Brainstorming for places that might serve a double purpose for your big day and the honeymoon to follow? Why not consider the Big Easy?

Destination weddings in New Orleans deliver in the excitement department and you’re going to find they also provide a number of perks you might not have considered. Even if you intend to have guests of all ages along for the ceremony, New Orleans is well worth careful consideration. Yes, it’s famed for its lively adult atmosphere, but there’s more to this town than often meets the eye.

So, why should you consider hosting your destination wedding in New Orleans? Here are just a few of the many reasons why this city can really jazz up pre, during and post-wedding fun:

• The attractions for your guests – When brides and grooms plan destination weddings they often torture themselves making sure their location will fit the tastes of most of the guests on their lists. New Orleans works beautifully on this score. The French Quarter’s nighttime party atmosphere is awesome for adult guests to enjoy. By day, however, it takes on a whole new feel that’s more than family friendly. Plus, there’s the world-famous zoo to explore, the Garden District, bayou tours, shopping, musical attractions, museums and much more that guests of any age can enjoy. All the top spots, by the way, are great for honeymoon adventures after the big ceremony.
• The convenience – Destination weddings can be tough on guests’ wallets and difficult to get to. If you need a stateside location, New Orleans more that fits the bill. It’s fairly easy to get to by car from just about anywhere in the Continental United States. Plus, it’s major airport makes it quite convenient for those who don’t wish to drive. Top that off with a wide variety of hotels and resorts set to fit almost any budget, and this particular destination is likely to be music to guests’ ears.
• The resorts – Speaking of those resorts, New Orleans is famous for its Southern Hospitality. If you choose to have a destination wedding here, you can count on royal treatment from resorts that know how to handle all the little details leading up to the big day and beyond. Speak with your wedding and honeymoon travel advisory for some of the top picks on resorts to work with.
• The food, music and fun – New Orleans is famed for its cuisine that practically defies description. From its crawfish boils to its incredible beignets, you and your guests will delight in what’s on the menu. New Orleans is also famed for its live music – especially jazz, which makes it a treat for those who desire entertainment.

To find out more about New Orleans destination weddings, just check with our destination wedding experts!

Ready to take off on an anniversary or second honeymoon trip to someplace warm, tropical and breathtaking? Want to visit a destination that boast beautiful beaches, outstanding history and lots of things to see and do while maintaining just the perfect aura of romance for your special getaway? Take a closer look at the British Virgin Islands and you just might find the paradise you’re hoping for.

Located in the Caribbean, not too far from Puerto Rico, this island chain is famed for its warm tropical weather made enjoyable thanks to moderate trade winds. Its British roots lend a European flair to the islands while ensuring visitors from America also feel right at home.

Here are just a few of the reasons, beyond the weather, the British Virgin Islands make for an incredible escape you’ll enjoy from beginning to end:

• The beaches – The Virgin Islands are famed for their pristine beaches, swaying palm trees and stunning turquoise waters. Those who enjoy water sports will find dozens and dozens of beaches just waiting. Some of the most famous beaches here include Elizabeth Beach, Apple Bay and Devil’s Bay Beach. The waters here are ideal for all sorts of sporting activities, including diving, fishing and skiing.
• The events and festivals – Hoping to spend the days following your vow renewal or anniversary in a destination that’s festive? You won’t go wrong in the British Virgin Islands. Here you’ll find festivals on the calendar just about all the time. From music and arts festivals to racing and cruising events, there’s almost always something going on.
• The history – Want to explore the unique history and appeal of the British Virgin Islands? There’s no shortage of places to check out. From museums and galleries to historic sites, the islands have it all. Some of the more popular spots include the 1780 Lower Estate Sugar Works, the North Shore Shell Museum, the Old Government House and the Callwood Rum Distillery.
• The hospitality – Visitors who trek to the British Virgin Islands can anticipate stellar treatment throughout their stay. The islands are home to some of the world’s most amazing resorts that are staffed by people who know how to make guests feel welcome. Plus, the islands are also famed for their outstanding dining establishments and nightlife spots that keep the fun going into the wee hours.

Ready to explore the British Virgin Islands? Just consult with our anniversary travel advisors to begin planning a trip that combines romance with wonder.

Dreaming of escaping to a tropical paradise where your every need will be taken care of immediately after you and your sweetheart say your “I do’s?” If so, Barbados just might be the slice of heaven you’ve been looking for. This Caribbean island is famed for its beauty and even more renowned for the luxury its service industry knows how to dish up.

