VR videos helping agents close sales

A growing number of travel advisers are reporting that virtual reality (VR) is helping them close sales more often and faster, and several said they’re considering ways to put the technology in their clients’ hands with branded headsets to make it more accessible.

“You know, you can talk up a resort, you can talk up a destination, but letting them experience it for themselves like they’re really there gets them very excited about trips,” said Michele Botnick, owner of Lucky N Love Travel in Roswell, N.M.

Botnick is among the agents using a product developed by Virtual Honeymoon, a company owned by former agent Robin Hawkey, who created a set of interactive, online quizzes to help clients narrow their preferred destinations.

The service now offers quizzes for honeymoons, vacations, anniversary trips and weddings (including venue matching). Agents who sign up for the service also get access to VR content for which Hawkey partners with a Canadian company, Explor VR.

A number of Hawkey’s agent clients, including Botnick, have begun bringing VR headsets powered by smartphones to bridal shows. They have prospective clients take Virtual Honeymoon’s quiz, which takes into account personal preferences and budgets to determine two recommended destinations. They then showcase one or both destinations on the VR headset.

“It literally is doubling their sales,” Hawkey said. “They are closing sales quicker, and it gets the clients really excited.”

Hawkey has seen agents’ use of VR increase in the past year or so, a trend she attributed to the increasing quality and affordability of headsets.

VR has existed in some form for decades, but the market for headsets designed for consumer use has exploded in recent years. At first, headsets required expensive computers to run, but versions that utilize a smartphone have become very common.

Some cost less than $20, among them the Google Cardboard, a smartphone-powered headset. Sets that run off smartphones range in price and quality.

Newer entrants even run as standalone systems, not requiring a smartphone. Among those is the Oculus Go (starting at $200). Higher-end headsets requiring the use of a computer cost hundreds of dollars for the headset alone.

Companies in the retail travel space have been experimenting with VR in recent years. For example, Virtuoso several years ago beta-tested the use of high-end headsets in member agencies. The consortium found that interest varied greatly among members, and VR efforts are now member-driven.

One of those interested members is Direct Travel. Vicky DiMichele, digital marketing manager of leisure at the agency is Willoughby, Ohio, said it plans to introduce VR this year using Oculus Go headsets.

vr headsets

Guests viewing content from Virtual Honeymoon at a bridal show.

The idea is to place headsets in offices with walk-in leisure business. She would showcase videos from suppliers but is also considering creating her own VR content, especially from familiarization or adviser-incentive trips. That could also be useful for agents, DiMichele said.

Largay Travel of Waterbury, Conn., another Virtuoso agency, was an early tester of using high-end headsets in agencies, but Scott Largay, director of marketing, said the agency ran into issues with content development.

The agency was attempting to create its own content and app, but Largay said he found that limits to the amount and quality of content “was very restrictive to what we were looking to do.”

Companies producing VR content weren’t able to produce the caliber of content Largay wanted, he said, and those that could were “astronomically priced.”

“Virtual reality will be a big part of the travel industry moving forward, and I will be there with my headset on when it happens,” he said. “But it’s just not right now.”

While some have taken a step back from VR, Virtual Honeymoon’s Hawkey is doubling down on the technology and encouraging resorts to start filming weddings with it.

She works with several VR companies, and each has agreed to record at least one complimentary mock wedding as long as the resort hosts the production (and, of course, arranges the event). Hawkey said she has several resorts interested and that she believes they will see a direct impact on bookings if agents showcase weddings virtually.

She said other resorts would likely follow suit and pay to have their own mock weddings recorded in VR.

“The reason that we’re doing that is to prove how powerful viewing VR weddings really is and to show how that venue is going to double, if not triple, their weddings by doing something as powerful as a virtual wedding,” she said. “Because then you can literally drop the couple into the wedding without being there.”

It’s not a cheap prospect. In addition to the mock wedding, VR videos feature other aspects of the property to give viewers a better feel for what they will experience. Hawkey estimated that recording one property costs between $7,500 and $10,000, a price driven not only by the effort to videotape at a resort but also the costs of expensive professional equipment and the editing process.

The expense involved in VR is what led Camille Sanders, owner of Chic Romance Travel in Fresno, Calif., to partner with Virtual Honeymoon to offer VR to her clients instead of trying to create her own program and content.

“It’s very expensive to produce,” she said. “It definitely is better to partner with somebody.”

Like Lucky N Love’s Botnick, Sanders brings headsets to bridal shows.

