Recommend June 2013 - (Page 24)

modern, vibrant, culturally rich city,” says Alex Filiatrault, the hotel’s director of sales and marketing. Speaking of respite, the married couple will ﬁnd plenty of it in their guestrooms that offer a residential feel and spectacular views of Canada’s largest metropolis. Do recommend clients book one of the nine guestrooms that feature private outdoor terraces, although the hotel’s specialty and signature suites (Owner’s Suite and the ShangriLa Suite)—think masterpieces in interior design—are the way to go for couples looking for a true “Shangri-la” getaway. Couples want to play outside these Asian-inﬂuenced walls? Well, nearby is the city’s lively theater district, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and a vibrant waterfront neighborhood dotted with boutiques and cafes. Best part? The concierge desk offers the option of hotel cars that can whisk enamored couples away to a day or night on the town.  WHAT TRAVEL AGENTS ARE SAYING... We spoke with Lynn Ciccarelli of Bella Vacations, a Virtuoso agent voted as “25 Best Travel Agents 2010,” who says the top three reasons people are staying in the United States for a honeymoon is because: the cost of air to Europe is out of a lot of people’s reach; there is no passport involved; and couples are getting married later in life, so they are spending money on a house and spending less on the honeymoon. She insists that although most couples want to go abroad for their honeymoon, “there are some great values here in the United States; some great destinations and some great hotel choices.” Take for instance the Amangiri in Utah, which, Ciccarelli says, is ideal for active couples, “which many of the honeymooners marrying in their 20s and 30s tend to be, and then again, they want a great spa, so I think this is a great honeymoon spot. And they also, which really touches on the spirituality of the place, do Pilates and yoga, so to me this is a great off-the-wall idea.” However, before even selecting the ideal place for a couple’s honeymoon, Ciccarelli has a strategy that she does not falter from. “For any destination I select with a couple, I insist that both the bride and the groom make their own separate list of what they are looking for in their honeymoon. I say separately because I ﬁnd that the groom has a tendency to say to me, ‘Whatever she wants to do is ﬁne,’ so I insist that each do it independently. They come back to me with their list and it’s always based on the likes and dislikes of both, and once you get the combination, then you can put together and create something for them that they’ll both enjoy.” Point is, she says, you want to make them both happy, not just accommodate the bride. 24 june 2013 20-25 NA Honeys.indd 24 The hotel's Honeymoon package includes 1-night accommodation in a Deluxe room; upgrade to a suite upon availability at time of reservation; daily chef’s signature breakfast for up to two guests, served in room or at Bosk; personalized VIP welcome with ﬂowers and fruit basket; bottle of champagne upon arrival, strawberries, and a box of macaroons; car service from/to airport or free valet parking. Valid through Dec. 22. Rates start at $751 Canadian dollars (approximately US$743). (866) 565-5050 or shangri-la.com calistoga ranch, an auberge resort, california Is seclusion a must in your honeymoon couple’s bucket list? Send them to California’s Upper Napa Valley, where there’s a ranch-style property located in a secluded valley and far removed from the bustle of Napa (about a 1.5-hour drive from San Francisco). It’s the Calistoga Ranch, An Auberge Resort, laid out over 157 acres and designed with the feel of a vintner’s sprawling estate. “Calistoga Ranch is the perfect spot for an intimate and private honeymoon escape due to the resort’s secluded location,” says Mike Moran, director of sales and marketing. “Each lodge is thoughtfully positioned around the existing natural landscape with private views and sexy outdoor showers. From dinner at The Lakehouse and spa treatments at The Bathhouse (for guests only), to wine blending experiences in our cozy Wine Cave and nature hikes on the resort’s private trails, every couple leaves here feeling reconnected to both each other and nature.” In fact, couples will luxuriate in whichever lodge they choose, as each of the 48 cedar-shingled guest lodges are comprised of a series of free-standing rooms connected by decks, trellised walkways and expansive outdoor living areas—all completely embraced by the tree canopy. Each accommodation is breathtaking, but if we had to take our pick for the ultimate honeymoon escape, we’d go for either the Bay Forest Lodge with Spa or the Oak Creek Lodge with Spa, each with its own private hot tub. And The Bathhouse spa that Moran mentions is heavenly even if just for its location along the banks of the spring-fed Lake Lommel. Do book the creek-side spa pavilions, which were unveiled earlier this year. As for that Wine Cave, well newlyweds can participate in wine tastings in this cave that’s carved deep into the hillside and features stone walls and iron chandeliers. But it’s best to actually get outside during the daylight hours and explore the surroundings. There are scenic tours in glider planes, ziplining, driving a formula 3 car or race kart, bicycle tours, and hunting or ﬁshing excursions. It’s the great outdoors, and Calistoga has it in spades. Rates for the Bay Forest Lodge with Spa and the Oak Creek Lodge with Spa start at $1,375 from Sept. 1 to Nov. 15, 2013. Couples don’t need a jacuzzi to close the deal? Opt for the lesspricey Deluxe Lodge with rates starting at $875. (855) 942-4220 or calistogaranch.com Archived related articles (available on recommend.com/magazine/issue-archive): Honeymoons that Stir the Soul (June 2012) recommend.com 5/23/13 9:23 AM http://www.shangri-la.com http://www.calistogaranch.com http://www.recommend.com/magazine/issue-archive http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend June 2013

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk: Wedding Bells with Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
Tour Talk: Travel Impressions Plans Perfect Destination Weddings
Royal Clipper's Sail-Away Honeymoon
North American Nuptials
An Ode to Romance
Exchanging Vows in Mexico
Mexico's Honeymoon Retreats
Destination Wedding Powerhouses: A Marriage Made in Heaven
A Destination Wedding for Every Taste
Beach Blanket Bliss
Wonders-of-the-World Honeymoons
Paradise Found
Honeymooning in Ultimate Bliss
A European Rendezvous

Recommend June 2013