Luxury Weddings

Honeymoon is BOOKED....

We have booked our honeymoon....it truly is a once in a lifetime trip....we are doing a 18 day tour of Australia....stating in Sydney...we are so excited....Where is everyone else going.
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Re: Honeymoon is BOOKED....

  • I HMED in Australia as well! I married on Wilson Island, so we stayed along the reef for our entire trip. We're thinking of going back to Lizard Island (part of our HM) next year because we loved it, and Australia, so much!

     







  • We are starting in Sydney and ending in carns
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  • We stayed in Cairns for a night because of transfer timing. It's an interesting little town. It's quirky yet picturesque!

     







  • How far away is your wedding? Ours is in 9 months and I keep telling my Fi we need to get on honeymoon planning.
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  • We are getting married March 1, 2014....but we have always known we were going to Australia and doing a tour.....we also are not going on our honeymoon till August because I am a teacher and can not take that time off in the middle of the school year.
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  • That's so cool! I've always wanted to go to Australia, but FI is crazy and thinks a bug would kill him. lol.

    We are probably going to the Amalfi Coast since our wedding is in Florence. Don't know much about it. But we are getting married in May, so we have some time to figure it all out.
  • @laura- I think it depends on where you want go and what time of year it will be. I HMed in Tahiti for my first marriage and I know if it's high season there, stuff will sell out 6-8 months in advance. If it's around the holidays (Xmas/NYE), the Caribbean will sell out very early as well.

     







  • I actually need advice for HM ideas.  I've done a lot of Europe already so it's not high on my list.  I live on the east coast and don't want to do the Caribbean since it's so easy to get to and we can do that for a vacay any time.  I was thinking about Hawaii, since it's on my to-go list, it's farther away so wouldn't just be a last minute vacation, and there are many activities to do other than just sit on the beach (i.e. hiking volcanos, etc.).  I don't want to do Tahiti, for example because I don't think there's very much to do other than beach, snorkel and I get very bored just sitting on the beach for more than one day.  But then I wonder if I should really find a further away place that I is really once in a lifetime.  I was thinking of Bali but my friend told me I wouldn't love it because, other than being on a luxury resort, there aren't many creature comforts outside the resort (I kind of need my creature comforts), and why travel 27 hours just to stay on the resort?

    So I was thinking maybe Australia--but what are the main attractions to see/do on a trip to Australia?  I'm not that excited about just hanging out in one of the cities.
  • I actually need advice for HM ideas.  I've done a lot of Europe already so it's not high on my list.  I live on the east coast and don't want to do the Caribbean since it's so easy to get to and we can do that for a vacay any time.  I was thinking about Hawaii, since it's on my to-go list, it's farther away so wouldn't just be a last minute vacation, and there are many activities to do other than just sit on the beach (i.e. hiking volcanos, etc.).  I don't want to do Tahiti, for example because I don't think there's very much to do other than beach, snorkel and I get very bored just sitting on the beach for more than one day.  But then I wonder if I should really find a further away place that I is really once in a lifetime.  I was thinking of Bali but my friend told me I wouldn't love it because, other than being on a luxury resort, there aren't many creature comforts outside the resort (I kind of need my creature comforts), and why travel 27 hours just to stay on the resort?

    So I was thinking maybe Australia--but what are the main attractions to see/do on a trip to Australia?  I'm not that excited about just hanging out in one of the cities.

    So, the whole thing about Tahiti being boring is just not true!!! Yes, some of the islands are quite remote, unless you are majorly into diving, you would get bored. However, islands like Tahiti and Moorea have tons to do! Bora Bora can go either way. For example, in Tahiti, you can go to Le Marche (huge island market), do a circle island tour, go to the Gauguin museum or the Botanical gardens. In Moorea, you can hike up to Belvedere, do a circle island tour, rent a car and do some shopping, swim with the dolphins, go on a dolphin watching tour, go to Tiki Village (like a luau), or rent jet skis. There are also snorkeling tours and beach picnic tours. Bora Bora is mostly water based, though there is a 4x4 safari tour. In BB, you can parasail, jet ski, do a shark and ray feeding, do a motu picnic, or you can even do a helicopter tour!

