A romantic escape at The Aston Mahana at Kaanapali

Walk into your room at the Aston Mahana Resort at Kaanapali and you will fall in love with the ambiance, sights, and decor. We did. As newlyweds looking for a private, tranquil, romantic getaway, the Aston Mahana Resort at Kaanapali was perfect.

Entering our room we were greeted with the extraordinary ocean view of Kaanapali shores and the nearby islands. Arriving around sunset we enjoyed a breathtaking sunset while sipping our favorite cocktails from our private balcony. At this moment I thought life couldn't get much better. But it did!

As golf fanatics we couldn't wait to play a round at one of the four nearby championship golf courses. After a day of perfecting our swings, we decided to jump in the deliciously warm waters of the Pacific. A sunset swim was the perfect way to unwind before a night out in Maui. Known for its world class dining we had many choices when deciding where to eat, all delicious. Strolling through the streets of the nearby Whalers Village and Lahaina we had our choice of first class restaurants, shopping, and museums.

The clear skies, white sands, and turquoise water of Kaanapali are unforgettable. We couldn't take enough pictures while snorkeling and exploring the live coral reef right outside the hotel. Swimming alongside the dolphins and colorful fish was spectacular!

All rooms at the resort feature ocean views, custom furnishings, and a private balcony allowing you to experience the beauty and charm of Maui. The staff at The Aston Mahanana Resort at Kaanapali were phenomenal, working to make our stay unforgettable.

We plan to relive the romance and tranquility of our honeymoon each year when returning to the resort for our anniversary, escaping reality and falling in love once more.

Experience Maui at the Aston Kaanapali Shores Resort

The Aston Kaanapali Shores, Maui is a deluxe beachfront condominium resort that will make you feel at home the moment you arrive. The resort combines the comfort and ease of a spacious condominium with five star hotel amenities.

The resort offers spacious Hotel Rooms, Studio, 1-, and 2-bedroom Suites, with the choice of a garden or ocean view. All suites come with a private balcony, perfect for watching the spectacular sunrises and sunsets of Maui. If you chose the ocean view suites you will be greeted by the stunning crystal clear water of the Pacific. The garden view suites showcase the beautiful tropical gardens.

Take the time to sunbathe in one of the two resort’s pools or stroll along the white sand beaches. If adventure and excitement is what you're looking for the resort offers complementary scuba lessons to experience the underwater beauty of Maui. Be sure to explore the wonders of Maui such as whale watching and hiking through the lush rainforests of Iao Valley. Lookout for a magnificent rainbow cresting over the Iao Needle, a natural rock pinnacle which rises 2,300 feet above the valley's floor,- a truly unforgettable sight. If you're an early riser make sure to catch the dazzling sunrise over the 10,000-foot summit of Haleakala Crater, the largest dormant volcano. But if action and adventure aren't for you, stroll through Lahaina, a lively community of West Maui. Lahaina will satisfy everyone's desires; shopping, dinning, visiting museums and art galleries, or dancing the night away.

Located on the northwest shore of Maui, the resort is close to Kaanapali West Maui Airport and world class golf courses. To excite your taste buds make sure to taste the delicious American and Pacific Rim cuisine at the resort’s restaurant, The Beach Club. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, this beachfront restaurant transforms from at night to a romantic candle and torch lit culinary escape. The seafood pasta and Lava Flow beverage are a must while dining at the Beach Club.

As the second largest island, with over 120 miles of beaches Maui and the Aston Kaanapali Shores Resort has something for everyone, so come and see why no one can resist the charm of Maui.

Aston Kauai Beach at Makaiwa

Flying into the beautiful island of Kauai we immediately knew we had chosen the perfect honeymoon getaway, with the lush green landscape, crystal clear azure water, and the endless stretches of white sand beaches. When we arrived at The Aston Kauai Beach Resort we were personally greeted with leis and delicious cocktails and then escorted to our romantic ocean view room. Not only did we have an ocean view room but the room was unbelievable, decorated in distinct Polynesian designs with touches of dark tropical wood tones in furniture and shuttered doors that open to a private balcony perfect for enjoying a romantic sunset.

Everything during our stay at The Aston Kauai Beach Resort was perfect.The resort is centrally located amid a coconut on 10 oceanfront acres. Kauai may move a at a slower pace but we were never bored, whether catching some rays by the pool or on the beach, exploring the breathtaking scenery, enjoying a round of golf, or stars gazing. As adventure lovers we loved exploring the island. We escaped reality hidden in the romantic Fern Grotto, a cave cloaked in mist and tropical ferns. We took a helicopter ride over the stunning Napali Coast, a dramatic 15-mile stretch where sheer cliffs meet the ocean. Another day we took lunch to go and picnicked at the awe-inspiring Wailua Falls, an 80-foot waterfall. After a day of exploring the many treasures of Kauai there was nothing better than unwinding with a relaxing couples massage at the resorts day spa and a romantic dinner.

