Recommend October 2010 - (Page 51)

A RomAntic ReFuge The shore-and-jungle mystique of Riviera Nayarit is as dreamlike as it gets for honeymooners or couples planning a destination wedding. Here they can choose from a simple ceremony by the beach, an ultra-luxurious affair or everything in between, with nature providing much of the backdrop and wedding experts taking care of the rest. If you think you’ve seen it all, try a wedding at The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort, whose exquisite Astor Ballroom and oceanfront location make for an otherworldly affair regardless of venue. The hotel brand’s impeccable service, wedding professionals and chefs create the most magical of events: onsite cake and menu preparation (the cakes album is inspiring, and clients have their choice of flavors, fillings and frosting), floral decor, linens, entertainment and more; customization is a key factor here. A sitdown dinner served with white gloves or bare feet and hors d’oeuvres on the beach? It’s the clients choice here. And at the resort’s Remede Spa, the wedding party can get their hair and make-up done, plus enjoy a pre-ceremony massage. Riviera Nayarit’s wide range of venues and accommodations lets clients easily choose based on taste and budget—and thanks to healthy competition, there’s always a few enticing packages packed with both amenities and value. Notable brands such as RIU have a wide array of choices for clients, including, in the case of the RIU Palace Pacifico, a free wedding package for 2011 if five or more rooms are booked. It includes the wedding planner, decoration, bouquet and boutonniere, wedding cake for the couple and 10 or fewer guests, and discounts on spa treatments. Such packages, and even those that are not free, make it easy for couples to marry in Mexico while not spending too much time fretting about the details and instead enjoy the wonders of Riviera Nayarit. Then there are the smaller hotels, where love flutters about on sunset ceremonies, a solo violinist and a quiet stretch of beach. The hilltop Villa Bella in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, composed of two casitas that fit up to 14 guests, offers both laid-back charm and the most inspiring of backdrops for photos and can help customize a memorable wedding, anniversary celebration, vow renewal or honeymoon. For the ultimate in cuteness, suggest a wedding or honeymoon at Villa Amor in Sayulita. Here, the hotel’s “Romance Concierge” takes a handson approach to whipping up an unforgettable experience for lovebirds, whether it’s setting up a couple’s massage at the Amor Ocean and Jungle Spa or a beachfront dinner. “Amor Weddings” are a group effort, with a dedicated staff finding the right flowers, getting a great photographer and taking care of activities for guests—zipline tours, salsa lessons or horseback riding, perhaps. Because of the intimate nature of the hotel—composed of 35 villas—clients can enjoy plenty of privacy. And if he hasn’t proposed yet, you might convince him to look into Villa Amor’s Will You Marry Me package. As for one-on-one choices in Riviera Nayarit…where to begin? Clients can hop aboard a panga at La Tovara or a yacht bound for the Marietas Islands, snorkel or parasail off the shore or rent a car and placidly explore the many towns and villages that make up Riviera Nayarit. ✹ From snorkeling or parasailing to doing nothing at all, couples can choose from an array of twosome activities. october 2010 R13

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend October 2010

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk
Tour Talk
Luxurious India by Rail, Plane and Boat
The Heavenly Taj Hotels, Resorts & Palaces
Experiencing the High Life in Kenya
Savoring the North of England
Riviera Nayarit Travel Planner
Marival Residences & World Spa
Wildly Luxurious––High-End Vacations
The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Does it Again
Guadeloupe
Five High-End Villa Stays
Compagnie du Ponant's Le Boreal
Palm Beach: Playground for the Rich and Famous
Hawks Cay Resort, Florida Keys
La Costa Resort and Spa, California

Recommend October 2010