considered. But in the end it was the wide range of activities combined with the great deal on flights that sealed the deal for Belize. Melody says, “It seemed like a place where we could really get a lot for our money and time – and that proved to be true. Flights were inexpensive (less than $300 each, round-trip from New York) and only took a few hours.”

The incredible waters of Belize are what draws visitors to this spot. Melody and Kevin were amazed by the nurse sharks and stingrays they saw while snorkeling. When asked what they’d do if they went back, this was at the top of their list. Melody says, “There are so many world-class snorkeling spots right off Ambergris Caye, and we only took one snorkel trip during our time there. If we went back, we’d check out some of the other snorkel spots – especially around Lighthouse Reef.

These two absolutely loved Victoria House, the resort where they stayed. Our faithful readers will remember another Melody +1 couple who coincidentally stayed at the very same resort. Mel and Kevin say it, “was a fantastic value for the experience.”

What’s not to love about a country with friendly locals, gorgeous beaches and fun in the jungle?! Melody list some of their trip highlights: hiking, lazy cocktails on the beach, zip-lining, reading on their balcony and cave-tubing. And the weather wasn’t bad either. She says, “It was perfect! Sunny and clear but not too hot; only rained one day we were there.”

Sounds like absolute perfection to me!

While in the town of Chania on the island of Crete, Jen and Eli stayed at Casa Delfino. This was their first hotel on the honeymoon and Eli says, “While it took us a while to navigate the labyrinthine streets that are Hania, we were pleasantly surprised to find a charming hotel with a central courtyard and spacious, airy rooms.”

History buffs will love that it’s a genuine 17th century Venetian palazzo. Jen adds, “The breakfast spread in the courtyard each morning was amazing, especially the fresh Greek yogurt with honey.”

Electra Palace, Athens

Jen and Eli describe the Electra Palace as having “more of an upscale business hotel feel” than a luxury resort. Jen is pictured above in the courtyard. But with its close proximity to everything in Athens, “we could walk everywhere we wanted to go.”

They made sure to mention the “great robes and slippers!”

I couldn’t mention the Electra Palace without talking about the incredible rooftop pool. Check out the views of the Acropolis from up high.

Plaza Beach, Naxos

Plaza Beach Hotel in Plaka on Naxos wasn’t Jen and Eli’s favorite, but definitely did it’s job. She says it was “very nice with a big room.” She adds, “it has a close proximity to the beach, but was a bit of a trek to restaurants and the main town.”

Above, Jen enjoys an outdoor breakfast at the Plaza.

In the summer of 1997, I received a letter from Syracuse that contained the name of a girl from Queens, NY, who’d been selected as my freshman roommate. Who knew that all these years later, we’d still be great friends. Or that she and her husband would become Tim’s and my favorite dinner companions.

Jen, a restaurant publicist, and Eli, a photo retoucher/art professor/blogger, live in Brooklyn. After their Westhampton Beach, NY, wedding The Neugeborens spent an amazing honeymoon exploring Greece. Jen describes their trip as delicious, awe-inspiring, and “the perfect decompression from wedding stress.”

Neither of them had been to Greece and it was one of the first places they discussed going. They briefly considered Mexico, but with hurricane season in September they didn’t want to take any chances. She says, “We didn’t think Greece was a place we’d get to any time soon if we didn’t go on our honeymoon!”

These two are big foodies. Serious foodies. They Twitter about every restaurant they try. So food played a huge part in their trip. Whether it was wine, cheese and olives on the hotel balcony at sunset, or dinner at a fabulous restaurant, they ate their way through the Greek Islands.

This week we’ll vicariously travel along with them as they visit Athens and the islands of Crete, Santorini and Naxos. Get your napkins ready… it’s going to be a tasty week!

When my cousin Chris married his wife Kim in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, Tim and I were honored to be guests. These two are the best… they’re the kind of cousins who’ll drive you to the ER when you’re sick and your hubby’s out of town (they did that for me!) and then keep you company for the three hour wait (they really are great!)

Kim who works in sales, and Chris who works in Risk Management, left behind their Hoboken, NJ, home in November 2009 for the sunshine of St. Lucia for their Caribbean honeymoon.

St. Lucia is a small island with only 160,000 residents and a National Rain Forest Reserve. Sandals has three resorts on the northwest tip of the island: the Sandals La Toc Regency Golf Resort & Spa, the Sandals Halcyon Beach and the Sandals Grande St. Lucian Spa & Beach Resort, where Chris and Kim stayed.

They loved the option of being able to visit all three resorts and the shuttle buses leaving every half-hour or so make this easy. These two had an amazing time on their trip, and packed in the fun.

