Need expert help?
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Meet Joni, one of our travel experts for .
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Born in the Southwest, raised in the Northwest, I have called the South Pacific home for over 30 years. I founded J2 Travels in the late 1990s to share our knowledge with other like minded travelers – remembering always, that the joy is in the journey. I currently live on Maui, I'm endorsed by IATA, and am a member of the Fiji, Tahiti and New Zealand Tourism Boards.
Testimonials from Joni's clients:
"I want to say a big THANK YOU!! We had the most amazing time on our trip. Everything was wonderful. We absolutely loved Queenstown. We took the bus out to Milford Sound and then took a helicopter back as you suggested. It was raining the whole way out there but then the rain disappeared so we saw so many waterfalls it was breathtaking! We also went horseback riding in Glenorchy (well, I did – Pete got sick!) and that was amazing. The drive out there was beautiful and the ride itself was really fun. We tried to go skydiving but unfortunately it cancelled twice because of the winds. We also went jetboating,and spent a lot of time in the restaurants and bars in town. We then spent a few hours in Nelson and went out to Bleinhem for a day and did some wine-tasting, which was a lot of fun. When we were in Motueka we spent sometime relaxing and then did an 8 hour kayak/hike through Abel Tasman, which was truly amazing…and tiring! We spent a lot of our time in Rotorua just hanging out at the hotel and relaxing because it was just so beautiful, but we did go to hell’s gate which was really neat. In Auckland we spent a day walking around and then played golf one day. We also went to dinner at the Mudbrick restaurant in Waiheke which was great.
And on to Fiji...it was amazing! We loved Tokoriki. It was a beautiful spot and the Fijian people that worked there were so warm and friendly. The honeymoon bure that we stayed in was absolutely amazing, and we spent a lot of time just hanging out in our plunge pool. We also went snorkeling a few times, which was great. The food was also really good. As for the seaweed, there was definitely a fair bit of seaweed around and a slight smell of it, but it really wasn’t a big problem. After the first day we didn’t even think about it. I would definitely recommend Tokoriki to others, and would love to go back someday.
Thank you again for all of your help. We will definitely let our friends and family know how great you were when they head off to NZ / Fiji!
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- Megan & Pete
Testimonials from Joni's clients:
"We had a fantastic time in Fiji. Qamea was particularly wonderful-rustic, authentic, beautiful, and communal. Staff members were incredibly friendly and always very accommodating. Namale was spectacular and definitely more upscale. Our bure was so elegant and we had a private deck overlooking the ocean that was phenomenal. We appreciated the remoteness and feel of Qamea over Namale, however, so we were delighted to have been there longer. I would certainly recommend Qamea to anyone traveling to that area of the world.
Thanks again for arranging this remarkable trip. It was incredibly unique and one we will remember always. We're both grateful to you.
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- Naomi & Matt
Testimonials from Joni's clients:
"The Four Seasons Maui and your recommendations for the other island resorts we visited were wonderful. The Four Seasons Maui is impeccable, as we also enjoyed the Halekulani on Oahu and the Hyatt at Poipu on Kauai.
Thank you so much for your attention to detail, your availability every step of the way planning our honeymoon and assisting our guests. Your surprise gifts to us and our guests were extra special touches, and I can't rave enough about you. Even through the most stressful times I endured, you always kept your calm and made sure we were taken care of. You went above and beyond for us, going to the Four Seasons to take pictures of the construction before we got there for the wedding so we would be prepared, calling around to local stores to help me find items for gift baskets, giving us the scoop on where to shop, eat, etc.-all in such great detail as well!
You really are a true, experienced travel agent that doesn't just book trips, but travels to and knows the areas and resorts in which you book your clients and you become a trusted friend. It is with the utmost gratitude we write this in appreciation for everything you did to help make our honeymoon dreams come true for us and our guests.
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- Michelle & Scott
Testimonials from Joni's clients:
"We are now home and slowly acclimating to reality. We had the most fabulous time on our holiday and want to thank you for seeing to it that every little detail was well planned, organized, and executed. We feel you really listened to our desires and planned "THE PERFECT" holiday...thank you so very much. We will definitely call you again and have recommended you to several of our friends. It is obvious that you really know both New Zealand and Fiji as I'm sure you know the other locations you book for your clients, I especially liked how you found locations that were less "touristy" and more reflective of the countries we were visiting...just as I requested. Thank you!"
