The Honeymoon Hotspot: Hawai

Compared to Mexico or Tahiti, what makes Hawaii a special desination?

Hawaii is an exotic Polynesian destination that is a part of the United States. For American travelers, the demands of a foreign country such as a passport, currency exchange, a different language and culture are not found in Hawaii. The diversity of Hawaii with its great beaches, rainforests, volcanoes, sea cliffs, and the friendly mix of people make it a unique and exotic destination.

Hawaii is perfect for a short or long vacation with a flying time of about six hours to most islands from the west coast of the United States.

The Hawaiian Islands have many people that return to visit due to the stunning beauty of the islands, the diverse culture, and its rich history.

Where do celebrities like to go?

Hawaii is a favorite of celebrities for the great beaches, the warm tropical weather, and great natural beauty of the islands.

The Four Seasons Lanai at Manele Bay was the honeymoon destination of Bill Gates and Melinda French. The Kona Village on the Big Island of Hawaii was the honeymoon choice of Christie Brinkley and Peter Cook.

The Mauna Lani Bay Hotel on the Big Island of Hawaii was the site of Lisa Marie Presley's wedding to Nicolas Cage.

The Princeville Resort on Kauai is a favorite of celebrities such as Matt Leblanc.

When is the best time to go to Hawaii?

Hawaii is a great destination with warm and balmy weather most of the year. Rainfall varies with the location more than the season. The western and southern regions of the islands, the leeward side, have the driest and sunniest conditions with the calmest waters. The rainy season is from November to April. You will find stormy weather at times during the winter, but much of the rain consists of short daytime showers followed by rainbows.

Hawaii has several peak travel seasons, January - March, June - August, the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons. The highest prices and greatest travel demand are found during these peak travel seasons.

What are you favorite "hidden gems" of Hawaii?

You can find hidden gems on most of the Hawaiian Islands. The Outrigger Royal Kahana on Maui is good value that is located just north of the more expensive hotels on Kaanapali Beach. It is a condominium with a full kitchen in all units and is close to shopping, fine restaurants, and golf courses.

The Miramar at Waikiki is a moderate hotel on the island of Oahu with a great location. It is a few blocks from the beach and in the heart of Waikiki near shopping, restaurants, and public transportation.

The Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort on The Big Island of Hawaii is a moderate hotel with a great location. Turtles and fish can be found in the tide pools and coral formations at the resort and it is a great place to snorkel. A replica of King David Kalakaua's beach cottage and the remains of three heiau, ancient Hawaiian temples, can be found at the resort.

Hawaii has a number of smaller luxury hotels if you want to splurge for your honeymoon. The Whalers Cove on Kauai is small, secluded oceanfront hideaway located in the sunny Poipu area of the island. It is a condominium resort with spacious units and a cove that is perfect for snorkeling and diving.

The Hotel Hana Maui is a small, luxurious hotel in a remote town on the island of Maui. A private deck hot tub is offered in many of the Sea Ranch Plantation style cottages. The hotel offers yoga classes, horseback riding along the Hana Coast, a spa and much more.

The Four Seasons Lanai at Manele Bay Resort on the private island of Lanai is a secluded retreat of pristine natural beauty. The resort is perched above a white-sand beach that borders a protected marine preserve and features spectacular views of the ocean and Lanai's dramatic coastline. The resort has an exclusive spa, outstanding dining venues, and luxury guest rooms.

Where in Hawaii can you get the most for your money?

Hawaii has a wide variety of accommodations in all price ranges including bed & breakfasts, hotels, and condominiums. The city of Waikiki has more hotels than condominiums and you can find a number of moderate hotels if you don't mind staying three or four block from the beach. Maui, on the other hand, has more condominiums than hotel rooms. The moderately priced hotels and condominiums can be found in the southern region of Kihei. The Kihei properties are conveniently located across the street from the public beaches. Kauai and the Big Island of Hawaii have fewer choices for moderate hotels and condominiums. The moderate hotels on Kauai can be found north of the airport in Lihue along the coconut coast of Kapaa. The moderate hotels on the Big Island of Hawaii can be found in the Kailua Kona area on the western side of the island.

Ed Lee, one of the top Hawaii travel specialists at TheBigDay Travel, gives the inside scoop on Hawaii travel in the following interview.

