Trip Advisors Top 10: budget hotels in the world

Etu Moana on Aitutaki, Cook Islands

Trip Advisor's Top 10: budget hotels in the world

Looking for a bargain on your next vacation? Check out some of TripAdvisor's favorite budget hotels!

1. SeaCoast Inn, Mass.

2. Arcadia Residence, Czech Republic

3. Posada Luna del Sur, Mexico

4. Etu Moana, Cook Islands

5. Torre Dorada, Peru

6. Hotel Tagoo, Greece

7. Delphin Palace Hotel, Turkey

8. Casa Chameleon, Costa Rica

9. Turtle Nest Inn, Cayman Islands

10. Hotel Al Ponte Mocenigo, Italy

Use HoneyLuna's honeymoon registry to get to your honeymoon!

Don't hitchhike to your honeymoon! Use HoneyLuna's honeymoon registry and let your friends and family purchase pieces of your perfect honeymoon as wedding gifts!

www.honeyluna.com

The Green Bride Guide

The Green Bride Guide is a comprehensive, easy-to-access resource for anyone interested in planning a green wedding. It provides readers with general advice and specific eco-friendly ideas for making their wedding more beautiful and more sustainable.

The Green Bride Guide emphasizes elegance, ease, individual taste, and the sense that there’s no need to give up a treasured ideal of a wedding in order to lessen its impact on the Earth. Using a simple chronological structure, The Green Bride Guide makes planning a green wedding easy.

Chapter topics include: Engagement, Location, The Eco-Chic Bride, Greening the Groom and Bridal Party, Green Save-the-Dates, Invitations & Wedding Websites, Sustainable Flowers, The Green Ceremony, The Green Reception, Green Gift Giving and Receiving, and Green Honeymoons. Each section offers low, medium and high end ideas, with resources and web links in each category to help you plan a green wedding on any budget. the Green Bride Guide is an invaluable reference tool for any environmentally conscious pair looking to start their lives together in a way that is consistent with their values and beliefs.

Available in December 2008. Until then, visit http://www.thegreenbrideguide.com/

Happily Ever After Begins at the Bora Bora Lagoon Resort

A special package has been created by Happy Vacations, HoneyLuna and the Bora Bora Lagoon Resort... just for your honeymoon.

The package features 5 honeymoon nights in

Overwater bungalows from $2536 PP

air out of LAX

Call HoneyLuna at 800 809 5862 to get an exact quote for your package!

Rates and availability subject to changed based on availabilty, dates of travel, departure airport.

HoneyLuna CST #2040476-40

Beat the Crowds ~ a great honeymoon experience outdoors at our national parks....

At every national park there's a window of time that's perfect for experiencing the best of the great outdoors--because you go to see nature, not thousands of other tourists.


by Paul Brady, David LaHuta, Erin Richards, Erik Torkells, and Brad Tuttle November 30, 2007


January/February As wonderful as Yosemite and Yellowstone are in summer, the peaceful outdoorsy vibe can be spoiled by having to elbow for space to snap a photo of El Capitan or line up 10 deep at Old Faithful. The premier parks are far less crowded--and arguably more beautiful--in the heart of winter. Snow drapes the mountains, meadows, and every last tree branch, and things are never quieter or more pristine.


But for an off-peak time, there is surprisingly a lot going on. During four weeks in January and February, Yosemite hosts the annual Chefs' Holidays, when the men and women in charge of some of the best restaurants in the country give cooking demonstrations and host five-course dinners during three-day sessions. All events take place in the Ahwahnee, a granite lodge built in 1927, now a National Historical Landmark. Chef presentations are held in the hotel's appropriately named Great Lounge, among its 24-foot-high ceilings, wrought-iron chandeliers, and enormous windows topped in stained glass. Jesse Cool, chef and proprietor of the Bay Area's Flea Street Cafe, has been participating in the event for nearly two decades. "Winter is my favorite season at Yosemite," says Cool, who will be serving braised pork and other "wintery" foods at the upcoming session. "The setting is just gorgeous, especially when it snows." The chef demos and tours of the Ahwahnee kitchen are free. Paired with top wines from California and elsewhere, the dinner costs $155 per person. (Packages that include lodging and the dinner are available--and often a better deal.)