    Australia is just plain old big! It's literally the size of the US. So, depending on where you want to go, there will be a wide variety of things to do. Just in and around Sydney, there are the Blue Mountains, a wine region, you can drive along the ocean road, or just take a day to do the bridge climb or visit the opera house. You can up to Cairns and spend time in the rainforest and then take a day trip out to the Reef. Or you can go to Uluru in the Red Centre and camp out. Or you can go up to the Kimberley to Kakadu National Park. There really is a lot to see and do, so I do recommend working with an Australia Specialist who can plan a fun filled itinerary that meets your needs and budget.

     







  • Thanks for the info!  If you can recommend any Australian travel services please let me know.

    Have you been to Hawaii?  How would you compare Tahiti to Hawaii?

  • We are using contiki tour and all excursions for us...with a few free days
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  • I have been to both- several times! Hawaii is much more developed. Kauai is the closest comparison to Moorea or any of the islands in Tahiti. Also, the Hawaiian Islands are much larger. It takes no more than an hour to get around Moorea, while it takes several hours to drive the road to Hana in Maui. The water in Hawaii is not protected by a reef like it is in Tahiti. So, it's a bit more rough and not quite as blue. Hawaii is a really great destination to be somewhere tropical but have the comforts of home. It's also a little easier on the wallet, so your money goes much further. The resorts are also quite different. Hawaii will have larger properties and those that are luxury will be quite opulent. In Tahiti, the largest resort won't have more than 150 rooms and luxury isn't opulence- it's the size of the bungalows and the types of woods used.

    I was in Kauai in May and getting ready to head to Tahiti in two weeks. Each trip is so different, but both are places I will continue to return to.

     







  • Jells2dot0 I'm going to Kauai in three days! It's for business, though, not pleasure. However, I have some nights to myself, so give me any recommendations you got!

    I'm not sure where we are going to do our honeymoon yet. I have to travel a lot for work, so on one hand, it's nice to be able to go somewhere and not have to sit in meetings, but on the other hand, it's yet another trip to plan! I originally wanted to do something tropical but my fiance doesn't like heat. Or beaches. So maybe a ski trip or something European that we haven't done. Switzerland, or Croatia? I have a lot of frequent flyer miles on US and JetBlue to burn.
  • My fiance just got back from a trip to Croatia (for a bachelor party, of all things).  He liked it, but it is hot there, so you would need to go off season to appease your fiance.  Have you considered Iceland?  Not sure when you would be HMing, but Iceland is on my list to see the Northern Lights (I think the season for that is Oct-March).
  • Btw, @16maybeless what do you do that you get to go to Kauai for business??  I'm so jealous!
  • Jells2dot0 I'm going to Kauai in three days! It's for business, though, not pleasure. However, I have some nights to myself, so give me any recommendations you got!

    I'm not sure where we are going to do our honeymoon yet. I have to travel a lot for work, so on one hand, it's nice to be able to go somewhere and not have to sit in meetings, but on the other hand, it's yet another trip to plan! I originally wanted to do something tropical but my fiance doesn't like heat. Or beaches. So maybe a ski trip or something European that we haven't done. Switzerland, or Croatia? I have a lot of frequent flyer miles on US and JetBlue to burn.
    Where are you staying? If you're over on the Northern part of the island (Princeville), and you haven't done the luau thing, check out Smith's Island Paradise. I've seen a ton of luau shows, but this one had good food and a well thought out show. I'd also look into doing a catamaran sunset cruise, but check the weather. Since it's getting toward winter, the Na'Pali coast may be a little rough. We had an awesome dinner at the St. Regis at the Makana Terrace. They also have a great champagne sabering at their bar every evening. The views from the lobby and the terrace are breaktaking!

     







  • 16maybeless16maybeless member
    First Anniversary 5 Love Its First Comment Name Dropper
    edited October 2013
    @CrazyCatLady3I work in the travel industry! It can be nice, but it makes personal travel rare and honestly, traveling to uberromantic locations like Hawaii can be lonely! Lots of eating at bars with my computer. :-)

    @Jells2dot0I'm staying in Princeville and Poipu Beach. I know I'm sailing around the Na'pali Coast one day with a catamaran outfitter. I'll have to check out the St. Regis (champagne!) and Smith's Island Paradise.
  • @CrazyCatLady3I work in the travel industry! It can be nice, but it makes personal travel rare and honestly, traveling to uberromantic locations like Hawaii can be lonely! Lots of eating at bars with my computer. :-)

    @Jells2dot0I'm staying in Princeville and Poipu Beach. I know I'm sailing around the Na'pali Coast one day with a catamaran outfitter. I'll have to check out the St. Regis (champagne!) and Smith's Island Paradise.

