Fiji
Fijian Warrior
BULA! Once the Fijians were fierce warriors, the most feared in the Pacific, but today they are, according to Conde Nast (and me), the world’s friendliest people. You walk down the street and every local you see will be smiling and waving and saying Bula, Bula. It’s real.
French Polynesia
Mt Otemanu, Bora Bora
Let’s cut to the chase. There are no more beautiful islands anywhere. They are ancient islands, weathered and sculpted by millions of years leaving knife-edged ridges, spires, deep valleys, and an extensive reef system creating perfect turquoise lagoons around every island. Those colors are real, they aren’t Photoshop.
Cook Islands
Muri Beach, Rarotonga
Located just west of French Polynesia, the Cooks are just as pretty but without the language barrier and it's a less expensive destination besides. The Cooks are also a place out of time. Imagine Hawaii when Waikiki was still a swamp. There are no large hotels here, nothing more than two stories tall, and almost no traffic on almost no roads.
Australia
Twelve Apostles, South Australia
A vast and ancient land, a huge island of mostly scrub desert, completely ringed by perfect white beaches, peopled by fun loving, witty, athletic, laid back shrimp on the barbie decedents of English convicts as well as an Aboriginal culture that dates back 50,000 years mostly unchanged until modern times.
New Zealand
Mt Aspiring, South Island
Tip to tip New Zealand is the most beautiful country in the world, and one of the most varied. It’s clean, the air and water are pure, the food is fresh, with great cool weather wines, friendly people, and more adrenaline pumping activities than anywhere.
Oh, and all the Lord of the Rings movies were filmed here, as well as the upcoming Hobbit movies. Yes, it is that gorgeous.
Oh, and all the Lord of the Rings movies were filmed here, as well as the upcoming Hobbit movies. Yes, it is that gorgeous.
Hawaiian Islands
Poipu Beach, Kauai
Exotic, but America, varied, beautiful, eco, accessible, friendly, familiar; these are all words that describe the many facets of The Hawaiian Islands, America’s paradise. It’s so easy to fall in love with, and a melting pot like no other. Many cultures have come here, stayed, and kept part of where they came from but also adopted this life of Aloha.
Mexico
Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya
First of all, Mexico is SAFE! While there is drug violence in some of the border cities, the major tourist areas are untouched by these troubles, and probably safer than where you live. Secondly, Mexico is an amazing VALUE. If you are on a tight budget but want a luxurious honeymoon on a gorgeous beach with everything included, Mexico is your place.
Jamaica
Ocho Rios
It’s hard to imagine a country more dedicated to partying than Jamaica. The hot days and warm nights, endless beaches, swim up bars, the sexy sounds of steel drums, Reggae and Calypso, the spicy food, the laid back Jamaican attitude where the answer to every question is “ja mon, no problem”; all this makes Jamaica the place to get into the mood.