For the rest of this article visit http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2006/06/13/AR2006061301141.html

Beyond Toasters and Towels: Gifts that Go the Distance

She has household effects - he also has enough - so instead of traditional wedding presents, they opt to commeorate their union with travel.

With five wedding parties coast to coast and another in Irael to celebrate their vows, which they took at San Francisco City Hall in December, Jeff Saperstein and Ilene Serlin decided that HoneyLuna, an online honeymoon registry service, would be the perfect gift solution for their many guests.

"We are at a stage in life where we don't need extra household presents", Saperstein told The Ark. "Our friends and family feel inolved by contributing financially to our honeymoon".

The middle-aged Tiburon couple eschewed conventional regiestries so they could fulfill their dream of cruising around Tahiti this fall aboard the MS Paul Gauguin of the Regent cruise line.

HoneyLuna facilitated this fantasy by creating a web-based template, which summarized the possible activities Saperstein and Serlin could enjoy on their honeymoon, said Nancy Williams, founder of the Sausalito-based company. Guests simply log on and select such options as a bottle of champagne, spa treatements, snorkeling packages, a dinner for two, language classes, taxi fares and cruise or airfare payments.

HoneyLuna holds the funds in an excrow account and disburses them when the couple is ready either to pay for their honeymoon arrangements or take cash contributions for designated activities. HoneyLuna adds a 9% surcharge for each gfit, but the registry is free for the couple.

HoneyLuna sends a gift card with a personal greeting from teh giver to the nelyweds, who often acknowledge the gift by sending a photograph of themselves engaged in the activity they received as a gift.

"We have linked the customized HoneyLuna registry to our wedding website", Saperstein said. "Using technology to communicate with friends and family during the busy time is very contemporary".

Saperstein and Serlin typify the trend of later and second marriages. One-third of those getting married today have been married previously, according to Richard Markel, director of the Association of Wedding Professionals International. This is Saperstein's second visit to the altar and Serlin's first.

"Interest is rising for honymoon registries because many couples already possess household items", Markel told the Ark. "Young American couples are waiting longer to get married, as the average age of the first -time bride is 27 and the first time groom is 29:.

Williams and her husband launched HoneyLuna, one of the first honeymoon registries, in 1995 when they came home from their six-week, multi-ciy European honeymoon. "I realized that there was an opportunity in the second-marriage market, and that if young couples are given an alternative, many would rather have a fun honeymoon versus traditional wedding gifts". A couple planning a honeymoon can view more than 450 worldwide destination templates on the HoneyLuna site.

Markel said that 99% of wedded couples embark on a honeymoon - a symbol of a new life together and often their first big trip.

Since the average wedding budget is estimated at $20,000, it can be a relief for a couple when they receive gift contributions toward their honeymoon because the savings can add up to an average of $3800. Some couples have multiple registries and travel may be one choice. Much is dependent on the size of the guest list.

"The main reason we worked with HoneyLuna is because so many people wanted to give us a gift", Pamela Barientos, another customer, told the Ark. "Between my husband and me, we had two homes full of belongings. Yet, with a 200 guest party, we ran out of funds, so the honeymoon registry was very appreciated.

Barientos, 50, and Mark Meges, 47 of San Rafael, sent guests a thank you note with a photo taken during their September honeymoon in the Greek Isles.

The bride said their guests were enthusiastic because they did not have to shop or wrap a gfit. Even her little nieces were able to afford economical items on their honeymoon wish list.

"The Internet has made the world a smaller place,", said Markel, the wedding industry expert. "A couple does not have to be rich or famous to visit exotic destinations."

For more information, call 800 809 LUNA (5862) or go to http://www.honeyluna.com/

Practical Traveler | Cruise Shore Excursions

Here is a great article from the New York Times about getting away from the masses of fellow travelers and finding alternatives to the shore excursions provided by the cruise lines...

