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A few days ago I  was at the Intercontinental Fiji accepting an award as Fiji’s top retail travel agent in the United States and Canada.  At the banquet hosted by Tourism Fiji, I was given a beautiful custom designed plaque filled with symbolism - a whales tooth, the Fiji Matai logo and traditional lacing to secure each corner.  It was the devil to carry home to Los Angeles and on to Seattle but will be treasured for years to come.  Photos and press release to follow…

But the real award was spending another two weeks exploring the glorious islands of Fiji.  What a way to earn a living!  This trip began on the Coral Coast at the beautiful new Intercontinental Fiji,

My next stop was a Captain Cook Cruise to the Yasawa Islands where I snorkeled amongst lime green, bright orange, brilliant blue, fuchsia and shocking yellow corals which were home to literally hundreds of varieties of brightly colored tropical fish.  This snorkeling spot was the best I’ve found anywhere including the Great Barrier Reef, Belize and dozens of Caribbean Islands.  All I can say is WOW!

After Octopus I stopped at the new and lovely Viwa Island Resort, upscale Navutu Stars and laid back Nanuya before heading south to Plantation Island Resort (a real sleeper), the big resorts of Denarau and Beqa Lagoon where I enjoyed Lalati and a totally decadent stay at Royal Davui Resort.  Check out some of my favorite packages for 2010.

I will post reviews and pictures for each resort but in the interest of the season wanted to say Vinaka Vakalevu to Tourism Fiji for the Fiji Matai specialist program and express my heartfelt thanks to my clients for allowing me to earn my living as a travel agent specializing in Fiji, Tahiti, Australia and the South Pacific islands.

For those in the Seattle area, please come say hello at the January wedding shows and join me at Savvy Traveler in Edmonds in February for my next South Pacific Night.  RSVP linda@totemtravel.com.  Until them happy Thanksgiving!

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Destination Weddings are fast becoming the norm rather than the exception.  Most couples are dreaming of a beach, sunset, and beautiful water when thinking of a wedding in Hawaii.  We can help you find the best setting for your wedding, as well as help you and your guests deal with flights and accommodations.  Once you decide on the island, which we will help you choose, the venue is next.  We have contacts at many of the venues, and can work with them to provide you the best possible experience.  .  Below are some ideas which hopefully will help you narrow down your options.

A wedding in Hawaii can include anything from a simple barefoot in the sand wedding with just the couple, to an opulent wedding, many guests, at ‘Iolani Palace in Honolulu.

Each of the main Islands of Hawaii, Oahu, Maui, Hawaii (The Big Island) and Kauai offer many beautiful venues.

Oahu, nicknamed The Gathering Place is the main island is the most populous and most commercial….in the Waikiki area.  However, Oahu is so much more than the 66 acres that make up Waikiki.  I recently toured Oahu with the specific purpose of visiting as many varied wedding venues as possible.  Surprisingly, most of the venues were miles away, both figuratively and literally, from Waikiki.

This is not to say that many of the hotels along Waikiki do not offer beautiful wedding venues and packages.  Most hotels offer wedding packages which can include all aspects of your wedding:  catering, photography and music.  A wedding coordinator is also available to help you plan everything, long distance!    Outdoor sunset weddings are very popular, with rooftop or beach receptions!

Since most couples think of sand and beach, when they think Hawaii Wedding, there are some legal aspects involving permits, which are not costly but can be confusing and complicated. However, a good wedding planner, which we help you find, will deal with all of this on your behalf. Since the use of chairs, tables, arches and other assorted decorative elements are not allowed on the beach, be sure that all of your guests are comfortable with standing on the beach for 30 minutes while you repeat your vows, Remember, even if you do not actually recite your vows on the beach, photographers, which we can also help you find, love to photograph you on the beach, on the cliffs, in the water, at sunset, or sunrise.  You will still have that beautiful beachfront wedding portfolio of pictures!

Many couples opt for a garden wedding overlooking the beach and ocean.  One of my favorite locations for a garden wedding was on the Windward side of Oahu.  There are garden & beach settings that make this venue particularly appealing.  A casual wedding on the beach is of course very special, but even more special is that it can be on a Secret Island site!  The Secret Island is actually private!  You and your guests will be transported by boat to the Island, for your ceremony on the beach.  You can have your reception on Secret Island, or in one of the gardens on the “mainland”.  Very private and very romantic!

In addition to the Secret Island, garden settings offer some of the most beautiful wedding locations on Oahu.  The staff will provide different decorative elements such as arches and flower arrangements, tables and chairs as are needed for your guests, and tents protection from the elements.   Nature provides the views:  Ocean, the small island, Chinaman’s Hat, and beautiful mountains all contribute to the ambiance!

