Thursday, March 27, 2008

Expert Help for Honeymoon Travel

A honeymoon is one of the most memorable vacations a couple will ever take. Honeymoons are great not only because they provide time to relax after the excitement of a wedding, but because they mark the start of a new phase of your life.

To plan such an important personal milestone vacation, it makes sense to work with a professional who has expertise in honeymoon travel. A honeymoon travel expert can help you make important decisions about budget and destination. Knowing that an expert is handling the details can also relieve stress while you’re busy planning your wedding.

Your first step may be to discuss how much you want and can afford to spend on your honeymoon trip. This decision may be closely tied to how much time you can take for your honeymoon, as the time available might determine how far you can travel. Whatever your budget, a honeymoon travel expert can ensure that your honeymoon delivers good value and priceless memories.

Then, discuss the type of honeymoon you want. Rather than simply picking a destination, talk about what you want your honeymoon to be like. Should it be a quiet, secluded getaway, or a trip with a taste of adventure? Do you want food that’s familiar or exotic? Maybe you picture yourselves laying on a beach together, or strolling hand-in-hand among great works of art. At night, do you see yourselves cuddling by a fireplace, snuggling in a deck chair, or dancing the night away? After you describe the type of honeymoon experiences you want, your travel expert can help you select a destination and accommodations that match your wishes.

Some couples like to know which destinations are most popular with other honeymooners. Within the U.S., Las Vegas, New York City, Miami, Aspen and Hawaii are popular choices. Internationally, the Caribbean, Mexico, the Greek Isles, Italy and London are big with honeymooners.

Many honeymoon couples choose to take a cruise, which allows them to visit multiple cities or islands while everything they need, from fantastic food to spa treatments, is available on the ship. Of course, a honeymoon can be as simple as a weekend stay at a local bed and breakfast – you don’t have to travel far for a relaxing getaway experience.

As you plan your wedding, make time to talk with each other about your honeymoon dreams. Then, ­­talk with a honeymoon travel expert at your local travel agency who can make those dreams a reality.

Friday, March 21, 2008

The Playful Side of Romance - Breezes Resort


They say that when you're in love, it doesn't much matter where you are, as long as you're together. Maybe so, but just imagine what it'd be like to be together in love, in paradise. Because that's how you'll feel on a Breezes honeymoon.

Breezes Resorts sit on the best beaches anywhere, everywhere. And with spectacular locations in Jamaica, The Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Curacao and Brazil, wherever you choose to celebrate your special occassion you're destined to have the time of your lives.

Best of all, every Breezes Resort is Super-Inclusive, which means you're free to think only of each other and the love you share, without a moment's care for how you'll pay for those sunset cocktails on the beach.

So whats included?
All your meals - from burgers on the grill to lavish gourmet feasts.
All your drinks, including premium top shelf liquors
All your entertainment
Endless variety of land and water sports (sailing, snorkeling, kayaking, windsurfing, scuba diving, waterskiing)
Tipping is NOT permitted

The best part - Weddings are COMPLIMENTARY!

Weddings are their gift to you and include:
-wedding planner
-choice of location
-minister
-marriage license
-champagne
-wedding cake
-flowers
-music
-witnesses (As needed)

NEW BEACH WEDDING CHAPEL For couples wanting the most picturesque venue for their nuptials, Breezes Runaway Bay has created a new Wedding Chapel right on the beach. The Victorian inspired chapel provides the perfect setting, with spectacular ocean and beach views, for wedding or vow renewal ceremonies. With space for a number of guests and their entire bridal party, couples will enjoy beautiful memories and perfect photographs of their special day.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Rejuvenating Romantic Weekend Getaway to Key West, Florida

Key West is definitely the key to a great romantic weekend getaway. Located at the southernmost part of Florida, it is the perfect escape for every couple who wants to break away from the ordinary.

Although you can fly straight to Key West International Airport, choose Miami as a landing destination instead and begin your weekend getaway with a romantic drive along the
US1 (nicknamed The Overseas Highway) over the vast waters.

The drive gives you impeccable views of the ocean, and the wide variety of hotels, seafood restaurants, dive shops and boats that serve as a preview of how much of an amazing trip you are about to have.

Couples often prefer a quiet getaway for a romantic weekend. Make the most of each other's company by spending the whole day at the beach, lying on the sand or swinging on a hammock with good food and great drinks.

You can also take the seventy-mile ferry or chartered plane ride to the island of Dry Tortugas for an extraordinary diving experience, or simply enjoy the cool breeze brushing up your hair on a cruise ship. Dry Tortugas boasts a fort that was once used to protect American waters. Now you can take a guided tour around the fort, experience real cannons, and learn about the training regiment that soldiers used to endure on the island. If you aren't a certified diver, don't worry. You can also snorkel around the island and view some spectacular fish, coral reef, and underwater enchantments. Dry Tortugas is something that everyone should experience during their visit to Key West.


When you return from Dry Tortugas, spend some quality time walking around Key West. Enjoy strolling the palm tree-lined streets hand-in-hand with your spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend and watch the sunset. The view from the pier in Key West is said to have the best sunset in the entire world. From this point you can also see mansions that belong to the rich and famous who spend time in the keys.