There was no shortage of delicious food, from the resorts open air restaurant, The Voyager Grille Restaurant, to one of the many island bars and restaurants. No matter what your price point is we always found a delectable bite to tingle our senses.


We couldn't have picked a more romantic destination. Kauai is a breathtaking escape that will not disappoint. The Aston Kauai Beach Resort definitely lives up to the surrounding beauty of the island. It is more than a resort, but a destination that unites the warmth and hospitality of Hawaii with its rich oceangoing history, ancestry and legends.

Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel

The Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel is located on the beautiful Oahu coastline in the exciting cosmopolitan town of Honolulu. If you're looking for an action packed vacation this is the place for you.

Oahu offers travelers an unforgettable experience, with a diversity of attractions and activities. Whether you desire dancing the night away, playing a round of gold at one of the championship golf courses, hiking through the lush green trails to a tropical waterfall, or taking a step back to enjoy the architectural landmarks and spectacular beaches. Whether it's a quiet and secluded beach or a beach alive with constant activity Oahu has what you want.

Like the island The Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel is fun, exciting, and full of life. Located on the most scenic part of the beautiful Waikiki Beach you will always be sure to get the best spot on the beach. Or enjoy lounging poolside sipping your favorite cocktail.

Almost all rooms enjoy a beautiful ocean view, feature vibrant striking tropical colors and cool decor, reminiscent of Hawaiian nostalgia in an urban, energetic style.

The hotel offers free daily breakfast with the option to experience the majestic Oahu sunrise enjoying breakfast on the beach. Seeing the island is a must and The Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel takes care of all your needs with sightseeing buses departing from the hotel to show you the breathtaking attractions of Oahu. The hotel is also walking distance from the famous Oahu Zoo, Aquarium, and Diamond Head.

The Beautiful Royal Lahaina Resort, Maui

The Beautiful Royal Lahaina Resort on Kaanapali beach, Maui is an ideal escape for a romantic honeymoon. Located on 27 tropical acres along the pristine secluded Kaanapali beach, take the time to relax and unwind at The Royal Lahaina.

The oceanfront resort offers luxurious guestrooms and suites in the Lahaina Kai Tower or quaint low-rise garden and beachside cottages reminiscent of Hawaii’s Plantation era.


The Royal Lahaina is the perfect Hawaiian destination no matter what your desire. Unwind in a beachside cabana and take a dip in the clear blue water, or swim in one of three pools, two of which are oceanfront. If action is what you desire, play a set of tennis, a round of golf at the championship Royal Kaanapali Golf Course, or snorkel and discover the underwater beauty of Maui.

After a day of relaxing, exploring, or perfecting your swing, the nightlife will be sure to tingle your senses. The resort offers open air two restaurants overlooking the majestic Maui coastline, The Royal Ocean Terrace and Basil Tomatoes. After enjoying a delicious dinner under the stars, satisfy your sweet tooth at the resorts ice cream parlor or sip cocktails at one of the resorts' three bars.

No visit to Hawaii is complete without experiencing a luau and The Royal Lahaina is home to Maui's favorite and longest running luau. As the sun sets the air echoes with the sound of the conch shell and the beating of drums, signaling the start of an exciting Polynesian Luau. Enjoy a breathtaking celebration of traditional Hawaiian, Tahitian and Samoan dance and music as the performers weave the legends of the South Pacific into a truly magical evening.


The island of Maui is a magical destination with its tropical breezes, swaying palm trees and fragrant flowers. This beautiful island offers the perfect escape that will be truly unforgettable.

Royal Kona- Hawaii Big Island

We arrived late in the evening and were greeted by a friendly and efficient front desk staff. We were immediately upgraded to an ocean view in the Ali'i Tower, because we had booked our stay as a honeymoon. A bottle of champagne and two glasses awaited us in our room - and what a room! The view is stunning, and the room was classy, comfortable and clean. My husband was happy to find a 32" flat screen TV in the room. (We had to watch the Olympics occasionally) ;)

The resort was built with nature in mind. It blended into the scenery without disrupting the balance and grandeur of nature, while preserving the prehistoric landscape. It rested like a giant eagles nest perched on rocky cliffs overlooking the hypnotic waters of the majestic bay. Man and nature blending their resources to create a mixture of serenity and prestigious comfort. The Royal Kona Resort fulfilled our need for tranquility, entertainment and inspirational bewilderment.

