Monday Hawaii Photo

View of the Kohalo Coast on the Big Island of Hawaii

Monday Hawaii Photo

Waikiki Beach on a typical sunny day!
 Photo courtesy of Muriel MacRae

Luxurious Honeymoon Destination – Fairmont Orchid

We all havedreams…we dream of exotic places, exciting adventures, and new experiences. Wedream of escaping from every-day reality to a delicious romantic escape. Areyou planning a honeymoon, or looking for an amazing place to stay where youwill be treated like royalty? More and more couples today are looking for longand lavish honeymoons to far flungdestinations.

We are adestination wedding specialist and are now adding honeymoons as one of our specialities.Let us help to find the perfect luxurious romantic destination where you willbe pampered from morning until night. If decadence is what you are looking forthen we are here to help! We will take the time to listen to what you want andwith our superior destination knowledge help you find exactly what you are lookingfor so we can create the most memorable vacation and honeymoon humanlypossible. Talk to one of our dedicated destination specialists today and start realizingyour dreams.

One propertythat we recommend is the Fairmont Orchid which is located on the sunny KohalaCoast on the Big Island of Hawaii. Vacation at this 32 acre luxury hotel andresort and enjoy the white sandy lagoon with its aquamarine waters. As soon asyou arrive at the Fairmont Orchild you will be greeted as ohana (family) and begiven a kukui nut lei, which symbolizes enlightment and inspiration.

The resorthas 540 beautifully appointed guest rooms and suites – each with a spaciouslanai – with the decor inspired by the islands. 

From thebeginning to the end, your time at the Fairmont will be infused with thegracious hospitality that only the Fairmont can deliver. A wealth of activitiesawaits you at the Fairmont Orchid including tennis lessons, a championship go fcourse, a stroll along the beach or take a cultural hike to the petroglyphfields. If you like water activities, then try snorkeling, surfing, stand uppaddle boarding and canoeing.

Evenings inHawaii are designed for romance and where can you find a more romantic setting?

And thenthere are the sunsets…

All photos courtesy of Fairmont Hotels.

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Muriel MacRae, owner of Del Sol Travel, is a Calgary travel agent and WPIC wedding planner who specializes in destination weddings, honeymoons, and romantic getaways to tropical locations such as Hawaii. Mexico, the Caribbean, Costa Rica and the South Pacific. Located in Calgary, Alberta, she plans destination weddings for couples in and around the Calgary area and throughout North America. For more information about planning your destination wedding, honeymoon, or romantic getaway, please contact her at travelinfo@delsoltravel.ca or phone 403-477-0643 .

Monday Hawaii Photo

View from beach at the Fairmont Orchid on the Big Island
Photo courtesy of Muriel MacRae

Visiting Waikiki Beach in Oahu

A good friend of mine called me the other day and askedwhere she should go as first time visitors to Hawaii! Honolulu, Maui or the BigIsland? She and her husband are celebrating their fortieth birthday and wantedto do something really special as a holiday.

This is certainly not an easy question to answer. I’m goingto start with Honolulu.

Waikiki Beach with Diamond Head in the background
Photo courtesy of Muriel MacRae

Most people who go the island of Oahu start by visiting Waikiki Beach , abeach  in the city of Honolulu. When most people think of Hawaii, they picture this sunnywhite, sandy beach lined with its high rise hotels set against the backdrop of thevolcanic cone, Diamond Head. Waikiki is located in an area of roughly 1.5 mileslong and half a mile wide. Upwards of 4.5 million sunbathers visit its beaches  each year.

Although the beach is packed during the day, the streets arepacked in the evening with window-shoppers, street performers, and you can hear live music  drifting from the bars and restaurants. KalakauaAvenue runs the length of Waikiki and along it you will find Waikiki’s mostfamous hotels and lots of shops ranging from upper end brands to the ABCstores.

