WHITE SAND TRAVEL

The Romantic at heart is always looking for the ideal occasion and setting to dazzle each other. And why not? As we celebrate love, romance is intertwined with really creating the right setting to express to each other our inner thoughts and feelings. Can you imagine a honeymoon where romance is not front and center? I can not.

Rockhouse is a boutique hotel stretching across the cliffs of Pristine Cove in Negril. The resort, nestled amongst eight acres of tropical lush gardens, boasts a 60-foot cliff-top horizon pool and an award winning restaurant set on a balcony suspended directly over the water. Thatched roofed villas with private sun-bathing decks perch on the cliff's edge, and throughout the property, ladders and stairs carved into the rock lead down to easy water access for swimming and snorkeling on the reef.

A newly constructed Spa, has a philosophy that is a simple, holistic approach to well-being, health and happiness. Spa treatments are undertaken "on-the-rocks" in the cliff-edge Massage Cabana, at the Caribbean Drench hut, inside the eight room garden spa, or can be arranged in the privacy of your guest room. Yoga classes are offered daily in the recently built yoga room.

Rockhouse is consistently ranked one of the top resorts in the Caribbean. In 2008 Rockhouse is nominated for three World Travel Awards including best Boutique Hotel in the Caribbean for the 4th consecutive year. In 2008 Conde Nast Traveler's "Gold List" and "Best in the World; Readers Choice Awards" both included Rockhouse in the "Top 25 Caribbean Resorts", as does the Travel + Leisure in the "T+L 500 World's Best Hotels". Patricia Schults names Rockhouse as one of the "1000 Places to See Before You Die" in her New York Times Best Selling Book, and Kay Showker features Rockhouse in her book "100 Best Resorts in the Caribbean."

The hotel is located on the cliffs, two and a half miles west of Negril town on Negril's West End Road. The hotel is sited on the western most point of Jamaica – the best spot for sunsets. The closest major international airport is Montego Bay, just over an hour away.

Don't just sit there looking at glossy magazines - make it happen!

Real life is the enemy of sexiness. Real life is a bad economy, mortgage worries, global warming. Sexiness is the act of shedding worries and slipping off the constraints of real life. Thinking of something sexy? How about the total escape that comes only with an island, preferably one that's not merely physically set apart from the mainland but that feels a million miles away? The type where inhibitions are lessened, the locals friendlier and more open-minded, and where less actually is more. Or where you and your partner can forget about the horrors of the boring old real world and get back to sexy.

MY CHOICE OF SEXY ISLAND ---- ANGUILLA

Anguilla's gorgeous beaches are hard to be at, and the best is arguably the two-mile-long, white-sand-carpeted Shoal Bay East. Maybe you are looking for that uniqiue resort. Look no further.

Kú offers a fun, more affordable alternative to the posh and pricey properties along the island's western shores. "If it's quiet and privacy you're looking for, Kú is not the place for you," says general manager Delroy Lake. And that's readily apparent from the lively restaurant to the mix of locals and guests crowding the bar. Located on Shoal Bay East, one of Anguilla's best beaches, Kú features 27 one-bedroom suites, each with an open living/kitchen area and a patio or balcony. The decor lacks the slickness of the island's pricier properties, but does well by keeping to a clean white-on-white shabby chic look with splashes of lime and turquoise. To ensure a full night's sleep, request the suites farthest from the bar and Kuyah, an open air restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner under Jamaican Chef Deon Thomas.

Lunches include lots of salads and sandwiches, while dinner features typical upscale island fare with Eurasian accents, such as tuna tartare with wasabi ginger sorbet, and a whole reef fish grilled with okra and marjoram. Deon sometimes spreads himself a bit too thin—be sure to order your fish "rare," unless you like it overcooked island-style. But all in all, Ku adequately compensates for any minor inconveniences with its spirited vibe, friendly efficient staff, and onsite amenities, including a dive shop, convenience store, and boutique.

Planning a wedding is a series of endless details that cause both frustration and elation. To be sure, there is one detail your feet don't want you to overlook -- your shoes! Though some say it is more important to think function over fashion when picking your wedding shoes, we recommend you find a happy middle ground. With the myriad of wedding shoe options, that should be easier to execute than your rehearsal dinner seating chart.

For The Bride: The first thing to think about is comfort. Remember that you will be standing on your feet most of the affair. The last thing you want to have to deal with is pain that limits your mobility and enjoyment.Some experts recommend that all brides have two pairs of shoes -- one formal pair for the ceremony, receiving line, pictures, and arrival at the reception, then another comfortable and more casual pair for the rest of the night.

Ballet slipper-type shoes are a popular reception choice for a reception night that will be heavy on dancing and your feet.Be sure to pick a shoe that complements your dress and your own style. After all, you'll be seeing them in pictures and maybe even video for the rest of your life.Consider the fabric of your dress. Some say to match silk and satin gowns to satin shoes. Sandals, slippers, pumps, and strap heels are all appropriate footwear on your big day.Very important -- take your shoes to your fitting so the hem is accurate. Trying the shoe with your actual dress is the only real way to be sure you'll love them. Elaborate dresses do not require elaborate shoes, while more simple dresses are greatly enhanced by ornate shoes.

