…I repeat NOT….
a shameless attempt to generate blog traffic (no matter how convincing Willowtree’s accusations will be). It IS, however, a plea for help, a solicitation of advice, an opportunity for you to wax nostalgic while I benefit from your collective knowledge.
This year Tad and I will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. To celebrate, two things will (hopefully) take place: 1) I plan on breaking the hermetically sealed box my wedding dress has lived in since two weeks after I wore it the first time, to be followed by me wearing it every day during the week of our anniversary (in November). It is insane to have worn it only once, so I plan to make up for lost time. Who cares that I’ll get more sideways glances than two circus freaks at the mall? I’ve never been one to shy away from attention. I will embrace my 20th with all the post-schoolgirl giddiness of newlywed bliss, thrilled to tell the world I’d do it all over again and even with the same guy. Like a fine wine and expensive, albeit, stinky unpronounceable cheese, I have found him to get better with age.
The second event will be an anniversary trip for an ENTIRE WEEK AWAY FROM OUR CHILDREN! WAHOOO!!! Chandelier-swinging, earth-shatterin’, world-rockin’, record settin’, universe-tiltin’, monkey-cage-climbin’, position-inventin’, no-need-to-lock-our-door……..WHOA**!! I’m getting a bit ahead of myself but turning three mental cartwheels at the thought!! If I flipped for real, I might damage something that would affect my "performance" on this second honeymoon, and we can’t be having that, now, can we? Oh, and I LOVELOVELOVE my babies, but we’ve never been away from them for more than three nights (not including their summer camp sessions, and even then, we still had the youngest at home), so we’re DUE. (** Note to self: get on a vitamin regimen NOW, and go look up personal trainers in the phone book…:/.)
This is where YOU come in… Tad and I haven’t decided where to go. We have traveled very little in our 20 years together, the last time we were on a plane together was 15 YEARS AGO, before kids! Ummm…I don’t like to fly, so while I love our annual trips to the beach, we’ve never "carpe diemed" when it came to travel.
I’m ready to carpe diem :).
Sooo, do you have any advice about a GREAT, ROMANTIC getaway? Here’s the criteria: we won’t want to be around large crowds, or small crowds for that matter. We LOVE tropical, so blue water and white sand is IDEAL. WE enjoy fantabulous restaurants. That’s about it…sounds simple enough, but there’s SOOOO much information on the internet when you begin searching, so many "good" choices….well, it’s overload. I shut down. I’m a chocolate/strawberry/vanilla girl, so too much of a good thing is not a good thing for me!
We’ve heard too many disaster stories from friends who told us where NOT to go; you know, the places that look great in a brochure but don’t manage to live up to their press. We’d be more inclined to visit a place that has a credible recommendation from someone who’s been there, done that. Tee shirt is optional.
I’m asking, humbly-but-boldly-yet-shyly-and still-hopeful asking, if there’s a way for you to ask your readers to make their recommendations to us, too–I’d really, truly, forever appreciate it. Some of y’all have random posts sometimes that list a series of "things", and have I mentioned how grateful I’d be if you asked your peeps to give me their two cents? Thankful/obliged/appreciative/forever in your debt, all of the above. I’ll name you as the beneficiary of our travel insurance policy, and you stand to gain vast sums of money should we meet our untimely demise on said trip. Hopefully if that happens it will be on the return trip.
And back to my first sentence, if this had anything to do with pimpin’ my blog, I’d give prizes to the winners. Clearly, Tad will be the "winner" but if we actually ended up at the place you suggest, I’ll bring you back a souvenir.
(Oh, I’m going to love reading the comments for this post!)
You will never, ever, ever hear me recommend a cruise ship so strike that one off your list. Unless, of course, you like crowds of people wherever you go and a slight rocking motion while you’re at the dinner table. If so, this would be a good choice for you.
My DH and I honeymooned on Grand Cayman Island, and if you like tropical and CLEAN, this is the place for you. The water is royal blue and crystal clear. You can be in neck deep water and still see your feet. No waves, perfectly temperate climate, peaceful, calm…you get the picture. And the crime rate is almost non-existent, which is a bonus!
We stayed on “Seven Mile Beach.” At one point I did my best to find a piece of trash on the pristine white sandy beaches, but not a scrap of litter was to be found!
If you have plenty of money to splurge, I recommend the Ritz-Carlton resort.
Any questions?
Whew! Susan, you’re going to love reading the comments from this post? I’m just so thankful YOU responded ’cause I’m thinking, what if EVERYONE thinks this is totally lame and no one responds? At least you have pity on me;).
That being said, we aren’t tied to the date…it doesn’t have to be around our actual anniversary, so we’re open to the “best” time to travel.