View from the 17th floor of Wakiki Beach Marriott
Photo courtesy of Muriel MacRae

Waikiki has some of the nicest weather you would want  with most days the temperatures rangesbetween 75°F and85°F with gentle light breezes.  There isless than 25 inches of rain annually  with the rainy months occurring  in the months of November, December, andJanuary.

If you are looking for peace and quiet, this is not the place togo. Crowds of people visit the beach each day and it is often hard to find aplace to put your towel. Waikiki Beach is a popular surfing spot, especiallyfor beginners as the waves are rarely higher than three feet. At nights, the city comes to life and the sidewalks are crowded with strolling tourists enjoying the beautiful evening.

Surfers on Waikiki Beach
Photo courtesy of Muriel MacRae

There  are over 100 lodgingestablishments in Waikiki Beach with over 60 hotels  and 25 condominium hotels which appeal to avariety of budgets. The first hotel in Waikiki was the Moana Hotel, now calledthe Moana Surfrider.

Front Porch of Moana Surfrider
Photo courtesy of Muriel MacRae

Great places to see include a hike to the summit of Diamond Head, the Honolulu Zoo, the Waikiki Aquarium. Waikiki  really comes alive at sunset with hundreds ofrestaurant and bars to choose from.  Forthe shopper, it is definitely a shoppers paradise. If you are looking forsouvenirs, art, clothing, and jewelry, the choices are limitless. There are lots of different companies which porvide bus transportation around the island making it very easy to take in the tourist sites.

If you want lots of action and plenty ofactivity, many restaurant and hotel choice, great shopping, and love the hustleand bustle of a busy cosmopolitan city, then this is the place to visit!
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Muriel MacRae plans destination weddings, exciting getaways and customized vacations for discerning travellers, honeymooners and families. As the owner of Del Sol Travel, she offers romantic vacations with personalized service and unique itineraries. Getting to know and understand her clients is critical in helping turn their ideas and vision into a unique and memorable masterpiece when creating their customized vacation. Located in Calgary, Alberta, she plans weddings, destination weddings, and honeymoons for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area and throughout North America. For more information about planning your wedding, honeymoon, or romantic getaway, please contact her at travelinfo@delsoltravel.ca or phone 403-477-0643.

Monday Hawaii Photo

Todays photo was taken at the beautiful Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort, in Maui, Hawaii.

Path to the Beach at the Grand Wailea Resort
 Photo courtesy of Muriel MacRae

Monday Hawaii Photo

Strolling along the beach at Four Seasons Halalakia
 Photo courtesy of Muriel MacRae

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai Part 2

I was so impressed with Four Seasons Hualalai, which is a tropical oasis built in the midst of a lava field, that I would have to say that it is one of my favourites resorts on the Big Island. It is definitely a combination of luxury and relaxation in a tropical setting. This resort is located on a historic fishing village with sandy beaches, beautiful touquoise waters, and stunning views. This is an absolutely perfect place for a destination wedding, a romantic honeymoon, or a relaxing getaway. The hotel was at capacity when we visited but as you can see from the pictures it does not look crowded at all.

I can't wait to show you some of the pictures and I am sure that you will agree with me how fantastic this resort is.

Here is an an aerial view so you an get an over view of the property.

Photo courtesy of examiner.com

 The lobby is very impressive and makes you feel like you are outdoors.

The huge doors slide back.

The property is beautifully landscaped!

One of the choice wedding locations for an intimate wedding.

They have the cutest little housekeeping trucks I have ever seen!

One of the pools. All of the rooms are located in two story buildings.

The beach!

Most of the rooms have an ocean view

Wouldn't you like to stay in a beautiful suite like this?

This is an ocen view room decorated with its soft calming colors.

And just look at this view of King's Pond!

What about a nice cold drink at the Lava Lounge? 

The lap pool at the spa

More places to relax in private

These colorful chairs look so inviting.

Another beautiful relaxing pool

An inviting place to eat at the Beach Tree Grill and Bar which is located right

beside the beach and the Beach Tree Pool.

And then there is the 18 hole golf course!

Finally, imagine ending a glorious relaxing day with a sunset like this!

