Sherman's Travel

Some trips make it easier to justify splurges. And no vacation is more splurge-worthy than your honeymoon. That’s why my wife and I chose to break open our piggy banks and go on a safari in Botswana. Nothing about our trip was cheap. The flights, the safari camps, and the immunizations all required some heavy credit cards swipes. So, when it came time to prepare myself to document the trip, I didn’t want to cut corners. However, I am by no means a professional photographer. I have a digital SLR camera, but the idea of investing in an expensive telephoto lens for the safari seemed wasteful. I had no idea when I might need such a large lens again in the future, but I also didn’t want to spend all of that money on our trip only to have horrible photos simply because we didn’t have the proper equipment. That’s when it hit me: I could rent a lens. If there’s one way to save money on a safari – or any type of wildlife vacation – it’s to rent gear rather than purchasing it unnecessarily. With the trip over, I can now safely say that renting a lens from Borrowlenses.com was one of the smartest decisions I have ever made.

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I’m getting married in less than three weeks [hold for applause]. It’s a destination wedding, which probably merits its own blog post at some point. However, since wedding planning has rendered me unable to put together a string of coherent thoughts, it’s best if I focus on the honeymoon in this post since, well, that’s way less stressful.

Selecting a honeymoon destination requires looking at the trip from several different angles. As you begin to discuss where to decompress after months spent selecting tablecloths and entrée choices, you want to make sure you reach the decision that makes both of you happy. Ultimately, there are only three types of honeymoons. Once you pick which is right for you, the decisions get a lot easier. Read more

If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to spend more quality time with the person you love, then I suggest you enjoy that togetherness someplace amazing! And what’s better or more romantic than a stunning, sun-kissed island? There’s something innately sexy and bond-inspiring about the sea – floating together in gentle turquoise surf, walking hand-in-hand at sunset, enjoying the day’s fresh catch paired with a rum cocktail or a fine wine. So as the new year begins, here are my top 10 picks for the most amazing islands to escape to together in 2012. Read more

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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Bula! Although the effusive and ubiquitous Fijian greeting was not heard at all during Monday night’s broadcast of ABC’s The Bachelorette, (the action was focused solely on Bachelorette Ashley and her three remaining suitors as they frolicked on beaches and in waterfalls), the final roses are being doled out in the exotic and welcoming South Pacific island nation of Fiji. As Ashley whittled down her remaining men from three to two (Greek restaurateur Constantine was not feeling the love and respectfully bowed out before the overnight date, leaving just Ben and JP), the action unfolded at two leading resorts on Fiji’s second largest island, Vanua Levu, while next week’s finale is set at a resort on an island in the Mamanuca group. Here’s the scoop on the properties and on The Bachelorette packages being offered:

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If you are getting married soon and plan to take off for just a few days after your wedding on a “mini-moon,” you are not alone. An estimated 30 percent of couples getting married in the next 12 months who know their honeymoon plans say they plan to take a honeymoon lasting just a few days right after the wedding, rather than a traditional week-long or longer one, according to a recent survey by BedandBreakfast.com.

Both budget and time constraints among just-married couples are contributing to the “mini-moon” trend. “The survey confirmed that most newlyweds will take a several day mini-moon rather than not taking a honeymoon at all,” says Martin Slagter, vice president of HomeAway, Inc., which owns BedandBreakfast.com, a website showcasing 11,000 B&Bs and inns worldwide.

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When it comes to navigating big foreign cities, it’s sometimes best to leave the what, where, and when to the pros. And if you are planning a romantic visit to South America – say, several nights in either Rio de Janeiro (shown at left, courtesy of Orient-Express Hotels) or Buenos Aires, paired with a beach escape or an Amazon/Iguassu Falls adventure – and you have a splurge-worthy budget, then consider putting your enjoyment in the hands of Blue Parallel (www.blueparallel.com). Plus, summer is about to bloom in the southern hemisphere, so the timing is ideal.

