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6 Top Honeymoon Resorts to Book the Honeymoon of Your Dreams

October 7, 2022 Patti Casas Honeymoons, Resorts, Romance, Weddings

Honeymoons are the most exciting vacations for newlyweds. This is a time to celebrate the first few days of your marriage and enjoy some quality time with your spouse. However, it can be tricky to decide where to spend this exciting adventure together. There are so many places in the world that offer spectacular sights, so how do you choose just one?

To help you decide on the perfect place, here’s a list of six top honeymoon resorts. These locations offer everything from glitz and glamour to nature and seclusion.

Congratulations on your engagement! You can now start planning the most important part of your wedding: Your HONEYMOON!

You’ve taken care of all the details for your big day. After months of stress, you two will get to spend some valuable alone time together and make some great memories. Remember, this is not just another getaway, this is your honeymoon, a trip of a lifetime, so go big if you can. Maybe you want to just relax on a beach palapa with a butler serving you drinks & snacks all day, swim and read your favorite book at the infinity pool, experience gourmet dining all day long, or just order room service from your AMAZING honeymoon suite.

The choices are endless when it comes to where to go for your honeymoon. If you’re having trouble deciding where to go, we’ve got you covered with our list of six unforgettable honeymoon resorts that will start your marriage off on the right foot!

Sandals Grande St. Lucian Resort in St. Lucia

(Photo courtesy of Sandals Resorts)

Of course, St. Lucia is one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean, and Sandals Grande
St. Lucian Resort is considered one of its best all-inclusive resorts for couples. With unique accommodations like over-water bungalows and rondoval suites with private pools, lush and tropical grounds, plus a stunning white sand beach, it truly is a paradise.

Sandals Grande St. Lucian offers several dining options, premium drinks, spacious pools, daily and nightly entertainment. St. Lucia is ideal for honeymoon couples looking to explore and have some adventures, so be sure to get out and see the stunning sites like the Pitons or enjoy zip lining in the lush rainforest or hop on an ATV to see the majestic countryside.

Namale Resort & Spa

Namale is located on the northern coast of Fiji’s second-largest island, Vanua Levu. The all-inclusive resort features 25 bures, or bungalows, that are all located in a rainforest overlooking the ocean. There are also eight villas featuring private pools and personal butlers. Each bure and villa feature a private deck with ocean views, an indoor shower, an outdoor shower, a mini-bar, and an iPod docking station.

(Photo courtesy of Namale Resort)

Honeymoon couples can enjoy massages at the spa or relax by the infinity pool while sipping a
cocktail from the swim-up bar. Besides water sports like snorkeling and scuba diving, there’s horseback riding and mountain biking through the rainforest. Guests can also enjoy activities like ping pong, Fijian cooking classes, and yoga on the beach.

The resort staff can arrange tours to nearby villages, where guests can meet the locals and
learn about Fijian culture. It was my favorite resort in Fiji when I visited there in 2019. There’s nothing like it. As me about my bure and the pictures of it. Impressive!

Excellence Oyster Bay, Jamaica

(Photo courtesy of Excellence Resorts)

Excellence Oyster Bay is an ideal resort in Jamaica that’s perfect for honeymoons and beach lovers. Set on a private peninsula about 30-minutes from the Montego Bay airport, this adult-only resort has it all. Oversized luxurious suites with private pools, fabulous international restaurants, beautiful bars with premium drinks, a world-class spa, and wonderful friendly service are just a few of the highlights of this perfect place to celebrate your honeymoon.

I recommend splurging for the Excellence Club upgraded level of service for amenities like a private pool and beach areas, private lounges with premium bars, concierge service, and much more.

The resort offers plenty of activities for couples looking for fun, including sailing, kayaking, snorkel gear, daily activities, and nightly shows.

Unico 20°87°, Riviera Maya, Mexico

Unico 20°87° is in the Riviera Maya Mexico and sits on prime real estate overlooking the Caribbean Sea. The staff at Unico 20°87° are known for their friendliness and will go out of their way to make sure you enjoy your time there. They’re also happy to help you plan any excursions or activities you might want to do while you’re in the area, making it easy for you not to have to worry about anything but having fun during your honeymoon!

