Real Honeymoon: Bahamas

Posted on June 24, 2013 by Peonies to Palm Trees

While some couples love to plan all of the details of their honeymoons to a tee, others feel burned out by all of the actual wedding planning that they have to do at the same time. I don’t blame them – I felt the same way! Alyssa and Brian decided to make things easy for themselves and chose the all-inclusive route for their honeymoon in the Bahamas. Read all about their wonderfully relaxing honeymoon below:

When and where did you honeymoon?

We honeymooned at the Sandals Emerald Bay Resort in the Bahamas in January of 2012.

How long was your trip?

We spent 9 days at the resort.

How did you decide on your honeymoon destination(s)?

It was a difficult decision for us. We knew we wanted a relaxing trip in a tropical location. In the end, we decided on Sandals because it met those expectations and it was all-inclusive.

The best part about our honeymoon was…

Relaxing by the pool for days on end!

If I knew then what I know now, I’d change…

I wouldn’t travel as far — it took us a day to get there and a day to get back. I think there are tropical locations closer to us!

How much planning did you do in advance?

Sandals made it very simple — one booking and everything was taken care of.

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Real Honeymoon: Scotland & England

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Peonies to Palm Trees

I’m really excited to share this week’s Real Honeymoon with you while I’m in Scotland because 1) massive soccer fans Julia and Mike went to Scotland too (!), and 2) Julia has really mastered the art of leaping solo shots. You’ll see what I mean below:

When and where did you honeymoon?

Mike and I went to Scotland and Northern England [in April 2013]. We stayed in three locations: Edinburgh, Newcastle and Loch Lomond.

Balmy Edinburgh

How long was your trip?

2 blissful weeks.

How did you decide on your honeymoon destination(s)?

The number one question we got on our honeymoon was: why did you choose Scotland and Newcastle? So you would think I have a good, practiced answer for this, but alas no. Here is my best shot at it.

We are homebodies and not adventurous. This was our first big trip alone together, and we have been together for over 10 years. We wanted to have an adventure, but not too big an adventure. We have always wanted to visit Scotland, and I am English/Scottish. Mike is also a HUGE soccer fan and Newcastle United is his favorite team. It was the perfect opportunity to make his dreams come true and see Newcastle United play their local rival, Sunderland.

#1 Newcastle fan

The best part about our honeymoon was…

Getting to spend so much quality one-on-one time together. I work long hours and we don’t vacation much, so this was a really special experience for us. And of course the Newcastle United game.

If I knew then what I know now, I’d change…

Don’t rent a car from the Hertz in Newcastle. Otherwise, I can’t think of anything we would have done differently.

Awesome leaping solo shot #1

How much planning did you do in advance?

We booked the hotels in advance and Mike spent a lot of time researching different things for us to do. We did not have each day pre-planned out, but we always had options to pick from.

Awesome leaping solo shot #2

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Bring on the Whiskey and Guinness, We’re Off to Scotland & Ireland!

Posted on June 14, 2013 by Peonies to Palm Trees

Even though it feels like we just got back from Panama, we’re already about to embark on our next adventure. First up is Scotland, where we’ll explore Edinburgh for a few days and then take a train to Glasgow to catch a Bruce Springsteen concert. After Bruce rocks our socks off, we’ll fly to over Dublin to drink plenty of Guinness and celebrate our good friends’ wedding* in County Meath. Assuming that we recover from the wedding in time (rumor has it that Irish weddings often last until 7 AM the next morning), we’ll drive over to Galway and check out the Cliffs of Moher as well.

I don’t plan on spending much time in front of a computer during this trip, but I do have a couple of really great Real Honeymoon posts scheduled for publication on the next two Mondays, and I’ll definitely write about our own trip once we’re back home. In the meantime, enjoy this Scottish/Irish travel playlist that my husband just created for our trip.

Sláinte!