Photo courtesy of Dallas Uncorked

If you enjoyed this blog, be sure to read Upscale Luxury at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai

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Muriel MacRae plans exciting getaways and customized vacations for discerning travellers, honeymooners and families. As the owner of Del Sol Travel, she offers romantic vacations with personalized service and unique itineraries. Getting to know and understand her clients is critical in helping turn their ideas and vision into a unique and memorable masterpiece when creating their customized vacation. Located in Calgary, Alberta, she plans weddings, destination weddings, and honeymoons for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area and throughout North America. For more information about planning your wedding, honeymoon, or romantic getaway, please contact her at travelinfo@delsoltravel.ca or phone 403-477-0643.

Not Sure Where to Go on Your Anniversary?

Is your anniversary coming up and you are not sure where to go for a romantic getaway?  Here are some romantic getaways where you can spend  some time together in a beautiful  destination that will create wonderful memories.

Mountains in St. Lucia

Photo courtesy of mystlucia.org

1)    St. Lucia. If you are looking for a place that has everything from fun in the sun, excitement, thrills, relaxation, and romantic, then you need to go to St. Lucia. This island is chosen by couples as a top honeymoon destination, making it a wonderful place to go to for an anniversary. For the past eight years, it has been awarded the “World’s Leading Honeymoon Destination”. It is also one of the most popular vacation destinations in the Caribbean. Due to its proximity to the equator, the temperatures do not vary much throughout the year ranging  from a high in the mid 80s year round and rarely drop below the mid 70s. St. Lucia has so many fantastic beaches that you will have difficulty choosing which one to go to. Some of the most popular beaches are Reduit Beach, Pigeon Point Beach, and Anse Chastanet. With tons of exciting adventurous activities, natural beauty, quiet beaches sensational spas, stunning architecture, variety of dining places, vibrant nightlife, and an abundance of accommodation choices to suite individual tastes and budgets, where’s a better place to visit? So there you have it – you should more than enough reasons to book you trip to St. Lucia now!

Sunset in Kauai

Photo courtesy of Holiday Group

2)    Hawaii. If you want a lovely tropical place to get away to a relaxing, peaceful atmosphere, then you must consider Hawaii, especially Maui, Kauai, or the Big Island. It is the perfect place for a romantic honeymoon or an intimate getaway  that you will not find many other places. It have warm year-round temperatures, making it ideal for the couple wanting outdoor adventures. The natural beauty of the islands include stunning landscapes in diverse settings. It is not hard to find a beach or a hiking trail where you feel that you have the world all to yourselves. The beautiful beaches of Hawaii are world known. Imagine you and your loved one sitting on one of the beaches in Hawaii enjoying the waves lapping on the shore! With a diverse range of accommodations and a wide variety restaurants, it is difficult to decide which place to choose. I think one of the most romantic things to do there is to watch the beautiful sunsets as the sun sinks into the Pacific Ocean. They are breathtaking with the colors of passion such as pinks, purples and reds filling the sky. Even the stars seem brighter in Hawaii! I think that the Tiki Torches at sunset with their soft glow and flickering flames also create a very romantic fairy-like atmosphere! Add the vision of dark palm trees swaying in the gentle breezes with the fragrant aroma of the Hawaiian flowers, and I want to go back to Hawaii right now!

Sunset between Tiki Torches

Photo coutesy of Kgiannini.com

3)    Cook Islands. If you are hoping to find the ideal place to relax on the quintessential tropical paradise beach, then you want to visit the Cook Islands. If you are looking for the most beautiful island lagoon in the world, then you have come to the right place when you get to Aitutaki.  The Cook Islands have many picture – perfect lagoons and beaches with crystal clear waters and snowy white sand. The scenery is spectacular consisting of mountain peaks and forested valleys, surrounded  by sugar-white, palm-fringed beaches and azure lagoons fringed by distant reefs. There are numerous land activities available and the abundant coral reefs and crystal- clear waters make great spots for scuba diving, snorkelling, reef cruising, and game fishing offshore. There are several islands to choose from with Parotonga and Aitutaki being the two most popular islands  with the most facilities. Atiu and Mangaia are two other islands which offer more relaxed options. There are numerous hotel ranging from five star to beach huts, so you’ll have a wide variety of choices  when it comes to accommodation.

