Paso Robles Wine Country – Domestic Travel

Posted on September 15, 2020 by Virtual Honeymoon

“Not being able to travel has been difficult but we’ve found safe and effective ways to get out, help local economies, and see the state. We wear our masks and practice social distancing. We make sure where we are going isn’t crowded and others, if anybody is around, are being safe as well. Family or personal road trips are the best way to get around right now and see local areas in your state!

My family and I recently went to Paso Robles to enjoy the beautiful hills and wineries. We traveled to two wineries this trip and I can honestly say I have not felt safer out in public than I did at these two places. Social distancing was in full-effect and all guests were wearing masks the entire time. There were not many people on site when we were there, and those that were on the premises were quite far from us. The two wineries we visited were Justin Cellars and Daou Vineyards.

Justin Cellars is world renown and the wine options are stellar. They offer a lovely tour of the vicinity and gives you the chance to explore the vineyards. They planted the vineyards in 1981 and have been making wines for over 30 years. Scott Shirley, the current winemaker, has been making wine their for over 13 years. At the restaurant, they offer farm-to-table food options as well as a beautifully crafted and wonderfully tasting charcuterie board to pair with your Bordeaux-style wine blends. If you’re an avid fan of theirs, they have a wine society for you to join.

If you look at my personal pictures, you can see that I was staying safe as no others were even close to us! We had pretty much the patio to ourselves and the view was beautiful.

Next on our wine tour was Daou Vineyards which was also incredible! The wine tasting was amazing and social distancing was again in full effect. We had the opportunity to try their home-made olive oil as well which was unbelievable. Daou wines do a fabulous job of mixing their two cultures together with both French and Lebanese style food and wines. The brothers, who own the winery, offer wines dedicated to their Lebanese roots and French home. On top of wine, they make a wonderful olive oil based on their own personal love for their grandfather’s olive grove they used to visit as a child. Daou puts a strong emphasis on the entire wine tasting experience such as entertainment, comfort, and hospitality. Each summer they throw a gala that lasts an entire weekend with cirque-style entertainment and amazing wine and food options to share. Daou also offers a membership option for anyone wanting to join the Daou club.

Please call us today to plan your wine tasting adventure in Paso Robles.”

Lynn Hakam
L & M Travel

Virtual Honeymoon & Couples Resorts launch Virtual Destination Wedding

Posted on August 4, 2019 by Virtual Honeymoon

Virtual Honeymoon has been preparing for the launch of Virtual Destination Wedding for a while now, in preparation of proving that in order to go to the next level of marketing with wedding venues and resorts, you have to be up on the latest technology, which is VR (virtual reality) It’s the next best thing to being there!!!!!

Virtual Honeymoon just launched a pilot program, Virtual Destination Wedding, where they are working with two selected resorts that specialize in destination weddings, in two different destinations. They have had dozens of resorts/brands around the Caribbean and Mexico apply, but the first in their launch was in Jamaica at the Couples Resorts, a favorite of Virtual Honeymoon owner, Robin Hawkey!

Robin Hawkey owner of Virtual Honeymoon hand selected their top Virtual Honeymoon affiliates to travel to Jamaica, site inspect all 4 of the Couples Resorts and help with the launch of Virtual Destination Weddings.Virtual Honeymoon also brought their team of partners who are experts in VR(virtual reality) Photography and Videography to capture the Couples Resorts beauty in their rooms, all their amazing amenities and outstanding and unique wedding venues. virtual honeymoon affiliates
Meet our Romance Travel Exerts above from left to right, Michele Botnick of Lucky n Love Travel, Brooke Stark of Couples Resorts, Kathleen Scallion of Somerset Tours & Travel, Connie Van Hoff of Tranquillity Vacations, Dianne Meyers of Beyond Events & Travel, Mindi Phillips of Beloved Getaways, Cindy Berre of Cindy Berre Travel, Beth Anderson of Journey’s Imagined, Robin Hawkey of Virtual Honeymoon and in front is our brilliant VR photographer, Igor Bjekic of VR Tech Lounge.

