Ten Best Honeymoon Spots in Hawaii

 The beaches, the water, the Aloha Spirit... It's hard to go wrong with a honeymoon in Hawaii. Romance is everywhere you turn. These 10 hotels and resorts are some of most decadent and dreamy on the Hawaiian Islands. Enjoy a beautiful sunset from the privacy of your beachfront cabana, explore the undersea world with your partner, or relax at one of the many award-winning spas.

1.Sheraton Keauhou Bay

What: Sheraton Keauhou Bay sits on an ancient black lava flow near the birthplace of Hawaii's King Kamehameha III. In this dramatic and romantic setting, guests can do everything from relaxing on the beach to partaking in Hawaiian cultural activities.

Honeymoon Highlights: Keauhou Bay has a special manta ray-viewing point just offshore. Couples can dive or snorkel at night with the manta rays. Those looking to renew their vows (or get married the first time around) can do so underwater with a certified dive master and officiate. 

Where: Sheraton Keauhou Bay is in the historical Keauhou district of the Big Island

Cost: Rooms start at $149

2.Fairmont Orchid

What: The Fairmont Orchid spreads across 32 acres of perfectly manicured gardens along the Pacific. Vast grounds and open plan ensure that there's always a great view. The hotel even has its own lagoon, complete with resident green sea turtles.

Honeymoon Highlights: Couples who enjoy getting pampered should try the outdoor Waterfall Massage, where they can lounge in a hale (private hut) overlooking waterfalls and a koi pond.

Where: The Fairmont Orchid is on the Kohala Coast on The Big Island

Cost: Rooms start at $239 per night

3.Hotel Renew

What: Honeymooners who appreciate a chic, designer boutique hotel will enjoy the 72-room Hotel Renew on Waikiki Beach. The hotel's on-site surf school and sunset surf lessons are a regular hit with couples.

Honeymoon Highlights: The Tie The Knot Newlywed Package features a 20% discount and includes champagne, continental breakfast, Wi-Fi, and beach gear.

Where: Hotel Renew is in Waikiki on Oahu

Cost: Rates start at $159 per night for the Tie the Knot Newlywed Package

4.Kahala Resort

What: The Kahala's 6.5 acres of crescent beach, tropical gardens, and waterfalls seem far removed, but the resort is only minutes from Honolulu's cosmopolitan atmosphere. Five bottlenose dolphins frequent the private lagoon -- but they aren't the resort's only celebrities. A walk through the hotel's photo gallery shows that The Kahala has hosted everyone from US presidents to rock stars.

Honeymoon Highlights: Honeymooners receive a $50 resort credit to use toward activities or a meal at Hoku's restaurant. The Kahala's "Kissing Point" is one of the most beautiful spots on the island to watch the colorful Hawaiian sunset.

Where: The Kahala is minutes from Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Oahu

Cost: Rates start at $395 per night

5.Grand Hyatt Kauai

What: The Grand Hyatt Kauai hosts about 250 destination weddings each year, and is even more popular with honeymooners. This 50-acre resort has wide, white sand beaches, a saltwater lagoon, an adult pool, a lazy river, hula lessons, and ukulele lessons. Hidden nooks have double hammocks and more privacy, for guests who prefer a little solitude.

Honeymoon Highlights: Honeymooners receive a bottle of sparkling wine in each room and a private cabana reservation. In Anara Spa, honeymooners receive a 15% discount on the half-day Romance Journey or three-hour Kauai Lover's Escape spa treatments, which take place in a private outdoor hale near a lava rock shower and ginger steam grotto.

Where: Grand Hyatt Kauai is in Koloa on Kauai

Cost: Rooms start at $360 per night

6.Ko'a Kea

What: Kauai's only luxury boutique, Ko'a Kea, was renovated in 2009 with honeymooners in mind. This low-key hotel on Poipu Beach skips over the man-made trappings of other resorts and instead emphasizes the serenity of its surroundings.

Honeymoon Highlights: The Tropical Desire Package includes breakfast, a one-hour couple's massage, three-course dinner for two, and a midsize rental car.

Where: Ko'a Kea is in the town of Koloa on Poipu Beach in Kauai

Cost: Rates start at $329. The Tropical Desire Package starts at $615 per night.

7. Courtyard Kaua'i

What: The Courtyard Kaua'i at Coconut Beach is a 311-room property that feels more like a boutique hotel because of its attention to detail. This secluded oceanfront accommodation will unveil its $15 million renovation in January 2012.

Honeymoon Highlights: Honeymooners enjoy welcome cocktails, fresh flowers, and Hawaiian cookies during turn-down service. For a real treat, try to book the ocean-front Discovery Suite, which boasts a full kitchen, Jacuzzi, and private lanai. 

Where: The Courtyard Kaua'i at Coconut Beach is in Kapa'a on Kauai

Cost: The starting rate for a room is $199 per night

8. Grand Wailea

What: Honeymooners visiting Grand Wailea will enjoy a particular combination of decadence and Hawaiian culture. Grand Wailea has one of the most valuable and largest collections of international art in the Hawaiian islands, a farm-to-table dining series, the largest hotel spa in Hawaii, the only specialized scuba pool in Hawaii, and Maui's best resort restaurant.

Honeymoon Highlights: The Romance Me Maui package offers couples a side-by-side two-hour spa session, a four-course dinner with exclusive wine-pairing, bottle of champagne, and Hawaiian flower petal turndown service.

Where: Grand Wailea is in Wailea on Maui

Cost: Rates begin at $399 per night. The Romance Me Maui Package starts at $1,776 for five days and four nights' accommodation.