- Randy and Teresa
Testimonials from Joni's clients:
"Kurstan and I had the most amazing time on our trip to Maui. The wedding went off without a hitch, even though when we arrived at the house that we rented for the occasion there were hurricane strength winds. They died down in just enough time to get the flower circle in a perfect place overlooking the ocean and everything went according to plan. The ceremony was thoughtful and such a happy time for us as well as Kurstan's mom and Jack who seemed pleased with the arrangements as well.
As for the honeymoon, that was a vacation of a lifetime. I have never been as happy as I was on this trip. The hotel was lovely and the service was fantastic. Our room was more spacious than I imagined and the view was breathtaking. The hotel itself was beautiful from the lounges to the restaurants to the pool area to the beach. The beach was the best that we saw on the island.
Also, Joni, you were so helpful in getting everything arranged with us and Kurstan's mom. It was difficult for us not having ever been to Maui figuring out where to stay and what to do, but you were more than helpful in making this a trip that will be remembered throughout our lives. What a way to start a marriage!
And, thank you for the champagne you sent to our room upon our arrival. It was such a great way to start our trip.
Thank you so much for everything, and we'll definitely contact you for any help we need with travel in the future.
"
- Heather & Kurstan
Testimonials from Joni's clients:
"Lisa and I had a magical experience at Qamea and everything was wonderful! You prepared us perfectly and all the details were worry free. We had a beautiful sunny day outdoor wedding in Michigan and then whisked away to paradise.
Thank you does not fully communicate our appreciation and we will be sending you referrals at every opportunity. We will be in touch soon and again, sincere thanks and warm regards!
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- Scott & Lisa
Testimonials from Joni's clients:
"Hey Joni! Thanks so much for checking in. We had an awesome time! Best vacation ever!! Would love to talk with you about everything, let me know when is good for you? We really want to go back, maybe in a few years.
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- Traci
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Best Honeymoon Destinations
Explore > Travel Planning Articles > Best Honeymoon Destinations
So you're engaged...congratulations! One of the most fun parts about getting married is planning that honeymoon trip of a lifetime.
And if you haven't even narrowed it down to a country, much less an island or a resort, don't worry-many (if not most!) honeymoon
couples are in the same boat.
Some couples start by leafing through travel or bridal magazines and looking for pictures that are appealing
and romantic--you can do this, but you're more likely to settle on the best-MARKETED destination rather than the
best destination for your wants, needs, and style.
The following are questions you should ask yourself--it'll help you figure out what your options are, and help you
ask better questions of your travel agent, which will help you plan that perfect honeymoon.
When are you going?
Every destination has its high and low seasons--and this is typically a combination of weather and the times
of the year that their tourists typically take vacations.
Some destinations, such as Hawaii, have very little variance in their weather year-round; others, like the
Caribbean have a definite hurricane season.
Yet it's important to know that the Caribbean is a very big place--and different parts have different hurricane
seasons, and some parts of the western Caribbean really aren't hurricane prone at all. Other destinations--such
as Central America and
Southeast Asia--have rainy or monsoon seasons. You really need to know the specific
destination in order to have a feel for whether or not their "green" season is too "green" (rainy!) for you.
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Also, ask yourself if you're willing to delay the start of your honeymoon a couple of weeks or months.
Summer months are very popular for weddings, as it tends to be easier for family and friends to get to the
wedding; plus, if you're having an outdoor wedding, the odds of good weather are more in your favor.
However, this also tends to be the expensive (and sometimes more crowded) season for many honeymoon destinations.
Giving yourself a month off after the wedding before leaving on your honeymoon can give you time to relax and wind
down from the wedding, write your thank-you notes, and take advantage of the lower prices of what's known as
the "shoulder season" (between high and low season).
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Food!
How adventurous of an eater are you? How about your fiancé? Do you like to try the local food, try many different restaurants?
Often resorts will have very good American and European menus, but for authentic local cuisine you'll have to venture
outside the resort.
All-inclusive resorts and cruises often make fabulous food very affordable; if you're not at an all-inclusive
resort, the on-property restaurants are often pretty pricey compared to outside restaurants, and tend to be less authentic
with respect to local/native cuisine. If your chosen resort is in or near a reasonably large town or tourist area,
you may have lots of choice for dinner; if you're secluded and isolated, it's possible that you have no choice but to
dine at the resort (and pay their prices, if it's not included!).