    Do you work for Starwood? If so, now I'm jealous. I am SPG Platinum! :)

     







  • @Jells2dot0 Nope, I'm actually a travel writer. But I'm SPG too! Smartest thing we've ever done is get the SPG credit card before the wedding. I think we racked up a week's worth of hotel stays on one caterer deposit. :P
  • @Jells2dot0 Nope, I'm actually a travel writer. But I'm SPG too! Smartest thing we've ever done is get the SPG credit card before the wedding. I think we racked up a week's worth of hotel stays on one caterer deposit. :P

    Okay, so now i'm even more jealous! I blog about all of my travels and it would be awesome to do that for a living :) I have a SPG Amex as well! I have used my points for rooms, flights, and SPG Moments. They are super flexible!

     







  • I wish I could get cc points for my wedding venue/caterer, but they only accept checks. :(
  • In Hawaii as we speak (jet lag is killer; it's only 5 AM here and i've been up since 3:30!)

    Really beautiful place, though, ladies. Now I want to come here for my honeymoon.
  • In Hawaii as we speak (jet lag is killer; it's only 5 AM here and i've been up since 3:30!)

    Really beautiful place, though, ladies. Now I want to come here for my honeymoon.


    SO glad you are enjoying it! It is quite beautiful there, especially in Kauai.

    I'm leaving for Tahiti in 6 days and I'm about to explode! I'm a VERY impatient person :)

     







  • Since we are talking vacation destinations, I just wanted to put in a plug for Argentina. Such an amazing country and SO MANY options for things to do. 

    When we went we started and ended in Buenos Aires but flew to Mendoza for a few days and then south to El Calafate (Patagonia). Mendoza is the heart or Argentinian wine country, located at the base of the Andes (and also a short hop over to Chile). So in addition to various wine tours, there are hot springs, outdoor adventures (if you time the seasons right), and great cuisine. In El Calafate (Patagonia) there is the opportunity to go glacier trekking (unbelievable cool), spend time on one of the many ranches in the area (we went to a remote ranch and went horseback riding with only us and the caballero which was AMAZING), and taking in the local culture.

    My experiences were only the tip of the iceberg (no pun intended) as there are many other regions to explore: Bariloche (amazing skiing), Iguazu Falls/National Park (northern part of the country bordering Brazil), Salta (desert area), Puerto Madryn (coastal area which also boasts one of the largest penguin colonies in the world, whale watching, etc).

    There is just so much diversity in the terrain that to me, Argentina offers something for every type of vacationer (city life, country life, active, relaxing). The people are truly and genuinely kind and our experiences were NOT overly touristy. Granted, that always exists as an option if you are more comfortable with that, but we go to really experience a culture and were able to do all of our planning without assistance and had amazing experiences. We truly look forward to returning in the near future!
  • @crazycatlady3 have you thought about Asia? Vietnam, Cambodia, Signapore, Thailand etc.
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    KatWAG said:
    @crazycatlady3 have you thought about Asia? Vietnam, Cambodia, Signapore, Thailand etc.

    Those might be on the agenda one day, but I don't know if there will be the creature comforts I want for my honeymoon.  :)
  • KatWAG said:
    @crazycatlady3 have you thought about Asia? Vietnam, Cambodia, Signapore, Thailand etc.
    Those might be on the agenda one day, but I don't know if there will be the creature comforts I want for my honeymoon.  :)
    What about Brazil? Or Dubai? Those are off the typical European/Caribbean path, but still quite developed with lots of comforts. You could definitely do Thailand in a "comfortable" way. It's becoming a lot more popular as a travel destination for luxury travelers who also want something a little more offbeat.
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  • @mmm4763 - I'm with you on Argentina!

    We just booked three weeks in South America (Buenos Aires, Bariloche, Santiago, and Valparaiso). It'll be a mix of skiing, eating, and wine drinking! So excited.
  • Australia is so amazing! I went on a 3 week trip right after high school with a tour group from school. Everyone is super friendly and there is a lot to see and do. Have fun!
  • South Africa anyone? We just booked 16 days there, some safari, some in cape town and the winelands and finishing up in Mozambique for beach and relaxation! I wish I could take a month off of work because there is so much more I'd want to do there. 

    if anyone has been or is planning, let me know. 
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