Location: Punta Mita and Sayulita, Mexico
Where We Stayed: Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, and Villa Amor in Sayulita
Favorite Memory: Waking up to the sound of the waves crashing right outside our room.
Best Tip: Relax! Don't make too many plans and book too many activities.
How Long We Were There: 1 week.
Location: St. Lucia
Where We Stayed: Anse Chastenet Resort
Favorite Memory: Kayaking to a deserted beach and having the whole afternoon to ourselves.
Best Tip: If you had your heart set on staying at a resort that's outside your budget, make a dinner reservation at their restaurant so you can experience one romantic evening there.
How Long We Were There: 1 week, but I wish we could have spent 2!
Location: Tokyo, Japan; Chiang Mai, Thailand; and Hong Kong
Where We Stayed: Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi, Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, and Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong
Favorite Memory: Our last night, because we had two dinners! We ate at 6:30 at L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, which has two Michelin stars, and then again at 9 at Lung King Heen, which is the only restaurant in Hong Kong with three Michelin stars. We were definitely full, but it was amazing.
Best Tip: Wait for a few months after the big day to go on a major trip. We were exhausted right after our wedding and wouldn't have been up for exploring these amazing cities. So instead we had a mini honeymoon at the Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, California. (We got married in Napa Valley and drove right down.) By the time our "real" honeymoon rolled around, we were rejuvenated and ready to go.
How Long We Were There: 12 days. But since the flight over was so long and we visited three different countries, we could have used a few more days.
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada and Maui, Hawaii
Where We Stayed: Bellagio in Las Vegas and small guesthouses on Maui
Favorite Memory: I think it was holding a baby octopus in my hand in the waters off Wailea during a kayaking and snorkeling trip. Or maybe it was being completely surrounded by a bamboo forest on the Pipiwai Trail in Haleakala National Park. Or it could have been witnessing sunrise on the crater of Haleakala, a dormant volcano. I just can't decide -- there are too many!
Best Tip: If you're going hiking, put on the right gear, wear sunscreen, and bring a map, a snack, and plenty of water. We set out on what we thought would be a short walk to a waterfall, and it turned into a several-hour trek because we got lost.
How Long We Were There: 10 days. And it wasn't enough. If we return to Hawaii, we'll make sure to visit some of the other islands.
Location: Punta Mita, Mexico
Where We Stayed: Four Seasons Punta Mita
Favorite Memory: It's impossible to pick just one. But waking up every morning in a dreamy room perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean was amazing day in and day out. And breakfast at the hotel was delicious every time (order the chilaquiles at least once!).
Best Tip: Definitely spend some time away from the resort. We would have been more than happy to just kick back on the beach (the staff caterers to you like you're royalty), but we loved exploring rural Mexico. One day we rented motorcycles and went to Sayulita, a small fishing village with cobblestone streets, a beautiful beach, good surf, fun cafes, and lush jungle surrounding it. We also took a few trips into bustling Puerto Vallarta for great dinners.
How Long We Were There: 1 week, and it was perfect. After six months of hectic planning and a wedding away from our current home, we wanted a place that was easy to get to and incredibly relaxing. This fit the bill and then some. We were sad to leave, but happy there was a direct flight back to NYC.
Location: Southeast Asia including Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos
Where We Stayed: We mostly we stayed in cheap spots (like $10 per night). But, to get that honeymoon feel, we bookended our trip with a few days in a nice hotel. When we arrived, we spent a couple of nights at the Indigo Pearl on Thailand's island of Phuket, and right before we flew home we stayed at the Metropolitan Bangkok.
Favorite Memory: Trekking through the hill-tribe villages of northern Vietnam with a Hmong guide. The views of terraced rice paddies and waterfalls were insane. It felt like a page out of National Geographic.
Best Tip: If you're traveling for several weeks, don't book all your transportation and hotels in advance. You might want to stay longer in a place you only planned two days for (or just the opposite).
How Long We Were There: 2 months. At the end, our backpacks were really heavy with all the cool trinkets we'd picked up along the way.
Location: Vietnam
Where We Stayed: At small locally run inns.
Favorite Memory: Walking the streets of Hue, which is known for its traditional architecture.
Best Tip: Stay away from organized tours and get to know the people and flavors.
How Long We Were There: 2 1/2 weeks, but a month would have been better!
Location: Marbella, Spain and Paris, France
Where We Stayed: In Spain we stayed at the Marriott's Marbella Beach Resort and in France we stayed in the Hotel Saint-Louis en l'Isle
Favorite Memory: Exploring the Montmartre district of Paris and stumbling upon a tiny cafe. We made friends with the owner there and learned how to make vin chaud, a hot spiced wine.
Best Tip: Do a little research on the cultures and customs of the location you're traveling to so that you'll be a respectful visitor. Even if you don't speak the language, try to learn enough to be able to order food and purchase a train ticket.
How Long We Were There: 10 days total: 4 in Marbella, and 6 in Paris.
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