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A Quick Getaway to Montage Palmetto Bluff
Hello Friends!
I was recently featured on the Smartflyer website for my review of Montage Palmetto Bluff in South Carolina. You can view the full review with pictures here. Please shoot me an email (laura@smartflyer.com) if you’re interested in visiting and I would be happy to answer any questions. :-)
PROPERTY STYLE 

Adventure, Family, Hideaway

ROOMS 

There are a wide variety of rooms here so it is important for me to talk to each individual client about what they are looking for. My personal favorite were the River View Cottages. They were just gorgeous and I loved the location. They also have rooms at the Main Inn, Guest Houses, and Village Homes for a more residential experience.

RESTAURANT

I could talk about the delicious food all day but I think this quote sums it up pretty well, “From stately restaurants with warm, elegant character and celebrated cuisine, to rustic cafes with irresistible treats and captivating views, you’ll find much to discover and enjoy throughout the Village. Many of our restaurants feature locally sourced organic ingredients that are unique to the area, with preparations that embody an unmistakable Low country spirit. Bon appetite!”

BAR 

The food and beverage manager, Ross, gave us the history of their signature drink – Artillery Punch. Make sure to try it while you’re there! They have Octagon Bar which has live music at night. I went there thinking I would stay only a few minutes but ended up staying for hours. It was such a lively spot and so fun to mingle with other guests and hear about what they did that day.

VIBES 

Lowcountry luxury, warm and inviting, truly feels like your own southern home.

POOL/GYM 

There are three pools and two fitness centers. My favorite pool was the River House Pool which is adult only and is Olympic-length. There are a wide variety of fitness classes offered and the equipment is excellent.

SPA 

I have been to a lot of spas and this is one of my all time favorites. The massage was out of this world! They have a great steam room, sauna, and outdoor area with a cold and hot pool. The spa use is complimentary even if you don’t get a treatment, but trust me – you need to get a treatment…

KIDS 

It is perfect for families. Not only do they have a great kids program but they have such great activities for all ages. Everything from clay pigeon shooting, dolphin tours, golf at their Jack Nicklaus course and treatments at their fabulous spa. It would take a few paragraphs to list all of the activities; they even have their own bowling alley! This hotel makes family bonding very easy and the experiences they create for guests are memories that will last a lifetime.

LOCATION

Palmetto Bluff is located within a 20,000 acre community and set on the May River. If you are not within driving distance you can fly into Savannah which would be a great city to combine with a visit to Palmetto Bluff. It’s right outside of Bluffton, SC only 23 miles from the Savannah airport.

Sugar Beach Honeymoon Review: Sarah Beth & Matt

I always say this, but the best part of my job has to be touching base with my clients after their trips and hearing about their incredible experiences. I had the pleasure of working with Sarah Beth and Matt on their honeymoon to St. Lucia and my day was made when I received the message below from them upon their arrival back home. Are they not the cutest couple ever?!

Hey Laura!

Thanks for checking in on us! It was AMAZING!!! Seriously, this was the dream honeymoon! We got the best driver to pick us up from the airport. I would recommend taking some motion sickness medicine because the roads are extremely windy. There are a lot of mountains and sharp turns. We didn’t get sick but if our driver had been any faster, i probably would have! Haha! He was fantastic though. When we arrived we were greeted by two tropical drinks and our butler who unloaded all of our bags. Our driver went straight to our room which was nice. The view from our room was breathtaking.

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Not real life. It was amazing!! The all inclusive was definitely the way to go. We didn’t have to worry about any money except tipping which is expected and not bad at all! The food was great, and I would say about 97% is included on the meal plan which was nice. The staff was incredible and friendly. The spa was amazing. We went on a private tour and it was fantastic. We made some good memories and highly recommend the Soufrie Safari tour.

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We also went on a sunset cruise at the resort. One word to describe that is perfection.

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We had an incredible time. Thank you so so much!

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The Four Seasons Bora Bora (aka Paradise)

I cannot believe that this time last year I was on the other side of the world checking off my number one bucket list destination. Looking back on my trip to Bora Bora almost feels like a dream. I stayed at the Four Seasons Resort and visited a few surrounding properties as well. To say that the Four Seasons was phenomenal would be an understatement. If you’ve ever wanted to know what it would be like to live inside of a screen saver then you need to go here immediately. Whether you are planning a romantic honeymoon or an activity filled family vacation – the FS has great options. In honor of my one year anniversary of this special trip I wanted to share some photos with you. Please contact me if you are interested in planning a trip of your own!

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The whole group of agents. Couldn’t of asked for a better group of girls to experience this amazing destination with!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Relaxing on the outdoor patio of the spa before getting our treatments!

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Brides – take note! The wedding chapel on property is absolutely gorgeous. I know where my future wedding will be one day! :)

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The outside of an overwater bungalow.

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Photos of the interior of my own personal Overwater Bungalow! Can I just move there?!?

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Adorable honeymooners enjoying dinner with a view of Mt. Otemanu.

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The famous lagoon. You can swim, kayak, paddle board and do some amazing snorkeling here.

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Or you could just relax by the pool…

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The resort has EXCELLENT dining options. The food is amazing and they had no problem catering to particular diets like mine. Vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, diary free, etc…you name it and they will take care of it like it’s no big deal.

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Just enjoying my solo honeymoon from the patio of my bungalow.

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It was really hard to say goodbye to the FS Bora Bora but just as we boarded the boat for the airport this double rainbow appeared over the resort. I took it as a sign that I would return there again…twice! :)

For more photos click here…

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.264928947026293.1073741834.230040373848484&type=3

 

Also, check out my review of the Four Seasons Bora Bora that was published on the Smartflyer website…

TYPE: Secluded island resort.

