My Process to Choose the Perfect Honeymoon

Since I recently got engaged I have been thinking a lot about the honeymoon. Being a guy the actual wedding day isn't as important to me. I am a paradise island lover and therefore I have taken on the task of planning the honeymoon. And luxury it shall be!

I have nailed it down to 3 resorts and decided to book with Only Exclusive Travel. They are a UK tour operator who specialize in luxury packages and tailor making itineraries.

The ones I like best from their selection of Maldives resorts are:

Soneva Fushi:

This photo is what did it for me. I can just imagine a romantic stroll together around the island. It looks like a great size. If you click on the title you will see that the villas are kind of secluded too.

I would guess you can also take a boat trip to snorkel at the coral reef next to the island. It looks like there is a sand bank there too- I have been on one once before and they are very cool. Especially with sand that white.

Jumeirah Dhevanafushi:

This one didn't strike me at first, but when I checked out the accommodation page I saw the photo below. That room looks like it has an outdoor hot tub facing the sunset. What could possibly be more relaxing than that?

Also this resort is a nice small island which looks easy to walk around. I have been on a similar sized island in Fuji once and you really get the Robinson Crusoe experience. It looks like the spa is over the water too, with an infinity pool- that's my kind of luxury.

Per Aquum Niyama:

The photo below says it all. That is the kind of photo people post on Facebook. Heavenly accommodation on stilts above amazing crystal clear water and shite sand. I am guess that snorkeling is limited here as the turqoiuse water is very smooth looking- but that is a bonus for swimming.

This resort seems larger than the others. That could be a good thing in that there will probably be more facilities, but is it ideal for a honeymoon? I can't ignore the beauty of the place though. I am thinking of possibly splitting my time here with one of the other two. We could even do all 3?

What do you think? We haven't even set a date for the wedding yet so there is no rush. Any recommendations or experience about any of these Maldives island resorts, or others in the Maldives would be most welcome. If you had to choose one which one would you choose? Only problem is no golf courses, but I haven't been doing enough golfing or golf lessons anyway recently, so the Maldives is the place to go.

My essential holiday preparation tools

This is a page about the things I always seem to use when planning a holiday. After 16 years as an avid traveller I have streamlined my planning process, so I thought I'd share these things with my readers.

Laptop
My Macbook is always close to me at home and often when out too. When planning a new trip I usually start by putting my destination into Trip Advisor. It is a great website for quickly finding hotels, restaurants and activities. I use the map feature to find the perfect destination with plenty going on in an area.

Tablet
I use my tablet (iPad) when relaxing on the sofa or in bed. There is a Trip Advisor app, but I usually just use Google as I like to look for location specific blogs and forums at the same time. I sometimes use Google Blog Search to filter out all the travel agent websites and get to some real opinions and experiences about places.

There are some good apps for travellers. My current favourites are Wunderlist (todo list) and Evernote (notes) for planning trips. There are also ones for tracking expenses such as Trail Wallet as well as city specific guides. Many are free so it is best to download a few and see if they stick.

Ski Training Device
Lots of my holidays are ski based and the Sweetspot trainer from SkiA is essential. It is cheap and very effective for getting me in shape for a skiing trip. Sometimes I only ski once a year, using the Sweetspot blocks for a few weeks before going helps my muscles remember how to balance correctly. It also provides a mini workout for the leg muscles specifically used in skiing.

Guidebooks
One thing that I will still use paper for is guidebooks. I have tried electronic versions on the Kindle and iPad but they are nowhere near as good as the old paper versions. I most often use Lonely Planet as they are the biggest company, but I will also use Footprints and Rough Guide depending on date published and reviews (I check Amazon for reviews).

Making the most of the UK winter

The festive celebrations are all now over. Everyone ate and drank too much and had a great time on new years eve. After a couple of days of renewed hope for 2014, most of us are now starting to realise that we have a couple of months of rain, grey skies and wind.

So how can we make the most of this rather dull situation? Staying indoors away from the blustery weather seems like the only option on most days. It is January and February in particular that seem the most dreary of the year. This is when people are affected by the winter syndrome SAD.

Lets get a few ideas rolling for making the most of the UK's winter months:

1. Take up playing board games. 

This will sound dull to most people but I have discovered over Christmas that it can be a lot of fun. Start with Monoply which you should already own. Then browse for something else your family or group would enjoy.

Taboo is a fun game for a party with friends. Risk is a favourite with strategy and war fans. There are many more to choose from and you can check reviews on sites like Amazon before deciding.

2. Escape to the countryside.

If you plan it well you can still have an enjoyable holiday in the UK in January and February. I recommend choosing a cottage from a site like Unique Holiday Cottages with a fireplace.

Having a real log fire makes all the difference when the weather is bad outside. We opted for a traditional cottage complete with wood beams and low ceilings. It was very cosy with a real fireplace burning. We even took some board games too. Its funny how just being somewhere different feels good.

3. Immerse yourself in summer holiday planning

Visit all your favourite luxury holiday websites, bookmark them in your favourites list, order brochures, then enjoy planning your perfect trip. If you set aside some quality time for this you should enjoy this process if you are like me.

I love looking at photos of beautiful villas in the Med, or aqua blue waters in the Seychelles. When you get that twinge of jealousy that your not there, just pour a glass of wine, take a batch, then start again later or the next evening.