Practical Traveler Cruise Shore Excursions
Seeing the Sights, Ditching the Shipmates

By MICHELLE HIGGINS
Published: February 17, 2008

AFTER standing in line for the buffet, staking out a lounge chair on the sun deck and squeezing into the hot tub with total strangers, you might be forgiven for dreading the cruise excursion, which typically involves hundreds of passengers piling into little boats to go ashore, queuing up for a bus to take you to the standard tourist sites and straining to hear the guide rattle off some rote facts. Click here to read the rest of the article....

Special Deals on Catalina Island

From the LA Times

Twenty-six miles across the sea, Santa Catalina is putting out the welcome mat with scores of special deals.

The deal: A winter lodging special is available at several hotels in Avalon, Catalina's hillside city with Mediterranean-style charm. The deal is coupled with round-trip boat tickets on Catalina Express. The lowest rates are available Sundays through Thursdays.

* Pavilion Lodge: Rates start at $90 per person, double occupancy, and include accommodations, round-trip transportation to the island, a casino tour and choice of a glass-bottom-boat tour or a tour of Avalon. Call (800) 446-0271 (ask for the midweek getaway package), or see http://www.visitcatalinaisland.com/. The special expires March 13.

* Hotel Villa Portofino: Rates start at $102 per person, double occupancy, and include accommodations, Catalina Express transportation, taxi transfers, two island tours and continental breakfast. Call (888) 346-2326 (ask for the limited-offer package), or see http://www.hotelvillaportofino.com/. The special expires March 20.

Other deals: Fifty special deals are available in a Chamber of Commerce promotion called "Island Inspirations, a Sea of Values." Included are other lodging specials -- some on weekends -- and bargains on tours, at restaurants, etc. In- fo: (310) 510-1520, http://www.catalinachamber.com/inspirations.

Transportation: Several include transportation on Catalina Express, from San Pedro and Dana Point. Travel time is about an hour. (Service from Long Beach is set to be reinstated Friday, when the Long Beach Landing reopens.)

rosemary.mcclure@latimes.com

Honeymoon Registries: Because You Already Have Enough Bath Towels

by Haley January

Every day, thousands of engaged couples and newlyweds find themselves in a predicament: They have all the cutlery, bath towels, photo frames, and kitchen gadgets they need.
Wedding guests, however, are stubbornly addicted to gift registries. They love the safety of registries, knowing that they’re giving the happy couple something that suits their tastes. Guests also appreciate the convenience of shopping online.

The problem becomes: how to provide guests with a registry, without inviting a flood of unwanted stuff.

The Gift Of Travel

Many engaged couples are solving this dilemma by turning to online honeymoon registries, where guests can contribute to the expenses and activities of a post-wedding trip.
Creating the honeymoon registry was by far the most enjoyable part of planning the wedding.
My husband and I were thrilled to discover the endless possibilities of a honeymoon registry. We’ve always connected with each other through travel and outdoor activities, and our guests were, for the most part, like-minded souls.

In fact, creating the honeymoon registry was by far the most enjoyable part of planning the wedding. After months of deliberation, mind-changing, and scanning discount airline websites for good deals, we finally decided to spend our honeymoon traveling through the National Parks and monuments of Southern Utah.

After we chose our destination, the next step was to find a registry that would enable our guests to contribute to our adventure.

Setup Your Registry

There are many options for online honeymoon registries, and they all offer slightly different services. Do your homework to find a reputable site; these are usually designated as members of the “Better Business Bureau’s Online Reliability Program,” meaning that they are accountable to an outside agency and are therefore less likely to disappear with your guests’ donations.

Most services allow you to set up a honeymoon webpage for your guests to visit, send out registry announcements by email or regular mail, and keep the donations in an insured bank account until you’re ready to “cash in.” They make their money by charging either you or your guests a service fee, usually a fixed percentage of each gift, though some depend on advertising revenue.

Other sites also offer travel agency services, allowing you to book hotels, airlines, and tours through their agents.

Popular services include HoneyLuna.

We were also careful to look at a number of registries other couples had already created on the site, and to see what kinds of items or experiences were fulfilled and what had not been purchased.

What Works?

We noticed that the most successful registries were those that included a wide variety of price points, so guests on any budget could find a gift that suited them.