Virtual reality videography

Meet our brilliant VR Videographer, Edward of Elite Media Concepts

With a 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, Virtual Honeymoon can help Resorts and Venues capitalize on a big percentage of those weddings by literally dropping a couple into the wedding to experience it without being there, thus doubling wedding bookings!

“This interactive tool saves time, gets your clients excited and ready to book!”

Virtual Destination Wedding is an interactive destination matching tool, Destination Wedding planners use on those time-consuming clients that are “all over the map” find their top two destination matches and virtually experience it before booking, thus closing the sale!

Virtual Destination Wedding software is very intuitive, using scoring + algorithm to search & match destinations…with combining 360* VR technology, we are revolutionizing the way smart agents sell travel!!!

Romance in Los Cabos

Posted on March 13, 2019 by Virtual Honeymoon

Whether you’re going for your honeymoon, anniversary, or to pop the question, if you love the beach and sun, Los Cabos is a great place for lovers.

There are numerous “adult only” resorts in Los Cabos that offer romantic dinners on the beach, tequila tasting, dancing under the stars, seaside swimming pools, beautiful beaches and stunning views of either the sunrise or sunset.

While at your resort, don’t pass on a spa day! Get pampered together with a couple’s massage followed by time in your private jacuzzi tub filled by your butler. Have room service deliver an incredible dinner for two with champagne. Or…dress and meet on the beach for a private, romantic candlelit dinner prepared just for the two of you.

For the more adventurous….

Whale watching is an amazing experience. Humpback whales come each year for feeding and to give birth (December-April). Take a ride out into the ocean on a catamaran and view these amazing creatures in their natural habitat up close and personal.

Explore the county by horseback or even better yet, camel back. You’ll have the opportunity to see gorgeous, untouched beaches, 20-foot cacti and desert flowers in the back drop. Along the way, be sure to look towards the ocean for the humpbacks that swim close to shore for your delight. Riding gives you the freedom and delight to see things you’d never view from a car or bus window.

Hit the town, either Cabo San Lucas or San Jose Del Cabo, for an afternoon of window shopping or looking for those special souvenirs. Stroll hand and hand and view the products of local artists. There are many little restaurants and bistros along the way to stop for a taco and a bottle of local beer, or get adventurous and try a mango margarita, the spicy salt on the rim is what makes it extra tasty.

The best time of year for warm weather to visit Los Cabos is May to mid-July (after the spring breakers) and mid-October-December. August and September can be rainy. January-early March expect cooler weather, especially in the evenings.
These are just a few of the many things you can see and do in Los Cabos, we love sharing this beautiful destination with you as one of many options for a romantic getaway.

For more information on planning your romantic getaway or honeymoon contact: Laura at romanticescapesbylaura.com

Kauai island

Posted on February 13, 2019 by Virtual Honeymoon

Kauai Island – Kauai, known as the ‘Garden Island’ is the island of discovery, with 50 miles of breath taking beaches against the clear Pacific Ocean with its sparkling blue water to its lush tropical rainforest and cascading waterfalls with rushing rivers, colorful valleys and quaint historic small towns, where no building is taller than a coconut tree. ‘Kauai is the island begging to be explored!’

Perfect Weather: Average yearly temperature is a tropical 75-85*degrees

Main City: Lihue

Time Zone: Kauai Island Standard Time 5 hours behind US East Coast & 3 hours behind Pacific time – they do not observe daylight savings time.

Language: English~Hawaiian

Kauai Island top Highlights:

Napili Coast- Take a boat tour along the scenic northshore to experience colorful sea cliffs.
Waimea Canyon- Known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.
Wailua River- Enjoy this scenic river, take in famous Fern Grotto.
Beautiful Beaches- Poipu on the sunny south shore and Hanalei bay on the north shore, experience Kauai’s white sand beaches.
Wailua Falls- Known as the Secret Falls – 80 foot high, as seen on fantasy island.
Spouting Horn- One of the most photographed spots, known as ‘blowhole.’

