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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.

St. Lucia Honeymoon: Sugar Beach & Jade Mountain

One of my favorite places to send honeymooners is St. Lucia. It offers much more than your typical Caribbean island and I typically recommend it for people that want dramatic scenery and more than just beach activities. We have excellent hotel partners in St. Lucia and I always know that my clients will be treated like VIPs while they are on the island. There are a variety of accommodations  on the island but after consulting with both Courtney and Jason I could tell that Sugar Beach & Jade Mountain would be the perfect combination for them. To hear about the trip in their own words keep reading the note from Courtney and Jason below…

Laura,

Wow! Yes we are slowly getting back to the grind after the past few months of celebrations!

Our honeymoon was beyond amazing! and we couldn’t thank you in words.

Sugar Beach was fantastic- our bungalow on the beach was amazing, the views, the drinks, and the restaurants were all top notch. We ended up eating at La Derra one night (best lamb chops Jason ever had), also ate at Boucan which was another one of your recommendations. Both were amazing. The sunset cruise from Sugar Beach was also a highlight. We ended up hiking one of the Pitons-(the easier of the two). It was still strenuous- I would recommend starting at 7 or 8am at the latest. We were finishing up around 11 and it was already getting really hot. Takes about 4 hours if you are relatively in shape.

And… Jade Mountain- this might be heaven. The hotel was over the top- and as a surprise we were upgraded thanks to you. Our room was beautiful- this hotel definitely functions at a slower pace- but it was surprisingly wonderful. We woke up at about 5:30 every morning with the birds chirping, and took full advantage of an afternoon nap. The Jacuzzi Tub in the bathroom-overlooked one of the Pitons! We stayed on property for dinner all 3 nights, the food there was so fresh. We did a diving excursion from Anse Chastanet and went to 2 different locations – it was great and we would recommend to anyone. Anse Chastanet was the best diving location.

We really don’t have much of anything to complain about. The locals were so friendly, welcoming, and eager to show us their island. On Friday night we went to a local fish market for dinner and drinks- (a locals thing) and had all of their traditional foods, they had a reggae band playing- it was one of our favorite things we did! They only have it on Friday nights- in a town about 15 minutes away from Jade Mountain, which you can get to by boat.

Laura- honestly, we just can’t thank you enough for everything you did to help set this all up. We will keep your contact- for any additional trips we may take in the future. The paperwork and travel plans were so easy to follow- and we have the best pictures and memories of our trip. Thank you for highlighting, and encouraging us to choose St. Lucia- the backdrop of the mountains next to the ocean was incredible. We loved our trip!

Here are a few photos:

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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

 

What is Travel Week?
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Travel Week is the equivalent of Fashion Week for people in the luxury travel industry. It is the most exciting week of the year because I get to learn about what is new in the industry and have a refresher on hotels and destinations that I already love. The conference takes place at the Bellagio in Las Vegas and the best agents and suppliers come from all around the world to attend. Each day we have 4-minute appointments back to back until four pm. At those meetings we get to know about all of the top and up and coming luxury hotels, spas, tour operators, on-sites, and airlines. Not only do we get a feel for the travel products, but we also form relationships with representatives from each company or hotel. One of the biggest things that I get out of Travel Week each year is how important relationships are in this business. One of the greatest perks of using me as your travel agent is the fact that I can personally contact a friend at the property that you are visiting and make sure that you are given the best accommodation, experience and treatment. Anyone can book a five star hotel on their own but you need a travel advisor to arrive and be greeted by the general manager, whisked away to your upgraded room, and discover all of the extra resort credits, complimentary meals, and extra activities that I can get you at no extra cost. Remember, You can’t VIP yourself! Overall, Travel Week is such a wonderful learning experience and reminder as to why I am in this industry in the first place. It is my job to stay up to date and in the know for my clients. I am really lucky to get to meet such amazing professionals in the travel industry and and I cannot wait for my clients to benefit from these connections.

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