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* Even though these friends live exactly one mile away from us in San Francisco, it’s so awesome that we’re going to celebrate their wedding over 5,000 miles away in Tankardstown! You just can’t find wedding venues like this back home.

Real Honeymoon: Hong Kong, Maldives & Tokyo

Posted on June 10, 2013 by Peonies to Palm Trees

Another couple of newlyweds who really took advantage of their travel points and miles are my good friends McKenzie and Curtis who spent the majority of their honeymoon in the picture perfect Maldives. As I’ve mentioned before, there are definitely perks to being a consultant when you want to go all out on your honeymoon. Read all about their “baller-status” honeymoon below ; )

When and where did you honeymoon?

We left the Monday after the wedding and our first stop was Hong Kong. We were in Hong Kong for two days before trekking to the Maldives. We were in the Maldives for 10 days and on the way back to the U.S.A. we stopped in Tokyo for a day.

Look familiar? Seema and Tommy took the same photo!

How long was your trip?

Two weeks total.

How did you decide on your honeymoon destination(s)?

Your honeymoon is your one chance to do it big. When else in your life are given cart blanche to take multiple weeks off work and spend money like you are rockstars? It has been a dream of mine to stay in an over-water bungalow, and there are only a few places in the world that have those, one being the Maldives, the exotic and remote honeymoon were looking for! After deciding on the main attraction, we needed to determine which route to take. We wanted to make a stop on the way there and back for two reasons: 1) To break up the 36 hour journey and 2) If we are going half way around the world, we might as well make the most of it. Since we have both been to Europe several times, we decided to take the Asia route. We decided to visit China on the way there (Hong Kong) and Japan on the way home (Tokyo).

The best part about our honeymoon was…

Our resort in the Maldives. I can officially say that I have stayed on a private island. For the first five nights we stayed in an over-water bungalow, a dream come true. While sleeping you can hear the Indian Ocean lapping underneath you. During the day, we would hang out on our deck and whenever we wanted, we would just walk down the deck stairs and we would be knee-deep in the Indian Ocean. We could go snorkeling, swimming or just float in the 80 degree water. It was heaven, we almost did not want to switch to our second room, but we are glad we did.

For the second five nights we had our own private villa with our own private infinity pool. Privacy walls surrounded the villa so every morning when we woke up all we could see was our pool and the Indian Ocean. We spent our days lounging on our patio and when the 90 degree sun got too intense, we could cool off in our own private pool!

We also did several activities while at the resort. We had a spa day, we did two snorkeling trips and we went on a sunset dolphin watching cruise. Every night we would get drinks on the beach and go to one of the six restaurants on the island. In contrast to the couple Mexican vacations that Curtis and I have taken together, this vacation was heavier on the relaxation and lighter on the tequila.

If I knew then what I know now, I’d change…

I would have packed more casual clothes. Since it was my honeymoon, I packed cute dresses and heels for dinner every night; however, the paths through the island were sand and the one night I wore heels, I ended up walking home barefoot. Most people wore casual sundresses and flip-flops, and I wish I packed more outfits like that. During the day, we only wore bathing suits and cover-ups.

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What to Know Before Booking a “Low-Season” Honeymoon

Posted on June 7, 2013 by Peonies to Palm Trees

When we were researching our last trip to Panama for Memorial Day Weekend, we quickly discovered that we were looking to go there at the beginning of their “low-season.” Hey, no problem, we thought after double checking our handy Lonely Planet guide that told us that May was still a good time to go.

While we certainly had a fantastic vacation, it is safe to say that Bocas del Toro was not in full swing while we were there. Hotels seemed more vacant than not, the best restaurants were only about a quarter full, and the streets in general felt pretty empty. But on the plus side, our hotel was super cheap and we didn’t have to make dinner reservations or wait for good tables. All in all it was a pretty good deal for us, but the overall ambience was certainly subdued.