ROOMS: Guests can choose to stay in Beach Villas or Overwater Bungalows, both of which are incredibly spacious and private. The rooms have a traditional Tahitian flair with wooden floors, thatched roofs, hints of color, and large soaking tubs. In the bungalows, pairs of sliding glass doors open onto patios where you can lounge, dine, or jump right into the ocean for an afternoon swim. Some even feature private plunge pools!

POOL/GYM: There is a fantastic gym with a steam room and yoga platform, as well as a beachside infinity pool with cabanas, where Four Seasons attendants provide you with ice water and chilled towels.

RESTAURANT: Each of the four onsite restaurants was delicious. The food presentation at Arii Moana was an art! Each restaurant does a flawless job of catering to specific dietary requirements. The breakfast buffet at Tere Nui (included in rate) was a great way to start the day off right.

BAR: Head to Sunset Bar for freshly prepared sushi, tasty cocktails, and stunning sunset views
VIBE: Tropical, romantic, carefree luxury.

SPA: The holistic spa is a destination in and of itself. Their relaxation lounges feature steam rooms, outdoor pools, and sensory showers, as well as a full menu of standard and signature treatments. The use of natural and local ingredients, like monoi and vanilla, make for excellent, relaxing treatments. The Polynesian massage was a personal favorite!

WIFI: Available throughout, for a fee.

KIDS: Absolutely! Despite what many people think when imagining Bora Bora, there are tons of great options for families. Connecting overwater bungalows and beach villas are perfect for families. There’s even a kids club and teen center on site.

LOCATION: Bora Bora’s Motu Tehotu, one of the most beautiful islands in French Polynesia. A forty-five minute flight from Papeete International Airport (PPT) is followed by a fifteen-minute boat transfer to the resort.

 

– A FEW THINGS –

The culture in French Polynesia definitely sets it apart from other island destinations. Visiting Bora Bora is a completely unique experience that cannot be replicated in the Caribbean or other islands closer to the United States. Many people are shocked to find that it is only two hours further away from Los Angeles than Hawaii, a journey of about eight hours.

I think it is important to note the impeccable service that is provided at the Four Seasons Bora Bora. The Tahitian people are constantly smiling and laughing. They are proud of their home and truly want to share it with visitors. The employees at the hotel pick up on tiny personal details, such as what you order to drink at breakfast, and remember it each day, making you feel like a close friend rather than a guest at a hotel. Although this hotel is located in one of the most stunning settings on earth, the service and attention to detail are really what take it to a whole new level of luxury.

 

SMARTFLYER EXCLUSIVE AMENITIES:

Daily full American breakfast for two people per bedroom,
served through In-Room Dining or in the hotel restaurant (including buffets)
Spa credit of USD100 once during stay (not applicable to products)
Upgrade of one category, based on availability at time of check-in (excluding signature suites and villas)
4pm late check-out based on availability and guaranteed 4pm late check-out on all overwater suites and villas for reservations of 7 or more nights
Complimentary high-speed Internet access for all suite bookings

 

http://www.smartflyer.com/fsborabora

 

Le Meurice: The Hotel of Kings

Le Meurice is often referred to as “the Hotel of Kings” and has accommodated countless monarchs, sultans, politicians, artists, film stars, and musicians over the years. Some of my favorites on the list include: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Rockefeller, Rudyard Kipling, Elizabeth Taylor, Harrison Ford, Beyonce, and famed artist, Salvador Dali, who actually lived at the hotel for quite a long period of time. And of course I have to mention for all of my rap lovers out there that Jay- Z and Kanye West recorded their hit album Watch The Throne while staying at this hotel. Does the line “Le Meurice for like six days” ring a bell? It should if you listened to the album!
I am so excited and a little overwhelmed as I write this post because there is just so much that I want to share with you about Le Meurice. That being said, Im sure that I will probably leave out a few things so please do not hesitate to ask me if there is anything specific that you want to know about this incredible hotel.
First I will start off by saying that one of the best parts about this hotel is its location. Located in the heart of the city, Le Meurice overlooks the beautiful Tuileries Garden and is a short walk to the Lourve and most of the other main attractions in the city. When we arrived at the hotel we were thrilled to find that everything we wanted to see could be done so without taking public transportation (although we did have some very memorable subway moments on our trip).  As we checked in at the front desk I couldn’t help but notice that every single staff member we spoke to was genuinely concerned that we had absolutely everything that we needed to make our stay perfect. I think I probably heard the phrase “anything you need, just let us know and we will make it happen,” probably about 20 times. Next I met with Cecile, my main contact at Le Muerice, and had a wonderful tour of the property. Cecile is the one that takes care of getting my clients extra amenities (upgrades, free breakfast, 85 Euro resort credit, early/late check in/out, etc.) and makes sure that they get VIP treatment while they are there!
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In another post I will show you photos of my room at Le Meurice but for now here are a few that I took while touring the hotel with Cecile.
The whole hotel has a feeling of authentic Parisian luxury with  modern twist. In 2007 it was beautifully renovated by Phillipe Starck. Below is a photo of Restauant Le Dali, where guests can enjoy excellent food under a 1560 square foot canvas that was painted by Philippe’s daughter, Ara. The chairs pictured here, along with other items in the room,  were designed by Salvador Dali himself.
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Often compared to a British club, Bar 228 has a cozy yet masculine feel with leather furniture and original paintings on the walls.
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The Valmont Spa is the perfect way to relax after a day full of seeing the sights!
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There are great room options whether you are looking for a romantic getaway for two or a multigenerational family trip (lots of connecting rooms). All of the rooms are very elegant and spacious with large marble bathrooms and gorgeous details.

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Let me know if you would like some more info on Le Meurice and the awesome amenities I can get you there!

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