Staff Picks

Our staff loves to travel. Here are some quick summaries of the places they have visited.

Dominica

The Commonwealth of Dominica (pronounced Dom-in-ee-ka) is an island of rugged mountains, lush rainforests, cascading waterfalls and dynamic rivers. It is a perfect place for a romantic and adventurous honeymoon. Dominica is located in the Eastern Caribbean, north of Martinique and south of Guadeloupe, and lies between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. It has the highest mountains in the Eastern Caribbean, the loftiest peak, Morne Diablotin, is 4,747 feet high. Dominica has demonstrated a strong commitment to protecting and preserving the environment. This dedication to conserve and respect the natural surroundings has helped maintain the incredible beauty of the Island. Over the past fifty years Dominica has preserved more national forests, marine reserves, and national parks, per capita, than almost anywhere on earth. Of volcanic origin with mountains reaching heights of nearly 5,000 feet, rainforests that are considered among the last true island-based rainforests in the world, more than 365 crisscrossing rivers, waterfalls, boiling lakes, and pristine coral reefs, Dominica is well suited for eco-adventurers and movie making ("Pirate's of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" and "Pirate's of the Caribbean: World's End" were both filmed here!). Its unique topography of rolling hills, lush rainforests and mountains make Dominica ideal for mountain biking, hiking/trekking, scuba diving, snorkeling, bird watching, whale and dolphin watching, kayaking, river swimming, deep sea fishing, horseback riding, touring, and beach lounging. Read the Dominica Destination Guide

Cinque Terre, Italy

Where mountains meet the Mediterranean, Italy's Cinque Terre region remains one of the world's best kept secrets. Comprised of five tiny fishing villages along Italy's Northwestern coastline, the towns of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore are developed from the cliff-sides of the surrounding mountains, where colorful homes and buildings of pink, red, and yellow are constructed with the backdrop of glorious hillsides and mazes of endless vineyards. With no roads and passenger cars permitted in each village, one feels as if they are a part of history, as if living in the 17th century. Each town presents its own personality and begs its visitors to explore for themselves. Visitors have the opportunity to take in a wide variety of activities in the region, ranging from horseback riding, hiking, snorkeling, scuba diving, boating, swimming, and dining. Walk through back alleyways, up steep and narrow passageways until you reach panoramic lookouts and beautiful vistas. For the adventurous, couples may hike from one town to the next, walking through Cinque Terre National Parks' vineyards and forests which parallel the Mediterranean Sea. In addition, the Cinque Terre region is known to be the birthplace of pesto and offers various award-winning wines and fresh fish at many local dining establishments.

Prague, Czech Republic

The magical and historical aura of Prague beckons millions of visitors each year to this majestic capital of the Czech Republic. Get lost in the city's maze of alleyways, dine at world-class restaurants along the Vltava River, take in a concert, tour the Prague castle or walk over the world famous Charles Bridge while admiring the priceless view of this world-class city. One cannot forego a trip to Prague without visiting the city's classy wine bars, underground taverns, and trendy discos, which all can be found in an easily compact area of the city. For relaxation and luxury, Prague also offers some of Europe's finest hotels, including the Four Seasons, Hotel Palace Praha, and countless others, all in easily accessible areas of the city. And when the sun sets, be sure to walk around this beautiful city in order to really capture the personality of Prague, a city you will surely never forget.

Chamonix, France

For mountain lovers, Chamonix has it all. With the French Alps and Europe's tallest mountain in your lap, Mt. Blanc, the skiing village of Chamonix is the perfect getaway for a winter or summer honeymoon. The options are limitless in this breathtaking town in Southeastern France. For winter-goers, couples may hit the slopes in the numerous surrounding ski areas or snuggle up over hot chocolate and a roaring fire in a mountain chalet. The activities never let up in the summer where newlyweds have the opportunity to hike in the high peaks of the Alps, shop and walk along the quaint streets of the downtown, or take a most memorable cable-car trip over the alps to the Aiguille du Midi, 3842 meters high, where jaw-dropping views can be found of the entire mountain range. Rent a car and drive through the Arve River Valley, exploring the mountain towns such as St. Gervais, Plateau D' Assy, and Martigny. For those in dire need of some city action, trips to world class cities like Geneva, Lyon, Milan, and Annecy are only a few hours away.

