Honeymoons: Travel Guide

Posted by Jennifer Miranda, Associate Editor

How are you choosing where to go on your honeymoon? I'm guessing no one is picking a spot on a globe, spinning that globe, and committing to going wherever your finger lands.

If you're having trouble deciding on a destination, look no further than our Destination Weddings and Dream Honeymoons issue, on newsstands now. In it, you'll find our Destination Decoder that tells you where to go when. Looking for fun in the sun on a Caribbean vacation? December to February is the time to go. Cosmopolitan, conversion-friendly shopping? Pack your bags for Buenos Aires in June.

We also tell you where to avoid, so pick up a copy today!

Photo shot by Johnny Miller.

Fashion: Cynthia Rowley Sunglasses On Sale

Posted by Sherri Caudell Brennan, Shopping and Fashion Expert

Cynthia Rowley has some of the coolest sunglasses around in her Spring 2010 collection. I can't wait until the styles, ranging from rectangular enamel sunglasses to metal brow sunglasses, are available. Why not wear a different style every day of your honeymoon? While you're browsing on the website, check out Cynthia's cool "hide and seek" video showing off her clothes in an artistic way.  Also enjoy reading her model bios that showcase her models' personalities beyond the runway.

If you're honeymooning before next Spring, you're in luck. Zappos.com has some of Cynthia's shades from this season discounted! You can also grab sunglasses from other style makers including Kate Spade.

 

Photos courtesy of Cynthia Rowley

Honeymoons: Try something new?

Posted by Jennifer Miranda, Associate Editor

For Christina and Alex, who were married last September (see the details from our Destination Weddings and Dream Honeymoons special issue), honoring their shared Greek Heritage at their wedding was a no brainer. In fact, the couple regularly vacation in Greece each year at the Blue Palace.

But when it came to planning their honeymoon, they chose to spend two weeks driving down Italy's Amalfi Coast. This seems pretty normal to me. I think most people want to have their honeymoon in a place they've never been to before, a place where they can experience the sights and sounds together for the first time. At least I would.

Is this true for you? Are you going somewhere new and exotic or familiar and comforting?

Event Planning: Report from Saint Barts

Posted by Matthew Robbins, Contributor

Saint Barthelemy, St. Barth, St. Barts—all of these names refer to one of my absolute favorite places in the Caribbean. Sure, it's known as a celebrity playground, but there are plenty of options for brides, too. After spending many vacations on this little piece of heaven, I decided to really get to know what the island has to offer to potential clients looking for a destination (specifically island) wedding. This will be the first of four posts detailing my recent trip to St. Barts, and I will do my best to include all of the wonderful details! You can also check out my blog for additional photos from the trip!

Are you planning an island wedding? How did you choose your location?

I'm starting my report where you would begin your search (after you use the island, of course): the hotel. There are only a handful of hotels on Saint Barts, and they are all incredibly luxurious and unique. Each offers endless options for a fabulous honeymoon, of course, but it was so wonderful to learn more about what they offer the bride and groom looking to plan an intimate, truly unforgettable destination wedding. The perfect number of guests for a wedding on the island seems to be 50-75; after all, jet aircraft are not permitted to land on St. Barts, so you've got to fly to St. Martin or Puerto Rico and arrive on a small prop plane, or travel by sea. All of the travel is well worth the beauty that awaits each guest! The food alone is enough motivation to plan a St. Barts celebration. You can have the best of France on an exquisite Caribbean island only four hours from NYC!

Fashion: Soak

Posted by Sherri Caudell Brennan, Shopping and Fashion Expert

It isn't easy to use a washer and dryer when you're on vacation, so I was thrilled to find Soak. It works on a number of things including undergarments and bathing suits, and it's no-rinse! It also doesn't contain perfumes or dyes, and its packaging is biodegradable. The travel size options featured below would be perfect to toss in your suitcase on the way out the door for your honeymoon. Go to Soak's website to order or find out where to find it in stores.

Images courtesy of Soak

Fashion: Steamline Luggage

Posted by Sherri Caudell Brennan, Shopping and Fashion Expert

When I was traveling last year I was looking for the perfect luggage that was both chic and reliable. I stumbled across Steamline Luggage online and it seemed too good to be true. I could get the color contrast and lined compartments of a far more expensive suitcase, but for less than half the price. This company is based in Ireland, but you can order their cute styles online and have them shipped worldwide. Below is the "Editor Series"—I love the pink stripes! You can check out more "bang for your buck" luggage in our new Travel Destinations issue and on our website.