“I feel it really sets me aside differently than anything out there, especially with other local agencies,” Sanders said. “It’s something different to offer.”

Miki Taylor, founder and CEO of Taylor & Co. Travel in Auburn, Ala., lives in a college town and brings the headsets to many local events. She said VR has gone over very well with clients, especially students, for whom Taylor plans many spring break trips.

“If I had a storefront, I’d have [headsets] on every station,” Taylor said. “Every agent would have them, and they would use them to sell. It sells itself.”

Both Sanders and Botnick are also considering purchasing branded headsets that are inexpensive, foldable and easily mailable to clients around the country, who can use their smartphones to view VR content.

Hawkey said VR is a powerful technology for agents to have in their arsenal.

“I just feel it in my gut,” she said. “If agents don’t get on with the technology, they’re going to be the next ones out of business.”

 

Virtual Honeymoon in TravelWeek news!

Robin Hawkey, owner of Virtual Honeymoon, was recently interviewed by Travel Week about how she came up with the concept for this VR interactive matching tool, and how its solving problems for hundreds of  Travel specialists in the Romance Travel industry, as well as plans for growth.

 the travel industry largest and most trusted media source in Canada!
See below a copy to article.

Virtual Honeymoon launches sister sites, partners with ExplorVR amid company...

Virtual Honeymoon launches sister sites

Virtual Honeymoon launches sister sites, partners with ExplorVR amid company growth

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

TORONTO — Here’s a common scenario: You ask your wedding clients where they would go on their dream honeymoon, and they respond with a bunch of destinations in quick succession. Bali. Italy. Tahiti. The list goes on and on.

But there is a fun and easy way to whittle down the options so that your clients are left with a destination that best suits their needs and preferences. Virtual Honeymoon is an interactive destination matching tool used by agents with indecisive clients. Using intuitive software and an algorithm to search for and match destinations, the tool matches couples with their top two destinations, allowing them to ‘test drive’ these locales and help agents close the sale.

Robin Hawkey

Robin Hawkey- Owner of Virtual Honeymoon

Started and owned by travel industry veteran Robin Hawkey, Virtual Honeymoon kicked off in January 2015 for year-long testing before launching its affiliate program in March 2016. Hawkey says the idea came to her after “years of frustration of working with couples that were all over the map”, which resulted in wasting weeks of valuable time, sometimes only to lose them to the Internet.

“When couples have no idea where to go on their getaway, or say something like ‘We just want to go some place warm and tropical’, that usually leads to seeing every tropical island and comparing them all. We call [these couples] ‘tire-kickers’ or ‘time-wasters’ for using travel agents as a human resource tool,” she tells Travelweek.

How it works is simple: Clients answer a series of fun, interactive questions, the tool then matches them to their top two destinations based on their answers. After clients fill out a contact form, all the questions and answers, including their matches, are emailed directly to the travel agent who will then follow up directly.

The tool costs $24.95/month, or $239.52 per year with a savings of 20%.
You can access the site at virtualhoneymoon.com.

To enhance the experience, Hawkey has added a virtual reality component to the website’s destination pages. She’s teamed up with ExplorVR to allow clients to pre-experience their matched destination. Virtual Honeymoon’s affiliates have already used VR headsets and videos at wedding fairs where clients were able to test-drive their destinations on the spot.

“I think [VR] is so beneficial as most millennials want to be involved in the planning process. VR is the next best thing to being there!” said Hawkey. “I also feel that the agents who don’t get on this VR trend will be left behind – literally!”

Devin Kinasz, President & CEO of ExplorVR, adds: “Virtual Honeymoon is embracing VR technology and partnering with ExplorVR to give their agents access to exciting destination experiences. We are very excited to partner with Virtual Honeymoon because they align with our values of being a forward-thinking company that embraces technology.”

Virtual reality acts as the perfect selling tool in the destination wedding and honeymoon market as it allows clients to “try before they fly”. As Hawkey puts it, all couples want their weddings and honeymoons to go off without a hitch, so the best way to ensure that the destination matches their vision is to virtually travel there ahead of time.

“There is on average over two million weddings per year in the U.S. alone, with couples spending over $72 billion on weddings and $8 billion on honeymoons. The romance niche is such a great niche to get into to build your entire travel business,” said Hawkey. “If an agent does a great job on the wedding or honeymoon, and builds a good relationship with their client, they will do all their travel-related activities such as anniversaries, babymoons, graduations, family trips and more, not to mention the referrals to all their friends getting married. This creates a booming business that will continue to grow and prosper.”

