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Cruising as the sun sets

Allyson — Fri, 21 May 2010 13:05:38 +0000

The most memorable and romantic moment of Katie and Robert’s St. Lucia honeymoon was the boat trip they took around the island. Ti Kaye Village Resort, where they stayed, arranged the outing for them.

There were a few other couples on board with them, which Katie says, “made the trip a lot of fun.” The crew served up wine, cheese and some appetizers as they sailed past the Pitons, St. Lucia’s famous peaks.

After watching the beautiful sunset, Captain Glen let Robert take the wheel and steer the boat for a while. Looks like everyone had a blast.

A huge thank you to Katie and Robert for sharing their beautiful trip with us. And a very happy congrats to these two, who are celebrating their anniversary this month.

Wrapping up the romance in Aruba

Allyson — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 13:11:05 +0000

For destination wedding couple Carla and Tad, it was all the little romantic touches at the Bucuti Beach Resort in Aruba that made their trip so memorable. Carla says, “Breakfast was included in our package and was excellent way to start the morning. Upon arrival we had a champagne toast. In our room was a welcome/congratulation basket, including chocolates, champagne, cheese and other various gifts.” Their ground room floor was just a few feet from the ocean, with a spectacular view.

They thought the beach front location was perfect and found the staff friendly and helpful. Carla says it was “well worth the money.”

She adds, “We would recommend this honeymoon to others because, the food was excellent, the sunsets gorgeous, the beach was very peaceful. The Bucuti staff goes above and beyond to make your stay the best it can be.”

A huge thank you to Carla and Tad for sharing their story and photos. They’re a stunning couple who look like they had a perfect intimate wedding in the Caribbean. Carla says, “It was to date the best vacation experience we have had. We can’t wait to go back.” I hope for them that they make an anniversary trip soon!

Vows on Eagle Beach, Aruba

Allyson — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 13:19:42 +0000

There’s really no question for Carla and Tad about the best part of their trip to Bucuti Beach Resort in Aruba. She says, “Our most romantic moment was our wedding ceremony held on the beach at sunset.”

The staff of the resort helps to coordinate all the wedding details, including arranging for the ceremony officiant. Carla adds that they “loved the beautiful, peaceful setting” and thought Bucuti had the “perfect beach front location.”

I love how happy they look exchanging rings. Check back tomorrow to see the sweet reception they had immediately following the ceremony.

Sunset advice on Destination I Do

Allyson — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 12:10:08 +0000

I am absolutely thrilled to post this link… my first guest post on the Destination I Do Magazine blog. This inaugural post highlights some of the best spots to watch the sun set with your significant other. If you haven’t seen the hard copy magazine and are planning a honeymoons or destination wedding, you’ve gotta pick up a copy. The site has lots of great info too.

A warm welcome to new readers who are joining us from the blog! Check out all of our couples’ fabulous stories.

Thanks to Editor-In-Chief Jennifer Stein for not only inviting me to take part, but also being a pleasure to work with. Stay tuned for my next post in late March!

3 month honeymoon: India

Allyson — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:19:30 +0000

RH note: This week we’re featuring an amazing three month honeymoon through India, Europe and North Africa. All posts are written by our lovely guest blogger Kate, and photos are by her talented husband Adeet.

Kate says: Any stress from getting to Kerala soon vanished when we reached The Tall Trees Resort, outside of Munnar. Cardamom, pepper, and coffee are grown on the grounds of Tall Trees, and tea plantations surround the resort. We loved our accommodations—a spacious two-story “cottage” with a large bedroom and modern bathroom, above. It provided a peaceful alternative to the bustling crowds of Mumbai, and we relished the stillness.

We ventured into the town, or “hill station,” of Munnar but preferred walking past the steep tea plantations or relaxing on our cottage’s balcony. The town has Internet cafes and a few souvenir shops but not many tourist attractions. However, we did visit the Tata Tea Museum, which has a large store where visitors can purchase a variety of tea and spices grown in the area. The landscape is hilly and misty and because of the high altitude, the climate is more moderate than other cities in southern India. The resort is located in an area with great biodiversity and prides itself on being eco-sensitive. It also proved to be a popular destination with other honeymooners in India—we noticed several women with bridal henna designs on their hands and arms.