The less successful registries tended to be either too frivolous or too boring. One couple, to my amazement, registered “100 margaritas” for a five-day trip to Cancun (an astonishing 10 margaritas each per day), which guests did not purchase.

Another oft-ignored item was airfare, which suffers from a lack of romantic appeal. An airline ticket isn’t as exciting or unique as a night in a luxury rain-forest bungalow or dinner at a romantic restaurant.

The type of gifts most popular with guests were experiences that the couple would remember: a hot-air balloon ride, a guided kayaking trip, a sunrise picnic, or a bottle of wine to share on the beach at sunset.

These types of concrete experiences help guests feel like they are giving you a truly memorable gift, rather than just giving you money.

The Bounty Of Experience and Memories

"I think our honeymoon registry allowed

our guests to become a part of our trip."

We tailored our registry to suit the friends and family who generously contributed to our trip. Our more adventurous guests gave us a guided day of rock-climbing near St. George, Utah, a scenic mule ride in the Grand Canyon, and a power boat rental to cruise the sparkling waters of Lake Powell.

More traditional guests provided a post-hike massage at a spa in Zion National Park, handcrafted Navajo pottery from a shop in Moab, Utah, and a gourmet picnic dinner to share at Cedar Breaks National Monument.

Guests on a budget were able to help out with campfire s’mores, a hearty pancake breakfast, and a collection of National Park postcards. The registry was so popular that we received all but three of the items we requested, and we thanked our guests by enclosing photos of our adventures in thank you cards.

Trapped By Tradition?

Some guests might balk at first at the idea of a travel registry, thinking that it’s not traditional enough. However, I think our honeymoon registry allowed our guests to become a part of our trip.

To combat the mentality that frowns at a honeymoon registry, be sure to discreetly spread the word about why you’ve chosen this unconventional option. While it’s true that a china place setting is more permanent than a night at a Grand Canyon lodge, the memories you create on a honeymoon will last for a lifetime.

After all, once you’re back in the 9 to 5 routine and the confines of cubicles, you will daydream about the hike to Delicate Arch or the snorkeling in Hanauma Bay, not about silver napkin rings. Make the case in these terms, and even Grandma will soon be won over.

Haley January Eckels studied history and English literature at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, graduating in 2004. She is based in Manchester, New Hampshire, and works as a writer and editor. Her overseas adventures have included a 750-kilometer pilgrimage in Northern Spain and a volunteer teaching position on Kili Island in the Marshall Islands. When she’s not reading, writing, or traveling you can find her climbing the local cliff or hiking in the White Mountains.

Exciting New Shore Excursion Options for Cruises

Photo by Craig Simons / Cox Newspapers

A wonderful article in the New York Times

Who Knew There Was Water There?

By NICK KAYE and HILARY HOWARD Published: February 17, 2008

Hiking the mountains of Bhutan. Exploring the temples of India. Wandering the ancient grounds of Angkor Wat. These are some of the unlikely trips you can take when signing up for a cruise vacation these days.

You don’t exactly sail to these destinations, of course. Instead, all are among the more intriguing shore excursions and land extensions being offered by major cruise lines in 2008. “It’s all about creating memories in many respects,” said Mark Conroy, the president of Regent Seven Seas Cruises. “Our customers always like to go back home and tell their friends that they got to do something that most people haven’t had a chance to do.”

For the rest of this article, click here... Who Knew There Was Water There?

Top 10 Affordable Beach Resorts for your honeymoon!

Here is a great article that just came out in Travel and Leisure! Be sure to check it out - it has some great destination and resorts and affordable prices! Perfect for honeymooners!

27 Affordable Beach Resorts

From Hawaii ($98 a night) to Italy ($183 a night), 27 perfect sandy escapes that won’t break the bank.

Imagine yourself, for an indulgent moment, sunbathing on Tiririca Beach in Brazil’s Bahia. Palm trees cast slender shadows along the stretch of golden sand; the sparkling, azure ocean beckons you in for a swim. After your dip, it’s just a short meander through the trees to Pousada Sage Point, a 17-suite inn, and your spacious quarters with Balinese décor and four-poster canopy bed. Before getting ready for a leisurely seafood dinner, you can wander out onto your private balcony, stretch out in your hammock, and listen to the surf.... From March 2008

New Zealand: Sir Edmund Hillary’s Favorite Training Ground

(from the New Zealand Tourism Board)

Sir Edmund Hilary 1919 - 2008

We remember New Zealand hiking icon Sir Edmund Hillary, who with Tensing Norgay conquered Mt Everest for the first time over 50 years ago. His 1953 climb of the highest mountain on Earth sparked the world's curiosity about New Zealand.