When it came to choosing a honeymoon destination, Chris and Kim looked into several Caribbean islands as well as Costa Rica. Their research told them that Sandals in St. Lucia was the perfect fit for them. It offered plenty of variety with the beaches and numerous pools. They took advantage of the planned outings for some adventurous fun. But mostly they took plenty of time to just relax as Mr. and Mrs.

And we saved the most fabulous for last, The Fontainebleau in Miami Beach. This place is the ultimate honeymoon destination for couples who want some old-school romance on their trip. Following a recent $1 billion renovation and expansion (yes, that’s with a B) this place oozes golden-age glamour and luxury. Be prepared to pay a grand a night for a suite here. And then live it up.

Located just off the lobby, The Bleau Bar reminded me of Rat-Pack-hotel-meets-21st-century-Vegas. It was as if Old Blue Eye could come strolling up to the bar at any moment. With his iPhone in hand.

Amanda (above) and I were way, way into this place, as well as the extensive cocktail menu. My champagne-and-strawberry concoction was delicious though expensive. The boys weren’t as thrilled. They thought it was cheesy, but that’s exactly why we ladies loved it.

What can I say… I’m a sucker for a light-up floor!? It makes your strappy gold sandals look oh-so-Miami.

The guys may have been underwhelmed with the decor, but Tim did brave The Gaucho (tequila, ginger beer, and jalepeno.) He says, “It was delicious, but I couldn’t drink it. It made my stomach hurt. It defeated me.”

We ventured outside to check out the huge and newly renovated pool area – where Lady Gaga will be ringing in 2010, by the way. The cabanas are top notch with beds and flat screen TVs. Tim loved the LED twinkle lights that lined the bottom of the pool, slowly changing colors.

And so, dear honeymoon readers, the end of Fancy Cocktail Night seems the best place to leave you on this New Year’s Eve. Wishing you a very happy, very fun, and very romantic New Year. Hope you get to kiss someone great at midnight!

(We’ll be back on Jan 4, 2010!)

Some choose The Delano for its design sense. Others for its South Beach location. But everyone chooses The Delano for its pool. During the day, the lounge chairs and cabanas are the place to see and be seen. At night the pool heats up into one of Miami’s hottest bars.

Celebrities, socialites and decked-out ‘regular’ folk flock to the pool day and night. But catching some rays here doesn’t come cheap. Besides splurging on a room, be prepared to shell out for bottle service in the cabanas.

Just like the all-white guest rooms, the Agua Spa is minimal and modern. Offering the typical spa services, the best part of any treatment is relaxing on the roofdeck when you’re done.

A manicure will run you around $50 and hour-long massages start at $140. You can also get spa services in your pool-side cabana. The spa is open 9 am to 9 pm everyday.

The Delano offers numerous food and drink options, including Blue Sea (it’s sushi spot), the Rose Bar and the Blue Door Terrace (below). Grab lunch and a cocktail here during the day to people-watch and relax.

We also got a peek at the legendary Florida Room bar, designed in collaboration with Lenny Kravitz (below). The place was empty since it was early in the day, but you can imagine this room gets going when packed until the wee hours of the morning.

The Delano is an experience for all five senses. It can also be a hit on the wallet. Tomorrow we’ll check out a funky Miami hotel that’s much more budget-friendly.

As one of Miami Beach’s most famous hotels, The Delano is hallmark of design in the US. The art deco exterior and glamorous lobby make it one of the most glamrous places to stay in the city.

With even the most basic rooms costing over $500 a night, this place doesn’t come cheap. But every square inch of this place will delight design-lover and trend-setters.

Wandering through the Philippe Starck-designed spacious lobby is like walking through a modern art museum – one where you’re allowed to touch. With chairs designed by Antonio Gaudi, Man Ray, and Salvador Dali you can get up close and personal with the furniture (as Tim does below.)

We were lucky enough to get an exclusive tour from the Delano’s staff. The guest room above features an update of Starke’s design by Tim Andreas of Banjo. The room features a king-size bed, down comforter, white floors and black-out shades for late-sleepers.

Other accommodation options at the Delano include poolside bungalows, luxury suites, and of course the penthouse. But we were smitten with this simplicity of this all-white room. It’s like a blank canvas for the honeymoon of your dreams.

We also got to peek at the seriously stocked mini-bar. Not just booze and snacks here, but also an iPod docking-station, spa products and clothing bedazzled with the Delano logo. Does this place look familiar yet? You may remember it from this little gem.

Up next, a look at The Delano’s famous pool and Florida Room bar.