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April 9, 2009
club wed & global goss:
Out of Africa
Bonjour my fellow brides-to-be, how are your plans coming? Et moi? Well, I’m on the homestretch. The dreamy dress is now with the tailor getting a quickie hem, my Novio’s suit is on its way stateside and I just OK'd my invitation proof.
So what’s next on the list?
Well, my dear readers, ze honeymoon! Now, traditionally speaking here the groom is the responsible party when planning the honeymoon, but let’s just say—that’s not the way it works in my house. And one would think it would be pretty easy; I literally have the whole world at my fingers. But as with everything wedding related, making the right choice (for photos, prosperity and long-life memories) is actually a little more difficult than originally thought.
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Below, the saga in five acts:
- Costa Rica? We love it there. I mean L.O.V.E. it. The people are awesome, the beaches are so wide and supah empty, and there’s an honest to Ganesh erupting volcano in the middle of the rainforest. The underground lava activity feeds some unbelievably cool natural hot springs, which b-t-dubs we covered in the May/June issue. But Novio and I want CR to remain our run-away-from-the-corporate-jungle-and-open-a-surf-bar/internet-café fantasy desti, so that’s a no-go.
- Hawaii is another honeymooner's dream that lives high on our list of most awesomest places evs (and yes, I know that "most awesomest" is not grammatically correct). Novio and I heart the sleepy island of Lanai in Maui County. It has absolutely nothing to do with just the right mix of outdoor activities. There we hiked over ocean-side volcanic rock formations, explored a wind-swept mountain-top area of red boulders that I swear looked like Mars and ate the best tofu steak dinner in my life at the Hotel Lanai. But that was where we spent our post-engagement getaway and well, what if it is shy of, or worse, eclipses our previous memories? Pssst: Did you see the story and cutie pics of my intended in the March/April issue?
- And what about the classic romance story of visiting Europe? It’s no secret that je adore the continent, but given the fact that the gorgeous Greek isles, the coast of the Boot and the up-and-coming hotspot, Croatia are so similar culturally, gastronomy-ly and picturesque-ly to Novio’s home country España, we are going to give those places a pass.
So tick, tock, tick, tock. Where’s a couple to go?
- Novio suggested Southeast Asia with a country-hopping tour of Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia. All are fairly safe, have unbelievably yummers cuisine, cheap spa treatments and loads of cool sites to explore. And did he mention elephant riding excursions? Novio has never been to Asia, so he doesn’t know that although the experience is a-maz-ing, it also takes a lot of work to get around and one is expected to haggle for every last item—including in some spots—food.
- Enter Stage Left: The announcement of the opening of an exclusive new One&Only property in Cape Town, ZAF. Set to open doors in early September, which say the experts is ze best time to visit the Mother continent, the 131-room resort promises the same exquisite service, décor, cuisine (and did I mention spa?) as the other hideaways in the chainlet. I have friends who have honeymooned at other One&Only resorts and they tell me the name is Spot. On. (Plus, the hotels are tops with my besites, the celebs).
The Cape Town property has everything we are looking for in a honeymoon destination: New place to explore, easy (ish) to get to from NYC, and tons and tons of pampering, which translates into easy breezy touring and honeymooning for us. Nobu and potty mouth chef Ramsey both have eateries there and the hotel promises fantastic water views—another big requirement for moi.
One&Only Cape Town has also teamed up with supah special safari co., Singita, for an ultimate city and safari package that includes lush accommodations, two game drives daily, all meals and, um, laundry service! The six-night package is about $8,500 for two. Go to One&Only’s website for more info: oneandonlyresorts.com.
We may take that option or hook on a stop over to the sister property on the tony isle of Mauritius, a French republic island nation in the middle of the Indian Ocean. That is more beach-y, which is more us, but Novio seems to have this thing for seeing elephants…
P.S. For more info on theOne&Onlyon Mauritius, check out the July/August issue of your absolute fave mag: Bridal Guide.
Posted by Jenna at 12:20 p.m.
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