Even if you aren't rich and famous, you can still find a great place to stay on your vacations. Spend your romantic weekend at the luxurious Marquesa Hotel right in the center of the historic district. Just in the same street, the Eden House offers the same historic atmosphere with a more affordable rate.

Lingering over local cuisine is one of the essentials of weekend getaways. On Duval Street, you will find many of Key West's top restaurants for your romantic dining. On this strip, restaurants have an area with porches where you can just watch the world go by over a sumptuous meal and a glass of wine. These restaurants serve seafood as their specialty with fresh catches from the surrounding waters, served in many different ways. If you want your fish raw, the Japanese Origami is highly recommended. Other top picks include the Seven Fish and Bagatelle for those who prefer their fish cooked. Also, you should try Key West's long time favorite, Sloppy Joe.

The night life is fun and exciting in Key West. If you enjoy large parties plan your romantic weekend getaway during spring break or in November. During spring break, resorts and bars throw parties and promise everyone in attendance a good time. November activities, on the other hand, include the Halloween costume parties and the Key West Power Boat Race. Water sport enthusiasts fly in to Key West every year to witness this event.

Key West is also famous for fine arts. Key West is said to be the haven of writers. Authors obviously draw inspiration from all the beauty the island possesses. Since the mood for this particular weekend getaway is romantic, visit the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum and explore the very walls where Ernest Hemingway wrote his emotional novels.

Those fascinated with the underwater world can have a self- or guided-tour at the Key West Aquarium, which features diverse exhibits of sea life in the Florida waters. Check the Aquarium's daily schedule for feeding if you wish to have a close encounter with the sharks.

Key West has something for everyone....especially those who want to get married in a tropical paradise. There are many destination wedding options in Key West. Most of the deluxe resorts take care of every detail of a wedding to make sure the day is perfect. Most weddings in Key West take place on the beach. What a gorgeous backdrop!

It is the perfect vacation spot for couples to unwind and relish a romantic weekend getaway.



Thursday, March 13, 2008

Most Popular Second Honeymoon Destinations

ASTA Identifies Popular Second Honeymoon Destinations
Published on: March 13, 2008


In its annual "Hot Spots for Summer" survey, ASTA polled 585 travel agency owners and managers to determine the most popular second honeymoon destinations and uncover other emerging travel trends for 2008.

According to respondents, Hawaii was the most popular second honeymoon destination with 24.4 percent share of the total response. While Hawaii can be more expensive than other destinations, respondents reported that money was less of a determining factor for couples who were taking a second honeymoon destination, compared to couples taking their first.

Cruising was ranked number two, with 11.6 percent share of the total response. Respondents routinely book cruises for second honeymooners because this type of vacation offers variety, convenience and, on-shore excursions, dining and shopping excluded, an all-inclusive package.

The third most popular second honeymoon destination, the Caribbean, also offers travelers endless options due to the number of islands that comprise this tourist-friendly oasis.

Jamaica and Cancun, ranked fourth and fifth respectively, rounded out the top five most popular second honeymoon destinations.

Although in the bottom half of the top 10, Europe, ranked number six, and Italy, ranked number seven, prove that interest in European vacations is still strong despite the current weakness of the US dollar.

With 3.5 percent share of the total response, Mexico claimed the number eight position. Tahiti, with 3.2 percent, and St. Lucia, with 3.0 percent of the total response, fell into ninth and tenth place respectively. For more information, visit http://www.asta.org/.

Romantic Weekend Getaway to Miami, Florida

By: David Reichman

Give yourself a nice break from the routine with your special someone on a romantic weekend getaway to Miami, Florida. Because of this generation's fast-paced and busy lifestyle, long vacations come very seldom. This does not mean, however, that quality time with your significant other is no longer possible. Take advantage of the post-winter deals on flights and accommodations and have a weekend getaway you and your honey need and want!

One of the best hotel deals that promises couples a romance-rekindling stay is at the Hyatt Regency Miami in Downtown Miami. With the Hyatt Regency Miami's Amour Romance package, you get to enjoy the usual incredible amenities the hotel regularly offers, plus a full breakfast, a bottle of champagne and a 2:00 pm-late checkout. So relax and take your time to make the most of your romantic weekend getaway with just each other's company.

A romantic weekend in Miami promises an elegant yet inexpensive getaway. Just like Boston, Miami has the Go Miami Card that you can purchase online. Get Go Miami Cards at a very low price before exploring the city and you will get free admissions to over 30 attractions, tours and cruises. Have a portion of your day exploring some of the historical and cultural attractions in Miami at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Historical Museum of Southern Florida, Miami Art Museum and more. Or you can go on cruises or tours such as the Island Queen Cruises, Miami Duck Tours or Palm Beach Princess Cruises. Take the time to visit Vizcaya Museum and Natural Gardens, one of the biggest attractions in Miami visitors frequent built by James Deering in 1916.

The main house and the grand gardens allow you to have a glance at the lives of the super rich during the 1920's.