With business booming, Virtual Honeymoon launched its sister site – Virtual Destination Wedding – at the Love Mexico event in Cabo last December. Operating much like Virtual Honeymoon, the new site not only matches clients with their top two destinations but also helps plan the wedding. And like its sister site, it costs $24.95, or $239.52 with a 20% discount.

Looking ahead, Hawkey is preparing to launch the company’s newest addition – Virtual Vacationing – on April 10 at the Travel Agent Forum in Las Vegas. While its main concept is the same as interactive destination matching, she says the new site does not focus on romance as the other two sites.

“We realize that not all getaways are about romance, sometimes it’s about vacation travel with family and friends and they too can be confused about where to go on their getaway,” she adds. “We are so excited to be at the Forum with our VR partner, ExplorVR. They have really helped our vision of bringing virtual travel to life, allowing clients to virtually experience their destination match before booking and, thus, closing sales!”

“Test drive” one of our demo-sites below and find the best match for your business:

Travel agents specializing in Romance Travel

Virtual Destination Wedding

       Destination Wedding Planners

Virtual Vacations

     Travel agents selling Vacations

Try before you Fly with Virtual Honeymoon!

“Try before you fly” using Virtualhoneymoon.com!
Virtual Honeymoon is a Interactive Destination Matching tool, that Travel Specialists use for those time-consuming clients that are “all over the map!”
The intuitive tool uses algorithm + scoring technology software, to virtually match each client to their top Destinations, where they can virtually experience it before they book!
Virtual Honeymoon just partnered with Travel weeks Xplr VR company based out of Canada, using their VR + 360 videos.

Clients can now “virtually experience” their destinations they match to, thus travel specialists closing the sale!

Try before you fly!

Here’s a great example of using this technology to work smarter and close the sale from a Virtual Honeymoon affiliate:
“I had a appointment with a Destination Wedding couple on Wednesday night, they both took the Virtual Honeymoon quiz and matched to BVI and Jamaica!”  The groom was excited about Jamaica, the bride wasn’t sure, but was open to exploring. I put the VR headset on her, set to Jamaica with sound on and within 2 minutes she was SOLD!!!! “I wish I would have videoed taped her, she was smiling, looking up down all around, laughing, gasping with excitement!” The groom was trying to pull headset off her, he was so excited to try it! He got his turn and was like a little kid, pointing in the air, spinning around, smiling, etc….within about 10 minutes, they BOTH fell in Love with Jamaica for their beach wedding and honeymoon!
 
“This interactive tool SAVES TIME, gets clients EXCITED & ready to BOOK!
 
Today’s travel consumers are tech savvy, and expect brands to be as well!
Virtual Honeymoon + Xplr VR technology is revolutionizing the way “smart agents” sell travel!

Virtual Honeymoon offers white label sites, allowing  agents to personalize their agencies, helping them work smarter!”

Robin Hawkey is the owner/visionary of Virtual Honeymoon.
She won 2016 Trendsetter Award for “Best Targeted Marketing idea” and was featured in Travelage West.
This year, Virtual Honeymoon is up for Travvy Award and Magellan Award.

Romance Travel Specialists- Are your couples all over the Map?

We would like to share with you a new VR “award winning” interactive tool that will save you time and help you WORK SMARTER!

Virtualhoneymoon.com

                                                  Try Demo now! click the box above to start.

Virtual Honeymoon was created to use on your couples that have NO idea where to go on their Romantic Getaway!
The perfect client to use this VR interactive matching tool, is one that is “all over the map” or says something like, “we don’t’ know where we want to go, just some place warm and tropical.”
This interactive tool SAVES TIME, gets Couples EXCITED & ready to BOOK!

By implementing VR (Virtual Reality) and 360* Videos, agents can now not only match the couple to their top destination but let them virtually experience it! 

“How cool would it be to take Virtual Honeymoon tool to a Wedding fair, try on the couples that don’t know where they want to go on their Romantic Getaway, they can take our fun interactive test, get their destination match and then the agent put a VR headset on them to jet away to virtually experience say Jamaica! Agents better have their deposit forms ready!

vr

How it works:
By answering a series of carefully thought out, fun, interactive questions about their likes, preferences, budget etc….the intuitive VR tool will match the clients to their top two Destinations based on their answers selected. The tool will then show their top two matched destinations side-by-side with descriptions of each, from there they can select one (or both) to experience, a beautiful page opens up with destination information, photo, video, links to explore! The system can track each clients Q/A data and when activated, emailed direct to agent, for follow-up!