Founded in 2002 by Emmanuel Burgio, this award-winning bespoke travel company is based in the U.S. with an operations center in Buenos Aires. Burgio and his team craft custom itineraries featuring South America’s most luxurious accommodations and must-see sights – some of them, such as a private concert by a group of musicians from Buenos Aires’ famous Teatro Colon or a candlelit visit to the magnificent Compañía de Jesús church in Quito, Ecuador, not widely accessible to the general public. Add knowledgeable local guides, who are there when you want them (helping you circumvent traffic jams or expedite lines) and not there when you don’t (when dining à deux) and the effect is a seamless voyage, tailor-made to your needs and budget. Although with rates starting at $1,000 per person per day (all-inclusive, with the exception of international airfare and certain meals), nothing about the Blue Parallel experience is budget.

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Want to get married surrounded by 12-million-year-old rock formations, perched 1,100 feet above the Caribbean’s most photogenic peaks or standing in a vine-draped 700-year-old cloister? You can. With destination weddings accounting for about 16 percent of all marriages, many of the world’s leading resorts are now making their most unique and picturesque settings available for ceremonies and receptions. Here are three visually breathtaking places to utter “I do.”

Paradise Pavilion at Ladera, St. Lucia The stunning view of this Caribbean island’s iconic twin Piton peaks hasn’t changed since this serene, 32-room resort opened, but the recent addition of this 1,200-square-foot, open-air (yet sheltered) wedding venue means couples and their guests can enjoy it in private. Set along the same rainforest ridge as Ladera’s romantic plunge-pool suites, with unobstructed panoramic views of the Pitons and the sea, Paradise Pavilion (see photo, above) accommodates up to 100 people for a sunset ceremony and reception – catered by award-winning chef Orlando Satchell of Ladera’s Dasheene restaurant – and guarantees memorable wedding photos. It is linked via landscaped stone pathway to Hilltop Dream Suite #X8, which serves both as a bridal party dressing room and post-party honeymoon suite. For a wedding of approximately 80 guests, couples can take over the entire resort. Rooms from $380; for Wedding Packages and Paradise Pavilion rental rates, contact weddings@ladera.com. Read more

Reality TV romance and real-life wanderlust collide each season on ABC’s hit series’ The Bachelor as viewers root for their favorite contestants and drool over the dreamy locales the finalists travel to for their overnight dates. See my post about Jake and Vienna on St. Lucia in the latest season here. Meanwhile, Jason and Molly (from season 13) were married at Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, last weekend for an ABC sepcial that will air tomorrow (March 8th).

The Bachelor (season 13): Jason in New Zealand
Date Details: New Zealand is an amazing playground for adventurous romantics. The South Island’s scenic capital, Queenstown, was the setting for Jason’s action-packed dates: helicopter sightseeing with Jillian above Lake Wakatipu, a tandem bungy jump with Molly at Kawerau Bungy, and a sail with Melissa aboard MV Yvalda.

Fantasy Suites: Jason’s dinner and overnight with Jillian was at intimate Stoneridge Estate, where they famously smooched in a candlelit hot tub in their private cottage. His stay with Molly was at Kohara Lodge, a striking stone-and-wood home overlooking the Shotover River. And his rendezvous with Melissa was at luxurious Matakauri Lodge with its floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of The Remarkables mountain range. Read more

In honor of Oscar week, we rounded up 10 resort properties that were ready for their close-ups when Hollywood came calling. All starred as the setting for some of the most entertaining movies of the past decade. Many are ideal for a romantic rendezvous, so all you film-buff couples who want to recreate a favorite scene, simply check the properties below to find the one that best fits your idea of sexy.  

• The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort
This five-star oasis on the South Pacific’s most magical isle was the fictitious “Eden” in 2009’s “Couples Retreat,” starring Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, Kristen Bell and Kristin Davis. Some creative license was taken (there are no separate couples and singles sections—and no loin-clothed yoga instructor!), but the luxe overwater bungalows and sublime lagoon views are 100 percent real. Note: The resort is temporarily closed after being damaged by Cyclone Oli and will reopen on June 14, 2010. Take advantage of their “Pay for 2, Stay for 3″ special, bookable by May 7 for travel after the resort reopens.

• Caesars Palace
Las Vegas’ classic paean to bacchanalia was the haunt of bachelor-party amnesiacs Bradley Cooper, Justin Bartha and Ed Helms as they juggled a baby, a tiger and lots of other troubles in the Golden Globe-winning 2009 megahit “The Hangover.” You won’t gamble on romance if you book a spacious room in the modern Forum Tower and lounge around the fountain-strewn Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis (from $190). Read more