Sherman's Travel

Dear ShermansTravel,

I am getting married in January of 2012, and I am looking for a honeymoon spot for me and my fiancé in Central or South America. We are really adventurous and are looking for an all-inclusive place to stay for the first half of the week; then we’d like to do some exploring to get the real feel for the city and country that we are in. I thought I would ask you for suggestions since you guys are the travel experts. Are there any trips that some of the employees have gone on and loved?

–Scott

Dear Scott,

My recommendation: Split your time between Santiago, Chile’s capital, and San Pedro de Atacama, an off-the-grid desert oasis set about 8,000 feet above sea level and perfectly positioned for romance.

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Qantas: The Australian airline debuted in the Dallas/Fort Worth market on May 16 with flights to Sydney (includes stopover in Brisbane); return flights are nonstop (one-way fares from $499, based on round-trip purchase; www.qantas.com).

Lufthansa: The German airline will launch Airbus A380 service between Miami and Frankfurt on June 10, marking the first opportunity for Miami-area travelers to experience the world’s largest passenger plane (one-way fares from $614; www.lufthansa.com).

JetBlue: Starting on June 17, JetBlue (www.jetblue.com) will expand service from Boston to the Dominican Republic with the launch of that market’s only nonstop route to Santiago (one-way fares from $114).

Porter Airlines: Toronto-based budget carrier Porter Airlines (www.flyporter.com) kicks off its first fall service to Myrtle Beach (following two successful winter/spring seasons) on September 8, offering the only nonstop service between the beach resort and Canada (one-way fares from $179).

From the spring/summer issue of Smart Luxury Travel magazine by ShermansTravel.com.

Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates on flights, hotels, packages, and more travel deals.

In Spain, the date of July 25 commemorates a religious holiday, the feast of the Apostle Saint James. But it also marks an excursion that’s called El Camino de St. James, which culminates in the country’s stunning Galicia region and is becoming increasingly popular with adventure travelers.

For about 1,000 years, priests and other spiritual seekers have made the pilgrimage from all over the world through various routes, or caminos, to St. James’s tomb, a holy site in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, in Galicia’s capital city of Santiago.

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LAN Airlines has announced a new sale on round-trip fares from eight U.S. cities to cultural hotspots in South America. Fares start as low as $399 on flights from Miami to Lima, Peru, but there are plenty of other exciting destinations, including, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Santiago, Chile; and Montevideo, Uruguay that are reduced up to 30 percent. Whether an exotic beach in Uruguay, the glaciers of Patagonia, or a bustling Latin American metropolis, these rock-bottom rates will get you to those tantalizing, far-off locales. Tickets must be purchased before April 5 and the offer is valid for travel through June 15.

In addition, LAN Airlines has announced nonstop service from San Francisco to Lima beginning in July 2010, making it the only nonstop service from San Francisco to South America. Visit www.LAN.com for more information.

Sample Fares (Round-Trip, Excluding Taxes):

•    Miami–Lima, Peru: $399
•    San Francisco–Lima, Peru: $599
•    New York–Buenos Aires: $799
•    Los Angeles–Montevideo, Uruguay: $799
•    New York–Santiago, Chile: $899
•    And more!

To book your flight visit www.LAN.com

The Luxury W Hotels Worldwide has unveiled its first property in Latin America. Surrounded by the snowcapped Andes, the 196-room W Santiago sits within the El Golf district on the south bank of the Mapocho River. Near Providencia’s upscale art galleries, Bella Vista’s bohemian cafés, and the museums around the historic Plaza de Armas, the hotel also offers a gym, a spa, and a heated rooftop pool.

The Value The hotel’s opening W Warm-Up offer is available for the rest of the year. With room rates starting at $299/night, the package includes upgrades to Spectacular or Cool Corner rooms with in-room brunch, Pisco Green cocktails, free appetizers, and souvenir T-shirts for two. Spectacular or Cool Corner rooms normally cost $549/night.

The Catch The weather is pleasant during Chile’s spring, with high temperatures ranging from 66 to 72 degrees. But traveling in November means missing the country’s ski season.

The Details 56-2-770-0000, www.whotels.com/santiago

From the fall issue of Sherman’s Travel magazine.