When your peers across the world wide web deem a Hotel to be Australia’s Best, then it’s worth a look. Recently claiming this title on travel site Tripadvisor®, the luxury Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa is setting a new standard in holistic health and relaxation.

We are talking wholeness, purity and radiance, which, quite frankly, sounds just a bit fantastic. In particular for that relaxing honeymoon, or a even a sophisticated ladies weekend away!

In a bid to ensure that they remain a leader in the industry, internationally renowned Spa Whisperer, Nigel Franklyn has been tasked to train and counsel the resort’s Timeless Spa therapists; ensuring guests continue to experience the absolute best in world-class treatment.

Further to this, the Hotel has chosen the internationally acclaimed Australian skin care and spa brand Sodashi for guests to enjoy in all suites and amenities. The products contain 100 per cent all natural Australian ingredients and require less water treatment, ensuring thoughtful consideration for the environment.

“With Sodashi as our exclusive spa product provider, guests can now look forward to a holistic Australian wellbeing experience” said Joost Heymeijer, General Manager, Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa.

I’m certainly dreaming of a weekend of spa treatments and views across the valley, and with the addition of a steam room, sauna, jacuzzi and plunge pool AND a couples treatment room, I think my husband would certainly see the benefit!

For more information or to book a stay, contact the Emirates Wolgan Valley Reservations Team.

Destinations, Honeymoons, Location Australia | Comments 2

We all Google. It’s almost becoming second-nature to do so when posed with any query or quandary. I probably Google in my sleep! And finding the perfect Honeymoon location is no less an exhaustive search. So what if there was some way to narrow the search, particularly when looking for that unique luxury escape? The clever folk at Welcome Beyond have done just that, with a tantalising selection of the inspirational locations for the honeymoon to remember.

They hand-pick places that are truly original, with many notable for their distinctive architecture and design. Some border on quirky, several are quite posh, and a few are downright rustic. But what all of their properties have in common is that they’re exclusive – in the best sense of the word. Each is singular, memorable and definitely worth writing home about.

Forodhani House in Lamu, Kenya

This is why we love it! We know that you Dotties love to venture beyond the norm, and find new ideas and sights – not to mention, incredible beauty. I for one have been closer and closer to convincing myself that a second honeymoon (only a year after the first one) is definitely in order! Here are my two picks.

Villa Maya in Tangalle, Sri Lanka - A serene and tranquil retreat, with impeccable interior design. Attractions nearby include a turtle sanctuary, dolphin and whale watching, and Udawalawe, an elephant reserve.

Dar Darma in Marrakesh, Morocco – A breathtaking private residence in the heart of the Marrakech Medina, near the vibrant markets of the main city. Take in a Moroccan design tour that visits local artisans and showrooms.

Destinations, Honeymoons | Comments 1

Elena and Davide

Italy has to be one of my favourite places for a destination wedding and today’s wedding from Igloo Photo does nothing to squash my Italian fantasies! Everything about today’s wedding is so representative of what I love about Italy and I hope you’ll enjoy the story just as much as I do!

The bride chose a stunning gown from Antonio Marras and featured embroidered grambiule.

The couple married at Madonna del Latte Gionzana. Carla and Fabio from Igloo Photo say, “Despite having the wonderful Lago Maggiore near, groom and bride have opted for the rice fields, they married in a splendid little church with wonderful medieval frescoes. The location for the wedding reception was held in a real greenhouse, where the owners grow and sell flowers for generations. ”

Elena describes the wedding as, “An art nouveau wedding in paddy fields of Piedmont.”

Guests were gifted succulents as favors (that doubled as a seating chart) which tied into the gorgeous greenhouse wedding venue of Jardin a Vivre.

The reception even featured fire eaters.

Congratulations Elena and Davide! Thank you for sharing your beautiful day with us! Thank you also to Igloo Photo for sharing today’s wedding with us!

