6 Over The Top Romantic Vacations For Couples

Private pools, breathtaking views, dedicated 24-hour butler service, delicious cuisine, impeccable service, and decadent suites are a few of the things that come to mind when you think of the ultimate romantic luxury vacation. Whether you are planning your honeymoon, celebrating an anniversary, or just ready for a dream-come-true romantic holiday, we’ve got something spectacular for you!



Escape to an elegant but rustic riverside lodge in New Zealand, bask in the seclusion of a private island resort, relax at a luxury spa, or delight in a five-star hotel on the Grand Canal in Venice. Here are some of the world’s best luxury vacations for couples…





Blanket Bay – New Zealand

photo ©Blanket Bay

Blanket Bay is a stunning rustic luxury lodge in the shadow of the snow-capped Southern Alps on the shores of Lake Wakatipu in New Zealand. Voted one of the world’s best lodges by the likes of Conde Nast Traveler, Virtuoso, The Robb Report, National Geographic, and Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report, Blanket Bay is a year-round adventure getaway. Enjoy activities such as fly-fishing, heli-skiing, hiking, kayaking, 4WD tours, vineyards, flight-seeing over the World Heritage Fiordland National Park or Milford Sound, and so much more then retire to your luxurious room or suite at the lodge before an evening of elegant dining and fine wine.

Turtle Island – Fiji

photo ©Turtle Island

Turtle Island is a 500-acre private island resort in Fiji. With only 14 guest accommodations and 14 beaches, you can be guaranteed seclusion if that is what you are looking for! Whether you want to fill your vacation with activities, or lounge the days away in a hammock, Turtle Island can make your dreams come true. Available activities include horseback riding, private picnics on the beach, scuba diving, snorkeling, deep-sea fishing, hiking, and more.



The resort’s 14 private bures are spaced far enough apart to give a feeling of real privacy as if you are on your own private island. The bures are furnished with handcrafted furniture and lots of attention to detail. Each couple is assigned a dedicated bure manager who is there to take care of your every need and ensure that your vacation is as picture perfect as the view!





Dukes London – United Kingdom

photo ©Dukes London

With its location in a historic courtyard on St. James’s Place near Buckingham Palace, Dukes London is the picture of elegance in the heart of London. A member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, this gorgeous property recently completed a multi-million-pound renovation that included all of its 90 rooms including 18 suites and the stunning Penthouse Suite.



The location is perfect for exploring London’s most famous attractions. Enjoy a romantic walk in the park, check out the many museums, take in a play in the West End, and enjoy the diverse culinary options nearby. Be sure to check out Dukes Bar, famous for its martinis. They even offer a Martini Masterclass where you can learn how to make the renowned Dukes Martini. Honorable mention The Goring, where the Duchess of Cambridge stayed the night before her wedding and where Her Majesty hosts her Christmas party for her staff.





SLS South Beach – Florida

Premier Ocean View Room at SLS South Beach

photo ©SLS Hotels

If a lively Miami vacation sounds appealing, look no further than the SLS South Beach hotel. The vibe here can best be described as “high energy glam.” Its elegant guest rooms designed by Philippe Starck with panoramic views are a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of Miami Beach. With its central location on Collins Avenue, you’ll be close to all the action! The pool deck is the center of activity at the hotel, and it’s definitely the place to see and be seen in South Beach. Don’t be surprised if you spot a celebrity or two enjoying the sun in one of the private cabanas.



The hotel offers two hot restaurant options. At The Bazaar by José Andrés enjoy Latin-influenced treats created by the by celeb chef himself. If sushi is more your style, you’ll love Katsuya where Master Sushi Chef Katsuya Uechi serves up innovative sushi and robata dishes (we recommend the caviar-topped salmon sashimi).