Heart of Polynesia Cook Islands

Photo courtesy of citypictures.org

Intrigued by these romantic escapes? Follow us on Facebook to learn more about romantic getaways.

Other posts you might enjoy:

Five Reasons to Visit Waikiki Beach in Oahu
Upscale Luxury at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
Where to go for Your Romantic Vacation in July
Conrad Maldives: Reshaping the Concept of Luxury


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Muriel MacRae plans exciting getaways and customized vacations  for honeymooners and families. As the owner of  Del Sol Travel, she offers romantic vacations with personalized service and unique itineraries. Getting to know and understand her clients is critical in helping turn their ideas and vision into a unique and memorable masterpiece when creating their customized vacation. Located in Calgary, Alberta, she plans weddings, destination weddings, and honeymoons for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area and throughout North America. For more information about planning your wedding, honeymoon, or romantic getaway, please contact her at travelinfo@delsoltravel.ca   or phone 403-477-0643

Five Reasons to Visit Waikiki Beach in Oahu

There are still many reasons why you would want to visit Waikiki Beach, a â€œmini city within a city”. When I arrived in Oahu this week, I realized that I have not been back to Waikiki Beach for twenty years. Many things have changed but a great deal of the old charm is still there. Many people are drawn here to the excitement of Waikiki Beach  with its colorful clubs and  wonderful assortment of restaurants. Hawaii still calls…

An aerial  view of Waikiki Beach
Photo courtesy of abtraveldine.com

Perfect tropical setting: Waikiki Beach, which is part of the city of Honolulu, is located on the island of Oahu. It is lined with high rise buildings in a picture perfect seaside location with a nice long white sandy beach with water that is a beautiful turquoise blue color. Sitting on our lanai on the 17^th floor of the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa overlooking the ocean reminds me why tourists come to Hawaii.

I could look at this view every day!
Photo courtesy of Muriel MacRae

The weather is close to perfect with sunny blue skies and gentle breezes blowing to keep you cool. The view of the ocean with the white waves of the surf crashing on the sandy beach is absolutely spectacular. Early in the morning until dusk, the surfers and the boogie boarders are out searching for the perfect wave. It does rain but usually for a very short period of time making it a perfect place for the multitude of visitors seeking paradise.

Waikiki Beach
Photo courtesy of Muriel MacRae

Waikiki Beach is humming with activity: This is definitely not the island where you want to getaway from it all.  It's a shopper’s paradise with world class shopping in a wide variety of stores ranging from the higher end Louis Vuitton, Macy’s, Coach and Ralph Lauren down to the Honolulu Cookie Company, the little ukulele stores, and the Hawaiian Quilting stores. There are higher end hotel chains and more exclusive shops in general. One thing that hasn’t changed in twenty years is that there is still an ABC Store on every block. It is still a diner’s delight. The number of restaurants and stores has increased and even on a Sunday evening, the streets are crowded with people. Many are waiting to get into some of the popular restaurants, some are returning from late night dining, other are drawn to the shopping as the stores are open until 11:00 pm, or people are just walking the streets enjoying the atmosphere and the beautiful evening.

Waikiki Beach waterfall located beside the street
Photo courtesy of dickandrockey.blogspot.com

The streets are filled with buskers who play music, hold parrots, stand as statues dressed in grey with grey facial makeup, or simply play the drums on different sized containers. The evening weather is pleasant and a person can be very comfortable even without a jacket or a sweater most times of the year. Many of the restaurants have outdoor bars and restaurants where you can hear the uniquely Hawaiian sounds of a slack-key guitar.  I couldn’t help but notice that there are no mosquitoes like we have back home, and I haven’t been accosted by the time-share hustlers of the past this visit.

