Éclat Travel's Blog

Posts Tagged ‘romantic getaway’

This client was the roommate of a relative of mine. My relative told me that the roomie was getting married and needed some help figuring out what to do for the honeymoon. Would I and could I help him out? Absolutely.

When I called him we had about 8 weeks to figure it out. He basically knew that they wanted beaches and sunshine, they were considering Mexico, South America, the Caribbean and Costa Rica. The budget was $2,500, including airfare. They were looking for an all-inclusive resort on the beach, but something that had a variety of activities, and restaurants.

So, I went to work searching all-inclusive resorts that offered special amenities for people on their honeymoon, and narrowed the choices down to three that were within their price range in each location. I included all the details about the number of restaurants, included activities, what would be extra, any bonus honeymoon perks that were included and the rates for different room types. Searches for flights for the time of year they were looking at narrowed the choices further to Mexico and Costa Rica to stay within their budget.

They ended up choosing Dreams Villa Magna Nuevo Vallarta because the bride-to-be liked the fact that they would have a Jr. Suite Ocean View room with Jacuzzi. In addition, they would enjoy all meals, a honeymoon package that included fresh flowers, fresh fruit and bottle of sparkling wine, and flower petals in the room, special turn-down service, champagne breakfast in bed, discount on spa treatments, $200 in resort coupons, gratuities, taxes, travel insurance, round trip airport transfers, and airfare for two, for less than $2,200. That left them a little something to play with while they were there.

Upon their return, I contacted the new couple for some feedback. First of all, overall, they had a wonderful honeymoon. He did mention a review that he read prior to their stay that said about the property, “ …if you had been to 5 star properties worldwide you wouldn’t be terribly impressed.”*(see note below)

He stated that the food at some of the outdoor outlets was “just ok”, but that dinners in the restaurants were great, and the service at the resort was “amazing.” Every time you turned around someone was there to help you.

  The resort’s location was wonderful and you weren’t bothered by vendors on the property. He also thought that the dinner on the beach and the show were great and well worth seeing. He highly recommended Vallarta Adventures (for excursions and activities that can be arranged before you arrive). And, they had no issues with water or ice cubes, and the town near the resort, Bruceras, was safe and they had no issues there. Overall, they were very satisfied and had a great honeymoon experience and he thanked me for all the help.  I was able to help them find a great location for their honeymoon at an all-inclusive resort that offered great value and extras for what they paid, and did it within their budget.

To all those soon-to-be-honeymoon-couples, congratulations! And if you find yourself overwhelmed with honeymoon choices, or don’t know where to start,  contact me.

Happy Valentine’s Day,

Cheryl

*Author’s note: Neither this property, nor I, sold it as a 5-star. It is rated an AAA 4 Diamond resort.

I was just saying that pizza, chocolate and a night at the local bar may, or may not, be the perfect romantic getaway. If it’s not, consider some other options: 

You can hop a flight for a weekend getaway to The Venetian in Las Vegas, ride a gondola complete with singing Gondolier while enjoying champagne and chocolate, have a fabulous Italian dinner, and plan to see Love by Cirque du Soleil featuring the music of The Beatles.

Another take on this, if you have more time and money, is fly Virgin Atlantic to London, head up to Liverpool, take a Magical Mystery Tour, hit the Cavern Club for music and dancing, then off to Tuscany for Italian culinary classes, tour small quaint wineries, take in the incredible scenery, and return home relaxed and refreshed.

If your significant other happens to be a fan of chick flicks here are 15 romantic hotels and destinations made famous in major romantic movies that can be incorporated into your master plan. When you are choosing accommodations be sure to consider the person’s style. Do they prefer historic or contemporary, large or small, simple or luxurious? Hotel, Luxury Villa, B&B, or ship? 

1. The Grand Hotel Pupp – Czech Republic used in “Last Holiday”, also used as Hotel Spledide in “Casino Royale”
2. The Ritz – London, “Notting Hill”.
3. The Savoy – London, “Notting Hill”.