One of the very best restaurants in Bocas del Toro, almost empty

Since we had a similar “sleepy” experience traveling around Bali and Vietnam in May last year as well, our Panama trip really got me thinking about low and off-season travel: Is it really worth it? What are its pros and cons?

High season usually means the following: the best weather, the most people, the highest prices. So if that’s what you’re looking for, there’s no need for you to read any further. But if fighting the crowds and paying premiums on everything doesn’t appeal to you, consider the following before booking a honeymoon during low-season:

1) Will the things you want to do and see even be open during low-season? Many attractions are closed for maintenance during off-months, so make sure you check out any dealbreakers in advance.

The Eiffel Tower was closed during Aaron’s first visit to Paris

2) How disappointed will you be if the weather is less than ideal? If you’re going somewhere that is heavily good-weather-dependent (e.g. a remote tropical island where there’s nothing to do besides lay out on the beach), you may not want to risk going there during off-season.

3) How much daylight will you need? Depending on the location and the time of year, your daylight hours could be very limited.

4) How much nightlife do you want? Even if your trip isn’t daylight-dependent, nightlife can be practically nonexistent during the off-season in major party destinations like Ibiza, Punta del Este, and Ios.

My sister, all alone on Ios in November

5) Can you even get to your destination during off-season? Before you get your heart set on a particular destination, make sure that flights, trains, or ferries can still get you there.

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Our Four Night Trip to Bocas del Toro, Panama

Posted on June 4, 2013 by Peonies to Palm Trees

It’s been just about a week since we returned from our trip to Panama, and my husband and I are still pretty excited about it. Even though we were only there for four nights, it was a great little trip for us to get some sun and take a breather from “real life.” We had a fantastic time, but I do need to preface this post by saying that I would not recommend Bocas del Toro, Panama for a honeymoon… quite yet. Maybe check back with me in 5-10 years or so. The area is gaining lots of popularity with tourists, but it doesn’t currently have the element of travel luxury that most honeymooners would want. In other words, it’s full of backpackers and baby boomer expats. That being said, many travel writers have claimed that Panama is “the next Costa Rica” so I have high hopes that Panama will be a great honeymoon destination in the near future. But for those of you who are interested in taking a non-honeymoon trip that isn’t incredibly mainstream yet, Panama would work well for you.

Pretty map of Bocas del Toro Province

A couple of things to mention straight off the bat: the U.S. dollar is their main currency but they do have their own coins, only tourists wear Panama Hats (and they are actually from Ecuador, not Panama), and despite what our tour guide told us, there ARE earthquakes in Panama because a 5.6 one woke us up one night.

Water taxis in Bocas del Toro

We took a red-eye flight from LA, and woke up in Panama City six hours later. Since we had a seven hour layover there and wanted to see as much of the city as possible, we made arrangements in advance to have a private tour through My Friend Mario. “Mario 2” picked us up from the airport (he claimed that all of their guides are named Mario) and took us everywhere: the Old Panama Ruins, the new city, the colonial area, the fish market ($3 ceviche – YUM!), the Coastway, the fruit market, Ancon Hill, and finally to the Panama Canal. Although that sounds like a lot to do after a red-eye, the city isn’t too spread out and it was great to be chauffeured around in an air conditioned car.

The massive Panama City skyline

After that whirlwind tour of Panama City, we took a quick 45 minute flight to Bocas del Toro and then a two minute water taxi to our hotel on Isla Careneros. (Pro tip: if you go to Bocas del Toro, water taxis between Bocas Town and Isla Careneros are $1 per person. Don’t ask how much, just give them the money. If you ask, they’ll charge you 5x more.) Despite being only $60 a night, our hotel was highly rated on Tripadvisor so we gave it a shot.