One of the beautiful sunsets on Waikiki Beach
Photo courtesy of oahu-hawaii-trip.com

Plenty to do: There are plenty of activities to do when you’re not spending a lazy day at the beach. The first evening we arrived, there was a hula dancing show on the beach which attracted many tourists. For those vacationers interested in animals and sea life, the Honolulu Zoo and the Waikiki Aquarium are a must. Sailing, catamaran tours, surfing, snorkelling, and scuba diving excursions are plentiful and sold by almost every hotel concierge. A visit to Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is perfect for the snorkelers in your group.

Hanauma Bay
Photo courtesy of Tripadvisor

You might want to revisit history, take a day trip to Pearl Harbour to visit the USS Arizona Memorial. For the romantic at heart, take a sunset dinner cruise and enjoy a sumptuous dinner while you enjoy live entertainments and experience the views of Waikiki’s scenic coastline. A trip to the north part of the island to the Polynesian Culture Center will take you back in time as you immerse yourself in five island nations’ lifestyles with cultural demonstrations and hand-on activities. Don’t miss the IMAX theatre, Ali’I Lua”au and the evening show, “Ha: Breath of Life”.

Hawaiian dancers
Photo courtesy of Polynesian Cultural Center

Or enjoy a day of golfing or zip lining! One perfect way to take in the sights is to take a helicopter tour where you can appreciate the various locations on Oahu from a bird’s eye view. With so many activities to experience and places to discover, you will also want to take the time to relax and unwind under the soothing Hawaiian sun and cool, tropical breezes.

Easy to get around: Getting around in Waikiki Beach is really easy to do without having to rent a car. Since Waikiki Beach is located in an area which is roughly 1.5 miles long and a half a mile wide, most places are within walking distance.

Strolling streets of Waikiki Beach
Photo courtesy of oahufamilyactivities.com

There are also numerous trolley tours and The Bus running every ten to twenty minutes during the day with very economical fares.  One can even go on a tour of the city on a Double Decker Bus! If you are planning on travelling to other parts of the island, then you may want to consider renting a car. There are also different companies which provide a shuttle to and from the airport to your Waikiki Hotel.

Popular Waikiki trolleys which  run every 10 minutes
Photo courtesy of alohoa-hawaii.com

Island of romance: As you will find when visiting many of the Hawaiian Islands, Waikiki Beach is a place for romance. As soon as you step off the plane and feel the warm air hit you, you can smell the fragrances of the numerous Hawaiian flowers. With the lush tropical greenery, the lovely flowers, and the palm trees swaying in the breeze, and lovely weather all year round, you will feel that you have reached a tropical paradise. The pace is much slower allowing you to take time to reconnect with your loved one and just enjoy the experience of being on the island together. You can take a slow-paced evening walk along the busy sidewalks or stroll along the beach on the sand the full length of Waikiki, if you chose.

A romantic stroll along the beach
Photo courtesy of excellent-romatic-vacations.com

Take time to stop and view an incredible picturesque sunset or have a romantic dinner in one of the two historic hotels located on the beach, the Royal Hawaiian, noted for its pink exterior, or the Westin Moana Surfrider, the First Lady of Waikiki. Let this tropical paradise take you to a place far away from the hectic rush of your life back home, and take the time to “smell the flowers” and enjoy Waikiki Beach with the one you love!

Royal Hawaiian  Hotel
Photo courtesy of Muriel MacRae

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Muriel MacRae plans exciting getaways and customized vacations for honeymooners and families. As the owner of Del Sol Travel, she offers romantic vacations with personalized service and unique itineraries. Getting to know and understand her clients is critical in helping turn their ideas and vision into a unique and memorable masterpiece when creating their customized vacation. Located in Calgary, Alberta, she plans weddings, destination weddings, and honeymoons for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area and throughout North America. For more information about planning your wedding, honeymoon, or romantic getaway, please contact her at travelinfo@delsoltravel.ca or phone 403-477-0643.