Equally remarkable is the Deering Estate at Cutler, a three-building property with a hardwood hammock that represents Miami's landscape back in the day built by James Deering's brother, Charles Deering also in the early 1900's. Moonlight Canoe Tours are offered to couples during the nights when the moon is full - guaranteed romantic!

Romantic weekend getaways, of course, mean romantic dining opportunities for couples. In Miami, there is a long list of restaurants with a quiet, intimate and romantic atmosphere for couples. You can even get discounts from restaurants (as well as retail stores) with your Go Miami Card. You can choose to have a very succulent steak, pasta or even vegetarian dinner at the Rincon Argentino. Or you can have prime dry-aged steak and seafood in the very trendy and upscale ambiance of Prime Blue Grille.

Complete your romantic weekend getaway with a flight seeing over Miami, Florida. Get ready to fall in love with each other all over again with a Moon Over Miami Romantic Air Tour. Whether you are planning to get down on your knees to pop the question, or celebrating an anniversary, a birthday or other relationship milestone, this flight is something that will forever be etched in your memories and hearts. The Moon Over Miami Romantic Air Tour is tailor-made for couples who are celebrating something special, a bottle of champagne is even waiting for you on board. Cuddle up with your better half as you witness the sunset in Miami. The brilliant red hue cast on Biscayne Bay and the entire city, the purple clouds a little above you and the lights of Miami coming to life as darkness falls make the perfect scenario for two people in love.

If you are looking for more things to do, the friendly sunny weather in Florida and the very inviting beaches in the area allow you to bathe and bask under the sun the whole day and work on a darker skin tone while holding hands. Everything that can tug the heart stings of your special one can be found in Miami. That is why it is one of the best romantic weekend getaway destinations you can ever find!

Monday, March 10, 2008

Celebrate Your Endless Love at Sandals




Celebrate Your Endless Love at Sandals

Show your true love how much they still mean to you with a romantic vow renewal ceremony in paradise. Sandals resorts are located in Jamaica, St. Lucia, Antigua, and the Bahamas and are all-inclusive – making sure you experience everything you ever dreamed. Help yourself to gourmet dining, premium brand drinks, unlimited use of all amenities, scuba diving, and more without spending another dime.

When you renew your vows at Sandals you will receive:
  • Services of an experienced wedding coordinator
  • Marriage officer
  • Bouquet for the bride
  • Cake
  • Commemorative Certificate
  • One 5”x7” wedding photo
  • Boutonniere for groom
  • Champagne

    - Rekindle the romance with your spouse
    - Relive the most romantic day of your life
    - Revive your sense of adventure and exploration
    - Renew the most important vows you will ever make
    - Remind yourself how lucky you are to be married to your best friend

    To discuss all the opportunities available when it comes to renewing your vows, contact Travel Travel Carlson Wagonlit, your destination wedding headquarters. A romance specialist will assist you in planning the perfect vow renewal experience that you will remember for a lifetime.




Monday, March 3, 2008

Say “I Do” to a Destination Wedding

Say “I Do” to a Destination Wedding

Does the thought of “running away” to get married appeal to you, though you’ve also dreamed of a traditional ceremony with friends and family present? There is a way to combine the traditional and the adventurous in one wedding ceremony: a destination wedding.

In a destination wedding, the happy couple travels to an exotic location to say their vows. While a destination wedding requires some serious advance planning, there are a number of reasons why it can be a very practical choice.

For example, if your family and friends are scattered across the country, they must travel to attend your wedding. Why not ask them to travel to a fabulous vacation destination, where everyone can enjoy several relaxed days together?

A wide variety of possible locations means that a destination wedding can suit just about any budget. In fact, destination weddings can be more affordable than traditional weddings. Some of the most popular locations for destination weddings include Hawaii, Florida (think Orlando or Key West), Las Vegas, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe. Getting married in conjunction with a cruise is also an increasingly popular choice.

A destination wedding may also be a good idea if you are so busy that you don’t know how you’ll find time to plan a wedding. Many resort hotels, tourist destinations and cruise lines have coordinators dedicated to helping guests arrange memorable weddings, down to the last detail. These helpful coordinators will also let you know what documents you and your fiancĂ© should bring to meet local legal requirements for marriage.

If you choose a destination wedding, it’s important to give your guests as much advance notice as possible, especially if they need to obtain passports. In addition to helping everyone schedule and coordinate their travel, your travel professional can advise you on any other requirements for safe and convenient travel to your dream wedding destination.

DW SHOWCASE DOORPRIZE ANNOUNCEMENT

If you needed another reason to head to Travel Travel Carlson Wagonlit's Destination Wedding Showcase this May (which I doubt you did) I've got a great one for you.

Along with other great doorprizes, you can now enter to win

a 3- night stay at Secrets Capri Resort!
Travel Travel's
Destination Wedding Showcase and Seminars
May 13th
4:30 - 7:00
Multiband Tower - Fargo
For more information email swhiting@ttravel.com

Save Up to 50% on couples resorts



Book your trip between now and April 30th andyou can receive 50% off your stay at Couples Resorts.

Call your travel agent or Travel Travel Carlson Wagonlit to take advantage of this offer.