So, why should you consider Barbados for your honeymoon? Here are just a few reasons:

• The landscape – Consider the most beautiful postcard picture you’ve ever seen of the sand, surf and sun and Barbados just might top it. With crystal clear waters, powdery beaches and a lush, green tropical interior, Barbados paints the perfect picture for a romantic honeymoon adventure. You’ll even find there are mountains to climb. Mount Hillaby, in fact, is more than 1,200 feet above sea level.
• The things to do – Barbados has more things to see and do than any couple could possibly take in on a honeymoon. From hiking, biking and swimming to touring historic sites and beyond, you’re not going to run out of fun things to explore while you’re in Barbados. You’ll find there are activities here to match just about every taste, too. It doesn’t matter whether you just like sightseeing or you want to enjoy adrenaline pumping high adventure, you’ll find it in Barbados.
• The rum – Believe it or not, this is one of Barbados’ many claims to fame. This island paradise gets the credit as the birthplace of rum. Inasmuch, you can expect to find many libations made with this particular spirit at hotels, restaurants and beachside bars. You can also tour historic sites connected to the production of rum. There are also rum shops and rum distilleries well worth exploring.
• The House – No, this isn’t an ordinary abode with historic appeal waiting for you to explore. Instead, it’s one of the premier destinations in Barbados for couples on their honeymoon. This resort is an adults-only destination that’s famed the world over. It features top-notch service, its own Zagat-rated restaurant and plenty of on-site activities. Guests here enjoy private rooms that boast a variety of luxury appointments, such as flat-screen televisions, espresso machines, private porches and more.

Finding the right place for your honeymoon is important. If a tropical paradise is your dream, Barbados is the place to go. To find out more about this stunning escape, just consult with our honeymoon travel experts.

Selecting just the right spot for a honeymoon isn’t always as simple as it sounds. If you want a sure-fire hit, however, it’s hard to ignore the allure of Paris. This European capital has earned the name City of Love for several very good reasons. When your desire for romance is high, but you want to make sure there are plenty of other things to do, it’s nearly impossible to top the Parisian landscape for a couple’s getaway.

While some might say Paris is a “cliché” choice, here are four reasons why it’s truly a classic that is well worth considering as you plan for a honeymoon:

1. The beauty – From the Eiffel Tower to the River Seine and everything in between, Paris is a sight to behold. This city was built with splendor in mind. Its art, architecture and natural landscapes combine to present a stunning picture that is sure to make an impression no matter the season of a visit.
2. The nightlife – When it comes to fun things to do after the sun sets, Paris only has one real rival the world over – New York City. Just like its American counterpart, Paris never really goes to sleep. The city has nightclubs, spas, live theatrical venues and much more couples can explore after hours. Plus, moonlight strolls and treks to the top of the Eiffel Tower always make for memorable experiences.
3. The other things to do – Visitors to Paris never find themselves lacking for things to do. From the historic sites and world famous museums to the shopping districts and beyond, this city offers something for every taste imaginable. It doesn’t matter whether you and your sweetheart want to tour ancient ruins and stately castles or just take in some of the best restaurants and clothing stores in the world, Paris will not fail to impress.
4. The hotels – When it comes to pampering, Parisian hotels and resorts are the best. From small boutiques that provide the ultimate in privacy to large, world-class resorts, you’ll find it all in the City of Love. No matter your selection, however, you’ll find that Parisian hoteliers know how to treat guests right.

If you’re looking for the ultimate romantic adventure for your honeymoon, Paris is the city to explore. To find out more about booking a couple’s getaway in the City of Love, just consult our honeymoon travel experts.

Saying “I do” all over again calls for a setting that’s as special as your marriage. If you happen to love romantic settings, art, architecture, history and some of the best food found anywhere in the world, Italy is the place to go.

Just picture yourself exploring the sites of Rome or wandering Venice in a gondola after reaffirming your love for one another. Even better, imagine yourself doing these things while saying “I do” for the second time. Choose Italy for your renewal ceremony and these dreams can become reality.

