| Jennifer Merin With thoughts of Valentines Day still lingering, its time to plan for a romantic summer honeymoon or a vows renewal getaway.
June, the height of the honeymoon season, is just four months away. Finding an ideal hideaway for a perfect romantic adventure requires at least that much lead time.
The ten favorite destinations for honeymoons and romantic getaways include Florida, Hawaii, Mexico, California, the US Virgin Islands, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Pennsylvania and New York State. All offer splendid scenery, balmy summer weather, a variety of interesting sights to see, engaging outdoor sports and (except for Pennsylvania, of course) beautiful ocean beaches.
You can book honeymoon packages to all of these romantic places through your travel agent and/or airline tour desks and/or online. That may be convenient and, depending on your personal tastes and budget, most affordable, but theres no doubt that personal planning and/or the choice of more unusual destinations and off-the-beaten path resorts can create honeymoons that are your unique and special shared travel experiences, perhaps fulfilling the dreams of a lifetime or opening the door to a lifetime filled with adventures.
For example, consider renting a houseboat on Lake Powell, the huge manmade lake and reservoir that borders Arizona and Utah. Handsome wood-paneled houseboats are fully equipped with beds, bathrooms and kitchens--all neatly appointed and appealing. You just pack enough bread and wine, some sun block, your favorite CDs and something to play them on -- and sail away to explore Lake Powells miles and miles of irregular coastline, replete with secluded inlets, unspoiled beaches and splendid red rock mesas. Commune with nature and each other. Best of all, you can make your bed on the houseboats flat roof and sleep in the open air, beneath a canopy of spectacular stars. For more information and reservations, visit http://www.lakepowell.com.
Or, if you favor personal service and pampering, opt for an opulent cruise to several Caribbean islands instead of settling for just one. Most cruise lines have pleasure vessels offering honeymooners discounted prices, special parties, chocolates and cakes, cocktails and champagne, souvenir photos and certificates and, perhaps most important, comfortable cabins with double beds. Cruises offer quiet shipboard romance combined with full entertainment programs -- shows, nightclubs, gaming, gourmet meals, sports at sea, all sorts of lectures and seminars, Additionally, in ports of call you can sign up for optional sightseeing tours, enjoy shopping sprees and local beach hopping. To find your perfect romance cruise, so some research on the Web by typing honeymoon cruises in your favorite search engines search box.
To share one of the worlds most thrilling travel adventures, enjoy your honeymoon escape on a safari through East Africas Eden-like game parks. By day, youll go on game runs, traveling in four-wheel drive vehicles across expanses of wilderness in search of the big five -- lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos and buffaloes. Seeing these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat is absolutely thrilling and unforgettable. At night, youll stay in luxurious private cottages or beautifully appointed tents with canopied four-poster beds, big bathtubs for soaking and an appealing array of amenities, including terrific wines and sweets. Most of the cottages and tents have verandahs overlooking ponds where wildlife gather to bathe and drink. Its great to watch the hippos swimming. When they reemerge from a refreshing dive, they wiggle their ears. To find your ideal safari, search the internet by typing honeymoon safaris in your search engines search box.
Or, for a domestic adventure -- one that can become an annual tradition -- you can experience the tremendously enjoyable wine country lifestyle of Northern California. Sonoma County has so many wineries and historic sites to visit, youll have a great time exploring. You can settle into a small hotel or delightful bed and breakfast thats tucked among giant redwoods, overlooking exquisite beaches and adjacent to beautiful vineyards. Or you can stay in a modern luxury hotel in the heart of charming Santa Rosa, or on the square in quaint Healdsburg, or find lodging at a palatial estate winery that has guest rooms. For more information about accommodations, wineries and other Sonoma attractions, visit http://www.sonomacounty.com on the Internet.
Aside from choosing the right destination, you must consider the other factors that contribute to honeymoon bliss. When you make your reservations, make sure you request a double bed -- especially on cruises, safaris and other adventure trips -- and get a written confirmation that youll have one. Even if you dont plan to hide away in your room, honeymoon accommodations should be special, so dont skimp on them.
If youre leaving for your honeymoon right after your wedding or vows renewal event, spare yourself the annoying inconvenience of an early flight on the morning after. You might really resent having to get up to get to the airport or, worse yet, you might oversleep and miss your flight.
Its best to plan your honeymoon or romantic getaway together so you can fulfill your mutual dreams, but allow yourselves time apart, too, so you can pursue your personal interests. Then, at the end of the day, you can enjoy telling each other about your individual experiences and impressions.
Let people know from the moment you make reservations that youre on your honeymoon. Youll often receive discounted prices, complimentary fruit baskets and champagne, gift items, photo albums or souvenir videos or gift certificates or coupons that can be used toward future anniversary trips.
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COPYRIGHT 2010 JENNIFER MERIN
Copyright 2010 Jennifer Merin
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