Honeymoons in Tanzania and Zanzibar

The ideal location for a honeymoon must be Tanzania, the game safari followed by an idyllic retreat to one of the islands on the Zanzibar archipelago. These richly spiced islands surrounded by the warm, crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean make Tanzania an ideal honeymoon destination.

Zanzibar offers many elegant lodges that provide private intimate accommodation necessary for the perfect honeymoon. I would say Tanzania is probably the easiest country in Africa in which to combine a quality safari with time on an island in the Indian Ocean.

Many couples get married between July and October and the Zanzibar Archipelago offers hot, dry weather with little or no humidity. Zanzibar offers a wide range of accommodation and prices and is very good value for money.

Some of the favorite lodges for honeymooners are Mnembe Island, Breezes, Ras Nungwi and of course the remote and luxurious Fundu Lagoon on Pemba Island. Prices vary from around US$2,000 per person up to US$6,000 per person depending on the amount of luxury you opt for on safari in Tanzania and relaxing on Zanzibar.

Bellow is a short description of some of the lodges named above.

Mnemba lies two kilometers north-east of the island of Zanzibar. A protection zone surrounds the island, conserving magnificent coral reefs where giant turtles, ghost crabs and tropical fish drift through the lagoons. Mnemba Island features banda cottages, bordered on three sides by tropical beach forest and overlooking the beach and coral reef. Breezes Beach hotel is beautifully decorated in relaxed elegance with a wonderful mix of hand carved furniture, Zanzibar antiques and beautiful fabrics. This beautiful resort is located along a pristine, untouched beach stretching as far as the eye can see and is situated on the south east coast of the Island of Zanzibar. This hotel has a curtained restaurant for two set right on the edge of the Indian Ocean.

On the northernmost tip of Zanzibar Island, Ras Nungwi Beach Hotel overlooks a sparkling expanse of Indian Ocean, a cluster of whitewashed and palm thatched cottages set in tropical gardens. The lush gardens drop down onto unspoilt beaches which have the benefit of a wide coral reef.

Fundu is on Pemba Island, the sister island to Zanzibar lying across the Pemba Channel to the north. The hotel is situated on a remote and beautiful beach on the south western side of the island and is only accessible by boat. There are sixteen bungalows, consisting of spacious tents, set under thatch roofs on wooden decks and each with a view over the ocean. Each room is ensuite with fresh hot water shower, toilet and basin. The rooms are connected to the main buildings by sand walkways. Some rooms are situated along the beachfront with the remaining on an elevated position overlooking the ocean. Two of our fourteen accommodations are suites with their own private chill out decks and plunge pools.

Zanzibar also has places of interest to hire a motorcycle and tour the island can be a great adventure. A few places to visit are: the Historic town and port of Stone Town Tour, at Kizimkazi there is a chance to dive with the dolphins, no trip would be complete with out a Spice Tour. Jozani Forest is a great day out to see the rare Red Colobus monkey and follow the nature trail through this beautiful forest; it is an area of incredible natural beauty.

For more information on any of these subjects visit http://www.tanzania-info.co.uk and also for tourism and cultural issues see http://www.betheladventure.co.uk - Using tourism to change lives

An Insider's Look: A Fiji Honeymoon

Compared to Mexico or Hawaii, what makes Fiji a special destination?

Fiji's comparatively inexpensively priced vs. that of destinations such as Tahiti and Hawaii. The largest resort in Fiji only has about 400 rooms - very small in comparison to most hotels in Hawaii.

One of Fiji's main attractions is the many small islands scattered around the coral reefs. Resorts on these small islands are quite common, especially in the Mamanuca Group, visible to the west of Nadi Airport. Beach side villas and traditional thatch bures are the most popular style of accommodation in Fiji. English is widely spoken. The snorkeling and diving are some of the best in the world. All in all Fiji is very exotic, quiet and serene.

Where do celebrities like to go?

Wakaya Island - Canadian industrialist David Harrison Gilmour bought the island for US $3 million, and in 1990 opened The Wakaya Club, with nine spacious cottages starting at USD $2,000 double plus tax, all-inclusive (five-night minimum stay).

