The Most Romantic Resorts in Hawaii

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Hawaii has always been a popular honeymoon destination, even from here on the East Coast, but for some reason it is even more “on the radar” with brides and grooms right now. For the past couple of weeks it seems like I have been working on nothing but Hawaii, and that’s great — because the Hawaiian islands are a fantastic honeymoon destination, offering romance, adventure, nightlife, fine dining, culture, history, and more.

Each island offers its own unique flavor, and most couples visit two or three islands during a typical 10- to 14-day honeymoon, with Oahu and Maui being the most popular for first-timers. If you’re thinking about a Hawaiian honeymoon, I’ve got some suggestions for some of the most romantic resorts in the islands. These are not just my picks, but are actually taken from a recent poll (done by Vacation Agent magazine) of destination wedding and honeymoon specialists.

In no particular order, their top ten were:

What do you think? Are there others you would add to the list? Personally, I think I’d add the Royal Hawaiian and the Halekulani on Oahu, but I’d be happy staying at any of these resorts! If you’re hankering for a Hawaiian “escape” of your own (honeymoon or otherwise), give me a call.

A new “moon” is rising

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I’m working with some repeat clients who have taken full advatange of just about all the “moons” there are — a minimoon to Cape Cod right after their wedding…a fantastic honeymoon in Hawaii a few months later…and now they’re back to plan a babymoon in the White Mountains before their firstborn arrives in February. Since I’m all about finding fantastic reasons to take a vacation, this latest “moon”  has me thinking…

Most of the “moons” you hear about right now are clustered around that 20’s and 30’s age range when you’re getting engaged, married, and becoming parents for the first time. And those are all great reasons to take a celebratory vacation. But I would argue that those of us in our 40’s and beyond are even MORE in need of a special getaway now and then. So here are my suggestions for some additional “moons” that I’d like to see take hold in popular culture. Feel free to add to the list!

  • Middle School Moon — When your kids are hitting that terrible hormonal age and the two of you really, really need a break from them (for their safety and your sanity)
  • Menopause Moon — When you yourself are hitting that terrible hormonal age and you really, really need to get away with your girlfriends for a little while and forget about husbands, jobs, kids, etc.
  • Mortgage Moon — When you finally write that last check to the bank and want to run off to Tahiti with your spouse to celebrate

Engagement Season!

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It’s that time of year…shiny new engagement rings are popping up all over the place and giddy couples are starting to think about 2010 and 2011 weddings.

What does that mean for Annie’s Escapes? It means that honeymoon season is not that far behind!  Of course, the honeymoon is often the very last thing the couple thinks about, but I like to get out there ahead of the curve and at least plant the seed that I’m here, ready and waiting to help whenever they get to that point in their plans.

To that end, I’ll be taking part in La Bella Bride Magazine’s Newport Wedding Showcase next weekend (Sunday, January 10th)  It’s an intimate little boutique-style show at the Hotel Viking in Newport, and it showcases some of the best wedding vendors in southern New England.

If you want to come and check it out, just let me know — I have a limited number of free passes that I’m happy to share.  And I’m very excited about my booth! I’m working with some of my friends in the Rhode Island Wedding Group, and will have beautiful linens from The Perfect Setting at Felicia’s and gorgeous tropical flowers from Conceptual Image Designs.

I’ll be sure to post some photos after the fact!

Honeymoon Advice

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Some honeymoon advice is really self-evident. Do you really need someone to tell you to bring fewer clothes and more spending money than you had planned?

But it’s not all just common sense.  Those of us who have planned a few honeymoons in our time do have some wisdom worth sharing — and it just might get your marriage off on the right foot!

Since I just updated my “Annie’s Top Ten Honeymoon Tips” flier, I’ll share one of the tips here:

#7: Save the Best for Last

If you plan on mixing things up with some different types of acommodations, be sure to save the best for last. It’s much better to start out in a basic room or an average resort and then “trade up” to something much more special and memorable for the last few nights. Do it the other way around and you’ll only be left disappointed.

If you’d like to benefit from all TEN tips, shoot me a quick email at annp@AnniesEscapes.com and I’ll send you the whole thing.

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You provided excellent guidance for us. I appreciated that you really had us think about what was most important to us when we were selecting the right cruise – and not to totally focus on what other people had to say. THANK YOU for helping to make this a memorable trip for our family! It really was a trip of a lifetime!

– Clare and Mark (family cruise to Alaska)

The level of service we experienced was out of this world (and we did NOT make it easy on Ann). We weren’t quite sure where we wanted to go, when we would be able to go, or what “vibe” we were going for. After asking us some key questions (what we liked, didn’t like, why, etc.) Ann helped us narrow down our trip details and planned the honeymoon of our dreams. She helped book some of our excursions, answered some emergency questions while abroad and was always available/willing to help. I think it’s safe to say we won’t be using anyone else for future travel planning – Ann is a rockstar!

– Carli (Italy and Spain)