For The Attendants: Many questions arise when considering shoe options for the attendants. Should their shoes be the same style or just the same color? Should there be different heel heights to even out the bridesmaids? Can each woman pick the type and color of shoe that most suits her taste and style?All of these questions are for the bride to decide. Take into account where members of your bridal party live. If you can all get together and order shoes on one fun trip, do it. This is more difficult to execute if the attendants are from various corners of the globe.

Whatever you decide, keep in mind that should stretch their shoes to insure that a nasty blister doesn't pop up 10 minutes into the ceremony. Think comfort first and then style.

Whether you are seasoned travelers or first-time cruisers, these tips can ensure that your cruise experience is everything it should be:

1. Arrive A Day Early: Unless you live within two or three hours of the pier, it's advisable to spend the night before your departure at a hotel close to the pier. That way, you take away the risk of missing the ship.

2. Inside Or Outside Room: Rooms on board the ship come in many different shapes, sizes, and locations, some even include a balcony. Your budget will dictate in large part the type of room you choose.

3. Location Of The Room: The location of the room (meaning the front, middle, or the back of the ship) can make a difference in the amount of movement you experience while in your room. If you suffer from sea sickness, you'll do much better if you book a room towards the middle. The same is true for choosing a room lower in the boat as opposed to on one of the higher levels. To be safe, pack Dramamine.

4. Carry-On Luggage: A porter will greet you at the pier in some cases before you check in and take your luggage. Carry a small bag with you with for personal items . A small variety of toiletries that would enable you to freshen up, such as deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste, hairbrush and hairspray, etc. is advisable.
5. Shore Excursions: The cruise ship will offer you rates for excursions at each of your destinations. Excursions will range from guided tours to scuba diving to swimming with dolphins.

6. Soft Drink Cards: Although the price of your cruise includes all of your food, soft drinks are extra.
7.Credit Cards: Be sure you have a credit card for check-in. A hold will be placed on the card for any incidental expenses you incur during the cruise.

Enjoy your experience onboard your favorite cruiseliner.

On January 12, 2009, I received a phone call from one of my clients who had just returned from his 6 night honeymoon at the Maroma Resort & Spa. His voice was very mellow as he said, "Judith, I just wanted to thank you for arranging the most amazing honeymoon we could have experienced". He told me all about their trip and then when I asked him what would he have changed about his trip and he said "Nothing".

Jason and I worked collaboratively to design and create their perfect honeymoon - the Maroma Resort and Spa. So what is so special about Maroma Resort and Spa? You don't have to imagine it. You can experience the magic and the beauty of an eternal paradise located in a breathtaking corner of the Yucatan jungle on the Riviera Maya. The natural harmony and the spiritual relationship between land and sea comes together at Maroma Resort & Spa. Here every delight has its secret language, a name and a sound breathed ritually from the heart.

The 2008 Travel and Leisure Worlds Best Awards have rated Maroma Resort and Spa as the best Hotel Spa in Latin America. Ranking them overall the fifth best Hotel Spa in the world. This list is a compendium of the best hotels as chosen by Travel + Leisure readers in their annual World's Best Awards survey. Maroma Resort & Spa was noted for their "An unwavering commitment to preserving Mayan culture," and their Kinan Spa with traditional Mayan treatments.

Maroma Resort & Spa offers a wide variety of leisure choices on and off-site. Enjoy the use of the three swimming pools, Cultural Palapa, or for something a little more active why not try diving, sport fishing, kayaking, parasailing, sailing, swimming with dolphins, or golf. The fabulous reefs surrounding Maroma invite you to see the huge variety of corals, colorful fish and extraordinary creatures that live just under the surface in our backyard.

Could this be your dream honeymoon?

Congratulations on your engagement! So, now you will hire a platoon of vendors to help you plan and execute the flawless event. Have you given any thought to where you will honeymoon? Very often, a lot of couples concentrate on the wedding and leave the honeymoon plans for later. But, we know that most couples want their honeymoon to be just as flawless as their wedding. They want to start their new life together without any hassles. Basically, we believe they want a honeymoon where they can just show up and have the time of their lives. And who could blame them. They have spent months making various decisions and attending to even the tiniest of detail about this awesome event.

Take the trivia challenge below to see what may be a good destination fit for you.

Wedding and Honeymoon Trivia

a) If your honeymoon was primarily for Romance, where would you go?
b) Which destinations are you most likely to find affordable honeymoon or destination wedding packages?
c) You are a diving or snorkeling enthusiast, where are the best conditions for your water sports?
d) Where would you go to enjoy the night life that you love so much – dancing until the wee hours of the morning?
e) Which honeymoon destination caters to your discriminating taste buds?
f) You yen for the diversity in cultures…where would you go for that experience?

Answers

a) Romance is definitely tops in Tahiti, Italy and Hawaii
b) Mexico, Las Vegas and Dominican Republic are your most affordable honeymoon or destination wedding choices
c) Your best bet for diving and/or snorkeling is Belize, Grand Cayman or Australia
d) Pack your bags for Las Vegas, New York for Brazil and have the time of your life
e) Italy, France and New York
f) Experience the culture of Italy, France and Greece