(Photo courtesy of AIC Hotel Group)

Moreover, Unico 20°87° has an excellent spa, which offers a variety of treatments including massages, facials, and body wraps. These treatments are created using local ingredients and organic oils derived from tropical plants—plus they smell amazing! Unico 20°87° is where our couples go when they want a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will be talked about for years to come.

Le Blanc Spa Resort, Los Cabos, Mexico

(Photo courtesy of Palace Resorts)

This glamorous resort offers an incredible beachfront setting that provides honeymoon couples with the opportunity to relax and enjoy each other’s company. Le Blanc Spa Resort is a super luxurious adult-only resort tucked away in Mexico’s Los Cabos. The views are indescribable, the level of service is top-notch, and the touches of luxury set this all-inclusive resort from the rest.

Luxurious accommodations with stunning views (even the basic room category is drool-worthy), fine dining, top-shelf liquor, butler service on every floor, an indulgent spa, plus it is only 35 minutes from the Los Cabos International airport and 15 minutes from downtown Cabo San Lucas.

Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana, Punta Cana

Looking for an all-inclusive honeymoon in the Caribbean that sits on the most stunning beach? Introducing Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana, a sophisticated adults-only resort in the exclusive gated community of Cap Cana, a true tropical paradise with an award-winning golf course and two miles of spectacular white-sand beaches.

(Photo courtesy of Playa Resorts)

Luxurious modern accommodations with 24-hour in-room dining, swim-up suites, a tranquil spa with a hydrotherapy circuit, several a la carte restaurants, 7 bars and lounges, an open-air theater with nightly live performances, watersports, and cooking lessons are just a few highlights of this honeymoon resort.

I must mention the state-of-the-art 14,000 sq. ft. fitness center with a separate cardio area, strength zone, TRX training, spinning room, offering yoga, step and Pilates classes. So, don’t stress over all those calories!

The Ultimate Honeymoon is exactly that – all-pampering, luxurious, and complete with fine dining, exclusive amenities, and extravagant surroundings. Whether it’s flying into Venice for a Gondola ride under the moonlight or whisking away to an exotic destination, this experience is truly one that you will never forget. Throw in the exclusive use of Adult Only hideaways, Broadway-level entertainment, and unlimited access to exotic beaches, pools, and top-shelf bars, you have a honeymoon paradise like no other.

With that said, planning a dream honeymoon involves a lot of choices to consider. There are the obvious priorities—i.e., the destination and resort you’ll stay at—but then there are other factors that shouldn’t be forgotten such as focusing on the exact type of honeymoon that you and your partner want. You may find that you agree on several things or have opposing views, but it doesn’t really matter! Sharing your experiences and exploring each other’s ideas is what is going to make your honeymoon memorable so it’s never too early to start considering some of these details now. So, get ready! It’s time to plan your dream honeymoon you’ve been
looking forward to for so long.

Don’t forget you’re not alone in your honeymoon planning. If you would like to talk to someone about your honeymoon options, then feel free to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with me so that you CAN have the honeymoon you have always dreamed of. Click here to schedule your complimentary consultation.

A Proven Way to More Happiness

May 15, 2021 Patti Casas Custom Trips, Family, Romance

We know that travel comes with a host of great benefits: unplug from the daily minutiae, you get to spend time and reconnect with people you love; rekindle that flame you put aside while taking care of your family; you get to see new things and try new things; you get to relax away from the pressures of work; you get the thrill of realizing dreams you may have had for years and years.

There’s a great quote that states that travel is the only thing you can buy that leaves you richer. As it turns out, travel is the best way to spend your money. Can you believe it? Does it sound too good to be true? Of all the things you can buy, the experience of traveling gives you, by far, the most bang for your buck. All these great elements of travel have been proven to make people happier. This is especially true when you’re talking about children. Travel experiences bring their textbooks to life. It gives them experiences that they can’t get from a book.

Even more than that, every part of the travel experience — before, during, and after — is more satisfying, more enjoyable, and has longer-lasting positive effects than buying stuff.