Our honeymoon was in the mountains, so if we were ever gonna splurge, THIS is the time. Clean is a VERY good thing!
I can’t really recommend a place because I myself have never been anywhere tropical 🙁 Congrats on 20 years… you don’t hear that a lot now a’days.
I will celebrating 18 in June, and hope to renew my vows on our 20th. Soooo. if you get a good recommendation, I might keep that on the back burner! :O)
BTW, you cracked me up with all the chandelier, monkey love stuff. LOL!
I’ve only been to one place Tropical that I would recommend and that was the Bahamas….
However – my dad has traveled all over the world and one of his most favorite spots – quiet, great people, warm, blue water – one of the islands off GREECE. (there are quite a few).
I hope wherever you guys end up is FABULOUS.
MaryMert, This is our “homework”, I’ll keep you posted. I was crackin’ myself up, too :), so HAPPY you were smiling yourself!
Karmyn, I’ve heard Bahama horror stories, so it s c a r e s me without anything more specific. Hmmmm, a Greek Isle adventure, doesn’t that sound like a great setting for a novel?
I could wear a toga, which brings to mind a whole new conversation………..
Yep, looks like Blog Pimping to me.
But while I’m here…I really like the Greek isles, but you may find it crowded. Indonesia has some secluded islands but they’re not all that clean, same goes for Thailand. Australia has a few and they are clean and tropical but the flight is long and they are a bit expensive.
I know it’s not tropical but you should think about the Maritime Provinces, they are really pretty.
My friend and her hubby went on a sailboat cruise to the Pacific Islands on their honeymoon. They loved it and plan on going again at some point!!
I’ve been to some lovely Greek Islands. Skyros is well off the beaten track and great food especially if you like freshly caught sea food.
Somewhere I’ve never been but know plenty of people who have is the Moldives. My friend has just returned from a child free break there and said it was quiet, relaxing, warm, pampering in fact the best holiday she’d had (and she’s had more than a few)!
WT, FIRST, a techie question: How come TypePad isn’t remembering my info now…I don’t think I changed anything besides my tagline…
BUT, lol, gee, that was MILD…I fully expected all kinds of smack from you (but I guess I kinda killed that w/my dissertation to your comments a while back…).
You’re the most-traveled blogger I know, so I was hoping for SPECIFICS. I’ve never even heard of the Maritime Provinces, but funny, they “sound” tropical. I’d LOVE to visit Australia, but you’re right, for THIS trip, I really don’t want to spend over a day traveling…
Claudia, “Cruise” in and of itself doesn’t sound appealing to me…but add the word “sailboat” in front of it, and you get my attention.
Beccy, Hmmm, the Greek Isles, again. And, again, a place with which I’m not familiar (the Moldives). I’m looking forward to googling these “new” places.
You should go to Retreat a La Willowtree. I hear the entertainment is wonderful and the view is great!
I’m not a fan of tropical climes, but Greece is a place I’ve always wanted to visit. Susan in VA’s destination sounds beautiful, too. I honeymooned in Montana near Yellowstone and absolutely loved it, but I realize that is a far cry from sandy beaches!
Congrats on 20 years!
St. Thomas, USVI awesome white beaches, great food and total relaxation.
If your thinking more romantic, No white beach, but yes beach but a bit chilly, Ventana Inn in Big Sur California. Soooo nice!
Have fun,
Christie
Our favorite places are…
1) The Holland House Beach Hotel, Philipsburg, St Maarten. Quaint older hotel, excellent condition, on the beach where you can watch the cruise ships dock. 54 rooms is all. And there are terrific restaurants all over the small island, although you can walk to a week’s worth from the hotel.
2) Costa Rica .. check this one: http://www.parrotbayvillage.com/
If either of those tickle your fancy, drop me an email.
Oh yes .. mighty(at)charter(dot)net.
I’ve got the perfect place. http://www.karismahotels.com
chris and i got married at azul and honeymooned at one of the “couples only” ones. i think we’re going to try the other “couples only” one this summer for our anni trip.
great things: all-inclusive. all. alcohol, tips, room-service, the whole bit.
jacuzzi in room or (hee-hee) on balcony. tell me that wasn’t fun.
beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.
gourmet, several course meals. wow, was the food good.
the best part, well, i can’t go into that in public space.
oh, and they have couple’s massages and a bunch of other stuff.
Okay, Matthew and I honeymooned in Ireland. Believe it or not, there’s a really pretty beach on the Inch peninsula. But not tropical at all.
However, we did go on a very romantic trip once to Tulum in Mexico. Well, we saw Tulum while we were there, but there is an amazing resort nearby that has a lovely little cove. It was truly stunning.