Robin Hawkey is the owner/visionary of Virtual Honeymoon and loves to share her passion for Romantic Travel. She has won numerous Travel Awards, with the most recent as 2016 Trendsetter Award for “Best Targeted Marketing” and featured in Travelage West. see article here: Travelage West

Seychelles Romance Travel

The Seychelles are located in the Indian Ocean, are thought to have been the original Garden of Eden, the stunning beauty of these islands will leave the most discerning traveler speechless. Visitors to Seychelles will enjoy the relaxing vibe the islands have to offer, the beauty of the silver sand beaches, and the perfection in the lush surroundings. The simplicity of life on these beautiful islands create a genuine feeling of escape. The people are kind and welcoming, proud of the immense beauty of their islands. Seychelles islands aren’t cluttered with roads, it is popular for visitors to get around by means of foot, bike, or boat.

The Seychelles are located in the Indian Ocean, are thought to have been the original Garden of Eden, the stunning beauty of these islands will leave the most discerning traveler speechless.

Top Highlights:

  • Visit the sights and sounds of the center of Victoria.
  • Challenge yourself for an adventurous hike up into the woods of Mahe.
  • Take a scenic boat ride out on the pristine waters of the Indian Ocean.
  • Island hop to Praslin, the second largest of Seychelles, take in the breath-taking scenery and picnic on a remote beach.

There is no bad time to visit the Seychelles. This warm, tropical climate stays beautiful year – round, perfect for travelers all over the world. Popular activities include bird-watching, hiking, snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing / windsailing, and surfing. These islands are a tropical paradise. Whether you’re the active type, or the type looking for a little R & R, look no further than the Seychelles. These islands captivate travelers with their spectacular scenery and their ease of a place that has been closely treasured, a perfect honeymoon or destination wedding island!

 

To connect with a Seychelles Romance Destination Specialist, and get your personalized travel album and up to $100 off one of our recommended resorts, please visit us @ www.VirtualHoneymoon.com

Find your top 2 Destinations, try our fun interactive matching tool and virtually experience your top destinations: www.Virtualhoneymoon.com

Thailand Romance Travel

Thailand is simply amazing! From the bustling streets of Bangkok to island beaches lined in limestone cliffs; golden temples to lush, green forests; ancient ruins to exotic nightlife.The attractions of Thailand are myriad, with ruined cities, ancient monasteries, Buddhist monks, colorful hill tribes, floating markets, rave parties, dense rainforests, exotic wildlife, tropical islands, golden beaches and pristine coral reefs.

From Thailand’s bustling metropolises to acres of rice fields to miles of beautiful sandy beaches, Thailand earns its spot as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Southeast Asia. Thailand is one of the only Southeast Asian countries to have never been conquered by a European power, a fact many Thai are proud of that!

Thailand with its golden temples to lush, green forests; ancient ruins to exotic nightlife.

Top Highlights:

  • Bangkok – take a boat trip through Bangkok’s Floating Market, or along the klongs; a network of canals leading off the river, and lined with dwellings opening directly on to the water.
  • Chaing Mai -visit a training camp of elephants which is almost like a school, see how the animals are trained, then ride a elephant through the jungle.
  • Chiang Dao- Explore Thailands’s highest limestone mountains amidst a jungle oases with mystical caves waiting to be discovered.
  • Phang Nga Bay- one of the world’s great scenic wonders, consists of verdant limestone islands, some of which reach 984ft high, the area is famous for its caves and aquatic grottoes.

From bustling metropolises to acres of rice fields to miles of beautiful sandy beaches, Thailand earns its spot as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Southeast Asia

  • To connect with a Thailand Romance Destination Specialist, and get your personalized travel album and up to $100 off one of our recommended resorts, please visit us @ www.VirtualHoneymoon.com
     

    Find your top 2 Destinations, try our fun interactive matching tool and virtually experience your top destinations: www.Virtualhoneymoon.com

Maldives Islands

The Maldives islands is a tropical wonderland in the exotic Indian Ocean made up of 1,190 coral islands, stretching some 575 miles north to south in the Indian Ocean. Of that number, only 202 are inhabited, and 120 are exclusive island resorts. The atolls are barely higher than sea level, coconut trees, sea cabbage and pandans grow in abundance.
Maldives islands are  the ideal setting for romance, a divers paradise, discover the sunny side of life.
Attracting romance with honeymooners, destination weddings, anniversary trips and more!