What sort of landscape moulds a person like Sir Edmund Hillary? Something rather wild, with huge mountain ranges, vast tracts of forest and intricately carved river systems. A place where it's easy to get away from houses, phones, towns and cars. A society of free thinkers, who like to go their own way and have their own opinions. Communities where ingenuity is encouraged, and people aren't content to stay indoors.


"In some ways I believe I epitomise the average New Zealander: I have modest abilities, I combine these with a good deal of determination, and I rather like to succeed." Sir Edmund Hillary

New Zealand made Sir Edmund Hillary, who with Tensing Norgay conquered Mt Everest for the first time 50 years ago. And Sir Edmund Hillary has helped to make New Zealand. The publicity he generated with his 1953 climb sparked the world's curiosity about the island nation in the south western corner of the Pacific.

Hillary's interest in mountaineering began on a school trip to Mount Ruapehu, a tall volcano in the central North Island. In summer, when the mountain's snow cover shrinks to a small top knot, climbers can scramble over rugged lava flows and scree slopes to the summit. From the top, it's possible to see both coasts of the island. This region is also home to a one day walk known as the Tongariro Crossing. Steaming volcanic craters and weird rock formations make the crossing an otherworldly experience.

After WWII, in preparation for his assault on Everest, Hillary climbed the Southern Alps in summer and winter. Today, customised guiding makes it possible for fit non-climbers to follow in at least some of Hillary's footsteps. In the Mount Cook region, treks across mountain passes provide plenty of challenge for first-timers, while experienced mountaineers have a choice of thirty peaks over 3000m, most of which have long glacier approaches, which are serious climbs in their own right.

Hillary often praises his home country as a destination for adventurers. And by adventure, he means across country as well as straight up. Around Fiordland and Mount Aspiring National Park, trekkers can vanish into the wilderness for days at a time. The Routeburn, Hollyford and Milford tracks are well known - and they thoroughly deserve their fame. The Hump Ridge Track, which begins on the south coast of Southland, is one of the country's newest walking adventures. Highlights include historic wooden viaducts and coastal segments with seal encounters.

Those who visit New Zealand to conquer mountains and tracks will also enjoy the other forms of 'expeditionary' adventure that thrive in the remarkable landscape. Cycling through the vineyards of the Hawke's Bay, kayaking around the Abel Tasman National Park and sailing around the Bay of Islands are just some of the possibilities.



Featured Journal :
QUEEN CHARLOTTE WALKWAY
Dave Armstrong finds rugged bush, picturesque sea views, friendly wildlife, and fascinating history on one of New Zealand's best-kept secrets - the Queen Charlotte Walkway.


Featured Activity:
NATIONAL PARKS
Take the time to view the world the way it once was by visiting a National Park in New Zealand.



RELATED LINKS :

newzealand.com pages:

Walking and Trekking View a list of operators that offer this type of activity in New Zealand

Other Sites:

Department of Conservation For information on tracks, campsites, permits etc

http://www.hillarytrust.co.nz/ The Hillary Trust was set up to increase awareness and raise funds for the continuation of Sir Edmund Hillary's work

FAST FACT: New Zealanders are known for their colourful turns of phrase. When Sir Edmund Hillary reported his Everest success to the expedition leader, he simply said "Well George, we knocked the bastard off". Visitors to New Zealand are often amused by local expressions.

"In the wop-wops" is a phrase you might encounter if you were walking a track in some other remote place. "Taking a tiki tour" is a way of explaining a walk that went the long way around. "Sparrow’s fart" describes an extremely early start to a hiking expedition.

Getting Married in Hawaii

Are you considering a destination wedding?

If so, think Hawaii!