How to Book Luxury Holidays for a Honeymoon

If you have just got married and planning for your honeymoon then you must plan Luxury Holidays for a Honeymoon. These holidays should be memorable for you so that you can cherish these memories forever.

It is good to sit with your partner and decide the kind of place both of you would want to go to. You may opt to go to a beach destination, a hill station or may want to spend some quiet time with each other at a peaceful place that is far from all the traffic of tourists and visitors.
Once you have decided the period of your holiday then you can contact some good travel agent who can suggest some good options for Luxury Holidays for a Honeymoon after knowing your expectations and your budget. These travel agents have good knowledge about the hotels which can make special arrangements for your honeymoon. You can also plan your own tour. There are many tour operating websites which offer readymade as well as customizable tour packages for honeymooners.

When you see the tour packages online you would get many deals that would look too attractive but play a little wise by comparing deals from at least 3-4 such websites. Read all the terms and conditions and call their customer service in case of any confusion before you book any package because most of them are non-refundable.

To get better packages in your budget you can try being little flexible with the dates and days if possible. You can read reviews about the hotels which you are considering for your stay. Take a look at the pictures and find out about the amenities offered. Find out if the rates quoted to you are all inclusive or if there are some charges on top of it.

Cheap luxury Holidays - explore the world with reasonably priced packages!

It is not important that every desirable thing in this world is expensive. Today cheap luxury holidays are also attainable. There are numerous tour operators out there offering inexpensive luxury holidays. These tour operators provide the same comfort and luxury that can be achieved through an expensive vacation at a cheaper rate.

These types of packages offered by these tour operators are mainly beneficial for those individuals who are prepared to either join a tour group, visit new resorts, go all inclusive, or travel outside of peak season. Vacations play a pivotal role in everyone’s life. Every one of us desires a never to be forgotten experience in a vacation.

There are numerous places in the world that are considered as the perfect destination for the finest holidays. Some of these destinations are still unexplored. There are over 7,000 islands in the Philippines for example. I have seen luxury yachts exploring them, which must be quite an adventure.

The tour packages offered by the main operators include the most popular destinations. However, the accommodation can be cheaper in the unexplored locations. The luxury and the comfort may remain the same but minus the cost. Off the beaten track luxury holidays uncover perfect destinations and the luxury is often no less. The tour operator will assist you constantly and also they will keep a track of all the details of your vacation.

Moreover, you are not bound to go with the packages set by the tour operator. You are completely authorized to set your own holiday plan. You can select and also you can discard the locations from the provided packages.

Apart from tailor made holidays there are also luxury holidays which are all inclusive. All inclusive getaways can be great value because you pay one company for everything, which means they can get discounts.

Luxury Holidays Maldives

One can find that the Maldives is among the most amazing holiday destinations being preferred by tourists nowadays. Make sure that you carry extra batteries for your camera when you visit this beautiful island that is nowhere less than heaven. One can never have enough of pictures being taken of the Cobalt Sea and white sand in this beautiful island. Everybody yearns to escape to this heaven where there are beautiful scenes and a welcoming sea from their monotonous daily routine.

Situated in the midst of the Indian Ocean this place is nothing less than a geographical wonder. All together there are twenty six islands formed from over a thousand islands which is perfect to let yourself lose and take a breather from the daily hustle and bustle of a daily routine. Maldives is an ideal island offering amazing scenery of the tropics, beautiful palm trees and water that is crystal clear. One can enjoy the exotic sea life due to the coral reefs in the island.

The island also boasts of a series of luxurious resorts like Soneva Gili, Soneva Fushi etc. These resorts offer exhaustive services to its guests and go out of their way to make them feel comfortable. These luxurious resorts also offer various spas and massages for tourists to pamper and rejuvenate themselves. One can also enjoy lazy walks on the beach followed by sumptuous meals.

Apart from the exotic views and splendid sunshine one can also enjoy various water sports like snorkeling, fishing, sailing, windsurfing, diving etc. People flock from all over to enjoy water sports which are the main attraction and the most dominant doings of all the tourists. If you are an explorer by nature then there are various deserted islands. These uninhabited islands are just waiting to be explored. One will definitely treasure these memories throughout their lives.

Luxury Holidays Thailand

Thailand Luxury Holidays = White Sand, Clear Waters and Spicy Food Under the Sun

If you are planning for a holiday in an exotic place with beautiful locales, then Thailand is the best place for you, plan to visit Thailand. There will be a great fun for you. Because of its eye- catching beauty, unparalleled hospitality, outlandish temples and tasty cuisines, Thailand became the most sought after luxury holiday destinations. Apart from this, the hustle-bustle and the culture of this country is very rich.

As you are able to stay in any luxury hotel in Thailand but staying in Soneva Kiri by Six Senses Yao Noi will add more enjoyable experiences in your trip. It is a pool villa and an ultra luxury retreat. It is situated in Thailand’s lesser developed areas i.e. in the gulf of Thailand. 

In this resort there are only twenty four suites and three special suites, their charges approximately starts from one thousand US dollars per night up to a multi-room and if you want to stay at utopian family beach retreat then you have to pay ten thousand US dollars per night. All the rooms of this resort are wonderful and included with world class luxury service.

So when ever you plan to visit Thailand then don’t forget to stay in Soneva Kiri, it is guaranteed that you will get a lifetime experience. Visit Explore Asia for more posts about visiting Asia.