Bora Bora

Bora Bora is definitely the quintessential tropical island experience and the most romantic place I could ever imagine. Beautiful beaches and the most amazing clear water filled with schools of tropical fish. Our private bungalow sat on the stilts over the water and we could actually open our coffee table to feed the fish below! Since we wanted a relaxing trip our main activity was doing nothing. One day we took a catamaran to a secluded snorkeling spot - and yes, there were more tropical fish, but relaxing was our top priority. I often find myself dreaming of the beach on Bora Bora, certainly a place we will never forget.

Kauai, Hawaii

Kauai is often called the "Garden Island" and for good reason. The scenery is amazing with lush vegetation, beautiful waterfalls, the spectacular Waimea Canyon, the great "hidden" valley of Kalalau, colorful tropical plants and flowers. Our favorite activities included hiking the Napali Coast (bring your mud shoes) and kayaking in the Wailua River. We stayed in a beachside condo in Poipu Beach, which had a beautiful ocean view and easy water access. You'll definitely be happy you chose to travel to Kauai when you are sipping a Mai Tai and watching a breathtaking Hawaiian sunset.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula is a wonderful place for a honeymoon. Since we had been to Cancun before and wanted more seclusion, we drove about 45 miles south of Cancun to Playa del Carmen. The resorts are very quiet and low-key with beautiful white sand beaches and crystal clear waters. The town of Playa Del Carmen is small but has some great local eateries and shops. The surrounding area has many options for activities. We took a snorkel trip over to the island of Cozumel and explored the ruins around Chichen Itza. Playa del Carmen really did offer the best of all worlds: relaxing beaches, adventure, and a little Mexican culture all thrown in to one trip.

Seattle/San Juan Islands, Washington

Instead of going for the white sand beach vacation, we wanted something that had a little more adventure. We also didn't have too much time to travel so we decided to stay fairly close to home and go to Washington state. We flew to Seattle and headed north to the San Juan islands where our kayaks awaited. Our outfitter packed most of the gear and guided us to small, secluded islands where we camped for 4 days. The scenery was amazing, but the highlight was definitely seeing whales while we were kayaking. We ended our trip at a nice boutique hotel in Seattle and soaked up the city's culture and nightlife. Definitely a different type of honeymoon but it was certainly an amazing experience we'll always remember.

New Zealand

It's a long way from New York to New Zealand, but with three weeks to tour the country, we were ready to hit the road after our flight into Christchurch, on the South Island of New Zealand. Our main objective was to relax together and to see all the natural beauty the island had to offer. Fortunately, NZ is small enough for travelers to see quite a lot in a limited time, from beaches to rain forests to mountains, with some adventure sports peppered in between. We spent a day at the Wildfoods Festival in Hokitika during which 20,000 people descend on a beautiful beach town to enjoy unusual foods, local beers, and bonfires on the shore. We then set off to explore a glacier, take a three-day hike through Fiordland National Park, enjoy an overnight boat cruise in Milford Sound, and try some skydiving and bungee jumping, too. In all, it was a whirlwind trip through a wide range of terrain, a beautiful, unspoiled land filled with warm people and just as many, if not more, sheep. A true adventure that I recommend to all travelers.

Peru

We opted for a trip a bit outside of the mainstream when we chose Peru, but we ended up having the experience of a lifetime. We started out in Lima, the capital, and quickly made our way to the Amazon rainforest where we spent three days sequestered in an amazing hut. Our guide had brought enough food for the excursion on the canoe and cooked for us every night. If you've never seen the stars 200 miles from any form of electricity, you are missing out! We also found our way to the signature attraction of Peru, the Incan ruins of Machu Picchu. It's a four-day hike to the ruins, but on the fourth day we woke up before sunrise to see the first light of day hit the lost city. It was something we will never forget!

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