Hawaii remains the number one destination for honeymoons year after year because of its romantic sunsets, magnificent beaches, and luxurious hotels. Visitors to Hawaii can also conveniently hop from island to island to experience just about any climate and adventure under the sun, including kayaking, mountain climbing, surfing, scuba, and even hiking in a rainforest. Honeymooners have endless options. Following months of wedding planning, couples often retreat to a luxurious resort that caters to their every need, while others trek to an adventurous escape from their day-to-day lives. Whether a beach vacation, an exciting adventure filled trip, or something in between, the honeymoon should reflect your joint personality and wishes. Few destinations can offer so much for a honeymoon location, and the satisfaction ratings for Hawaii are among the highest in the entire travel industry. Hawaii is about romance and the island caters in a very special way to destination weddings and honeymooners. Hawaii's climate is world class and year-round. The scenery cannot be matched by any other tropical destination. The mountains, valleys, waterfalls, rainforests and rugged coastlines are unforgettable. And the Aloha Spirit - the attitude of friendly acceptance and the way of life that makes the Hawaiian Islands famous is the perfect ambiance in which to begin your life as a couple. Hawaii is so familiar and yet so exotic -yet Hawaii is United States soil. That means US currency and no travel documents. The food, culture and language are all familiar and relaxing. But around every turn is some element of the unfamiliar, from the Aloha culture to the strong influence of Asian cultures and heritage. Sold? Here are a few tips that will assist you in better planning your Hawaiian honeymoon. Planning a honeymoon in Hawaii can be an exciting, but overwhelming experience. Most couples will wait until after all the wedding plans are handled to start thinking about their honeymoon. However, to ensure that you get the best pricing and availability, we recommend that you start the planning process nine to twelve months before your departure date. Honeymoons too often take a backseat to the arrangements and plans of the actual wedding, but you owe it to yourself to give honeymoon planning greater and more careful attention. After all, while the wedding is mainly for your family and friends, the once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon that follows is a private getaway for you and your new spouse to celebrate your marriage. Though you may spend a portion of your vacation relaxing and reflecting on this major life change, the honeymoon is most of all an opportunity to enjoy being a newlywed, spending quality time with your new spouse, and experiencing a romantic and exciting getaway. Firstly, decide on a budget. It has been said that honeymooners typically spend nearly four times what an average vacationer spends, and for good reason. For a honeymoon, you want to have the best possible experience that you can comfortably afford. Considering the importance of the memories you will be building, this is not the time to make unwise cuts in your buy. This is the one occasion among all others when you want to be certain that you will enjoy as much quality as you can afford. Hawaii is for any budget - from first class luxury accommodations to budget condominiums. Your travel consultant can assist you with planning a vacation to provide the best possible value. This is one of the other reasons that Hawaii is such a popular choice. With several islands to choose from, Hawaii offers some of the best beaches, resorts, and culture with a wide range of hotels and properties. Right now, Hawaii is a real bargain, with travel there currently less than the same trip would have cost in 2007. No other destination offers you as great a return on the money you will spend on your honeymoon than the Islands of Aloha! Couples who try to plan their honeymoon on their own online, wind up feeling frustrated and are likely to miss opportunities that a travel agent will know. A travel agent who specializes in honeymoons can help the two of you sort out which destinations would be right for the two of you, based on your likes and dislikes, and your priorities as a couple. Even if as a couple you have very different ideas of where and how you would like to spend your honeymoon, a honeymoon expert should be able to find a location that is perfect for both of you, and ensure that your flights, transfers, hotel and insurance are all packaged appropriately. Sit down with your agent and discuss your idea of the perfect honeymoon. What do you like to do as individuals and what as a couple? Hawaii affords many different opportunities for activities and leisure time. You can Kayak, explore rainforests, or sit on the beach. Schedule in more free time than you might think you want. Remember, this is a honeymoon, not a vacation, and that really is a distinction that means something! Make a list of the things that mean the most to you, get in some practice making decisions as a couple. The more clearly you can communicate your ideal honeymoon to your agent, the better the overall planning process will be. Be diligent about keeping copies of all correspondence, confirmation numbers, and invoices given to you by your travel consultant. Double- and triple-check all the plans to be sure that your departure and return dates are correct. Inform everyone along the way that you're traveling on your honeymoon, so you don't miss out on complimentary perks. Stay organized by creating a folder or notebook where you can keep all this information. One last bit of advice: Have realistic expectations throughout the course of planning and taking your honeymoon trip. While it's only natural for you to want your honeymoon to be perfect, bear in mind that travel is inherently an adventure. Approach your honeymoon with an open mind, and prepare to have plenty of laughs along the way. There really are endless possibilities in Hawaii for honeymooners. Your travel agent can provide you with all the information you need to decide which island (or islands!) and what hotel properties are right for you. Start planning early to make sure you're right where you want to be... and then Bon Voyage!