4. The Grand Hotel – Mackinac Island, MI, “Somewhere in Time”.
5. The Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel – Beverly Hills, CA, “Pretty Woman”.
6. Les Rives de Notre Dame – Paris, France, “A Bout de Souffle (Breathless)”.
7. Hotel Degli Orafi – Florence, Italy, “A Room with a View”.
8. Royal Station Hotel – Newcastle upon Tyne, England, “Brief Encounter.”
9. Hotel Des Bains – Venice, Italy, “The English Patient” (served as the Cairo hotel in the movie).
10. Russia – “Dr. Zhivago”, try Taleon Imperial Hotel in St. Petersburgh.
11. Morocco – “Casablanca” try the Royal Mansour in Marrakech.
12. New York – “An Affair to Remember”, check out The Inn at Irving Place.
13. Seattle – “Sleepless in Seattle”, take a look at The Sorrento.
14. South Carolina – “The Notebook”, how about the Wentworth Mansion.
15. Georgia – “Gone With the Wind”, consider the Windsor Hotel.  

And, finally, make it happen. The good news is that this can be done anytime you want to have a romantic, or fun, getaway, not just at Valentine’s Day. Remember anniversaries, birthdays, and other special dates you would like to celebrate. Romantic hotels grace the globe.   

Let’s review. Step 1 – listen and take notes. Step 2 – do your homework. Explore your options given the information in step one. Determine your budget, when you can go, and research what you’d like to do. Step 3 – put it together. Book your flights and your chosen romantic hotel, transfers or car (limousine?), arrange for event tickets, research attractions, be sure to make your dinner reservations, and viola, a memorable romantic getaway for two!    

On the other hand, if you’d like to leave nothing to chance, or would just like some help with the details; contact me to help you create the perfect custom romantic getaway complete with every detail. Endure none of the stress but get all of the credit.    

Cheers!
Cheryl
Custom Travel Specialist
Cheryl@EclatTravel.com

Valentine’s day is quickly approaching, and you are hard pressed for the perfect gift. Need some romantic date ideas? You can come up with a fabulous getaway idea if you put a little effort and advanced planning into it. If you really want to make a lasting impression on the one you love, give them something that will last a lifetime – an experience they will never forget. Creating amazing memories will endear your partner to you (i.e. score big points), assuming of course, you’re not a jerk the rest of the year. Even if the relationship doesn’t last a lifetime, the memory will. Good or bad, I might add.  So make it extra special. Here’s how to plan a romantic getaway.

First of all – listen! The key to creating a memorable experience is tying the experience to desires or dreams and making them come true.  Absolutely pay attention to what your mate likes or says that they have “always wanted”, “wanted to try”, “places they always wanted to go”, etc. you get the idea. 

When they say something about wanting to try paddle boarding or are thinking about learning to make the perfect calzone, loves Mickey Mouse or romantic comedies, make a mental note. It’s so easy to create the perfect romantic getaway, or memory, if you just pay attention to what someone says. If they like a particular musical artist or group – make a note. If they love to ski, always wanted to drive a race car, or always wanted to see the northern lights – make a note.  You get the idea.

What is their idea of a romantic escape? If you don’t know – ask.  It’s that simple. Yes, you can be sneaky about it and still get a good idea of what they would like without giving away the surprise – if it is to be a surprise.  Some people, like me, like surprises.  Some don’t.  It’s good to know that too, by the way. It’s generally not advised to spring a surprise on someone who hates surprises.  Being able to arrange an outing or vacation that includes elements that they adore will make you a hero.

Notice, I didn’t say, that “you” adore, unless the interest is mutual. This is to be a selfless endeavor on your part. The fact that you went to extremes to make sure that your vacation was something that they would enjoy makes it romantic.

Second, explore your options; play with some of the things you know they would like and see how you can put them together. So let’s say they love The Beatles, night life, and Italian food.  What can you do with this information? You could pick them up at 10, while Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is playing in the car, and go out for a pizza, and then go dancing at your local lounge. Hmmm. OR, you could… (stay tuned for part two).