Maldives islands

In the Maldives Islands, you can stay on a tiny island that has a soft, sandy beach, a sparkling turquoise lagoon and only a single dwelling. And if you plunge beneath the surface of the lagoon, you’ll find extraordinary underwater scenery with an amazing variety of colorful reef fish.
The Maldives Islands also attracts lovers of the sea for diving, snorkeling and more.
Some of our top recommendation highlights in the Maldives:

  • Addu Atoll– The most southerly of the Maldives island groups, is definitely worth visiting for divers, the coral is the best in the country.
  • Hulhumalé Island– Ferry out to this man-made island and take a look to the future. A utopian town, Hulhumalé is set to become the new hub of the Maldives in decades to come as sea levels rise. At 2m above sea level, it is mountainous by local standards.
  • Island Hop- To a uninhabited island, spend the night by yourselves, its quite the experience to dream a bit.
  • Vilingili Island– Ferry out to the tranquil neighbouring island of Vilingili. Join locals at the beach, watch cricket matches in the park, and picnic under the multitude of gently-waving palm trees.
  • Dive Wreck- An unforgettable underwater experience for divers is the wreck of the merchant ship Maldives Victory, which lies 115 ft below the waves near Hulhule. Sinking in 1981, the ship has become an artificial reef, with coral, sponges and fish all making it their home.

To be matched with your Destination and Romance Specialists, try our fun interactive matching tool: www.Virtualhoneymoon.com

Italy Honeymoon

Italy– Considered one of the world’s most iconic travel destinations, from Florence’s artistic past, evident from atop Il Duomo to the Uffizi Gallery, to Rome’s Trevi Fountain. Find romance in Venice, cutting edge fashion in Milan, or for an alternative to cosmopolitan Italy travel, savor the beauty of the Lake District, Amalfi Coast to romance under Tuscan sun.

Italy Honeymoon

Land of la dolce vita (the sweet life), Italy is one of the world’s best-loved destinations, and no wonder—two-thirds of the world’s historical artistic heritage is there. Tuscany alone possesses more artistic treasures than the whole of Spain, which is the second country in the world for cultural heritage.
Whether you crave culture, gastronomy, cutting-edge design, sybaritic pleasures or simply the art of il dolce far niente—the sweet doing nothing—this is a country for lovers of all that is good in life. A visit to Italy is a lesson in living well. Open-air vegetable and fruit markets, neighborhood bakeries and fresh cheeses made daily are fixtures of Italian life.
Some of our most recommended area not to be missed:

  • Rome- explore hidden piazzas and colorful neighborhoods. Tour the Eternal City, and glimpse Via Veneto’s cafes and boutiques
  • Venice- drift along enchanting canals and explore winding pathways while the faint echoes of local dialect fill the crescendo of intimate conversations.
  • Florence- City of unique charm, symbol of the Renaissance, famous throughout the world for its architectural beauty and the extraordinary works of art in and outside its museums.
  • Tuscany- tour the scenic Tuscan countryside and sample renowned wines. Discover intimate trattoria, enjoy chic cities, gentle hills, and medieval towns.
  • Amalfi Coast– discover a stunning coastline and lounge on a private beach or sun deck against a backdrop of dramatic cliff sides and verdant green mountain peaks.

To be matched with your Destination and Romance Specialists, try our fun interactive matching tool: www.Virtualhoneymoon.com

Greek Isles

The Greek Isles are located in southeastern Europe, Greece is one the most popular holiday destinations in the world—for good reason.
Greek Isles, all 6000 of them of which 227 are inhabited, are lined with golden stretches of sand with dunes, sheltered bays and coves and coastal caves with steep rocks and black volcanic soil. With the breath-taking scenery of island paradises such as Crete, Mykonons and Santorini is a perfect back drop for swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling and water skiing, sailing and windsurfing.

Greek Isles

The Greek Isles is one of the most Romantic Destinations, attracting Honeymooners and Destination Weddings, with its spotless sands and clear-blue water abound. The landscape offers a picturesque variety, from whitewashed homes and blue-domed churches to neoclassical architecture and traditional authentic villages in the mountainous areas. The Greek cuisine will reward even the most demanding visitors and definitely those who appreciate simple and good quality food (after all, the famous Cretan diet is the cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet). The country’s vibrant nightlife is famous and includes a great variety of clubs and bars.