In areas like Fiji
and Tahiti, you'll often find that
while the resort isn't officially all-inclusive, they do have a "meal plan" which covers food and sometimes drinks.
Sometimes these plans cover just breakfast and dinner, which leaves you the option of trying the local cuisine and eating
relatively inexpensively for lunch.
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Language
This is less of a problem than you might think.
Unless you're backpacking around some exotic country, you're going to find people in restaurants, hotels, and the
activity vendors all speak English. One bit of advice: try to learn a few words and phrases in the local language,
as you'll find you're treated differently if you begin conversations with "hello" in their language, and show you're
willing to make the effort to get along in their country.
Cost
The big question! First, some statistics: the average U.S. couple spends about $3700 for their honeymoon
package...and this doesn't included expenditures once they're at their destination.
When considering a resort that's NOT all-inclusive, take some time to research the area and find out what meals cost,
what a snorkel trip costs, what taxis cost, etc. Tourist bureau sites are a good place to start.
Costs of excursions and meals can easily add up to much more than your airfare and hotel, and you need to be realistic
and prepared for this. Consider staying at multiple hotels on your honeymoon-perhaps one or two nights at someplace
really nice to start, then a more moderate property with perhaps less of a view for the remainder.
Travel time/vacation time
How much time off work are you going to take?
And how much of it are you willing to spend on an airplane?
If you're going on an African safari,
you're going to consume about a day and a half traveling each way from the U.S.
This is fine if you're going to be there a couple of weeks, but if those days are coming off your total of 7 days on vacation,
you might consider someplace closer. And distance isn't the only factor: how many stopovers is it going to take to get
where you're going? If you've got to land on a main island, then wait around for 4 to 6 hours for the "island hopper"
flight to take you out to your remote private island retreat, that's going to consume your vacation time too.
A great option, if it's available, is a red-eye flight, where you sleep on the plane and wake up at your destination,
saving a day of vacation time.
Nightlife
Are you going to want to go out dancing/clubbing?
Or maybe see some native dances or performances?
If you're going to Hawaii, and you ARE looking for nightlife, you'll probably want to think about
Oahu or maybe Maui.
For Mexico, you should be thinking about Cancun or Cabo, rather than some of the more isolated resort areas.
If you're considering the Caribbean,
the answer to this question might affect the island or region you choose as well.
Music: what do you want to hear on your honeymoon? Mariachi bands, steel drums, reggae,
or ...what appeals to you?
Adventure!
How about a safari in Kenya, Tanzania
or Botswana?
Or hiking in the Andes...maybe a trip to Macchu Pichu in Peru?
Or a week on a rented sailboat in the Caribbean?
How about touring Australia on a Harley?
Maybe trek through the jungles of Costa Rica, observing monkeys and exotic birds?
If these appeal to you, first thing you need to do is make sure they also appeal to your spouse!
These kinds of trips create memories of a lifetime, and can be very affordable as well.
Often, couples will want to combine an "adventure" trip with a few days relaxing at a beach resort-these
kinds of combination packages can be put together for you by a knowledgeable travel agent, and give you the best of both worlds.
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History and culture
Do you enjoy visiting ancient ruins...centuries-old cathedrals...seeing native villages?
The beauty of the art, architecture, and history of Greece,
Italy,
Scotland and Ireland, or Mayan civilizations can make for a fabulous
honeymoon experience.
Europe is an obvious destination,
but think also about the Mayans and Aztecs in Latin America...Buddhist temples
in Bali and Thailand...
Angkor Wat in Cambodia...Buddhist and Hindu temples in India.
China is becoming a much more popular destination as well: consider visiting the Great Wall and seeing the Terracotta Warriors.
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Watersports
Do you and your fiancé scuba dive (or do you want to learn)?
You'll find that pretty much every tropical destination has diving and snorkeling available.
Some will have scuba courses offered by the resorts, while other resorts will have partnered with local dive companies.
If you love to snorkel, make sure your travel agent knows, so they can recommend resorts where
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the wave conditions
tend to be good and there are good snorkeling reefs nearby so that there's something besides just sand to look at.
In general, a great surfing beach won't be a great snorkeling beach!
Are you interested in going deep-sea fishing? It's important to know what the fishing is like where you're going.
For instance, while you can take a guided fishing trip from any one of the Hawaiian islands, your chances of actually
doing some CATCHING as well as fishing are substantially better on the Big Island!