In 2003, Thomas Gilovich published his landmark study called To Do or to Have – That is the Question”– a study that, more than a decade on, continues to influence social psychology and the study of what brings us true contentment. Gilovich looked at how economic choices affect well-being and analyzed the differences between experiential and material purchases on human happiness. His unexpected discovery has changed the way we look at our buying habits: Across the board, doing things makes people way happier than having things.

The reason for this is that we get to live and re-live the joy of experiences through memories and photographs. Buying an expensive TV or even a new car gives a momentary spike in good feelings that lasts for a few days. If something happens to them, they have almost become disposable – a sort of planned obsolescence. You go out and buy new. But when you take an amazing trip, you get the memories and the good time together — and every time you think of that trip, or you see something that reminds you of it, a smell of a scent that was in the air wherever you were, or you look at the picture on your wallpaper, your brain registers those joyful times and releases mood-enhancing endorphins that make you feel like you’re re-living the happiness of the experience itself. It stays with you, and you get to access it whenever you want.

It’s not like we need another reason to start planning that dream trip — but another study that Gilovich co-authored has found that even the anticipation of experiences outdoes the lead-up to material purchases. People waiting in line to get tickets to an event are happier and more excited than those who are waiting in line to buy something.

So, even something as boring as waiting in line is more fun when it’s connected to your travel experience. But it makes sense when you think of it, doesn’t it? You’re waiting to, say, get your passport photo taken, and associated with that time are thoughts of where you’re going to go, what you’re going to see, and all the adventure that awaits. Or you’re sitting at the pool bar at the all-inclusive resort where you’re staying is preferable than sitting in a crowded bar at home. When you’re planning that trip with your agent, you get to make progress, take steps towards realizing your dream, and each step is actually a part of the adventure itself.

As travelers, we know the many positive benefits of getting out and seeing the world. Now we can feel even better knowing that those benefits continue to improve our lives, long after the trip is over. Our vacation memories make us happy. So I ask again, are you happy?

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Answering these 7 important questions can really help you with planning your perfect honeymoon.

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I Don’t Need Trip Insurance, or Do I?

May 5, 2021 Patti Casas Recommendations

“This is a girls (guys) trip. No one is going to back out.” “This is my last single fling. No one will back out. We all want to party!” “Seriously? Nothing will happen to the resort. They’re prepared for hurricanes.” “No one will get sick before the trip.”

And the BIG one – “I don’t want to spend any more money. I won’t need it.”

Sound familiar? I get these responses a lot when I ask about the purchase of trip insurance to protect the financial investment of my clients’ trips. We all know that life has a tendency to get in the way of best laid plans, and if you can afford to lose potentially thousands on your trip, more power to you. I know I can’t, and most people I know don’t want to, either. More and more, people are saving up for awhile (sometimes years), spending these savings on a special vacation, and don’t want to have to spend any more than they have to. I get it. Really, I do. Budgets suck. There’s no other way to put that.

However, consider that you just laid out $2500 to go to Cabo San Lucas in March for a trip with your besties for a bachelorette getaway. You didn’t take the trip insurance when you booked because you figured that there was no way you weren’t going to celebrate with your best friend since nursery school before she gets married. It’s late January, and everyone is paid in full. Guess what? The bride goes skiing in Aspen with her fiance on a before-moon to escape all the stress from planning the wedding. She falls, breaks her leg, and needs surgery. The doctor won’t clear her for travel in early March. Do you still go without the woman of the hour? My guess is no one wants to go without her. Without the insurance, everyone is out their investment.

We are all careful drivers, but what if you are in an accident? No one ever plans for one of these. That’s why they’re called accidents. One of these can take its toll, especially if it’s serious, and may force you to cancel your trip. This would be a covered reason with the insurance.

Losing employment – Sometimes this is obviously going to happen, sometimes not. Losing your employment can certainly scare you out of going on vacation, and rightfully so.

Jury duty is another big one. The judicial system doesn’t care if you have a vacation planned. You must do your civic duty. My experience with this one is an example here. I had an infant at home the last time I was called for jury duty, and I was still made to appear. Minor children at home used to be a valid reason to be able to either not go or postpone your service. A Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) clause in addition to your policy would cover you here, and loss of employment, too. These are typically extra, but are worth every penny if needed.