After leaving Tall Trees, we enjoyed a completely different, but equally incredible, experience on a houseboat. The houseboats, also known as kettuvallam, are long, Chinese-style wooden boats. A number of companies in Kerala offer houseboat tours and can be found online.

We boarded in Kumarakom, where we drifted down a series of lagoons known as the Backwaters, an area often referred to as “the Venice of India.” We spent a good part of that evening reveling in the view of the stars, which seemed close enough to skim the water. What could be more romantic than a starlit ride on a private boat?

During the day we lounged in the boat’s open-air main room. A small staff stayed on the boat and cooked our meals. We were impressed with both the quality and quantity of the food. We enjoyed fish caught moments before it arrived on our table and sweet, locally grown pineapple. Despite the boat’s somewhat rustic appearance, it offered the same comforts as a motel. We had an air-conditioned bedroom, with a small, attached bathroom. The boat also had a television, but it proved unnecessary since the lush scenery was more compelling.

We spent the last leg of our Kerala journey in the tongue-twisting capital city of Thiruvananthapuram, also known as Trivandrum. We stayed in the South Park, a hotel that reminded me of a Holiday Inn—not particularly romantic but clean and comfortable. We visited Puttan Malika, a wooden palace with intricate carved details, and enjoyed a tour led by a knowledgeable guide. The palace is near the elaborate Sri Padmanabhasvami Temple, a unique and ornate temple dedicated to the god Vishnu. Only Hindus are allowed inside, so we had to admire it from afar. Trivandrum is near the southernmost part of India and we quickly understood why many of the locals carried umbrellas as sunshades.

Our favorite meal in the capital proved to be unexpected. We ate at Casa Bianca, an Italian restaurant run by a Swedish expatriate! The food was excellent, and we especially liked the chocolate-covered chilies we had for dessert.

During our stay, we hired a driver to take us from Trivandrum to Kanyakumari, a town in the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu. Along the way we stopped at Padmanabhapuram Palace, a wooden palace used from the mid-16th to late-18th centuries. This palace is even more intricate than the one in Trivandrum and boasts beautiful murals in addition to its incredible woodcarvings.

When we reached Kanyakumari, we took a boat to the Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial. The swami is said to have reached enlightenment at this location, and it’s easy to understand how the site could contribute to a heightened consciousness. It is at the most southern point of India and you see only sky and water. Or waters—the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Gulf of Mannar all meet at Kanyakumari.

Before we returned to Trivandrum, we went to the shoreline to watch the sunset. It was a communally romantic experience, as many other couples had also gathered to gaze at the horizon. We felt as if we were at the end of the world, watching the sun slip away.

We left Kerala from Trivandrum’s international airport on Indian Airlines. Returning to Mumbai was much less adventurous than our train ride to Kerala. However, there was a moment of drama when we boarded our plane. The flight attendants had placed dry ice in the window wells for dramatic effect, and we thought the plane had caught on fire! Once we calmed down, we enjoyed a quick, comfortable flight complete with lunch. Domestic airlines serve meals even if the flight is less than two hours and are known for their excellent service.

Keeping the dining casual in Costa Rica

Allyson — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 13:44:23 +0000

As we said earlier this week, Oliver and Lisa didn’t have many firm plans when they arrived in Costa Rica for their honeymoon. Lots of their experiences were found along the way, including their best meal at Mi Lugar, better know as Ronny’s Place, a restaurant in Manuel Antonio. Oliver loved the “really good food and drinks” and says the place offers, “great view of the ocean.”

But that’s not all that Ronny has to offer his guests. His piña coladas made inside a giant coconut are what keeps locals and tourists coming back. The secluded location – it’s the only building on a 90 acre farm – means romantic sunset views. The menu includes fresh local seafood and also beef and pork dishes. It was a memorable meal for Oliver and Lisa.