Miraval Spa – Arizona

photo ©Miraval

With Zen garden, 400 acres of hiking trails, multiple swimming pools (including a tri-level pool complete with cascading waterfalls), whirlpools, and acupressure stone walk, Miraval is one of the premier destination spa resorts in the world. Each guest’s stay is tailored specifically for their needs. Guests can take part in spa treatments, fitness classes, nutrition classes. The spa alone has over 100 facial and body treatments available and is focused on the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of guests. Resort amenities include horseback riding, tennis courts, and golf at The Golf Club at Visoto, an 18-hole, par-72 golf course about 20 minutes from the resort.



The resort offers 117 elegant private casitas situated in five distinct villages around the resort. Each casita is furnished with hand-carved wood furniture, beautiful French doors, and stocked with aromatic amenities and plush robes.





Palazzina G – Venice, Italy

Signature Grand Canal Suite at Palazzina G

©Palazzina Grassi

The Palazzina G, the first hotel in Italy by the renowned designer Phillipe Starck, is a favorite of celebrities visiting Venice. Guests include Johnny Depp (who spent three months at the hotel while filming in Venice), Angelina Jolie, and other Hollywood A-listers seeking a discreet five-star experience. Upon arrival in Venice, a speedboat can be arranged for guests with check-in taking place en route to the hotel allowing you to walk in, Prosecco in hand, and head straight to your room. The goal is to create the experience of arriving at a private guest house rather than a hotel. As a matter of fact, the street entrance is located off of a tiny side street and is identified only by a bull’s head marker.



The rooms and suites are contemporary in design with white walls and furnishings. Oversized mirrors contribute to an open and light feeling. Rooms in the 16th century part of the building offer beautiful views overlooking the Grand Canal. One feature we love is that breakfast can be ordered from room service to be delivered to any area of the hotel.





Planning the perfect romantic escape begins with scheduling your vacation consultation call. Click here to request a time for us to meet.  We’ll discuss the details and what you are looking for. I’ll give you my suggestions and explain how we can best work together to plan the vacation of your dreams.

He Said, She Said A Guide for Honeymooners

Church and reception location are booked, the bride and groom need to start thinking about the honeymoon. Today most couples have travelled together and probably have a good idea what each other thinks is a "perfect vacation", but this is a major milestone in your life together. In the end are you going to really remember those centerpieces from your reception? The memories of your honeymoon will last a lifetime, so not only choose carefully but consider each others travel likes/dislikes.

Sure you see all the beach locations, because you need to relax after that wedding. But what if you or both of you get bored sitting on a lounger all day? Plan the honeymoon that is right for you, not what your friends did or some commercial is telling you to do. There are plenty of beachy options that offer sightseeing and activities other than just staying at a resort. The Hawaiian Islands fit the bill perfectly.  

Maybe a large ship cruise isn't what you have pictured for a honeymoon. There are numerous lines that offer unique experiences on a more intimate ship. Longer stays in port so you can experience the city after the sun goes down, Azamara Club Cruises that is their specialty. Want a personal yacht like experience where you are really pampered, Seaborne, Windstar and Silverseas are the lines to look at. Want to experience the South Pacific, Paul Gauguin Cruises are the experts there and the pricing includes your airfare from Los Angeles. Plus it is easy to add on a few nights staying at a hotel with the over the water bungalows before you fly home.

More adventurous, Costa Rica or Peru. The stories you could tell your future children about seeing the sunrise over Machu Picchu or white water rafting in Costa Rica before heading back to your luxurious resort?

More of a art/history honeymoon can be yours by going to one of the great capitals of Europe, Paris London or Rome are great choices.

And before we start booking the honeymoon that is perfect for you, this special advice to the bride. I know you may want to use your married name, but I will pass on the words of advice my travel professional gave to me 23 years ago, leave it till you get back you don't need to stress over getting all the paperwork off to the passport office to amend it. And you know she was right, I would never of had my passport back in time. Where did we go? Munich, Innsbruck and Vienna.



Top 8 Honeymoon Do's & Don'ts

1. Don't let Aunt Mary or Gram plan your honeymoon. Sure they may be well traveled, but do they really understand what a young couple is looking for in a honeymoon? We know both of you are busy with the wedding planning but what they may suggest is more to their tastes then yours or their idea of what a honeymoon should be(we won't even touch how long ago that was). Even if mom or dad are offering to pay are their favorites what you and your fiance are looking for?