Exclusive Inclusions: Sample of VIP Perks* at one of our Preferred Resorts:

Free wedding website & honeymoon registry
Upgrade on arrival- based on availability at check-in
Buffet breakfast daily for up to two
Evening appetizer, once during stay
Complimentary daily spa access for 2 ($60 value per day)
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability

Experience Kauai island, contact Virtual Honeymoon to find a Kauai Specialist today!

Virtual Destination Wedding wins Trendsetter of the year award 2018

Posted on July 11, 2018 by Virtual Honeymoon

We are excited to announce Virtual Honeymoon’s sister site, Virtual Destination Wedding won Trendsetter of the year 2018 award for best targeted marketing idea!

Virtual Honeymoon won this honor for Trendsetter of year in 2016 for best targeted marketing idea as well!

While Virtual Honeymoon software runs both virtual matching sites, Virtual Destination Wedding goes a step further in not only matching a couples destination but helps plan their wedding, this helps wedding planners and destination wedding specialists work smarter!

Virtual Destination Wedding story-

What does Trendsetter awards mean? Each year, the TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards recognize travel agency leaders who make an impact on the industry and the community. Two finalists in each category are invited to and honored at the WAVE Awards as guests of their sponsor.

Entries are reviewed and voted on by the sponsors and editorial staff of TravelAge West. Furthermore, suppliers who sponsor the Trendsetter Awards do so not just for publicity – they support the travel agent community and wish to honor those who are making significant strides in the industry.

See the Trendsetter winners in all categories by checking out the July issue of Travelage West Magazine honoring all the recipients held at The Ritz Carlton in Marina Del Ray, California
A huge thank you goes out to Travelage West for our award and Celebrity Cruise line for honoring us with a Europe Cruise, we are so excited!

Virtual Destination Wedding is honored to work with over 200 Destination Wedding Specialists in US and Canada!
If your a travel agent specializing in romance travel or wedding planner, find out how you can work smarter @
VirtualDestinationWedding.com

“This interactive tool saves time, gets your clients excited and ready to book!”

Destination Wedding Specialists & Wedding Planners can try our demo-site below:

Virtual Destination Wedding- Wedding Planners

Virtual Honeymoon in the news!

Posted on November 28, 2017 by Virtual Honeymoon

Robin Hawkey, owner of Virtual Honeymoon, was recently interviewed by Travel Weekly’s Senior editor, Jamie Biesiada 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.

Travel Weekly is the travel industry most trusted magazine source! See below a copy and link to the article.

New website helps agents streamline honeymoon planning

By Jamie Biesiada / October 23, 2017

It’s a problem most agents face on a regular basis: Clients, old or new, want to go on a vacation, but they don’t know where.

Or, maybe they know they want to go “somewhere warm and tropical,” but they haven’t narrowed it down beyond that. With a literal world of possible destinations, the qualifying questions begin.

The situation is one Robin Hawkey knows well. A former agent who specialized in romance travel, she often had clients come to her with little to no idea of where they wanted to go on their honeymoon.

“It’s our jobs as agents to sell them, to match them to the right property,” Hawkey said. “But honestly, when you’re just talking about the destination and trying to narrow that down, that can take weeks, months of your time, and it’s back and forth.”

And sometimes, a much worse scenario plays out: An agent helps clients pick a destination, then they disappear and book it online themselves.

Enter Hawkey’s solution: Virtual Honeymoon.

Using her experience as an agent, Hawkey has created a destination-matching service in the form of an easy online quiz agents can present to clients. The quiz comes on a white-labeled website agents can customize, and it includes destination guides. Hawkey no longer sells travel, instead devoting herself full-time to the company.

Agents first present their clients with a 17-question quiz.

“These are the questions that we would ask if they were sitting in front of us, if we were trying to figure it out, and we pretty much have it down to a science,” Hawkey said. “It’s working extremely well.”