Here are just four of the reasons why Italy is the place to go for a vow renewal ceremony that you’ll never forget:

• The choices – Italy might be best known for the splendor of Rome and the sanctity of the Vatican, but there’s a lot more to see and do here than just visit these two top choices. While it’s true a tour of Rome could take up an entire trip, places like Venice and Florence are also stunning for vow renewals.  The countryside and mountainous regions of the country also deliver an amazing backdrop for a memorable ceremony and subsequent second honeymoon escape.
• The things to see – It doesn’t matter whether family and friends are coming along for the Italy vow renewal or you’re going alone, you’ll find plenty of things to see and do. Should you plan on having guests of all ages, Italy will not disappoint in the activity department. What’s even better is the fact it has so many romantic escapes for that post-wedding fun you’ll enjoy all alone.
• The food – Foodies and Italy go together like pasta and Chianti. Choose to travel here for your vow renewal and you’ll find your entire trip could be dominated by the regional cuisines that make this country’s culinary style loved the world over. What’s even better is the fact you can visit different areas to savor entirely different flavors. Should you want to tour the highpoints of Italian cuisine, you’ll even discover tours are available just for that. You and your second wedding guests can even take part in a cooking class so you can recreate the experience once you’re back at home.
• The service – Italian hospitality is known the world over. Whether you and your honey intend to make the trip alone or are bringing the family and friends alone to witness, you’ll discover the service here is legendary. Work directly with an anniversary travel advisor to find the best places to stay to meet your needs and desires and you won’t be disappointed.

Say “I do” all over again in Italy and you’ll find the memories made here will last a lifetime. Whether you’re a foodie, have a passion for history or just want to see some of the world’s most notable sites, you’ll fall in love with Italy.

Thinking about DIYing your honeymoon? Here’s 6 things an online site won’t tell you.

You’ll get a better deal if you wait till next week:

Have you ever clicked the confirm button on an online site only to have it tell you that you’d get a better deal if you waited a couple days to book? Of course not! Since one of the reasons people use an online site is instant gratification, an online booking site is never going to let you know that the hotel you’ve just selected is running a promo that starts next week, and that you would really be better off to wait a couple more days before you book. And here’s the rub-if you book online and a better rate comes out after you’ve booked, the online site won’t adjust your price. Here at Bliss Honeymoons, if a better rate becomes available after you’ve booked, we can obtain the new rate for you.

At that resort, “ocean view” really means “tree view”

There’s nothing better than waking up in a tropical destination and sitting on your balcony staring at the ocean while having your coffee. But not all ocean view rooms are created equal. In fact, at some resorts, ocean views are obstructed by trees or other buildings. If you’re going to pay extra for an ocean view, don’t you want to be able to see the ocean?  At Bliss Honeymoons, we visit the resorts that we sell, so we can give you the inside scoop on what the rooms are really like.

This resort is great if you want to spend the week with rednecks!

While doing a hotel tour of Jamaica last fall, one of our agents spent a couple of nights at what claimed to be an upscale resort. While this resort looks fantastic online, what you don’t see on the online site are the 50 screaming kids doing cannon balls, and the lovely couple in cut-offs who were smoking in the pool! It’s also impossible to taste or feel a hotel from a website, and there was no mention of the rock hard beds or endless supply of box wine swill on their site.

Remember, anyone can build a pretty website. It’s impossible to judge the vibe of the resort, or the crowd it attracts from their site. And there’s nothing worse than spending a week trapped at a resort with people who make you uncomfortable.

Your hotel is closed for the season. Enjoy the Super 8!

In the last year there have been two big cases of couples who booked, only to learn that the hotel was closed for the season when they arrived. (One was a Greek Island honeymoon, the other a 25^th wedding anniversary in Costa Rica) In both of these cases, the online site refused to assist them until they could confirm that the hotel was actually closed. But how can you confirm a hotel is closed when there’s no one there to confirm it? Exactly!

In both of these instances, the travelers were left to fend for themselves. Each had to find and pay for a new hotel, and then spend months fighting with the online site to get their money back when they returned home.

You could have gotten that candlelight dinner on the beach free by booking the next room category!

There’s nothing worse than learning the  beach wedding you just paid $1500.00 for could have been free if you had just spent an extra $800.00 on the next highest room category, and stayed 7 nights instead of 6 nights.

Online sites do a great job of giving you a list of things that are available at various resorts, and making you think you’ve gotten a deal. But an experienced travel professional knows the inter-workings of the resorts promos, and can help you get more value from your trip than you can find from an online site.

Your connecting flight leaves 15 minutes before you arrive. Welcome to Duluth!