Additionally, it's important to talk to your travel agent about what kinds of watersports you want to enjoy.
If you're interested in jetskiing and parasailing, you'll want to be in one place; if you want to kayak with the turtles,
snorkel around the reef, you'll want to be elsewhere. It's also useful to know how far it is from your hotel to the best
spots for your activities-you won't want to spend two hours a day roundtripping from your hotel to your activities.
People, people, people
There are a number of important considerations here. First off, who else is going to be at your resort?
Are most of the guests at the resort in your age group? Are they young and adventurous, or older and mostly
interested in golf?
Does the resort market to families-are you going to find a ton of kids splashing around in the pool when you're trying to have a
romantic, relaxing time? Is the bar going to be lively, with your kind of music? Are you going to feel right at home, or a bit
out of place?
Next, let's talk about density: do you prefer to be in the middle of the action, with lots of other happy honeymooners all around,
or quieter and more secluded?
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Think about whether you want to be in a hotel with 1000 rooms, or a resort with 60 private villas,
like the Banyan Tree in the Seychelles in the picture at right...the
experience will be very different. And do you want to be waited on hand and foot, or left alone to explore by yourselves?
Do you want to shop, maybe pick up souvenirs or local style clothes, or maybe some artwork? Maybe you want a mix: in Hawaii,
popular combinations would include a few nights in
the heart of Waikiki combined with a few nights on the North Shore...on Maui,
perhaps a split between the Lahaina/Kaanapali
area and the secluded Hana coast.
Finally, how much do you want to learn about the locals, their language, food, and culture? Generally, at the all-inclusive resorts,
you'll find yourselves with other tourists, separated from the local style. If you want to immerse yourselves in the local environment,
perhaps consider a smaller hotel, farther from the main tourist areas.
Accommodations
How sensitive are you to humidity and temperature? This can determine not only the destination, but also the choice of resort,
as not all A/C systems are created equal. How close do you want to be to nature? I've stayed at fabulous safari lodges in
Africa that didn't even have complete walls...just mosquito nets to protect you at night. For some, this is a dream come
true-for others it might be a nightmare.
How important is your living space in your hotel room? Do you feel claustrophobic easily? Do you like to lounge around
in the morning, have breakfast in bed, or do you like to get up and out there exploring the island? Is a spa on-property
important to you? Is a view of the ocean from your room important to you...enough to justify the higher price?
Also think about how you typically spend your day on vacation. If you go back and forth from the room to the beach, the pool,
the restaurant, you might want a place with ground-level villas rather than have to get on and off elevators all the time.
If you're going to spend most of your days out exploring the island, this might not matter so much.
The destinations
Here's a quick look at some of the more popular destinations, and what they're known for.
Fiji
- great scuba and snorkeling, very friendly people, mostly villa-style beach bungalow accommodations in widely-separated resorts.
Moderately expensive to very expensive. About 9 hours flying time from Los Angeles.
Tahiti
- great scuba and snorkeling, famous for overwater bungalows and phenomenal views. Resorts tend to be fairly far apart; very secluded
and private. Expensive to very expensive; food, drinks, and activities can be very expensive as well. About 8 hours flying time from
Los Angeles.
Maui, Kauai, Oahu, Lanai, Molokai, and the Big Island of Hawaii
- beautiful weather all year round, close to mainland U.S., amazing array of watersports and adventure activities.
Not as much of a cultural transition for mainland Americans as many other destinations. Most hotels have 200-400 rooms;
hotel density along beaches can be high. Excellent choice for a destination wedding, as prices are very reasonable for
high quality and service. Inexpensive to moderately expensive.
The Caribbean
- known for prevalence of all-inclusive resorts, especially in Jamaica.
Huge range of cultures, styles, food, music.
Great watersports and scenery, and not too long in the air from major U.S. cities. Cruises are a very popular way to
explore multiple islands and countries in the Caribbean at a modest cost. Inexpensive to very expensive.
Mexico
- Cancun and Cozumel have fully recovered from the hurricanes from a few years ago, and much rebuilding has resulted in many upgraded resorts.
High density of resorts on beaches in places like Cancun and Cabo. Great diving, watersports; some areas close to Mayan ruins.