9. Ka'anapali Beach Hotel

What: Honeymooners seeking an authentic Hawaiian experience should consider Ka'anapali Beach Hotel. The hotel, which sits along three miles of one of Hawaii's most romantic beaches, has been named "Hawaii's Most Hawaiian Hotel" by the Waiaha Foundation due to its authentic details and Hawaiian cultural classes.

Honeymoon Highlights: In the interest of preserving and promoting Hawaiian culture, the hotel has established a unique Po'okela program. Guests can learn how to hula, play the ukulele, make grass skirts and leis, pound poi, and much more.

Where: The resort is near Lahaina on Maui

Cost: Rooms start at $159 per night, which includes a welcome breakfast, nightly luau, lei ceremony, and Po'okela classes

10. Four Seasons Maui at Wailea

What: For couples who truly love the finer things in life, the Four Seasons Maui at Wailea can provide a luxurious and romantic atmosphere on the shores of Maui. The resort boasts one of the country's top-rated spas and three of Hawaii's most critically acclaimed restaurants.

Honeymoon Highlights: A concierge can help with any romantic request, but the resort features two popular options. For the Bougainvillea Trail option, gardeners hand-pick bougainvilleas from the grounds and set up a trail from door to bed, complete with chilled champagne. The Ultimate Romantic Dinner brings private, fine dining to the beach. The Four Seasons Resort Maui chef creates a five-course meal for couples at a private table on the beach set with fine crystal, silver, china, and tropical flowers.

Where: The Four Seasons Maui is in Wailea on Maui

Cost: Rates start at $485 per night. The Bougainvillea Trail option costs $125. The Ultimate Romantic Dinner option costs $750.

Source: Popularworldnews

World's Amazing Places to Spend Christmas

Taos, New Mexico

 Located in Northern New Mexico, Travel+Leisure has identified Taos as a prime place to spend Christmas due to its mix of cultural traditions and magical beauty throughout the holiday season. Major sights to see include Ledoux Street and the American Indian Christmas Eve celebration. The Taos Ski Resort is a mere 18 miles away, but you could also settle a little closer to the center of town at the El Monte Sagrado Living Resort and Spa, suggests the magazine.

 San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

 A Spanish colonial town  in Central Mexico, San Miguel de Allende, features dancing in the main square, posadas reenactments, and  seasonal Christmas foods from the region. Travel+Leisure suggests Casa Sierra Nevada, which is one of six recently renovated 16th to 18th century Spanish colonial mansions welcoming guests. As for the food, they suggest La Capilla, which is located in a centuries-old chapel serving seasonal delicacies.

Tromso, Norway

For a more traditional snowy Christmas, Travel+Leisure suggests the island of Tromso in Norway, where you can view the northern lights between 6 pm and midnight. The area offers everything from dogsledding to a mountaintop cable car, and the magazine suggests the Clarion Hotel for accommodations. The hotel has a rooftop Jacuzzi, perfect for catching views of the night sky. Although the day is only several hours long, going to the arctic circle for Christmas promises to be an unforgettable experience.

Key West, Florida

The popular vacation spot is also a bustling place to stay over the holidays, says Travel+Leisure. Warm temperatures and holiday cheer, mixed with a poolside Christmas breakfast in one of the island's historic hotels makes this area a prime holiday destination. The magazine suggests that you have your holiday dinner at Nine One Five, which mixes tapas with seafood entrees.

Chicago, Illinois

According to Travel+Leisure, Christmas in Chicago is pushed "to the max." With holiday lights strung along the Magnificent Mile, an outdoor German crafts market called "Christkindlmarket," a holiday - themed amusement park and a towering handmade Christmas tree, the Christmas spirit is all around in the country's third largest city. The magazine suggests Hotel Monaco Chicago for your stay, and the eatery at Bin 36, which serves locally sourced menu options.

Vienna, Austria

If you want Christmas tradition, Vienna is the place to be. Travel+Leisure descibes the city as being enveloped with "old-fashioned warmth" during Christmas, with choirs singing, traditional markets selling ornaments and and the aroma of spiced mulled wine filling the streets. Suggested locations are the Ring Hotel, along with its acclaimed restaurant, Eight, which offers four- and five-course Christmas menus.

Quebec City, Canada

For another snowy Christmas site, head over to Quebec City. The 400-year-old town offers a European feel around the holidays, says Travel+Leisure. The magazine suggests a former 19th-century stone warehouse, Auberge St. Anoine, for a place to stay. For holiday dinner, try the 17th-century French recipes served up at Aux Anciens Canadians.

Paraty, Brazil

A half day's drive from Rio de Janeiro  is a Southern Hemisphere location that  features well-preserved Portugese colonial architecture and easy access to rainforests and pristine beaches.Travel+Leisure suggests  you stay 20 minutes from the town's center at the Bambu Bamboo hotel, which offers access to the natural wonders of the area and serves breakfast on the banks of the town's river. They also suggest Voila Bistrot for Christmas dinner, which is considered they area's top restaurant.

Castleton, England

Another great place to spend Christmas is Castleton, England, says Travel+Leisure. The tiny stone village in the island's southwest region is dotted with Christmas trees and features candlelight carolers throughout the holiday season. They suggest the Losehill House Hotel and Spa, which offers special Christmas packages, including an eight-course Christmas meal that begins at 1pm with champagne.

Kaikoura, New Zealand

You won't see a Christmas reindeer, but you might catch a glimpse of sperm whales, fur seals, dusky dolphins, pilot whales and albatross in Kaikoura Bay. This Southern Hemisphere Christmas destination features the Hapuku Lodge and Tree houses, which is an eco-tourism destination of cedar-covered buildings and six tree houses that overlook the bay. The hotel also features a menu of local delicacies, including diamond-shell clams and fava-bean salad. Not the traditional Christmas fare, but this destination promises to be unforgettable, says Travel+Leisure.