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Twin Peaks Travel is your full service travel agency for both business and vacation travel planning. Our EXPERT travel agents with over 40 years of experience are ready to help you with both domestic and international travel arrangements. We book airline tickets, cruises, full vacation packages, charter airlines, hotel reservations, car rentals, travel insurance, group rates, scuba diving or snorkel vacations, train tickets/packages and honeymoon packages.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Roatan, Honduras Bay Islands-Escorted Dive Trip
Join Harrison Jenkins** on Roatan at the Coco View Resort for an unforgettable all-inclusive week of scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking and fun in the sun.
October 30-November 6, 2010. $1656.54 each*
Includes: roundtrip airfare from Denver, 3 full meals daily: breakfasts to order, full lunch, dinner buffets with salad bar and choice of entrée, 7 nights ocean front accommodations, picnics, Bar B Q's and entertainment. 2 boat dive trips daily, each includes 1 tank at selected site and optional drop-off wall dive - up to 4 tanks daily. Unlimited beach diving includes several barrier reef walls, Wreck of the Prince Albert, and night diving. Snorkelers love the extensive shallow coral reef system that surrounds the resort. Free use of kayaks and beach toys. Lots of optional day tours and services.
Not a certified diver, but would love to come on the trip? We'll certify you for 1/2 the normal price! Normal price for a complete Scuba certification course runs $275 + $65 for student materials. Join us in Roatan and we'll certify you for $170 INCLUDING student materials.
*Price is per person based on two adults sharing 1 room. **Escort is based on 10 adults booked from Denver. Only $200.00 non-refundable deposit is due at the time of booking to reserve your space! Final payment is due by August 30th, 2010. Please let me know if you need airfare from any other city or land only rates.
All prices are subject to change until paid in full. Passports are required.
October 30-November 6, 2010. $1656.54 each*
Includes: roundtrip airfare from Denver, 3 full meals daily: breakfasts to order, full lunch, dinner buffets with salad bar and choice of entrée, 7 nights ocean front accommodations, picnics, Bar B Q's and entertainment. 2 boat dive trips daily, each includes 1 tank at selected site and optional drop-off wall dive - up to 4 tanks daily. Unlimited beach diving includes several barrier reef walls, Wreck of the Prince Albert, and night diving. Snorkelers love the extensive shallow coral reef system that surrounds the resort. Free use of kayaks and beach toys. Lots of optional day tours and services.
Not a certified diver, but would love to come on the trip? We'll certify you for 1/2 the normal price! Normal price for a complete Scuba certification course runs $275 + $65 for student materials. Join us in Roatan and we'll certify you for $170 INCLUDING student materials.
*Price is per person based on two adults sharing 1 room. **Escort is based on 10 adults booked from Denver. Only $200.00 non-refundable deposit is due at the time of booking to reserve your space! Final payment is due by August 30th, 2010. Please let me know if you need airfare from any other city or land only rates.
All prices are subject to change until paid in full. Passports are required.
Costa Rica: No artificial ingredients-year 'round
Costa Rica is a land teeming with the paradoxes of its geographical location, bridging North and South America and the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. The resulting climate makes it ideal for year-round travel. The forces of nature are at their spectacular best here, churning out rainforest and volcanoes, great beaches and vistas. The animals and plants of the region are of two great continents. The diversity of flora and fauna, of geography and terrain all come together here in a mere 50,895 square kilometers.