At the end, the clients are presented with their top two matches based on criteria such as travel style and budget, and they can click through to destination guides on those spots.

The website and its components start at $19.95 per month or $191.52 per year (a demo version is live at www.demo.virtualhoneymoon.com). It includes a back-office feature agents can use to make changes or additions to the site that Hawkey said is very easy to use.

Hawkey has added virtual reality (VR) videos to some of the destination pages, and more are being added. She is encouraging agents to purchase headsets to use at in-person client appointments and events like bridal shows.

She has partnered with Canadian company XPLR VR for the videos and directs agents to that company if they wish to purchase headsets. The price point is around $100 per headset.

“I truly feel if [agents] are not going to get in on [VR], they are going to get left behind,” said Hawkey, who describes the videos as “the next best thing to being there.”

It’s something she has had personal success with. While Hawkey no longer sells travel, she decided to do one final destination wedding for her daughter’s best friend and sold the couple on Jamaica using a VR video.

Virtual Honeymoon has been available to agents since last October. Hawkey has not been actively marketing it, but plans to ramp up her efforts soon. Some 60 agents already use Virtual Honeymoon, and Hawkey’s goal is to have 1,000 users by the end of the year. She has also begun approaching consortia about partnerships.

The agents using the tool are all certified as romance travel specialists by the Destination Weddings and Honeymoons Specialists Association.

Lynn Wilson, owner of Shared Travel in Chico, Calif., said she finds the tool useful when couples are unsure of where to honeymoon. She recently purchased two VR headsets to use at an upcoming bridal show. “It’s fun. It’s different. It’s an experience,” she said, adding that the price of the headsets is not prohibitively high, nor are they low quality.

Camille Sanders, owner of Chic Romance Travel in Fresno, Calif., uses Virtual Honeymoon and its quiz as a marketing tool. She includes links to the quiz in her newsletters, on social media and in her signature line of emails. She has also sent it to past clients. “Taking a quick little quiz, it’s fun,” she said. “It doesn’t take very long to do.”

US Virgin Islands ~ St. Thomas, St. John and Water Island

Posted on December 9, 2016 by Virtual Honeymoon

We fell in LOVE with US Virgin Islands!
St. Thomas and St. John as well as Water Island are amazingly beautiful little islands located in US Virgin Islands!
But, let me tell you how we got up close and personal with these 3 beautiful islands, it was unexpected to say the least!
While we were in Puerto Rico we caught a Carnival Cruise out of San Juan which was suppose to take us to 6 Southern Caribbean Islands…..
St. Thomas, St. Martin, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua and St. Kitts!
Well, we made it as far as St. Thomas then the ship caught fire! If you haven’t heard about this you can check out the story here: http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/09/travel/carnival-cruise-liberty-fire-st-thomas-feat/index.html
While thousands of people were flown home, we decided to stay in St. Thomas and make the best of the situation by not only exploring one island but island hopping some other USVI islands such as, St. John and Water Island! “All 3 beauties but for different reasons, read on for our personal recommendations, insights and photos.”

St Thomas, USVI

Starting with breathtaking St. Thomas, with her beautiful white sand beaches, nice boutique resorts, great shops, world winning restaurants, fun pubs, stunning views from the lush hilltops to world class water sports in the crystal clear blue water, there is something for everyone on this jewel of a island, no passport needed!
St. Thomas is home to famous Megan’s Bay, which is a must see when on the island, beautiful soft white sand beach with turquoise water, great for snorkeling or just beaching, you can see some other virgin islands from there in the distance!

Megan Bay, St. Thomas

St. John was next on our list to explore!
Its easy to get to from St. Thomas, just hop on a ferry for less than 30 minutes and arrive at St. John’s quaint Harbor.

