Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - (Page 66) HOTELS HONEYMOON HOTELS Travel agents can help newlyweds make memories that last a lifetime ANNE MORGAN SCULLY is the envy of travel agents everywhere. This year marks her third win of the Today show’s “Today Throws a Wedding” contest. Scully, who is president of McCabe World Travel, a Virtuoso agency based in McLean, VA, won by audience vote for the ideal honeymoon vacation. The lucky couple, LaDonna and Darnell Suggs, got a $62,000 trip to Bora Bora. They will stay four nights at the St. Regis Bora Bora Resort in a Deluxe Overwater Villa, where they will receive a private cooking lesson in traditional Tahitian cuisine, a candlelit dinner on the beach, dinner at Jean-George’s signature restaurant Lagoon, and have a private butler. Their options include a jet ski island tour, private deep-sea fishing excursion, a day at Motu Tapu (an exclusive private island) and a couple’s massage at the resort’s Spa Miri Miri. The newlyweds will then be transported via helicopter to board Ti’a Moana, a 20-cabin yacht, on which they will spend the next five days cruising through the French Polynesian islands of Huahine and Raiatea, kayaking, going on a jeep safari, horseback riding or enjoying beachside spa treatments. So where do you begin, as a travel agent, planning a couple’s once-in-a-lifetime celebratory vacation? And how do you determine what’s right for the newlyweds? Scully starts with talking to each person individually first, then together as a couple. “So many times when you don’t have separate conversations, they both just want to please each other,” she says, “and they may not really have a clear idea of what [choices are] even out there.” Determine what each one wants to do and get out of the trip, whether it’s beach time, adventure sports, cooking lessons or any of the countless possibilities. Getting the couple on the same page is the first step. Finding the right property is next. “This is not the time to be at a family-friendly property,” she says, “but for some couples, being around all honeymoon couples is also a no-no.” 66 | TravelAgent July 21, 2008 BY ROBERTA ROBERTI The pool at One&Only Maldives, Reetihi Rah Anne Morgan Scully So how do you choose which properties are the best? The number of choices in ever-popular Europe is daunting, but there are properties all over the world ready to make a couple’s honeymoon perfect. They can get luxury, ambiance, romance, adventure and relaxation—sometimes all in the same place. Scully suggests One&Only Maldives, Reetihi Rah and One&Only Ocean Club in the Bahamas; Sandy Lane in Barbados; Maromo in Mexico; La Samanna in St. Martin; Jumby Bay in Antigua; and One&Only Palmilla. She adds, “On Bali, the hotels are truly among the best in the world. The new Ritz-Carlton Bulgari property is so fabulous, as is the Four Seasons, and the Amandari! Vietnam has some very special properties, too.” Don’t overlook destinations right here in our own backyard, Scully adds. Properties such as Triple Creek in Montana, Twin Farms in Vermont and Ritz-Carlton South Beach all have a couples’-getaway appeal. Trips along the California Coast from Napa Valley to Laguna also lure lovers of beautiful vistas, as well as those who enjoy winery tours. Extraordinary properties along the way include the Montage, Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis Monarch Beach. Scully also notes “price is always something to consider. Be sure the couple knows about the hidden and added costs of food and transportation, as well as entertainment and activity expenses. I always start with a realistic budget so they can truly enjoy their time on their honeymoon.” As for her Today show victory, Scully says, “As a Virtuoso travel advisor, winning the Today show is more about showcasing our valued partners. It is our way to thank them for all they do for us each and every day.” I
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 Online Now Contents Contributors From the Editor Europe Pacific/Asia Tanzania South Pacific Pacific Northwest Las Vegas Florida Mexico The Caribbean Comes to D.C. Cruises Tours Hotels Agenda Luxury Travel Expo Global Destination Update Small Luxury Hotels Expands into Asia ASTA is Changing, and Growing Carnival Reduces Direct Business In the Spotlight Classified Marketplace Editorial Index Advertising Index Trendwatch Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 (Page Cover1) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 (Page Cover2) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 (Page 1) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Online Now (Page 2) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Online Now (Page 3) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Contents (Page 4) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Contents (Page 5) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Contents (Page 6) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Contents (Page 7) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Contributors (Page 8) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Contributors (Page 9) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 10) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 11) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 12) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 13) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 14) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - From the Editor (Page 15) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Europe (Page 16) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Europe (Page 17) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Europe (Page 18) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Europe (Page 19) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 20) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 21) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 22) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Pacific/Asia (Page 23) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Tanzania (Page 24) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Tanzania (Page 25) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Tanzania (Page 26) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Tanzania (Page 27) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - South Pacific (Page 28) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - South Pacific (Page 29) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Pacific Northwest (Page 30) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Pacific Northwest (Page 31) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 32) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 33) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 34) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Las Vegas (Page 35) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Florida (Page 36) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Florida (Page 37) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Florida (Page 38) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Florida (Page 39) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Mexico (Page 40) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Mexico (Page 41) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Mexico (Page 42) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Mexico (Page 43) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Mexico (Page 44) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Mexico (Page 45) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - The Caribbean Comes to D.C. (Page 46) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - The Caribbean Comes to D.C. (Page 47) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - The Caribbean Comes to D.C. (Page 48) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - The Caribbean Comes to D.C. (Page 49) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - The Caribbean Comes to D.C. (Page 50) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - The Caribbean Comes to D.C. (Page 51) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - The Caribbean Comes to D.C. (Page 52) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - The Caribbean Comes to D.C. (Page 53) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Cruises (Page 54) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Cruises (Page 55) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Cruises (Page 56) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Cruises (Page 57) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Cruises (Page 58) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Cruises (Page 59) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Cruises (Page 60) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Cruises (Page 61) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Tours (Page 62) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Tours (Page 63) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Tours (Page 64) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Tours (Page 65) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Hotels (Page 66) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Hotels (Page 67) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Agenda (Page 68) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Agenda (Page 69) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Agenda (Page 70) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Luxury Travel Expo (Page 71) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Global Destination Update (Page 72) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Small Luxury Hotels Expands into Asia (Page 73) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - ASTA is Changing, and Growing (Page 74) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Carnival Reduces Direct Business (Page 75) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - In the Spotlight (Page 76) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Classified Marketplace (Page 77) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Editorial Index (Page 78) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Advertising Index (Page 79) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Trendwatch (Page 80) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Trendwatch (Page Cover3) Travel Agent - July 21, 2008 - Trendwatch (Page Cover4)
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