The staff, from the housekeeping to the front staff, and the bar & restaurant wait staff were fantastic! The front desk staff was very friendly and eager to make our stay comfortable; the housekeeping staff was also friendly and very keen on refreshing our towels and cleaning our room as often as possible. The wait staff was friendly and fast, you have to try the "topless mai tai", and I would also recommend the Ono Fish Tacos. We liked to grab the lounger style chairs with the foot rests when we went down for drinks and/or food at Don the Beachcombers. Great place to catch the sunset. :)

We had breakfast once at the buffet at the Royal Kona's restaurant. It was fairly comparable to most breakfast buffets around, price-wise (around $16 per person). The bar fridge came in very handy. The in-room picnics can save a good chunk of cash, for those looking to cut costs on their holiday budget. Lulu's just across the street has a $5 breakfast deal on the weekends. Tasty eats, great price, can beat it!
Mahina Pizza was one of our favorite places for good food at a good price. Pizza, subs, mostly casual fare. The Big Island Grill is a favorite with locals. Delicious food, HUGE portions, and very reasonable prices. Kona Brewery & Pub - worth the wait to get a table. Serious flavor country! Again with the huge portions, pretty reasonable prices, and one heckuva beer! I recommend the Fire Rock Pale Ale. :) The Kona Canoe club is a little more pricey, but not too bad. Great view, conveniently located in the Kona Shopping Village, and they make a mean mai tai. We just had drinks and "pu pu's", a nice place for a light lunch. Bongo Ben's is a good restaurant, delicious food, a bit more expensive, but overall not too bad. Last but not least, we took in "Huggo's Java on the Rocks". I enjoyed kicking off the sandals and being barefoot in the sand while having lunch. Good service and good eats - a nice place to hit up for happy hour.


The grounds are gorgeous! We got a bit snap-happy and couldn't stop taking pictures. It has the look of a luxury resort, without the luxury resort price tag. The lagoon area is really nice, like your own beach on the resort. At times, the public beaches can be rough and more rock than sand (usually in the winter months). Having your own private lagoon was a nice touch. There's a nice beach just a few minutes walk south of the hotel, but you can get pushed around by the waves, keep an eye out for high surf advisories. There was always a lounger available by the pool. Great place to kick back with a book, or for a quick dip without the salt water. The location is perfect. It's right on Ali'i Drive, which is littered with shops, restaurants, some historical points of interest and beaches.

The Royal Kona is the only resort style hotel located this close to the amenities. The other popular hotels, such as the Sheraton, or the Hilton were at least a half hour cab ride away from the downtown area. We didn't need to rent a car at all during our 2 week stay. Which was good, because the car rental companies were sold out for our entire stay.

Luxiorious Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii Big Island

The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii is located next to Pauoa Bay, a 25-minute drive from the town of Waimea and 22 miles from the Kona airport.

The history of the resort begins hundreds of years ago on the Kohala Coast in a region known as Kalahuipua’a. This is the birthplace of the Hawaiian King Kamehameha I, the king who conquered and united the Hawaiian Islands in the early 19th century. The history of this region is richly preserved in archeological sites, lava formations, and footpaths leading everywhere from burial sites to cave complexes. The first to develop this beautiful region was Francis Hyde I'i Brown, who is often referred to as the last chief; Brown was a descendent of a member of Kamehameha’s army and a superb statesman and athlete during the 1920’s. In 1972 Brown sold the resort to Mauna Lani Resort, and Kalahuipua'a was renamed Mauna Lani, which means “mountains reaching the heavens,” named in reverence to the five volcanic mountains that surround the Kohala region.

Part of the green Mauna Lani oasis, this ocean-front resort occupies 32 acres with its own white-sand beach and 36 holes of championship golf. 540 guestrooms and suites are well-appointed, with garden or ocean views and private lanais. Fairmont Gold concierge floor also available.

An oceanfront restaurant at this resort on the Big Island of Hawaii serves regional cuisine with nightly Hawaiian music and hula shows. Other dining options include a breakfast restaurant, a sushi bar, a Hawaiian cowboy-themed lounge, and a poolside bar.

The resort offers a 10,000-square-foot freeform pool, a sandy children's pool, and two lava-rock spa tubs. Beachside activities include snorkeling, kayaking, surfing, and turtle watching. Spa Without Walls features oceanfront massage cabanas, while a fitness center has cardiovascular equipment and free weights.
The Keiki Aloha children's program provides supervised activities, including arts and crafts, nature walks, and snorkeling. Resort wear, jewelry, and spa products are sold in the resort's boutiques.

This Hawaii Fairmont has 30,000 square feet of indoor meeting and event space, with event catering, audiovisual equipment, and high-speed Internet access available.