Another of my favorite venues for a wedding is the Waimea Valley Park.  This Park is on the North Shore of Oahu and has some of the most beautiful garden settings for a wedding.  They do not have a beach, but they do have a beautiful waterfall!  The waterfall is a short walk down a beautiful pathway with tropical flowers everywhere!

Some couples do want to have a chapel wedding, and Oahu has some beautiful options.  Small privately owned chapels offer a beautiful setting in a tropical garden with sweeping ocean views. Many of the chapels have beautiful stained glass windows which contribute greatly to your photos, as well. The private chapels are generally non-denominational so they can provide your dream wedding regardless of religion.  Some of the settings also feature gardens with waterfalls or fountains, gazebos and lanais for wedding ceremonies and receptions. One of my favorites also includes a Romeo and Juliet balcony for throwing the bouquet!!

Chapels in the harbor offer the unique opportunity for the bride and groom to be married, celebrate with their guests and fly off to their honeymoon on a sea-plane!!

Another chapel that is very convenient for guest staying in Waikiki is the St. Augustine By-The-Sea Waikiki Roman Catholic Church.  The church is about 1 to 2 blocks off Kalakaua Avenue which is the main street in Waikiki.  For your wedding photos, this church, built in 1854, with Neo-gothic architecture and many stained glass windows are going to be amazing!

For the ultimate in convenience, one or two of the Waikiki hotels have chapels on site.  This can be particularly desirable if you are hosting a small wedding with all of the guests at the same hotel.  The Ocean Crystal Chapel, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, is a wonderful option.  The Chapel is beautiful, air conditioned, great sound system, with an all-white color scheme.  Since it is in the Hilton Hawaiian Village, there are many options your reception.  Or maybe, the Waikiki Starlight Luau, on the rooftop, would be a great choice for your reception?

On the far North Shore of Oahu lies Turtle Bay.  One of the most romantic settings on the island, this resort offers beautiful ocean views, gardens and an oceanfront chapel as wedding options.  The waves are some of the biggest & most picturesque anywhere, and make the perfect backdrop for your wedding photos.

I’m sure you will agree Oahu is much more than Waikiki!  But that’s fun, too!!

If you interested, please give me a call at (425) 821-4100 or send me an email at sandi@totemtravel.com!

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If you’re looking for an adult only all inclusive vacation in the Caribbean and prefer a small luxury resort, check out Sandals Royal Plantation in Ocho Rios.  Royal Plantation has only 74 rooms and every suite boasts a gorgeous oceanview, stocked in room bar, pillow menu, robes and slippers and other luxury touches.

The food at Royal Plantation is gourmet and the service top notch, but the ambiance is relaxed and casual.  In fact, what sets Royal Plantation apart is the focus on pampering without pretension.  It’s a little hard to describe, but oh so easy to enjoy!

Let’s start with the food.  During a recent stay I enjoyed a wide variety of foods and flavors including island specialties like grilled lobster, gungo (a spicy bean soup), patties (pastry stuffed with beef), Jamaican hot chocolate (made with coconut milk and cinnamon), and of course jerk chicken and pork.

To balance the local dishes I indulged in more traditional gourmet fare like delicious pork tenderloin with orange sauce, crusted salmon, veal roast and a perfectly prepared steak with garlic mashed potatoes.

Favorite lunch offerings were fish and bammies (fish and chips with a Jamaican twist), homemade soups and yummy ice cream sundaes. But the mid day highlight was Friday’s fish fry where we prepared our own meal under the watchful eye of celebrity chef Peter Fraser, aka Resort General Manager.

Wearing a chef’s hat, Peter helped us select a fillet of just caught red snapper marinated in a puree of olive oil, garlic, thyme and onion.  We added vege’s like okra, carrots and scallions, a dollop of butter and splash of white wine.  Then sealed it all in foil pouches and popped them on the grill.  The finished product was fantastic and even the non fish eaters in our group ate every bite!

So enough about the food you say?  Let’s talk about the beach and watersports!

Royal Plantation has two lovely soft sand beaches fronting the turquoise Caribbean Sea.  On the main beach, butlers cater to your every whim.  Champagne at 10a, fruit at 11a and a cooling mist of rose water at noon… no problem mon!  Need something special?  Just raise a flag for service.

The second beach, a few steps away, has sailboats, kayaks and watertrikes for guests to enjoy.  You can hop on the snorkel boat a couple of times a day for a trip to a nearby reef or stay dry and see the fish through a glass bottom boat.

Landlubbers will enjoy complimentary golf at Sandals Golf and Country Club, tennis, giant chess, table games, billiard table and more.  Add an award winning spa, fun off property activities like swimming with dolphins and ziplining and even a complimentary Catamaran sail which many guests decline, preferring the more personal beach butler service to the “booze cruise”.

Royal Plantation is for discerning adults seeking a relaxed beach or golf getaway, romantic anniversary or luxury honeymoon resort.  Book online or call Linda at (800) 321-7907 with your questions.