Honeymoons, Inspired Destination Weddings, Location Europe | Comments 3

With your honeymoon on the horizon, the next step is to stock up on a few classics to while away the time, whether it be on a plane, train or reclining by a body of water!  And what better way to purchase a favourite read than by supporting a charity and buying a pre-loved edition? World of Books offers just this, an opportunity to save money, help the environment, and make a difference simply by selecting a second-hand book from their website.

The books are sorted, graded on quality and then priced to suit, easily accessible and at bargain basement prices! This idea particularly appeals to me, as I read so many books that I then donate along my travels all over the world, it feels good to be able to officially be a part of the ongoing life-cycle of a classic novel.

I’ve found two of my favourites on World of Books at a steal, and I wanted to share a quick snapshot of them both. Perhaps you’re on the look-out for that perfect honeymoon read and need a couple of tips!

Harper Lee – To Kill A Mockingbird 

Yes, a well-known and loved classic. But Harper Lee’s novel of racial inequality and injustice has endured for a reason. It is renowned for its warmth and humour, despite dealing with the serious issues, and remains topical, relevant and of course, beautifully written. Published July 11, 1960, To Kill a Mockingbird was an immediate bestseller and won great critical acclaim, including the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1961. It remains a bestseller with more than 30 million copies in print

Harper Lee only gave the world the gift of this one novel, about which she famously stated “I have said what I wanted to say and I will not say it again.” It has stayed with me since I first read it as a teenager, and I still pull it out to read every year or so.

Arundhati Roy – The God of Small Things

This wonderous and sweeping narrative is also the only work produced by its author, Arundhati Roy, her debut novel published in 1997. The book is a description of how the small things in life affect people’s behaviour and their lives, the repercussions of your choices. The story shifts in time and space, and covers countries and continents, with her ability to voice the thoughts and dreams of children one of the most effective I’ve encountered.

The God of Small Things is a fascinating read that transports you to India, with its heat, its people and its politics.

Honeymoon Essentials, Honeymoons | Comments 1

In continuing with our love of all things French, we decided to follow up our amazing wedding with a romantic French getaway that also incorporated Northern Spain/Basque region as well. Starting our journey in Versailles we spent a couple of nights staying in a beautiful bed and breakfast situated next to the Palace of Versailles gardens. We ate croissants for breakfast and strolled the palace gardens while at night dined in some up and coming restaurants. From there, we made our way by car to the Loire Valley where we sampled local wine from Vouvray while on a wine and cheese tour with a couple, who were originally from Toowoomba, Qld! After a couple of days we continued south to the Dordogne region, staying at another bed and breakfast in a very old medieval town, Sarlat. Famous for its foie gras and walnuts, we enjoyed exploring the incredibly preserved 11th century town and surrounding regions.

Not letting a puncture in our hire car slow us down, we managed to speak what little french we knew to get it changed at a garage and, then set off on our way to Spain. Escaping the chill of France, we arrived in San Sebastian, Spain staying in the beautifully restored Maria Cristina Hotel. We enjoyed a week of exploring San Sebastian and the surrounding Basque region. We visited a farm where they have won multiple awards for the delicious sheep’s cheese as well as visiting a small town; the home of the famous fashion house Balenciaga. Nights were spent staying up late at yummy Tapas’ bars sampling all the amazing food and washing it down with the local white wine, Txacoli.

After leaving Spain we made our way back to France and caught the very fast TGV train back to Paris. We ended our honeymoon spending a glorious week in Paris. We dined at Epicure restaurant in the  prestigious Le Bristol Hotel; located on rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, the heart of Paris’ fashion and arts district. Celebrating my 30th Birthday while in Paris, we attended the Ballet at the famous Bastille Opera National de Paris.

Overall, our honeymoon was a magical exploration of the French countryside and Basque region providing us with experiences we won’t forget – a perfect way to end a perfect wedding….

Images from Kirstie and Ben’s collection

Ms Gingham says: Kirstie shared her gorgeous wedding with us a while back and now we get to hear all about her amazing honeymoon! Attending the ballet at the Opera Garnier sound like the best birthday present ever!!!

Honeymoons, Location Europe, My Honeymoon | Comments 0