Tamarind Cove Barbados

This is the story of our perfect honeymoon. Perfectly us, that is. And far from perfect. Our trip was the exotic escape that we expected. If you are looking for nightlife and bustling activity-this place is not for you. If you want relaxation, privacy, and romance-this place is definitely for you. If you don't like nature-this place isn't for you. If you like bike rides through the lush forest or a hike with the staff botanist this place is for you.

When we pulled up, there was someone waiting to greet us with peach and anise scented towels to cool our faces. We were escorted into the lobby and offered fresh Tamarind Margaritas. We were taken by golf cart on a tour of the grounds.

To our great surprise were upgraded from standard rooms to one bedroom suites at no extra cost. The rooms and maid service were fantastic and could not have asked for better rooms.

Tamarind Cove has two restaurants: Tangiers, which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the Caribbean-centric, open-air Sasso, open for dinner only, at different times depending on the week. Our favorite restaurant was Sasso. A Bistro you will find inside the Cove. Sasso offers Mediterranean inspired cuisine with a touch of their own. Both the restaurants served great food, although we were only at Taramind for 7 nights, I could see that the menu could NOT get monotonous even if you stayed for 14 nights.

I highly recommend Tamarind! It is truly a peaceful sanctuary. Beautifully designed hotel with all you could wish for!

Kapalua Villas

Maui no ka oi. We all hear it and for most of us, it's very true, Maui is indeed "the best."

I arrived in Maui on a Saturday this year and spent most of the day preparing ourselves for the days ahead.

As I walk into the open and airy lobby of the Kapalua Villas and am greeted by a grand sweeping view of the Maui coastline, ocean and beyond to the islands of Molokai and Lanai. This alone makes me weak in the knees.

The front desk staff was extremely nice and accommodating. The bell staff was very friendly and everyone at this hotel had a wonderful "Aloha" each time I saw them. The room was beautifully furnished and I feel that I got what I paid for. I stayed at the Ridge Villas. Ocean view villas sit on the top of the ridge and offer sweeping views of the Pacific, and the islands of Lanai and Molokai and the distance. In winter, you can see whales playing in the water just off the gorgeous beaches that lie below. You can also see the golf course on the other side, so it's kind of like the best of both worlds.

Everything that you need is nearby. The supermarkets in Napili and Kahana are just a short drive away. You can pick up some groceries, cook your own dinner and eat it outside on the lanai while watching the sunset.


Kapalua Villas Maui does not have an on-site restaurant, but the next-door Kapalua Bay Hotel and Ritz-Carlton Kapalua offer 11 restaurants. You can either walk there, or take a free shuttle. My favorite restaurant was The Banyan Tree (located at Ritz-Carlton Kapalua). This 4-diamond restaurant specializes in "eclectic Pacific cuisine". Food is really extraordinary, it is also a favorite for Sunday Champagne Brunch. Perfect spot for sunset cocktails and dinner

Kapalua is known as one of the finest golf resorts in the world and has the accolades to prove it. Kapalua is ranked in the top 30 of the "Top 100 Golf Resorts in the World, 2003" and listed as one of the "50 Best Golf Resorts in North America" in 2001 and 2002 by Condé Nast Traveler. The resort community is the setting for three award-winning 18-hole golf courses, one of which is home to the PGA Tour's Mercedes Championship each January and all three of which have been named among the top seven courses in Hawaii by Golf Digest.

My favorite part of the trip was with no doubt the fact that I was able to sit under the shade of a tree, looking out over the pineapple plantation and ocean stretched out before me, feeling the warm breeze on my face, far removed from the civilization that exists below me.

Garza Blanca Resort

A small city beach located off the Barra Navidad road at Km 7.5 on the way to Mismaloya, this white sand beach is framed with palms and crystal clear water that laps the shoreline.

The upscale resort of Garza Blanca, is located just 10 minutes south of Puerto Vallarta, in a beautiful private nature reserve, surrounded by the vibrant colors of the sandy beaches, the lush jungle and the ocean.
Overlooking Banderas Bay, this contemporary hotel is set amid the verdant hills and mountains of a nature preserve. Walking paths lead guests to the secluded beach just below.

The hotel features a private beach, an outdoor pool, a children's pool, and a spa tub. The multilingual staff can provide sightseeing recommendations and arrange tours, and babysitting/childcare is available.

While in Puerto Vallarta, enjoy an unforgettable dining experience here at Garza Blanca. Blanca Blue restaurant has a superb menu that includes exquisite international specialties, as well as an extensive selection of wines, premium liquors, and exotic cocktails to please the most demanding customer.

For a romantic evening, guests can arrange a private candlelit dinner on the beach.