Recommend May 2014 - (Page 72)

This photo: Sunset reception at the Sheraton Hacienda del Mar Golf & Spa Resort in Cabo San Lucas. Right: A palapa bed made for romantic moments at Viceroy Zihuatanejo (right). beachside weddings & honeymoons in mexico continued from page 70 For honeymooners it's all about the VIP-style treatment at Oasis Hotels & Resorts (oasishoteles.net) in Cancun, but before your clients start planning their honeymoon getaway, take a look at the ﬁne print: the marriage certiﬁcate must be presented at check-in and the honeymoon must be within six months of the marriage, but once all that is settled, honeymooners receive priority check-in; complimentary use of a Smart car; room upgrade; romantic dinner reservations, and more. How about a wedding and honeymoon completely handled at one resort? If couples book a wedding package at Omni Hotels & Resorts (omnihotels.com), they can choose to have their complimentary honeymoon at the Omni Cancun Hotels & Villas, where venues for the big day can be held in the resort's Catholic chapel, terrace, beach, ballroom or even an incenseinfused Mayan ceremony in the garden. Omni Cancun offers two wedding packages: the Ceremony package and Cocktail & Dinner Wedding package; and if the couple reserves 30 rooms, the wedding guests receive a 1-hour welcome cocktail party, plus added amenities like free shuttle transportation and 10 percent off tours to Tulum or Chichen Itza. acapulco/ixtapa-zihuatanejo "Acapulco's year-round perfect weather and endless beaches provide a unique backdrop for couples seeking a destination wedding and honeymoon," says Piquis Rochin, international promotion director, Acapulco Destination Marketing Ofﬁce. "From gardens to elegant venues with the capacity to hold over 1,000 guests and cuisine which pairs the best of land and sea, Acapulco meets the needs for any bride and groom-to-be." From a private torch-lit dinner on the beach with a 5-course tasting menu and a bottle of Champagne to an en-suite massage for two and breakfast in bed with mimosas, the Viceroy Zihuatanejo (viceroyhotelsandresorts.com) is not only a romantic spot for exchanging vows but ideal for a honeymoon getaway, too. "IxtapaZihuatanejo provides a glorious setting for destination beach weddings and endless honeymoons, with the splendid Paciﬁc coastline and the green sea of rustling coconut palms and tropical vegetation," says Martin Kipping, general manager, Viceroy Zihuatanejo. Although not offering any speciﬁc honeymoon packages for guests, the Banyan Tree Cabo Marques (banyantree.com) does transform the couple's villa into a romantic enclave with scented 72 may 2014 candles, tropical ﬂoral arrangements and chilled wine, while its onsite selection of different ceremony venues give couples the choice to marry under a large Amate tree, the Reﬂection Garden, or the hotel's outdoor deck with views of the Paciﬁc Ocean (set-up fees apply). Las Brisas Ixtapa, (lasbrisascollection.com) part of the Las Brisas Hotel Collection, dares not skip on packages for either the wedding or honeymoon. Its collection of honeymoon packages range from the Romance Deluxe to the Honeymoon Grand Romance, while Banyan's Basic Wedding package (priced at $1,350) makes it easy with services given by an ofﬁciant; a decorated wedding arch; a bottle of Champagne for the toast; and unlimited consultations with the hotel's onsite wedding planner. But sometimes it's best to keep it simple, and La Casa Que Canta (lacasaquecanta.com) is just the boutique-style property for those clients who want a personalized touch in a Small Luxury Hotels of the World property with only 25 rooms (each named after Mexican songs), and set in the hills with views of the Bay of Zihuatanejo. Its Serenity Together package spoils couples with daily breakfast; a candlelit dinner with a bottle of wine by the ocean; in-room ﬂower arrangements; romantic turn down service and a bottle of Champange; complimentary minibar (restocked daily); and a 1-hour photo shoot if the couple decides to extend the package from four to six nights. cabo san lucas "Los Cabos is the perfect destination for couples seeking the ultimate honeymoon experience. The unique landscape of desert and sea sets the scene for abundant activity offerings and the destination's inﬁnite hospitality makes newlyweds feel like royalty," says Eduardo Segura, managing director, Los Cabos Tourism Board. From its historic 1,300-sq.-ft. chapel to the 12,000-sq.-ft Hacienda Ballroom, the Sheraton Hacienda del Mar Golf & Spa Resort (starwoodhotels.com) is deﬁnitely an option for a wedding in Baja Mexico. An added bonus is the discounted room rates for the couple at $130 a night. Guests also receive a special room rate for an extended stay before or after the wedding if a minimum of 10 rooms is booked for a least two nights; in addition, the couple gets to call the Luxury Suite their new home for their wedding night and earn a slew of complimentary services: bottle of recommend.com http://www.oasishoteles.net http://www.lasbrisascollection.com http://www.omnihotels.com http://www.lacasaquecanta.com http://www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com http://www.starwoodhotels.com http://www.banyantree.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend May 2014

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: Le Meridien
Tour Talk: Contiki Vacations
Tee Off in Spain
Tee Off in Scotland
Jerusalem & Tel Aviv: A (Short) Tale of Two Cities
AmaWaterways Sails into Myanmar
American Cruise Lines is on a Roll
Venturing Through Bordeaux With Viking
Martinique Travel Planner
Ecuador Goes Luxe
Mexico Destination Weddings & Honeymoons
Saint Lucia
Australia
Salamander Resort & Spa, Virginia
PGA National Resort & Spa, Florida

Recommend May 2014