The elevation of much of the country's landmass offsets the tropical setting of its location only 8 degrees north of the equator. Like Hawaii in the Pacific, Costa Rica hosts 10 of the 13 recognized climatic zones as well as local microclimates.
The equatorial position of the country means that throughout the year there is a fairly constant twelve hours of light between sunrise and sunset from 6:00 am each day to 6:00 pm. The county's location also maintains a fairly constant temperature, never varying more than a few degrees on a seasonal basis. If you are traveling from the Northern Hemisphere, you are used to giving due consideration to terms like "summer" and "winter". However, in Costa Rica, the seasons revolve around a dry season, December through April and a wet season May through November. Costa Rica promotes their "wet season" as the "Green Season." This is not just clever marketing. The year-round nature of Costa Rica's travel opportunities has made it the Caribbean destination with the highest tourism growth. The Green Season is an excellent time to travel to Costa Rica. This is when the warm, wet climate brings the plant life into full bloom, and the country's verdant flora explodes wi th the vibrant life characteristic of Costa Rica. As we will discuss below, the green season means more wildlife, better visibility and rates that are easier on the pocketbook!
December, January, and February tend to be cooler as winds from the north lower temperatures. In the coastal regions, the average temperature at sea level is 82 degrees Fahrenheit on the eastern Caribbean side of the country and 89 degrees on the Pacific side. As you climb in elevation, temperatures begin to drop approximately one degree for every 100 yards. Thus, in the mountains, jackets, sweaters and coats in the highest elevations are definitely in order. Temperatures at night tend to be warmer in the wet season
Costa Rica's mountain ranges, situated between two oceanic climatic and moisture zones mean that rainfall is a part of Costa Rica's ecology. Annual rainfall averages approximately 100 inches in the plains and 150 inches in the mountains occurring in the early afternoons in the highest elevations and late afternoon or night in the plains. While mornings during the wet season are often bright and sunny, by afternoon the rains typically fall.
There are real benefits to traveling to Costa Rica during the Green Season. Perhaps the best reason is the abundance of wildlife. The greener foliage and plant life offer a wider range of feeding grounds for the animals. Likewise, because the green season in general means fewer tourists, the animals are more relaxed in their habitat. If one of your reasons for visiting Costa Rica includes paddling sports and time on its rivers, the green season means banks that are consistently filled with fast moving water. The mountains tend to be more clearly visible as the rains carry the fog and haze away making volcano viewing particularly enjoyable.
The Green Season also means fewer travelers in the hotels, shops and dining establishments. As a result, general prices for accommodations and practically every aspect of tourism are less than in peak travel season. Packages in Green Season can be as much as 30% less than in peak, and the local population and shop keepers have more time to spend with travelers on an individual basis.
As a bridge between North and South America, Costa Rica's biodiversity is astonishing. Monkeys, sloths, tapirs and wildcats as well as an unrivaled collection of bird species numbering more than 800 make their home in the rainforest. With more than 25% of the country in national parks, there is great opportunity to leave the beaten path and to see the wide variety of plant and animal life year round.
The Costa Rican rainforests are vast, but accessible. The road infrastructure tends to be unpredictable outside of the major cities, and caution when driving is highly advisable, especially during rain storms. Many roads are unpaved and bridges are often single-vehicle width. The best advice in any weather is to plan ahead, take your time and enjoy the scenery.
Any experienced visitor to Costa Rica will tell you that there is no end to the amazing array of things to do. Costa Rica is a nature lover's paradise. Better yet, ecotourism is a way of life in Costa Rica. The country plays host to a wide variety of adventure sports and favorites of travelers include mountain biking, river rafting and scuba diving. Hikes through the rainforests include trips to active volcanoes, boat trips on rivers snaking through the rain forests and opportunities to ride a zip line through the forest canopy. You can watch live lava flows on Arenal Volcano, bird watch (some of the best and most diverse in the world), stand on mountaintops where both the Atlantic and the Pacific are visible, watch the marine turtles at Tortuguero or any one of a hundred other terrific outdoor opportunities.
This year, any time this year, give some consideration to placing Costa Rica on your list of "places to visit." You will be glad you did.