The cheapest flight is not always a flight that can actually work. Online sites are notorious for selling flights with misconnects, or failing to notify clients that their flight schedules have changed. Last year we had a destination wedding guest who insisted on booking their own flights. Imagine their surprise when they arrived at the airport with their two toddlers in tow, only to learn that Mexicana had gone bankrupt several weeks ago and was no longer flying. The walk-up fare to get to the wedding on an alternate airline was almost $2000 per person. They wound up driving home, missing the wedding, and losing everything they paid for the trip as they declined the insurance. And of course the online site they purchased the air through never notified them that Mexicana had gone under, and denied them any kind of compensation.

Italian Honeymoon for Foodies

Love great food, incredible scenery and romantic destinations? Hoping to combine the three in a honeymoon adventure your sweetheart will never forget? If so, Italy is the place spend your first post-wedding days together.

An Italian honeymoon is an outstanding choice for foodies for more reasons than anyone can count. Just a simple exploration of the cuisine is enough to show why this country is the place to go for those who love great food. And, depending on where in Italy you decide to visit, you can explore lots of different flavors along the way.

You’ll find that Italy’s different regions each have their own dishes and styles of cooking they’re famed for.  In Lombardy, for example, you can savor the taste of rice, beef, pork and maize dishes. Travel into the piedmont area and you’ll find cheese and nuts feature strongly in dishes. Tuscany brings its own flavors to the table with its cuisine that favors legumes, mushrooms, fresh fruits, cheese and bread.  Pasta, of course, is a staple in many regions, but count on it being served up with local styling no matter where you go.

How to Tour With Italian Food in Mind

Foodies will find there ways to tailor Italian honeymoons to their own personal tastes. Here are just a few options:

Go on a foodie tour – Cuisine is such a big part of Italian culture that there are tours dedicated to it alone. Check with our honeymoon travel consultants for information on tours that focus on the styles of cooking found in a particular region or several regions. You can count on some amazing meals along the way when one of these tours is booked!

Setting your own itinerary – If you have particular points of interest you want to explore while in Italy while also sampling the cuisine, it can help to work directly with our honeymoon travel advisors to map out your own adventure.

Educational tours – If you want to do more than just taste the food, you can take an educational tour that includes cooking lessons. Choose to do this for your Italian honeymoon and you’ll bring home more than incredible memories – you’ll also get to recreate the dishes you loved so much anytime you want! Check with your honeymoon travel advisor for cooking class options available in different regions of Italy.

Italian honeymoons are perfect for foodies with a penchant for romance and wonder. This country is famed not only for its amazing history and landscapes, but also the foods that set its different regions apart. Just speak with our honeymoon travel advisors to get the planning ball rolling!

Your wedding day is right around the corner and you want to plan a honeymoon that neither of you will ever forget. If someplace warm, on the beach and exotic sounds like a plan, you might want to consider a getaway to a tropical, over-the-water bungalow.

So why would you want to stay in a bungalow instead of a 5-star, high-rise beach resort? While the latter has its perks for sure, there are some compelling reasons why honeymooners love over-water bungalows. Here are just a few of the top reasons to consider a stay at a boutique resort that boasts these private, unique rooms for their guests:

1. The destinations – Over-the-water bungalows are found in some of the world’s most notable and most romantic locations. Think the coastline of Mexico, Belize, Tahiti and you’ll get the picture. These destinations are already perfect for honeymooners and the bungalow hotels just make them all the more sweet.
2. The things to do – Bungalows right on the beach or built out over the water are typically found in locales where the things to do abound. From high-action zip-lining through tropical jungles to laid back days on the beach, couples don’t run out of things to do when they choose vacations like this.
3. The landscape – There are few destinations in the world that can top the views that over-the-water bungalows deliver. Imagine waking up to a gentle tropical breeze as waves lap below your bed. Now picture yourself standing outside on a private porch watching the sunset over the water. It just doesn’t get better than that!
4. The privacy – It’s your honeymoon, and let’s face it; you want privacy. Over-the-water bungalows are typically designed with every luxury in mind and are self-contained. That means you and your honey will get the privacy you crave without having to sacrifice anything in the amenity department.
5. The memories – While escaping to a bungalow in a tropical locale isn’t quite like getting lost on a deserted island, it can come pretty close. You and your sweetie will be able to make memories to last a lifetime and just think of how stunning your vacation pictures will be!

To find out more about our Bungalow H2O Collection, just consult our honeymoon travel advisors. Our pros can help you book the best places to stay in resorts all over the world.