Hotel Oasis

It was extremely clean and in a great location, but it was pretty basic accommodations – like I said, definitely not honeymoon material. The owner Jose and his girlfriend Mayra didn’t speak great English (and our Spanish is pretty terrible), but they were extremely friendly and helped us plan out the three full days we had in Bocas. Looking back on it, I would recommend the same itinerary to anyone, so here it is:

Day 1: Sleep in, take a water taxi to Bocas Town, then catch the noon bus to Boca del Drago. You can also rent bikes and ride there from Bocas Town, but our hotel owner talked us out of it. Later on when we met a Danish guy who rode his bicycle to Bocas from LOS ANGELES (!!!!), we felt like the laziest people alive since we thought riding bikes across one little island would be too tough. Anyway, from Boca del Drago you can take a beautiful walk 20 minute walk or take a water taxi to Playa Estrella – a beach area that’s full of massive red and orange starfish. (Pro tip: don’t go barefoot – there’s something in the sand over there that feels like sharp little glass splinters. My feet felt better by the end of the day though, and Aaron didn’t feel anything at all because his feet are basically two massive callouses.) When you get back to town, go back to Isla Careneros to freshen up and get dinner at Bibi’s on the Beach to watch the manta rays swim in the water beneath you. Before you go to sleep, ask your hotel owner to book “the boat tour” for the next day.

Checking out the starfish at Playa Estrella on Isla Colon

Boca del Drago

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Real Honeymoon: Thailand

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Peonies to Palm Trees

I probably shouldn’t have worked on this post before lunchtime, but Megan and Mike’s wonderful honeymoon in Thailand has left me seriously craving Thai food! In a little less than two weeks, they managed to fit in tons of culture, beach time, and, of course, delicious food. Read all about their fun honeymoon below:

When and where did you honeymoon?

We went to Thailand for our honeymoon in mid-December 2011. We spent a few days in Bangkok, 5 days in Ko Samui and 4 days in Chiang Mai.

The Grand Palace in Bangkok

How long was your trip?

In total, we were gone about 12 days, from December 12-24.

How did you decide on your honeymoon destination(s)?

First and foremost, we were looking for a warm location. Getting married in December, we wanted to spend some time in warm weather, relaxing on the beach. We also wanted to go somewhere new, a location that neither of us had visited before. That criteria led us to consider South America, southern Africa, and Southeast Asia. We quickly focused our efforts on South American and Southeast Asia, eliminating southern Africa. After speaking with friends and family, and doing research online, we narrowed our choices down to 3 spots: Costa Rica, Brazil, and Thailand. Ultimately, we selected Thailand because we felt like we would easily be able to do a short trip to either Costa Rica or Brazil later in life, but it would be hard to do the same for Thailand. The greater distance appealed to us as we saw it as a rare experience that would be perfect for our honeymoon.

River rafting in Chiang Mai

The best part about our honeymoon was…

The food was probably the best part of our honeymoon. From the street food in Bangkok, to the seafood on the beach in Samui, to a cooking class we took in Chiang Mai, we loved all of the food we ate. Some of the highlights include fresh pineapple all throughout Bangkok, and a cooking class on traditional Northern Thai food in Chiang Mai where we learned to cook dishes like Khoa Soy.

Cooking class in Chiang Mai – yum!!!

If I knew then what I know now, I’d change…

I would have spent less time in Bangkok and more time in Samui. Relaxing on the beach was great, especially after the hectic schedule we had in the months leading up to the wedding with school, work, and planning. We could have used a few more days on the beach relaxing and less time in the busy capital.

How much planning did you do in advance?

We worked with a travel agent to plan the specifics of our trip. We picked the cities we wanted to visit and told her a few of the types of activities we enjoyed, and she was helpful in selecting hotels, arranging for private transportation and providing us with options for a few activities. We read numerous different travel books to help figure out what we wanted to do in each location, as well as talking to a few friends who had either vacationed in Thailand, or who had lived there. Overall we did a fare amount of planning to determine where we wanted to go, but left a lot of gaps in our plans for us to explore and be spontaneous.

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