Little jealous here, though. We’re planning to spend this year’s anniversary getting tipsy on the River Walk in San Antonio. ‘Course, we’re not near that beautiful and blessed 20-year mark. That. Is. Awesome!!!
You didn’t say what month you would be traveling in, but I understand that Detroit is a very pretty white during February.
Romantic vacation spots? I know nothing about that sort of thing, sorry.
You’ll have to take advice from world travelers.
We did our 25th in Cabo on the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula.
It was beautiful and relaxing.
Separate those two comments.
We are not world travelers…
so the Cabo info was my itty bitty info
I have a friend who loves Bali.
Thanks for visiting my blog!
Please take part in our next “Fun Monday” posting (see my blog for details)! God bless!
Erik
😀 I LOVED!!! reading all of your suggestions first thing! Oh, my, LOVE!!!! IT!!! Kevin’s comment got a bona fide SNORT (!!!) and some of these sound like possibilities :). BlogPimpin’ or not, I AM ALREADY HAVING SOOO MUCH FUN WITH THIS!
Ok, that being said, get busy, ask your readers for me. You’re making an old, married lady very happy :). (See? A thousand smilies in this comment alone:) ).
Well I live in California so a lot of our vacations involve our own coastline, but we have been to Hawaii (Maui) twice and I have never experienced that level of relaxation, even with the plane travel involved. It’s just perfect there.
My daughter Sam (http://becksposhnosh.blogspot.com/) has been to quite a few romantic locations so I will ask her to drop by and make some suggestions. I won’t suggest coming to the UK plenty of fun but not enough sun!!
in my experience romantic tropical and good restaurants do not belong in the same sentence.
I love the Maldives and Fiji, but I wasnt there for the food.
Everything else about these places made up for the food, though, so they are well worth considering anyway.
Sandals, Dunn’s River, Jamaica.
I was married at Sandals.. I loved it so much that it totally doesn’t matter that my marriage was a flop, I would return in an instant.
First off, I don’t know why the details are missing, but it just happened to me too.
Second, the last spelling of Maldives (not Moldives) is correct if you’re going to google it. They are a group of islands of the South West tip of India and used to be spectacular, but were virtually wiped out by the 2004 tsunami. I don’t know what their current state is.
Third, the Maritime Provences are the on the east coast of Canada (which is why I suggested it) and comprise New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Price Edward Island and Newfoundland. But it will be really cold right now.
Fourth, I still think the Aegean Islands are the best for a memorable experience, particularly Santorini which is the most photographed. Ever seen those posters of the white buildings with blue highlights and an azure sea in the background? That’s it.
Fifth, 28 comments, yep looks like blog pimping to me.
Wherever you go, get the private beach!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s worth it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Apologies to SC Momma, but seriously – avoid Big Sur, CA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you’re coming here, go further south, it will be much more to anyone’s liking.
explanation – !!! in the first post = good !!!’s
!!! in the second post = angry, annoyed, conveying negative feelings !!!’s
Melissa, we’ve toyed with Hawaii but I might be catatonic after the plane ride over…:/.
Chris, thanks for sending Sam my way and for telling me where NOT to go :).
Sam, your comment made me smile, lol…I’m a Southern girl, good food has GOT to be part of it;). Thanks for weighing in.
Marnie, so one good thing out of it? :/
WT, thanks for further elaboration, pimping or not, I’m loving hearing y’all’s suggestions.
LCO, hmmm, me thinks you speak from experience ;). I won’t tell SCM you’re dissin’ her.
OH, YEAH……TAD’S BEEN CHECKING OUT YOUR SUGGESTIONS–WAHOOOO! I wonder where we’ll end up…:)
Okay, better late than never, right? I enjoyed the Bahamas, but I have also heard horror stories about going there. We have some good friends that went to Cabo and loved it (they went for their honeymoon). I have heard really good things about Sandals being very romantic, you know for all your monkey lovin!
You crack me up! I can’t wait to hear where you guys decide to go.
Virgin Islands, baby. But not St. Thomas. Get your anniversary-celebrating butts to St. Johns (by ferry from St. Thomas.)
Awesome.
I’m so jealous – of wherever you’re going;))
Hi, I love your new place here in blogsworld.
I would recommend Venice, absolutely beautiful, but I’m not sure of the weather in November. I would recommend the Lake District here in England or Cornwall…but definitely NOT in November, lol, unless you want to get very wet and blown off cliffs a bit. I’ve never been anywhere tropical. Isreal is gorgeous in October…so I assume November would be great too, but things over there are a little erm…tense so perhaps not so romantic as nerve-racking. Hope you have a wonderful time wherever you go 🙂 Sarah
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