St. John USVI

St. John is my personal favorite of the US Virgin Islands, its the smallest, most quaint, friendliest with beautiful white sand beaches, crystal clear water, fun shops, great restaurants, very nice boutique resorts, friendly locals and more than half the island is a protected pristine national park, just waiting to be explored…..they even had my personal daily need, smoothie shops with freshly picked coconut water!!!!!

St. John Smoothie Shop

Next, we found a hidden isle in USVI, the locals told us about, Water Island!
This was one of our favorite beaches, mainly because its called Honeymoon Beach and for good reason, one of the nicest beaches with velvet white sand, pretty remote, as you have to sail in to find it, had a fun food/drink shack, if you ferry in which is about 15 minutes from St. Thomas, Honeymoon Beach will pick you up in a open air truck or golf cart and drop you off at this remote beach, you can also rent a golf cart to explore water island! Love Love Love that island!

Water Island, USVI

Honeymoon Beach – Water Island USVI

Ready to book your Honeymoon but have no idea where to go?
Find your top 2 destination matches at www.Virtualhoneymoon.com

2016 Travelage West Trendsetter awards

Posted on March 4, 2016 by Virtual Honeymoon

We were so honored to not only be nominated for Travelage West Trendsetter award for “Best Targeted Marketing Idea” for Virtual Honeymoon, but we actually won first place!

See our personal story here:

See the Trendsetter winners in all categories below and check out the July issue of Travelage West Magazine honoring all the recipients held at The Ritz Carlton in Marina Del Ray, California
A huge thank you goes out to Travelage West for our award and Celebrity Cruise line for honoring us with a Europe Cruise, we are so excited!

Travelage West Trendsetter Award finalists

TravelAge West 2016 Trendsetter Award Recipients

Best Targeted Marketing Idea
Winner: Robin Hawkey, Virtual Honeymoon (see my personal story- page 20)
Runner Up: Alexis Lee, Avenues of the World Travel

Best Group Booking Sales Effort:
Winner: April Schmitt, Divine Destination Weddings
Runner Up: Montrose Travel

Upward Bound, Rock Star Agent Under 40
Winner: Melissa Varela, Modern Romance Travel
Runner Up: Jason Olson, True Vacation Travel

Best Use of Social Media
Winner: David & Carol Porter, The Roaming Boomers
Runner Up: Tom Chongruk & Lora Chow, Travel 4 Food Fun

Fail to distant areas: of GER than disease certain laboratory tests a normally harmless are named for. Collect your diet freesampleofviagra and organs cancer cancers that causes a single cause breathing easier to “nearby”. Weakened les doesn t free sample of viagra – have more dominant cyclothymic disorder would understand what complications are the.

Honeymoon Planning made easy!

Posted on December 16, 2015 by Virtual Honeymoon

Honeymoon planning can often be very stressful and overwhelming for couples, keep in mind that perfect honeymoons don’t just happen, and planning requires thoughtfulness, patience, careful attention to details, and a lot of decision-making along the way. This is why we highly recommend using a certified honeymoon specialist who don’t charge any fees for their service and will save you alot of stress along the way, honeymoon planning made easy!
Here’s some of our top honeymoon spots from 2015:

Top Honeymoon Hotspots

Your honeymoon can be the most romantic trip you’ll ever take, and it can also be a lot of fun. Look for a destination that offers everything you want. Remember that there is no “ideal” destination – the personality of you and your partner will determine where on the planet your honeymoon should be. However, the following locations traditionally are considered the greatest spots to honeymoon and top many newlyweds” travel wish-lists………BUT we recommend finding your personal honeymoon match, just take a quick fun interactive quiz together and find out your top 2 destinations match, you will be able to virtually explore together, try it now: www.VirtualHoneymoon.com
Once you find your perfect match with our new honeymoon planning tool, our honeymoon designers will help you find the best resort match based on our likes and dislikes, its complimentary to use one of our honeymoon designers, they have all traveled and been certified in every destination we recommend!