Some of our top recommended Greek islands to explore:

  • Athens- explore its historic center which was converted into a two-mile pedestrian zone that leads to major archelogical sites with its beautiful ancient landscape, where you will find Acropolis, the Agora and the Areopagus, the hills and municipalities of ancient Athens and more.
  • Crete- Take a day trip to Gramvousa Island, located off the north-west coast of Crete. Gramvousa is an uninhibited island which is only accessible by boat. See remains of a Venetian fort, which was occupied by pirates during the Greek War of Independence.
  • Mykonos- spend the day exploring this quaint town with its cobblestone streets, remarkable architecture, with stunning views, a whitewashed paradise in the heart of the Cyclades. End the day in Little Venice overlooking the windmills while the sunsets, one of the most romantic places there!
  • Santorini- Take in breathtaking panoramas from a hilltop monastery, roam the serene streets of a quiet village, and kick back on a black sand beach before a winetasting and tour of an ancient archaeological site.

Find your top 2 Destinations, try our fun interactive matching tool and virtually experience your top destinations: www.Virtualhoneymoon.com

Fiji Islands

Fiji Islands -The magical isles with the friendliest people on earth! With over 300 islands, Fiji has it all, from glistening white sand beaches and crystal clear lagoons, warm tropical climate, unique atmosphere and world class diving, epic surfing, untouched rainforests to explore.
With nearly perfect weather averaging between 78-85*degrees, depending on the season, there is a island for everyone’s tastes!

Fji Islands

Matangi Resort Treehouse – photo credit.

Fiji Islands is probably one of our top choices for Romance Travel, whether its just the two of you for your Honeymoon or you want to bring your favorite family and friends for a dream Destination Wedding, Fiji has the perfect choices.
Their accommodations are amazing, from authentic beach or tree bungalows to luxury resorts over the water, their is something for every taste, speaking of taste, most of Fiji’s resorts include your food, unless your on the main island, where their are plenty of authentic restaurants to chose from.

There is so much to do and explore in Fiji, depending on which islands you go to, Fiji is one of those destinations you really must island hop, I always recommend splitting your travel time between atleast 2 islands.
So, with that in mind, below are some of our top recommended highlights:

  • Island hop- This is the best area in the south pacific to experience several islands, with more than 300 to chose from, each with their own beauty and culture.
  • Coral Coast- A breathtaking 50 mile stretch of beautiful beaches and bays along the ocean road between Nadi and Suva.
  • Sigatoka River tour- The longest river on the island of Viti Levu, running from the hills of the Navosa Province right down to the sand dunes in Kulukulu, on the famous Coral Coast. The river provides locals with fresh water mussels (kai), fish, prawns, eels, water for agriculture and for drinking.’This tour is a safari adventure, not to be missed!’
  • Sleeping Giant- Travel through the beautiful Sabeto Valley to the Gardens of the Sleeping Giant, where you will discover the largest orchid collection in Fiji.
  • Kava Ceremony- Visit a village and experience a authentic Kava ceremony with the friendly locals.

 

Find your top 2 Destinations, try our fun interactive matching tool and virtually experience your top destinations: www.Virtualhoneymoon.com

 

 

Dominican Republic- Romantic Caribbean Island!

Dominican Republic – The Caribbean’s most geographically diverse country, showcasing everything from tropical rainforests and alpine ranges to mangrove swamps and desert expanses. These natural gifts offer superb adventure travel and eco-tourism options, catering for mountain-bikers, trekkers, water sport fanatics among other outdoor enthusiasts. With their almost perfect weather year round 78*-88* its natures tropical paradise, just waiting to be explored!

Dominican Republic

  • Punta Cana- Boasting a series of wide white beaches that stretch nearly uninterrupted for 35 miles, has a well-deserved reputation as one of the most affordable destinations in the Caribbean.
  • Puerto Plata- The first beach destination developed for tourism in the Dominican Republic, it remains one of its most popular, with a long string of affordable beachfront resorts and a reputation as one of the best spots for windsurfing in the world. North Coast resorts, including laid-back
  • Cabarete- On the North Coast, Cabarete is famous for kite-boarding and also a well known snorkeling area.
  • Limon- A impressive waterfall, that is 52 meter high cascading into a amazing swimming hole.
  • Santo Domingo- One of the oldest city’s, where Christopher Columbus first landed! Stroll the cobblestone streets, shop Mercado Modelo handcraft market, experience some local food.

*Locals Secret:  Merengue Festival- held the last two weeks of July, the largest music festival in the country, most of the activity is on the Malecon but there are related events across the city of Santo Domingo.
*Hidden Gem:  Hoyo Azul, a chilly, neon-blue lagoon that’s perfect for diving into on a hot day.