Do realize your relatives don't live your lifestyle   It maybe that you are finding this out during the planning process, pressure to register for a whole lot of stuff you already have or don't want. How about setting up a honeymoon registry instead? We can sit down and find the perfect trip for both of you and just send mom & dad the bill if they have offered to pay.



2. Don't automatically jump on that offer of a free honeymoon aka Timeshare gift You may have a relative  that may want to "gift" you their timeshare week for your honeymoon. Is it in a location you want to go? Do realize that there is usually no room service or maid service included and may have limited amenities on site. Plus since most timeshares have multi bedroom units they are a favorite with families. I'm very familiar with timeshares, they work great for family travel but would not be my first choice for a honeymoon.

Do remember this is YOUR honeymoon plan the trip you have dreamed of not settle for the one you are given. You don't want to look back and regret your decision..



3 Fastest route to a honeymoon disaster-just book the cheapest option
There are reasons why there are such differences in pricing at resorts. Level of service, room categories, dining options, quality of food and atmosphere of the resort/ship.

Do remember you get what you pay for. That low cost resort may only have buffet service for all meals, not conducive for romantic dinners. Plus they are usually not adult only so you may find yourself surrounded by kids. Again not very romantic. I highlight the contrast between prices vs features so you can understand why I have recommended certain resorts that will make you both happy.

4.Don't be a copy cat Sure you maybe great friends, but does your friends have the same ideas of what your honeymoon should be and they may have had a different budget than you. I would hate to send you to a "party resort", when both of you want somewhere more quiet to decompress from the wedding planning and the stress of your jobs?

Do realize picking a honeymoon destination is a very personal decision based on many factors and the best way to get your perfect trip is to sit down and discuss your preferences. If they are similar no problem considering their resort.




5. Don't fall in love with pictures Sexy brochure pictures don't always tell the tale of a location or resort.

Do consider Photoshop is not just used by Kim Kardashian Pictures do not tell you if a location has been hit by a storm, political unrest or change in resort ownership. Or if it's a new resort will it open on time for your honeymoon. As a travel professional it's part of my job to visit resorts and keep up to date on what is going on.




6. Don't fall into that it's the Groom's job to book the honeymoon Well maybe way back in the day, but today it should be a joint decision because it's" we "not just" me" now. You would be surprised at the almost opposite views of what women & men want from a honeymoon I see in industry reports. If you want to surprise your fiance, I would suggest an interview so we can get an idea of what lights up her face and then we can go from there.

Do remember this is the start of your life together the honeymoon needs to fit both of your wants & desires. By sitting down together we can discuss options and create the right honeymoon for both of you.

7. Don't ignore your style of living when planning your honeymoon. Part of my interview process is to discover how you have traveled in the past, what are your interests along with what you have in mind for this trip. Then I can look at your "projected" honeymoon budget and let you know that it is realistic or not.

Do remember that your honeymoon will be a disappointment if you don't consider your lifestyle when making a decision. You can't get a Mercedes for Ford pricing. Smart couples pick the location that fits their style of living and pay the price.



8. Don't fall into the DIY trap, sure you are both busy with your jobs & planning a wedding and really don't realize that there are travel professionals that want you to have the perfect honeymoon that fits your dream & budget. Why? because I love planning trips so you can just pack your bags and go. Plus I  give you personal service you will not get from hugeonlineagency.com. This is such an important milestone in your life to just click on the buy button.

Do work with a travel professional, not only do you get my expert advise on locations,best times to visit said locations & give you options if you have worked through a big chunk of your vacation time planning the wedding(think mini moon, then the full honeymoon at a later date) or a short lesson in geography & logistics, Hawaii from the Midwest for 5 days is not a good idea.  Plus you have an advocate to call if something goes wrong. Spending a Saturday trying to re route clients because of a FAA computer malfunction is part of my job and my clients were thrilled that I got them re-booked and home the same day. And the cherry on top? My services are free to you!

Ready to wed, pack and go?