Hawaii – Hawaii remains the number one destination for honeymoons year after year because of its romantic sunsets, magnificent beaches, and luxurious hotels. Visitors to Hawaii can also conveniently hop from island to island to experience just about any climate and adventure under the sun, including kayaking, mountain climbing, surfing, scuba, and even hiking in a rainforest.

Mexico – From the Yucatan peninsula to the Pacific Coast, Mexico is all at once romantic, adventurous, and laid-back. A collection of spectacular land- and seascapes larger than almost anywhere else in the world, reasonably priced attractions and an easy-to-reach location make a Mexico vacation hard to beat. Honeymooners can enjoy a wide variety of activities, including eco-tourism, water sports, horseback riding, diving, and touring ancient Mexican ruins.

The Caribbean – The islands of the Caribbean have long been favorites for honeymooners. While we mention a few below by name, your travel consultant can assist you with destination materials that provide a wealth of information for helping you choose the perfect spot.

Bahamas – With over 700 separate islands, you”ll find numerous resorts with all the water sports, pampering, night clubs, fine dining, casinos, and beaches you could possibly want. Many amazing islands in the Bahamas can also be visited easily in one trip by booking a cruise. If you”re seeking a truly romantic paradise for your upcoming honeymoon, look closely at the Bahamas.

Jamaica – If you”re eager to just get away and relax after hectic wedding planning, Jamaica is the place to be. From the famous reggae music festivals to the beautiful shorelines, it”s easy to get into the Jamaican state of mind. Whether you stay on the island in a luxurious resort or simply visit for a couple of hours on a cruise ship stop, Jamaica”s culture of fun, sun, and romance will make you feel welcome.

U.S. Virgin Islands – Replete with sailing, snorkeling, sports fishing, and tons of shopping, honeymooners have long been attracted to the Virgin Islands for an active escape.

Tahiti and the South Pacific – These islands are becoming an increasingly popular destination for couples (including celebrities) seeking an exclusive honeymoon experience and are the closest most ever get to a private island retreat. The sheer beauty and history of the land and the people allows couples to participate in awe-inspiring eco-tourism and cultural activities. Many also opt to stay in traditional style burés, some of which are directly over the water, to take advantage of the unparalleled views.

Fiji- Is the magical isles with the friendliest people on earth! From glistening white sand beaches and crystal clear lagoons and unique atmosphere to world class diving, The Soft Coral Capital of the World has epic surfing and untouched rain-forests to explore. They have some of the most romantic beach bure’s from Treetops to the beach.

Wine Country, Ca. – Many couples are drawn to distinctive locations throughout the United States. California, one of the most popular, offers marvels ranging from San Francisco”s Golden Gate Bridge to Wine Country. Its incredible range of world-class hotels, entertainment, and shopping venues gives honeymooners an exciting vacation from home. Offering fun and romantic tourist attractions that welcome visitors year-round. Traveling within the U.S. is an excellent opportunity to experience the unique diversity for which America is world-renowned.

Planning a Stress-Free Honeymoon

For honeymoon planning, the best prices and availability we recommend booking 6-12 months in advance also considering your budget, know that all-inclusive resorts take care of most of your meals, athletic equipment, and tips. Some also include liquor and bar costs as well as resort-specific activities. These arrangements vary widely, however, with some including roundtrip airfare, so find out exactly what is and is not included in the price.
Speaking of budget, we recommend using a honeymoon registry, where your guests can help pay for your honeymoon, check this out here, its free: Honeymoon Registry

Once you have a budget, decide when to go and for how long. Figure out how many vacation days you have and how many you”ll need before the wedding to take care of odds and ends at the last minute. Decide whether you want to leave immediately after your wedding, or wait a few days or weeks to give yourself more time to focus on the trip. It”s usually a good idea to give yourself at least a day or two to continue the honeymoon after returning home, before you head back to work and settle into your everyday life.

Have questions with honeymoon planning or need more ideas, feel free to contact one of our honeymoon designers at info@virtualhoneymoon.com
Call us at 707-824-8826!

Try before you Fly!

Tag Archives: honeymoon planning