The elevation of much of the country's landmass offsets the tropical setting of its location only 8 degrees north of the equator. Like Hawaii in the Pacific, Costa Rica hosts 10 of the 13 recognized climatic zones as well as local microclimates.
The equatorial position of the country means that throughout the year there is a fairly constant twelve hours of light between sunrise and sunset from 6:00 am each day to 6:00 pm. The county's location also maintains a fairly constant temperature, never varying more than a few degrees on a seasonal basis. If you are traveling from the Northern Hemisphere, you are used to giving due consideration to terms like "summer" and "winter". However, in Costa Rica, the seasons revolve around a dry season, December through April and a wet season May through November. Costa Rica promotes their "wet season" as the "Green Season." This is not just clever marketing. The year-round nature of Costa Rica's travel opportunities has made it the Caribbean destination with the highest tourism growth. The Green Season is an excellent time to travel to Costa Rica. This is when the warm, wet climate brings the plant life into full bloom, and the country's verdant flora explodes wi th the vibrant life characteristic of Costa Rica. As we will discuss below, the green season means more wildlife, better visibility and rates that are easier on the pocketbook!
December, January, and February tend to be cooler as winds from the north lower temperatures. In the coastal regions, the average temperature at sea level is 82 degrees Fahrenheit on the eastern Caribbean side of the country and 89 degrees on the Pacific side. As you climb in elevation, temperatures begin to drop approximately one degree for every 100 yards. Thus, in the mountains, jackets, sweaters and coats in the highest elevations are definitely in order. Temperatures at night tend to be warmer in the wet season
Costa Rica's mountain ranges, situated between two oceanic climatic and moisture zones mean that rainfall is a part of Costa Rica's ecology. Annual rainfall averages approximately 100 inches in the plains and 150 inches in the mountains occurring in the early afternoons in the highest elevations and late afternoon or night in the plains. While mornings during the wet season are often bright and sunny, by afternoon the rains typically fall.
There are real benefits to traveling to Costa Rica during the Green Season. Perhaps the best reason is the abundance of wildlife. The greener foliage and plant life offer a wider range of feeding grounds for the animals. Likewise, because the green season in general means fewer tourists, the animals are more relaxed in their habitat. If one of your reasons for visiting Costa Rica includes paddling sports and time on its rivers, the green season means banks that are consistently filled with fast moving water. The mountains tend to be more clearly visible as the rains carry the fog and haze away making volcano viewing particularly enjoyable.
The Green Season also means fewer travelers in the hotels, shops and dining establishments. As a result, general prices for accommodations and practically every aspect of tourism are less than in peak travel season. Packages in Green Season can be as much as 30% less than in peak, and the local population and shop keepers have more time to spend with travelers on an individual basis.
As a bridge between North and South America, Costa Rica's biodiversity is astonishing. Monkeys, sloths, tapirs and wildcats as well as an unrivaled collection of bird species numbering more than 800 make their home in the rainforest. With more than 25% of the country in national parks, there is great opportunity to leave the beaten path and to see the wide variety of plant and animal life year round.
The Costa Rican rainforests are vast, but accessible. The road infrastructure tends to be unpredictable outside of the major cities, and caution when driving is highly advisable, especially during rain storms. Many roads are unpaved and bridges are often single-vehicle width. The best advice in any weather is to plan ahead, take your time and enjoy the scenery.
Any experienced visitor to Costa Rica will tell you that there is no end to the amazing array of things to do. Costa Rica is a nature lover's paradise. Better yet, ecotourism is a way of life in Costa Rica. The country plays host to a wide variety of adventure sports and favorites of travelers include mountain biking, river rafting and scuba diving. Hikes through the rainforests include trips to active volcanoes, boat trips on rivers snaking through the rain forests and opportunities to ride a zip line through the forest canopy. You can watch live lava flows on Arenal Volcano, bird watch (some of the best and most diverse in the world), stand on mountaintops where both the Atlantic and the Pacific are visible, watch the marine turtles at Tortuguero or any one of a hundred other terrific outdoor opportunities.
This year, any time this year, give some consideration to placing Costa Rica on your list of "places to visit." You will be glad you did.
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