The service is excellent, the snorkel superb, and there's scuba diving, nine hole golf course, a swimming pool, and an airstrip for charter flights (USD$1,200 roundtrip per couple from Nadi). Only game fishing and massage costs extra.
As you might expect at these prices (Fiji's highest!), it's all very tasteful and elegant-just ask Pierce Brosnan, Russell Crowe, Tom Cruise, Celine Dion, Bill Gates, Nicole Kidman or Burt Reynolds. It's sort of a country club for the rich and famous, rather than a trendy social scene.

When is the best time to go to Fiji?

Fiji enjoys a tropical climate year-round. If you're coming from North America, you should try to set out between April 26th to June 17th, or July 19th and August 26th, because that's when airfares on Air Pacific and Air New Zealand are at their lowest levels.

The airlines have made late April to August their low season because that's winter in New Zealand and Australia, their main destinations, but by a happy coincidence June to October are the coldest and driest months in Fiji. You'll miss the hurricane season, which runs from November to April. The hotels/resorts offer low prices in February and March as most are vacant.

What are your favorite "hidden gems" of Fiji?

In recent years, smaller luxury resorts have multiplied in remote locations such as Vatulele Island, Royal Davui Island, Toberua Island, Taveuni Palms Resort, Beqa Island, andWadigi Island.

Prices at the "boutique" resorts begin at several hundred dollars a day and rise to four figures, so some care should be taken in selecting the right one.

Where can we expect to get the most for our money?

Fiji offers a wide variety of places to stay, from low budget to world-class. You'll benefit from bulk rates by taking a package tour instead of paying the higher "rack rate" the hotels charge.

You will get the most for your money at Qamea, Tokoriki, Matamanoa, Namale, Malolo, Maravu, Castaway, Mana, Jean Michel Cousteau and Matangi.

Aruna Halpin is one of the top Fiji travel specialists at TheBigDay Travel. Aruna lived in Fiji for over 20 years, and was recently married there as well. Aruna shares her insider's knowledge of Fiji in the preceding Q&A session.

Taking A Honeymoon Cruise Can Be Magical

Many couples are finding that an all-inclusive honeymoon cruise can make their special getaway after marriage even more special. When they climb on board, they cannot believe the joy and simplicity of their vacation, with no worries and no stress! Taking a honeymoon cruise can make for one of the most memorable vacations you will ever experience and it all occurs on a single cruise ship! In the last several years, millions of couples have enjoyed honeymoon vacations on cruise ships, and with all the perks that you can find on a cruise ship it is not hard to see why.

When you think of a honeymoon cruise, you can think automatically of romance. When you watch movies, many of the most romantic moments you can think of are a couple on a ship sailing into the sunset. When you are on the deck of a cruise ship, you will have several opportunities to take advantage of this romantic situation! You will sail off into the sunset for however many nights your vacation lasts, while also getting romantic, moonlit nights and fun, sun-filled days. When you take a honeymoon cruise, you will also get the enjoyment and intimacy of secluded beaches and exotic locations. These events will make the memories of your honeymoon cruise very special for the rest of your lives together.

The reason it is so easy to see why so many people choose a honeymoon cruise is the simplicity of your whole vacation. When you purchase the fare for a honeymoon cruise, you are purchasing everything you could possibly need on your entire vacation. Included in that one cruise fare are your meals, snacks, accommodations, entertainment and any on-board activities. This in addition to the exciting destinations you visit all over the world! What could be easier than a cruise for all of that? You dont have to make your own dinner reservations or purchase theatre tickets when you are on a cruise. Its already done for you!

How you enjoy your honeymoon cruise is also up to you. You can sit back and relax, enjoying the sunny days by the pool or on the beach without exerting yourself. Or you can be on the go constantly, going from one show to the next, one activity to another, and exploring each and every exotic location you visit in detail. All of this between delicious dining experiences youve only ever dreamed of. Again, there are no worries or stresses, as all of these wonderful things are included in the cruise package!

Booking a cruise is easy, whether it is for your honeymoon or a special getaway. Look online or call a travel agent near you today.
Sintilia Miecevole is the webmaster of Furst Cruise that is an expert resource for information about cruises. If you have questions or comments about this article, please visit: http://www.furstcruise.com