Travel back in time, discover influences of the ancient Taino Indians, Spanish, African, Latin and European, sip a coconut drink, stroll the white sand beaches, the Dominican Republic has it all….Honeymoon or have your Destination Wedding in the Dominican Republic!”

 

  • To connect with a Dominican Republic Island Destination Specialists, and get your personalized travel album and up to $100 off one of our recommended resorts, visit us @ www.VirtualHoneymoon.com/DominicanRepublic

     

    Find your top 2 Destinations, try our fun interactive matching tool and virtually experience your top destinations: www.Virtualhoneymoon.com

Curacao Island – Top Honeymoon location!

Curacao Island is rich in multicultural heritage,  with its distinct blend of Spanish, Dutch, and Caribbean architecture, is the seat of the Dutch Antilles, offers over 38 breath-taking beaches with perfect weather outside the hurricane belt!

Curaçao is an island proud and rich in multicultural heritage.

Curaçao island is one of our top honeymoon locations, for good reason!
They are proud and rich in multicultural heritage, with its pristine beaches and secluded romantic coves, marvelous hotels, glittering nightlife, casinos, international cuisine and fantastic duty-free shopping. Dive and snorkel among rare corals and marine life in water as clear as the air. Marvel at the beautiful Dutch architecture. Tour the historic countryside mansions, called “landhuizen”.

 

Some of our top highlights:
*Explore St. Christoffel National Park- This nature reserve in NW Curacao is dominated by St. Christoffel Mountains, where you can wander into several awe-inspiring caves, rock formations and see exotic birdlife, iguanas and timid deer.
*Floating Market- Historic Willemstad is edged by the island’s natural harbor, Schottegat, where Curaçao’s famous floating market takes place. Get a dose of local culture and observe dozens of colourful barges full of Venezuelan wares and agricultural produce.
*Christoffel National Park- This 1800- hectare preserve is formed from three old plantations. The main house for one of the plantations, Landhuis Savonet, is at the entrance to the park. It was built in 1662 by a director of the Dutch West India Company. It’s now an excellent museum on the colonial era.
*Willemstad Trolley Tour- See historic Willemstad on a narrated tour aboard an open-sided land train, which departs Fort Amsterdam to the sound of clanging bells. The “train” then journeys downtown through Willemstad’s pretty pastel-colored, red-roofed colonial streets.

 

To find out more about this Romantic Caribbean island and connect with a Destination Specialist , go to www.Virtualhoneymoon.com/Curacao

Find your top 2 Destinations, try our fun interactive matching tool and virtually experience your top destinations: www.Virtualhoneymoon.com

 

 

 

Anguilla Island – Top honeymoon destination

Anguilla Island is one of the smaller Caribbean islands, at just 16 miles long and three miles wide, the most northerly of the British Leeward Islands.

Anguilla island

Home to 33 pristine beaches with more than 12 miles of stunning, powder-white sand. This island paradise retains the laid-back character of a sleepy backwater. Goats still wander the streets and reggae music blares from passing cars.  
On the Island of Anguilla, it lays claim to some of the finest beaches in the region, its a perfect Honeymoon and Destination Wedding spot! Anguilla Island has some of the most luxurious hotels and some amazing areas to explore on this small yet bountiful island paradise, check out some of our top highlights below:

  • Explore white coral beaches- Many of the best, like Rendezvous Bay, Shoal Bay and Road Bay, offer water sports but Crocus Bay and Barnes Bay can’t be beaten for peace, quiet and warm cyan seas.
  • Offshore Islands- Sandy Island and its beach bar is just 15 minutes from Sandy Ground Harbor and Prickly Pear is 25 minutes away. Scilly Cay, another favorite for lunch, sits in the bay just off the fishing village of Island Harbor.
  • The Fountain- explore a huge underground cave with a constant supply of fresh water at Shoal Bay.
  • Snorkeling or Diving- There are numerous sunken ships within its depths, there is much to explore. The best diving areas to travel to are those at Sandy Islands and Prickly Pear Cays.

    *Top recommended beaches we love on Anguilla Island; Rendezvous Bay, Shoal Bay and Road Bay, Crocus Bay and Barnes Bay.

To find out more about this Romantic Caribbean island and connect with a Destination Specialist , go to www.Virtualhoneymoon.com/Anguilla
get your Personalized Travel Album and up to $100 off one of our Recommended Resorts!

