{"id":122005,"date":"2014-09-01T14:00:18","date_gmt":"2014-09-01T13:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/whimsicalwonderlandweddings.com\/?p=122005"},"modified":"2024-04-26T15:59:33","modified_gmt":"2024-04-26T14:59:33","slug":"mr-mrs-smith-boutique-honeymoons-in-the-hotseat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wedissimo.com\/blog\/mr-mrs-smith-boutique-honeymoons-in-the-hotseat\/","title":{"rendered":"Mr & Mrs Smith. Boutique Honeymoons. In the Hotseat."},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Alila<\/p>\n

The honeymoon is one wonderful way of having some R&R, enjoying your new married status and making memories. But it can be a total minefield, where to go? What to do? How much to spend? To relax or explore?<\/p>\n

I asked Sarah Jackson, honeymoon expert <\/a>at boutique travel company Mr & Mrs Smith<\/a>, to tell us how she helps couples everywhere book their perfect honeymoon…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Sarah<\/p>\n

Hi Sarah, could you tell WWW readers a little bit about you?<\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

I\u2019m on the Travel Team at Mr & Mrs Smith, an online collection of unique hotels perfect for romancing couples \u2013 and those who have just tied the knot. I\u2019ve been here for two years, booking hotels and managing trips all over the world from start to finish, whether it\u2019s a beautiful retreat in the Cotswolds or a dreamy overwater villa in the Maldives. I\u2019m fluent in Spanish, which comes in handy with all the Iberian hotels we have in our collection, and, of course, I love to travel. I\u2019m just back from a surfing trip in Devon and a jaunt in South America.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Alila \"Alila<\/p>\n

What do you love\/dislike about your job?<\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

I love helping people plan idyllic holidays: I like finding out their taste, what they want from a hotel in terms of style and design, and matchmaking them to the perfect property. It\u2019s truly rewarding sending people to places where I know they\u2019ll have a really special time. I recently booked a couple\u2019s honeymoon to Bali, a twin-centre trip where they stayed at the breathtaking Alila Villas Uluwatu <\/a>in the south, home to some of the island\u2019s best surf beaches, and Alila Ubud<\/a>, surrounded by forest on a peaceful hillside. They had such a great time they sent me a lovely thank-you email, which was very moving. There\u2019s little I dislike, but it\u2019s a real shame I can\u2019t control the weather when it comes to honeymoons.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Alila \"Alila<\/p>\n

How did you get into the travel and honeymoon industry?<\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

I studied modern languages (Spanish and German) at university and got the taste for living and working abroad during a year out. Before starting my studies, I travelled around five continents on an incredible trip through New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, Namibia and Costa Rica. I interned at Mr & Mrs Smith before joining the Travel Team and now specialise in Central and South America, adventure travel and honeymoons.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Alila \"Alila<\/p>\n

What do you aim to achieve for your clients?<\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

At Mr & Mrs Smith, we\u2019re all about the details: I want to snap up the best bedroom for my clients, not just the best hotel. I love to organise unusual or one-of-a-kind experiences that are bound to surprise them. At Kasbah du Toubkal <\/a>in Morocco\u2019s Atlas Mountains, for instance, a mule carries your luggage for the last part of your journey. It\u2019s quirky details like that that really make a trip memorable.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Alila \"Huvafen<\/p>\n

What kind of honeymoons do you arrange? Which are your favourite places and hotels?<\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

It\u2019s so important to get honeymoons right \u2013 they\u2019re the most special trip people take in their lives. I specialise in off-the-beaten-track, exhilarating destinations, so I often suggest twin-stop trips. Combining two different experiences is becoming much more popular too: for example, I recommend heading to a jungle plantation in Sri Lanka before a luxurious beach stay in the Maldives, such as at the impossible-to-beat Huvafen Fushi.<\/a><\/p>\n

Across the team, we have specialities in such different areas: we can organise Californian road trips, a coast-to-country tour across Costa Rica or a gourmet escape in the rolling hills of Tuscany. We\u2019re best known for our weekend retreats but, with more than 950 hotels around the world, we can pretty much do anything!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Huvafen \"Huvafen<\/p>\n

Could you tell us some information about your packages and prices? How much should couples budget for their honeymoon?<\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

Of course, it depends on what you\u2019re looking for, where you want to go \u2013 and when. For long-haul destinations, rainy or \u2018shoulder\u2019 seasons are good value and you\u2019re still bound to get some sunshine. In Europe, prices are at their peak in the summer, but you\u2019ll still get great weather in May and September. A budget of \u00a31,000 to \u00a32,000 works well for a series of beautiful properties in Europe; if you\u2019re after the ultimate trip with seriously good service, expect to splurge \u00a35,000 to \u00a36,000. If you have an idea of what you\u2019re after, we can tailor an itinerary to fit your finances.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Kasbah<\/p>\n

Do you have any tips for couples in choosing a honeymoon?<\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

Just because the rest of the world is basking on an Indian Ocean island, it doesn\u2019t mean you have to: make sure your honeymoon suits your needs and your personalities. I love coming up with alternative options for couples looking for something unique. Think about what you want as a couple, too \u2013 there\u2019s no point in spending two idle weeks by the pool if you\u2019re itching to go out and explore things together.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Kasbah<\/p>\n

How can we get in touch with you?<\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

You can read a bit more about me and my lovely colleagues on the honeymoon pages<\/a> on our website \u2013 feel free to get in touch by email. You can also submit an enquiry directly to us: we\u2019ll match you with the travel expert with the most relevant expertise. Plus, if you book a honeymoon with us of more than seven nights you get a free GoldSmith membership (worth \u00a3400) that gets you free upgrades, five per cent back in loyalty money and a personal concierge service. To be honest, I\u2019d be doing that myself if I was in the market for a honeymoon!<\/p>\n

Last but not least, I\u2019ll be on our stand at this year\u2019s Brides: The Show<\/a> in Islington, London during the weekend of 3\u20135 October. Come and say hello!<\/p>\n

Sarah Jackson can be reached at sarah.jackson@smithhotels.com.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mr & Mrs Smith tailor-make trips for the ideal honeymoon. Visit mrandmrssmith.com\/honeymoons<\/a> or call 0330 100 3180 for inspiration and advice on booking the perfect trip \u2013 or simply let them know what sort of honeymoon you\u2019re after via their easy online form<\/a> and they\u2019ll do the rest. Mr & Mrs Smith offers money back on every booking, a free extra on arrival and a price match guarantee.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

*This is a sponsored post.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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