Recommend June 2012 - (Page 82)

Accommodations at Hotelito Desconocido in Costalegre. ‘MOONING IN MEXICO We’ve uncovered some of Mexico’s best-kept secrets—and added a couple of well-known favorites—for your clients’ honeymooning pleasure. H sarah muñoz 82 june 2012 hotelito desconocido, costalegre Fresh off a $10 million renovation and expansion, this “little, unknown hotel” will appeal to newlyweds looking to really disconnect from the rest of the world. The hotel sits in the middle of a vast nature reserve along a lagoon on Mexico’s Costalegre, with nothing but candles and torches providing mood lighting when the sun goes down and solar and wind power fueling the property. The 26 new palaﬁtos or stilt dwellings where guests stay—including the aptly named El Corazon (The Heart), popular among honeymooners—all have outdoor Vichy showers, stone and mosaic soaking tubs and expansive terraces from which to enjoy the view. There’s also a Presidential Suite ensconced on its own island with a private chromotherapy inﬁnity pool and ‘round-the-clock butler service. The suite is made up of three interconnected palafitos that add a living and dining room where couples can enjoy an intimate dinner prepared by their own chef. Thanks to the hotel’s location and commitment to protecting the environment, visitors can spend their days kayaking as they discover multiple types of birds, helping release a few of the thousands of sea turtles saved each year, or go horseback riding along the quiet beach. For added indulgence, there’s a brand-new Thalasso spa with an extensive water therapy circuit and two gourmet restaurants featuring organic ingredients from the hotel’s gardens and local ﬁsh and meats. Rates start at $423 per night dbl and include meals, non-alcoholic beverages and use of kayaks; honeymoon packages are also available. Contact: (800) 851-1143; hotelito.com rancho la puerta, baja california Clients ready to leave all the wedding stress behind? They can hike, tai chi and dance it all away at this 3,000-acre haven of clean, serene living just an hour’s drive from San Diego. You might know this as a spa-and-ﬁtness destination and spiritual retreat, but that’s precisely what makes it so perfect for a post-ceremony escape—it’s a paradise of resident and migrating birds, wildﬂowers, art work and tons of oneon-one time, all tucked away amid meadows and hills outside of the town of Tecate. Best of all, there’s lots and lots of breathing room to decompress. The natural surroundings alone are worth the visit, but continued on page 84 recommend.com http://www.hotelito.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend June 2012

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: Noble House Hotels & Resorts
Tour Talk: Artisans of Leisure
Romance on Land & Sea
Out of Africa Come Romantic Retreats
Starry-Eyed Bliss in Exotic Surroundings
Enchanting Nuptials American-Style
Honeymoons that Stir the Soul
Latin American Gems Play to the Heart
Brazil Travel Planner
Fairy Tale Honeymoons in Europe
Island Weddings Pump Up the Volume
Once-in-a-Lifetime Honeymoons
Destination Wedding Powerhouses
Fancy-Filled Mexican Weddings
'Mooning in Mexico

Recommend June 2012