Hawaii is one of the world's most romantic places for a wedding. The beautiful weather, the starry nights, stunning beaches and beautiful blue oceans and are guaranteed to make your special day even more enchanted! It's also a popular destination for your friends and family where the land of aloha will make them feel welcome and relaxed.

It's very simple to get a marriage license in Hawaii. Marriage licenses are $60, and you need to show photo identification. There are no blood tests, waiting period or residency requirements. You must be over 16 or older, and if under 18, you need parental consent. The license is then valid for any marriage ceremony held within 30 days of issuance.

For more information and details about getting married in Hawaii, click here.

There are thousands of hotel rooms and a wide variety of restaurants and caterers to suit you and your guests special tastes. There are hundreds of wedding planners and services to help you plan every detail of your special day, and you can start right here.

If you live on the Mainland, it's probably a good idea to have someone local help you arrange the details for you. Visit their sites, get in touch with a few and don't forget to ask for some references. Many resorts and hotels also have their own "in house" wedding planner.

Many wedding planners have had years of experience so ask them for their advice. You'll find them very helpful, but remember the most important thing on your wedding day is the wedding couple's happiness, so take time to plan carefully to make this day the most romantic and memorable of your long life together.

Better than Table Linen

Better Than Table Linen (excerpted from Time)

Thursday, Jun. 28, 2007 By JENINNE LEE ST. JOHN

For her wedding last May, Amy Henry set up a few different bridal registries. One listed traditional items like glassware and linens. Another was a fund to help pay for a honeymoon to South America--which appalled Henry's mom Valerie. "The gifts are to get someone started on their new life," she says. "It's a little insulting to say 'We already have everything, so send us on an expensive vacation.'"

Well, come on. Not everyone feels that way. The trendiest wedding present no longer comes in a box with a bow; instead, it's the gift of a once-in-a-lifetime adventure-- from a guided hike through Costa Rica's Monteverde rain forest ($80) to a visit to a Kenyan Masai village to meet the chief ($50). According to Condé Nast Bridal Media, 10% of brides now register for honeymoons.

Many do it because as Americans get married later in life, they are finding they already own the household items that the traditional registry was created for. At the same time, restless consumers are spending ever more money doing things vs. owning things. This has created a perfect market for experiential wedding gifts, and several entrepreneurial websites, such as HoneyLuna.com and the tourism office of the government of Aruba, have successfully waded in over the past few years.

People who give and receive honeymoon gifts are part of an emerging demographic: so called transumers, a mash-up of transient consumers, who prize collecting experiences, discovering new things and living in the present. George Ritzer, editor of the Journal of Consumer Culture, says the trend reflects an affluent, hyper-consumerist society in which the Internet has accustomed people to ephemeral pleasures. "The middle class can get all the toys they want," he says. "That leads to a desire for services ... and nonmaterial experiences."

Which is why buyers of gifts for all kinds of occasions, from birthdays to anniversaries, are on the hunt for unique presents that just might fulfill lifelong dreams. Walter Friker, 63, recently drove a stock car 20 laps at Kansas Motor Speedway--something he had never done, though he had been on a racing crew as a young man. It was a Christmas gift his son and daughter bought from Signature Days, which sells participatory gifts nationwide. "They knew I appreciated the speed," Friker says. This appeal to both giver and receiver makes experiential presents work. Becky Meyer and Amber Sambrone had their commitment ceremony in San Francisco on June 16, and are now on a three-week honeymoon in Asia, thanks to their friends. "We're not into acquiring a lot of stuff," Meyer says. Besides, glasses break; memories of the trip will last forever.

HoneyLuna's FORUM and Chat Room

HoneyLuna is launching a new forum and chat room for brides and grooms interested in talking with other brides and grooms about honeymoon travel, honeymoon questions, wedding planning - whatever.

Click here to Check it out!

Honeymoon Registry for Fiji (or Croatia, India and Nepal, Hawaii, Jamaica or St. Lucia, Disneyworld...wherever!)

Many of you have asked to see what a honeymoon registry looks like. We have had several specific requests for honeymoons in Fiji.

Here is a link to a VERY successful honeymoon registry - the bride and groom happen to be good friends of mine. Click here to view their honeymoon registry.