What kind of luggage are you taking for your honeymoon?

 

Photos courtesy of Steamline Luggage

Honeymoon: Pets?

Posted by Jennifer Miranda, Associate Editor

We know how important little Olive and Otto are to you. In fact, we've been advocating for the inclusion of pets in the wedding ceremony for years, whether as ring bearer or as an escort to your reception location.

So what do you think of inviting your furry or feathered friends along on your honeymoon? To me, someone who was never allowed to have a significant pet besides a few goldfish and a newt, that is just bizarre.

But pet travel is becoming more and more popular in recent years, so much so that petfinder.com even created a list of the five pet-friendliest airlines, with Continental Airlines landing on top. (Admittedly, it's easier to travel with a dog than, say, a horse.)

Do you intend to honeymoon with your pet? If so, where are you going and how do you plan to get there?

I ain't 'fraid of no ghost

Posted by Jennifer Miranda, Associate Editor

Alright, I admit it: I'm a huge wimp. I chickened out of seeing Paranormal Activity last night with some friends (and with good reason—have you seen that trailer?!), and until recently I was still afraid of a certain He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named boiler room denizen who terrorizes people in their sleep. But like a moth to a flame, I still love hearing about real ghost stories and local legends and the like, especially this time of year.

So I thought, how fun/completely insane would it be to try one of those crazy cemetery tours in an old city like Charleston or New Orleans, or better yet, stay in a creepy haunted hotel for at least part of your honeymoon. What better reason to hold on to your hubby tight, right?

I don't think I could stand staying in a haunted anything, but when I go to London next January, I fully intend on taking the Haunted London, Jack the Ripper, or Apparitions, Alleyways, and Ale walking tours, or at least run away screaming from one of them. And a friend of mine stayed at a haunted hotel in New Mexico and swears to this day that there was some kind of "presence" in her room. Call me crazy, but I totally buy it!

What do you think? Is this way out there for you, or definitely something you'd like to try?

Photo shot by Bjorn Wallander for the October issue of MSL

Foodie-moons

Posted by Jennifer Miranda, Associate Editor

They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, but if I'm any indication, that's also true for women. If you and your husband-to-be are bona fide foodies, then consider one of the mouthwatering honeymoons we cover in our fall issue, on newsstands now. Make gnocchi like an Italian mama in Tuscany, learn to think like a street cart vendor in Hoi An, hone your wine-tasting skills in Napa Valley, or brush up on your Spanish in an Oaxacan kitchen. (Head here for all the details.)

And here's one more to add to the list: Le Marmiton, the famed French cooking school in the elegant La Mirande hotel, gets local culinary stars to teach you the basics of Provincial cuisine—truffles and all.

Are you a serious foodie? What do you have in mind for your honeymoon? Are you doing something like this, or will you be touring the city of your choice's best restaurants instead?

Language Barrier

Posted by Jennifer Miranda, Associate Editor

In almost six months I'll be heading off to the snowy French Alps for a family ski trip—the first in over 10 years, and my first time skiing outside of Vermont. And in exactly one week, my extensive language learning begins. I can't wait!

You see, whenever I go on a trip where English isn't the spoken language, I make it my business to do what I can to learn to speak with the locals at least a little bit. I was able to skip that step when I went to Spain last year—I'm almost fluent in Spanish, though Catalán in Barcelona did pose a bit of a problem. And London, for obvious reasons. But when I went to Paris three years ago, I slacked a bit: It was a spur of the moment weekend trip, and the best I could do was to download a basic French guide onto my iPod and listen to common phrases during the flight there. "Je suis desolée" became my mantra.

So this time I'm going all out. I've always wanted to learn French, and this seems like the perfect opportunity. I may even spring for Rosetta Stone or one of those intensive language learning programs—do it right once and for all.

How do you deal with native tongues? Am I the only one that does this? For your honeymoon or destination wedding, are you just going to pull a Blanche Dubois and depend on the kindness of strangers? Or do you at least plan to bring a phrase book with you?