It’s that time of year when thoughts turn to romance, and who knows, your clients might have a proposal in mind, so we asked agents for the most romantic holidays they’ve ever booked. The replies ranged from Sunderland to Sydney (via Anfield!). We’ve picked six of the most unusual responses.
Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur, California
Perched on a cliff top, 1,200 feet above the Pacific Ocean, the 40-room Post Ranch Inn blends rustic charm with elegant living, and every room offers majestic mountain or sea views. Its award-winning Sierra Mar restaurant promises ‘exquisite dining’, with a menu that changes daily, and jaw-dropping views.
Travel Designer Janet MacTavish booked clients into Post Ranch Inn for a proposal. “The staff are amazing, the scenery is breathtaking, and the rooms facing the ocean are just wow!” she said. “There are no TVs and everything just feels unhurried. Couples get to switch off and spend time together.”
The trip Janet booked included a self-drive along the iconic Highway 1 – which is just within touching distance of the Post Ranch Inn – in a convertible. “I don’t remember what the car was, but knowing my client, it was probably a Mustang!” said Janet.
The good news is that the road, also known as the Pacific Coast Highway, which was partially closed for three years following landslides, is now fully open in both directions. Oh, and she said ‘yes’!
Beverly Wilshire, Los Angeles and Bora Bora, French Polynesia
One for Pretty Woman fans, the Beverly Wilshire provided the elegant setting for this iconic 1990s rom-com starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. Located at the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Rodeo Drive, this Four Seasons Hotel promises ‘designer shopping, fine dining and postcard-worthy views’.
Diane McKee of Stewart Travel, Irvine booked a client into the Beverly Wilshire ‘because Pretty Woman was her favourite movie’, and combined it with a stay in Bora Bora.
Isla Stenning MacCallum, Senior Faraway Sales Consultant at Vista, said Bora Bora would be her first choice for a romantic getaway. “An over-water bungalow at St Regis in Bora Bora is just wow!” she said.
A Lapland wedding
Sun and Snow Weddings in Finland crafted a unique ceremony at the Snow Chapel in Levi for Karen Greenwood’s clients at Coast to Coast Holidays. The chapel is handmade every year.
“The bride and groom arrived by a reindeer-drawn sleigh and there were fireworks after the ceremony,” said Karen.
“I’m not sure if the Northern Lights were glowing that night, but they were shining on the night they arrived!”
Guests also enjoyed winter activities such as snowmobile rides and a visit to a reindeer farm.
Lizard Island Resort, Great Barrier Reef
Not Just Travel agent Tracey Savage booked a couple into an Oceanview Villa at Australia’s Lizard Island Resort as part of a no-expense-spared 51-day trip Down Under.
Favoured by royalty, including Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, and celebrities such as Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom and Russell Crowe, Lizard Island was where Tracey’s clients opted to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary.
Tracey arranged for flowers and Champagne on arrival, a ‘candle and rose petal room service’, private snorkelling at Mermaid Bay, a private lunch for two on Sunset Beach, and dinner at the resort’s restaurant overlooking the Great Barrier Reef.
They flew to Lizard Island from Cairns after spending the night at the Crystalbrook Collection Riley. Their holiday also included stays at the Reef House Resort and Spa in Palm Cove, Sails in the Desert Resort at Uluru, the Sudima Hotel in Auckland and The Boatshed Waiheke Island, also in New Zealand.
Six Senses Con Dao, Vietnam
Former Kuoni employee Gemma Rees says she ‘always dreamed’ of visiting the Six Senses Con Dao, and it exceeded her expectations. “I’ve been to Six Senses hotels and, for me, the setting and the villas are the main reason I’d say this is the most romantic of them all,” she said.
“The beach at Con Dao is stunning with beautiful sunrises. All the villas have pools and four-poster beds,” added Gemma, who is joining Pinch Travel.
“The service is by far the best I’ve experienced. You have a Guest Entertainment Manager who takes care of all the little touches, even putting treats in your room with little notes.
“It was by far the most romantic place I’d ever stayed in.”
A wedding on Turtle Island, Fiji
Local children formed the choir, the groom arrived by boat rowed by Fijian warriors, and there was a red carpet on the sand lined with fire lights at ‘the truly spectacular’ sunset wedding on Turtle Island, organised by Lucia Campanella, now with Designer Travel.
It was simple to organise as it was all arranged through the hotel, said Lucia.
The resort has just 14 villas on the iconic Blue Lagoon, each secluded by lush vegetation. The Grand Beachfront villas have a walk-in double shower as well as an outdoor shower and an ‘intimate’ veranda with a queen-size day bed.
An underwater proposal in the Maldives
Where better to propose than on the seabed in the Indian Ocean, surrounded by tropical fish? The good news is that the happy couple didn’t need to get wet or learn to scuba dive for this underwater proposal, which was organised by Somak Trade Engagement Manager Scott Cumming when he was a Hays Travel agent.
He booked them a table at the all-glass 5.8 Undersea restaurant in Hurawalhi, Maldives and arranged a diver to hold a sign against the window that said ‘Will you marry me?’ as the would-be groom got down on one knee. The proposal was filmed by another diver.
“The couple had both been regular clients of mine, separately, then they got together and he came to me with a request for a location for his proposal. I knew he was a foodie, so I thought the 5.8 Undersea restaurant, which is 5.8 metres under the sea, would be perfect.
“I booked them into Kudadoo island, then they travelled by speedboat to the restaurant on Hurawalhi.
“I used to be a diving instructor, so I arranged for two local divers to film the whole thing!”