Remember, you can create a customized honeymoon registry for wherever you might want to go on your honeymoon! Here are just a few other samples to take a look at: Croatia, India and Nepal, Hawaii, Jamaica or St. Lucia, Disneyworld.... wherever you want to go!

For more information on HoneyLuna's honeymoon registries, please visit our "how it works" page and our "frequently asked questions".

Getting Stoned with the Savages

Getting Stoned with the Savages:A Trip Through the Islands of Fiji and Vanuatu

By J. Maarten Troost

This is one of the most hilarious books I have read / heard on tape. Actually, I bought and downloaded the book on tape to my Ipod for a road trip. I'm sure it's a great read too, but the comic timing and delivery of the reader is unbelievable. There were several times we had to pull the car over because we were laughing too hard to drive!

If you love the South Pacific - Vanuatu, Fiji, Tahiti.... and you love to laugh, buy this book / book on tape! Great for reading on your honeymoon - great for listening to on your IPOD on your flight to your honeymoon or any trip!

Getting Stoned with Savages tells the hilarious story of Troost’s time on Vanuatu—a rugged cluster of islands where the natives gorge themselves on kava and are still known to “eat the man.” Falling into one amusing misadventure after another, Troost struggles against typhoons, earthquakes, and giant centipedes and soon finds himself swept up in the laid-back, clothing-optional lifestyle of the islanders. When Sylvia gets pregnant, they decamp for slightly-more-civilized Fiji, a fallen paradise where the local chiefs can be found watching rugby in the house next door. And as they contend with new parenthood in a country rife with prostitutes and government coups, their son begins to take quite naturally to island living—in complete contrast to his dad.

Consider an Online Trip Journal for your honeymoon!

Consider an Online Trip Journal for your honeymoon!

The travel experience has two parts – first you travel and then you tell. But for many, the telling is much harder after the trip – you’re busy, you’re back to work and you haven’t uploaded the photos yet.

Imagine being able to do and to tell at the same time! You can share your experience as you go.

HoneyLuna LOVES the idea of MyTripJournal.com which allows you to create your own travel website with just a few clicks. You can then:- plot your journey on maps with their IntelliMap System- store & display your photos, stories and experiences- post internet movie clips and photos- exchange messages with friends and family- control who views your ad-free personal travel website- download a permanent archive at the end of each trip

Now you can share your HoneyLuna honeymoon registry gifts and experiences and thank your gift givers, while you are on your honeymoon! Imagine being able to share with them a photo of the activity they purchased as your wedding gift, and a blurb about how fantastic it was!

Even if you don’t want to be “wired” on your honeymoon, MyTripJournal.com is a great way to share your travels and create a travel page when you return!

10 Top Reasons for Registering Your Honeymoon with HoneyLuna

NO MORE TOASTERS!!!

10 You don’t need another salad spinner or a toaster (Receive the gift of adventure rather than house wares!)

9 Your insurance doesn’t cover Waterford crystal if you break it!

8 You and your fiancée cannot agree on a china pattern...

7 With the extra help you receive from your honeymoon registry, you may be able to upgrade your hotel accommodations from a parking lot to ocean view!

6 You’ll love the ease of “one stop shopping” for both your honeymoon travel and gift registry. (And…. we are the “Honeymoon Experts”)

5 Your friends and family will love your honeymoon registry – they won’t even have to leave home to buy your gift! A quote from Nicole Bauer, HoneyLuna client: “Everyone thought it (our honeymoon registry) was a great idea. And they enjoyed reading our itinerary and purchasing pieces of our honeymoon.”

4 You won’t have to return any unwanted gifts to the department store and you'll have lots of "experiences to enjoy" on your honeymoon

3 You’ll love all the gifts you receive from your honeymoon registry (who wouldn’t love a sunset dinner cruise? A massage? A gondola ride in Venice?)

2 You’ll get to take your dream honeymoon you never thought was possible

And the number one reason to register with HoneyLuna….

1 HoneyLuna is the best honeymoon registry service around!!!

In business since 1995 and an honor roll member of the Better Business Bureau!

Visit our website at: http://www.honeyluna.com/ or call us at 800-809-5862