Keep in mind, however, that fear or fear of illness aren’t covered reasons for trip cancellation, and isn’t going to be covered by Cancel for Any Reason. A perfect example of this currently is the coronavirus. Some travel suppliers are making some exceptions, but for the most part, unless you’re traveling to a place that has been quarantined or restricted travel within the next few weeks, you’re not going to be able to cancel and get a refund. Take the same precautions you would if you were at home. Check with the WHO and/or CDC daily for updates. It’s literally changing by the hour.

While these are just examples, it’s not too far off of what can actually happen. We always recommend trip insurance to our clients, and wedding insurance to our destination wedding clients. While it may seem trivial, and not an expense you want to lay out, should something happen, it’s peace of mind knowing that your financial investment is covered.

10 of the Craziest Things Clients ask their Travel Agent

April 16, 2021 Patti Casas For Fun

Just for giggles. Here are ten of the craziest questions I compiled that were asked by potential clients, generously donated by my fellow travel professionals and myself.

Crazy Questions

1. Can you ask the airline to block the seat next to me so I can stretch out a little?
Ummm…ok, but there will be a fee for that – equal to the cost of a second ticket! (Because that’s what you have to do to have space next to you!)

2. Will the beach at my resort be all sandy?
I’m thinking that’s a “yes,” but I can’t guarantee it!

3. Can you book two rooms in different parts of the resort—one for me and my wife, and the other for my girlfriend?
Wide eye stares.

4. Is our relationship “privileged” like a client/lawyer relationship?
I’m thinking this was the same client from question #3. He may be needing that lawyer when he returns home.

5. How can I get to Europe without flying or cruising?
Well, sprouting wings or fins works for some people. Some prefer to dig a tunnel if they don’t like to fly. Maybe submarine?

6. Can you please plan a honeymoon for me, my bride and my mother?
I give that marriage 6 months tops. Maybe less. I’m amazed they’re engaged.

7. Does the crew actually sleep onboard the cruise ship?
No, they paddle along behind in a lifeboat.

8. Can you seat me away from the window on the airplane? I am getting my hair done before the trip and don’t want it to get messed up!
This was a little old lady flying to her granddaughter’s wedding, and asked in all seriousness.

9. Will you watch my pet while I’m away?
Kind of puts the “full service” in Travel Agent! Not with my allergies, sorry, but I can find one to recommend to you.

10. Is gambling legal in the cruise ship’s casino?
I guess they thought the cruise line was operating a big sting operation. No idea. In all fairness, though, some cruise lines don’t have casinos onboard.

Honorable Mentions

Honorable Mention 1

One I experienced myself while on a cruise. I have to give you the backstory for it to make sense.

We were on a 5-night cruise out of Bayonne, NJ to Bermuda, back in 2014. We were in the main dining room for breakfast on our last morning. There was an elderly lady at a table next to us who spoke quite loudly with a thick New York accent (since I’m from Jersey, these tend to stick out to me in crowds, and it was hard not to hear her around the whole dining room. For a visual, think of the character that Mike Myers used to play on Saturday Night Live, Linda Richman, that he based on his mother-in-law for the voice, but Sophia from Golden Girls in looks!

She proudly proclaimed that next she was “going on the new Quantum Royal Caribbean ship out of Bayonne, and that [they were] going round trip to Australia on a 7-day cruise.”

Eyes wide open in disbelief. It was all I could do not to choke on my breakfast, and I kept getting the evil eye from my husband to not laugh. I had to leave the dining room to avoid choking. Geography wasn’t my top subject in school, but even I know where Australia is compared to the Tri-State area, and having experienced a 14 hour flight there from LAX. I want to be on that ship to experience that speed to make it to Australia and back to the East Coast in 7 days!

Honorable Mention 2

“Can’t we just drive over the bridge or take a train to Hawaii? I really don’t want to fly there. I hate flying, and it’s such a long flight.”

Not the last time I checked!

This article was meant purely to entertain. For other laughable comments, google the list by Thomas Cook. That’s a hoot! I’m not trying to make any point, or make anyone feel bad, just bring a smile to your face. It made me smile to write it, and I was sorely in need of a few good laughs.

Are you ready to start taking the steps towards your next travel adventure? Give us a call, and let Ohana Sunscapes bring a little more aloha to your life!

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