Find your top 2 Destinations, try our fun interactive matching tool and virtually experience your top destinations: www.Virtualhoneymoon.com

British Virgin Islands – Top Honeymoon Destination

British Virgin Islands, surrounded by sixty small islands of topaz sea, 16 of which are inhabited, for those seeking a great yachting experience on their Caribbean vacation, BVI is a must visit island(s), with is almost perfect weather of  sub-tropical average of 82*degrees

BVI

The British Virgin Islands, known for its sloping hills of green, lush mountainous terrain, extensive coral reefs and famous shipwrecks sum up the thrills and spills of the British Virgin Islands. With myriad nautical pursuits on offer, the idyllic islands are a slice of paradise, though for travelers who prefer to watch the sea rather than get into it, there is the breathtaking chance of spotting dolphins and whales criss-crossing the surface.

 

Top recommended highlights for British Virgin Islands include:

*Sage Mountain- Climb mountain for excellent views of the island and breath-taking coast, which kisses the sky at 1,800ft. The mountain sits in a gorgeous national park lined with mahoganies, hanging vines, white cedars and kapok trees. The area is well-marked with trails to explore.
*Chest National Park- Snorkel amidst the stunning coral gardens of Chest National Park. The island is said to have been named when the infamous pirate Blackbeard put 15 mutinous men ashore with only a bottle of rum between them.
*Rhone Marine Park- The wreck of the RMS off Salt Island is a mecca for divers. The mail ship sank during the hurricane of 1867 and now lies in two sections in waters between 30ft and 90ft deep. The clear water also allows for good snorkeling of the wreck site.
*The Baths in Virgin Gorda- a unique rock formation of dimly lit grottoes and caves most of which can only be reached by foot or boat, not to be missed!

To connect with a British Virgin Island Destination Specialists, visit us @ www.VirtualHoneymoon.com/BritishVirginIslands

 

Find your top 2 Destinations, try our fun interactive matching tool and virtually experience your top destinations: www.Virtualhoneymoon.com

 

Bermuda Island

The island of Bermuda is probably best known for two things: lurid, knee-length shorts and the fabled Bermuda Triangle, a stretch of sea where boats and planes are said to have mysteriously disappeared. However, these lazy stereotypes serve only to distract from what is an exceptionally beautiful destination.

Bermuda Island

Bermuda Island is comprised of around 180 islets, this island looks like your archetypal Caribbean retreat with its fine sandy beaches, colorful coral reefs and swaying palms.

A couple of our top recommend highlights on Bermuda Island:
*Visit Hamilton Harbor, where you can cruise around and see the best views of the pretty pastel-painted capital, stopping at Somerset Bridge, the rural village of Somerset, and the Royal Naval Dockyard, some of the finest sights on the island.

*Visit Fort Scaur- a good place to picnic, swim and enjoy the panoramic view of the picturesque Great Sound. Designed so it couldn’t be sighted from the sea, the 19th-century fort was built by the British in case of an American attack on the dockyard. Find the weather stone – its forecasts are never wrong.

*Fort St Catherine- Built in 1614, the largest and most fascinating of the island’s fortifications. Perched above the beach in the north west of the island, the stone ramparts and interior are both well preserved. Inside there is a museum dedicated to Bermuda’s military history.

Click here to virtually experience Bermuda Island and connect with a Romance Travel Specialist.

 

Taking Mark Zuckerberg’s Travel Challenge on!

You may have seen Mark Zuckerberg’s travel challenge on facebook, he is challenging us to travel 12 times this year!

“Can you visit 12 new places you’ve never been, meet someone new, will you accept this travel challenge and join us?”

I know visiting 12 new places is a lot, but really if you break it down, you can go to one new place every month. The places don’t need to be far away, you don’t have to jump on a jet plane and fly across the country, although that would be nice, but not realistic for most people, atleast not 12 times a year!

But you could get out of your own backyard, take a half-hour drive, to see something you’ve never seen.
Maybe go to a new restaurant, try a new coffee shop, check out a new wine tasting bar, or drive to that quaint little town you keep hearing about!

You get the picture! So, grab your favorite travel buddy and hop on this travel challenge ride…….
Lets make 2017 the year of new experiences, new sites, new friends, lets travel Gods world together one city, one beach, one country at a time, claim it!

Follow us on facebook and share your travel challenge experiences with us, where are you going this month?

We will be live on facebook this weekend at our first travel challenge destination, follow us.

See you on the road!
Robin  XO