Recently, all-inclusive resorts have become common, and there are some terrific bargains to be had, especially at the moderate
to more expensive resorts. A new trend we're seeing is combining the traditional beach vacation with a few days inland at one of
Mexico's colonial cities, exploring the history and culture of old Mexico. Easy access from the U.S. Inexpensive to moderately expensive.
Europe
- history, architecture, and great food and wine are big draws here. Airfare is less than you might expect, often sub-$500
per person roundtrip. Less of a beach resort destination, although areas of
Italy,
France, and
Greece
on the Mediterranean
can provide the sun & surf element. Castles in
Ireland
and self-drive B&B vacations throughout the UK are popular, as are
villa stays in France and Italy. In Greece, the Cyclades islands are very popular: Santorini with its submerged volcano,
black sandy beach, and breathtaking sunsets...Mykonos with its blue-domed churches, whitewashed houses and beaches...and Naxos,
the largest island with golden sandy beaches, clear turquoise waters, and the medieval capital of Hora. Honeymooners often
combine stays on these islands with a visit to Athens. Many cruise options are available, allowing easy exploration of a
number of Mediterranean ports in one vacation. Moderately expensive to very expensive.
Costa Rica & Belize
- becoming very popular as eco-tourism destinations, these countries offer terrific beach resorts, watersports, diving and
snorkeling, combined with jungle exploration and eco-adventures. Treetop resorts becoming popular here as well; and like
Mexico, there are a number of Mayan ruins accessible in Belize. Belize also is famous for its barrier reef, and the scuba
diving hotspot known as The Blue Hole. Relatively short flight from mainland U.S., combined with great value for the dollar
at many resorts makes these two countries very hot for honeymooners.
Australia & New Zealand
- enormous variety of things to do for the adventurous types, from Ayers Rock to the Great Barrier reef, Sydney and its
renowned Opera House, Surfers Paradise. New Zealand has everything from geysers in Rotorua to jet-boating; hiking and
skiing amongst tremendous scenery, and of course the famous Maori hospitality. We often suggest combining a trip to
either of these countries with a stopover in Fiji
or Tahiti as well. Long flight times (15 hours+ from Los Angeles)
mean you'll probably want to stay 2 weeks at the very least. Moderately expensive to expensive.
Southeast Asia
- combines terrific beach resorts with extraordinary culture and historical sites to explore. A relatively long flight
from the U.S. (up to 20 hours depending on routing), but a tremendous value once you're there.
Thailand,
Bali, China,
Vietnam and
Cambodia
are all becoming very popular. Very inexpensive without the airfare;
inexpensive to moderate with airfare.
The Seychelles, Maldives,
and Mauritius - all fabulous honeymoon destinations, although because of the flying time
from the U.S. (around 30 hours), they're more commonly visited by Europeans. Truly spectacular diving and scenery, great
food and culture, and very friendly people. Hotels are much more spread out than Hawaii
or Mexico--more like Fiji
or Tahiti.
Private island resorts are common, as in Fiji and Tahiti.
Seychelles and Mauritius trips are commonly combined with a week
or so in Africa on safari. Expensive to very expensive, even without the airfare (roughly $1500 to $2000 per person
roundtrip from the U.S.).
Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Chile - becoming more popular, and offer a great opportunity to experience culture,
wilderness and traditional beach resorts all in one vacation. The Amazon is a huge draw, of course, but also the
culture and experiences to be had in Rio and Buenos Aires make for a very memorable and exotic honeymoon.
The Inca city of Machu Picchu is certainly one of the most beautiful and enigmatic ancient sites in the world,
perched in the Andes at over 9,000 feet in elevation. Moderately expensive to very expensive.
How we work with you to plan the perfect trip:
- We'll talk with you to find out what you're looking for, what you like/don't like, etc.
- We'll use our first-hand knowledge of the destination to pick out a handful of resorts we think you'd like
- We'll create a custom mini website for you, with photos, videos, maps, etc. of the resorts we are recommending
- We'll follow up with you to help you make your decision
- We'll go to work with our suppliers to get you the best deal available on what you've decided on.
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About the author, Michael Cottam
Founder of Visual Itineraries, Michael lives in Bend, Oregon. He's an avid traveler, scuba diver, photographer, and a private pilot,
and also the founder of Bright Yonder.
He's been a Rotarian for 20 years, currently on the board of the Greater Bend Rotary Club.
Follow Michael on LinkedIn,
Pinterest
and Twitter.
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