Because they had a rental car, the honeymooners had freedom to stop at any local spot that tempted their palates. Pulling over for an afternoon snack and a beer was much better for them than reservations at a five-star restaurant. They made sure to imbibe the local brew, Cerveza Imperial.

Greece like you imagine it to be

Allyson — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:11:19 +0000

Jen and Eli absolutely love the Greek islands, especially Santorini. It’s exactly as you picture Greece – white stuccco buildings standing out against bright blue skies and black rock, with perfect views of the water below.

They joined the crowds that gather every evening on the balconies and roofdecks along the cliffs to watch the sun set.

The rocky volcanic mountains make for beautiful views in every direction. Jen also notes, “The black sand beaches of Santorini are a must-see.”

They wandered along the staircases and switch backs to Fira, the capital city of Santorni. There they opted for a bus tour to get to see the best sights in the area.

They may have been sad to leave Santorini on their last morning (above) but they had lots more sightseeing to do in Greece. Later today we’ll follow then to Athens for a tour of ancient ruins.

Summing up Sandals

Allyson — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:20:34 +0000

Have my cousins turned me into a Sandals fan after this week? Perhaps.

What Sandals clearly does right is provide couples with the perfect recipe for romance… Great service, all-inclusive drinks and food, candle-light and rose petals all in a gorgeous tropical setting. By picking these resorts you know right away you’ll get the things other couples have to seek out on their honeymoons.

Kim sums up her fabulous St. Lucian honeymoon with some wise words and one of the best sunset photos this website has yet seen…

“If we go back we would most definitely stay at the same hotel and order ourselves the best drink on the island called the BBC (Baileys, Banana, and Coconut Cream). We really enjoyed the entire trip … it was well worth every dime we spent … we’d do it again in a heartbeat!”

Thanks to my lovely cousins for sharing their honeymoon. I’d love to hear from more couples who’ve stayed at one of the many Sandals resorts and had a great time. Email us your happy stories!

Challenge yourself, and your guidebook

Allyson — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:55:35 +0000

Lots of us are dubious about the “guidebook staples” that others rave about. How could it not be overrated and disgustingly touristy, right? Leigh and Brian put one particular Hawaiian hot spot to the test… and it passed with flying colors.

The Beach House Restaurant on Kauai is known for delicious meals and friendly service. Brian says it makes every guidebook “for a reason: the food is very good and the view of the sunset (below) is spectacular — people were lined up on the shore outside the restaurant to watch it.” They loved the coconut-rimmed cocktails (above) and the macadamia-encrusted mahi mahi. Doesn’t get any more Hawaiian than that.

Also, I love establishing random challenges for yourself when traveling. Whether it’s collecting ticket stubs, taking photos of a dozen strangers holding your alma matter’s pennant, or stealing pint glasses of local brews, setting up ridiculous contests make a trip memorable.
RH note: We at Realhoneymoons.com do not in any way endorse robbery or theft. Nor have we participated in glass-lifting when slightly intoxicated. Maybe.

Brian and Leigh admit to spending a good amount of their time in Kauai, “running around the island and eating Lappert’s Ice Cream at various locations (above) in an attempt to earn a free sundae before we had to go home.” What a delicious, fun, fattening contest.

Brian adds the first thing they’d do if they make it back to Hawaii, “Turn in our cards for the free ice cream we earned.” Well, sometimes the adventure is even sweeter than the reward.

Belize: Sailing off into the sunset

Allyson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:14:42 +0000

On the coast of Belize, Melody and Dave spent the day exploring San Pedro’s main part of town by bike and then hung out under a thatch umbrella at Victoria House’s beach.

They arranged a sunset sailing trip with George, of the Rum Punch II. He picked them up at around in the late afternoon and set sail towards the North. Melody says, “It was a beautiful sight to see the sun setting behind San Pedro, and the sail was nice and relaxing. George was great! We approached the Capricorn Restaurant which was all lit up and had a very dreamy glow from the sea.” The couple nabbed a table right next to the beach, enjoyed a romantic dinner, and then sailed back to Victoria House with George.

We love their trip to Belize because it had a little bit of everything. Relaxation and luxury. Action and adventure. And of course, a whole lot of love and romance.