Surprise Honeymoon-lots of questions
Dec 20th, 2006, 01:15 PM
#1
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Surprise Honeymoon-lots of questions
My friend is getting married and I am the maid of honor. She has told the groom, a friend, and I that we can plan her a surprise honeymoon with a few places that she doesn't want to travel to.
I'm thinking maybe Switzerland with a few days in Canes. Got lots of questions as I have never been to Europe.
First, they are getting married April 28th. Is there still snow on the mountains in Switzerland at the end of April? If so where and what are some ideas for a nice place to stay. We're not looking at $1000 per night kind of place, but something very nice.
How far is the train ride from Switzerland to Canes or the Riveria?
Give me some ideas and we'll get this started.
Thanks!
I'm thinking maybe Switzerland with a few days in Canes. Got lots of questions as I have never been to Europe.
First, they are getting married April 28th. Is there still snow on the mountains in Switzerland at the end of April? If so where and what are some ideas for a nice place to stay. We're not looking at $1000 per night kind of place, but something very nice.
How far is the train ride from Switzerland to Canes or the Riveria?
Give me some ideas and we'll get this started.
Thanks!
Dec 20th, 2006, 01:26 PM
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Whooeee, I have a bunch of questions...!
What do you mean by her saying to plan for places she doesn't want to travel to..?
Do you mean Cannes, France..? and you mean the French Riviera, then (as Italy has a riviera also..)
Do she and the groom have their passports?
Are you supposed to research and book flights and all that, or are you just supposed to put together a suggested plan, and then the bride/groom will actually do all the bookings..?
What do you mean by her saying to plan for places she doesn't want to travel to..?
Do you mean Cannes, France..? and you mean the French Riviera, then (as Italy has a riviera also..)
Do she and the groom have their passports?
Are you supposed to research and book flights and all that, or are you just supposed to put together a suggested plan, and then the bride/groom will actually do all the bookings..?
Dec 20th, 2006, 01:41 PM
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She doesn't want a cruise to the Bahamas, go to China, Egypt, South America, etc. She wants Europe, but is pretty open to whatever we plan. He has lived in Germany so they don't want that.
Maybe Paris, or Rome, but not sure if it is prettty enough??? As far as scenery, etc. They love to gamble/shop and ski so I thought Switzerland with a few days on the French Riveria would be nice.
They both have their passports so that is not a problem.
I will help with all the bookings as part of the suprise. She is so stressed for the wedding, I don't want her to have to work on any of this. I know her taste very well and will discuss it with her husband-to-be first. I have traveled with her several times and know the kind of things she likes.
She is fine with the idea of a surprise honeymoon and a little excited about the idea.
Maybe Paris, or Rome, but not sure if it is prettty enough??? As far as scenery, etc. They love to gamble/shop and ski so I thought Switzerland with a few days on the French Riveria would be nice.
They both have their passports so that is not a problem.
I will help with all the bookings as part of the suprise. She is so stressed for the wedding, I don't want her to have to work on any of this. I know her taste very well and will discuss it with her husband-to-be first. I have traveled with her several times and know the kind of things she likes.
She is fine with the idea of a surprise honeymoon and a little excited about the idea.
Dec 20th, 2006, 01:59 PM
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koryandelise,
I think all your intentions are good, I'm sure you are smart and could put together what looks like a wonderful trip, and I sympathize with your wanting to do this for your stressed out friend
BUT
It won't work.
A honeymoon is a very tricky thing for the two people taking it to plan. It involves a lot of compromise, a lot of discussion, and a mutual interest in going. Travel is very stressful, especially on top of a big, stressful wedding, and your friends could end up miserable with your choices and have a ruined experience -- for which they may jolly well blame you.
Tell the happy couple to spend some time on Fodor's asking questions for themselves, or to visit a travel agent.
I think all your intentions are good, I'm sure you are smart and could put together what looks like a wonderful trip, and I sympathize with your wanting to do this for your stressed out friend
BUT
It won't work.
A honeymoon is a very tricky thing for the two people taking it to plan. It involves a lot of compromise, a lot of discussion, and a mutual interest in going. Travel is very stressful, especially on top of a big, stressful wedding, and your friends could end up miserable with your choices and have a ruined experience -- for which they may jolly well blame you.
Tell the happy couple to spend some time on Fodor's asking questions for themselves, or to visit a travel agent.
Dec 20th, 2006, 02:00 PM
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For early May I'd either drop the skiing idea or do some googling on glacier skiing.
If you're planning on Cannes for the shopping section of the honeymoon, Italy is way better. Cannes has a big selection of REALLY expensive designer shops, but as they're not spending $1000 per night on the hotel they're probably not rich enough to appreciate them. (And, in case that last comment comes across as snooty, I should add I'm not rich enough to shop in them much either). The rest of the shops in Cannes are pretty unremarkable.
If they are into high-end shopping, I'd in any case send them to Capri; the main street has Gucci, at least two Pradas, Louis Vuitton etc, and the scenery is just stunning. There is a bizarre vibe of half of Bond Street transplanted to a beautiful rural Italian village. Or to Monaco, which has a similar range of expensive shops to Cannes and a very glamorous casino.
For more general shopping, Milan, Florence, Rome and Venice are all fantastic. Or, staying on the French riviera, Nice has a wider selection of shops and activities than Cannes. If they are OK with hiring a car and want beautiful scenery, some of the hill towns on the French Riviera are beautiful and they could day trip to Nice/Cannes/Monaco/St Tropez.
When you're looking into times/distances for train journeys, www.deutschebahn.de and www.trenitalia.it are great. There are also lots of very cheap airlines in Europe, e.g. easyjet, ryanair, germanwings which are sometimes an easier way to travel between countries.
If you're planning on Cannes for the shopping section of the honeymoon, Italy is way better. Cannes has a big selection of REALLY expensive designer shops, but as they're not spending $1000 per night on the hotel they're probably not rich enough to appreciate them. (And, in case that last comment comes across as snooty, I should add I'm not rich enough to shop in them much either). The rest of the shops in Cannes are pretty unremarkable.
If they are into high-end shopping, I'd in any case send them to Capri; the main street has Gucci, at least two Pradas, Louis Vuitton etc, and the scenery is just stunning. There is a bizarre vibe of half of Bond Street transplanted to a beautiful rural Italian village. Or to Monaco, which has a similar range of expensive shops to Cannes and a very glamorous casino.
For more general shopping, Milan, Florence, Rome and Venice are all fantastic. Or, staying on the French riviera, Nice has a wider selection of shops and activities than Cannes. If they are OK with hiring a car and want beautiful scenery, some of the hill towns on the French Riviera are beautiful and they could day trip to Nice/Cannes/Monaco/St Tropez.
When you're looking into times/distances for train journeys, www.deutschebahn.de and www.trenitalia.it are great. There are also lots of very cheap airlines in Europe, e.g. easyjet, ryanair, germanwings which are sometimes an easier way to travel between countries.
Dec 20th, 2006, 02:14 PM
#10
You've heard of "lose - lose" situations? Well this is one of them.
If they don't want to plan it themselves - then recommend they head to a good local travel agent (Gawd - I can't believe I'm saying that
) and turn everything over to the TA.
If they are on a budget of any sort then Cannes is not the place for them BTW.
If they don't want to plan it themselves - then recommend they head to a good local travel agent (Gawd - I can't believe I'm saying that
) and turn everything over to the TA.If they are on a budget of any sort then Cannes is not the place for them BTW.
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