Honeymooners taking part in Rosewood Mayakobá’s Honeymoon Mayan Romance may eventually need to pull themselves away from all of the private moonlight Tantric Yoga sessions and romantic moonlight couples’ massages (complete with a couple’s massage tutorial)…. While this package does include a daytime snorkeling trip among the Mayan ruins, the Yucatan Peninsula is a marvelous place to explore for more than just a quick dip. The nearby Coba ruin is a thrill for history buffs and the merely curious alike. Considered to have been one of the largest Mayan cities, it is awe-inspiring in its setting of dense forest and shallow lakes. Rent bikes at the entrance and make a day of touring the vast park and snapping photos of the impressive, towering ruins.  This ancient marvel is a perfect daytrip getaway!

After a 20+ hour flight, everyone can use a little pampering. Get a luxurious welcome to Thailand with the Metropolitan Bangkok’s Tantalizing Thai offer. Upon arrival, sip an exotic welcome drink before sitting down to a dinner for two at the new nahm – Michelin-starred Chef David Thompson’s outpost of his London restaurant – accompanied by a signed copy of Thompson’s acclaimed book on Thai cuisine. After a good night’s sleep, enjoy a healthy breakfast, sure to energize any weary traveler, before heading off to the islands or staying to explore the busy city.

Rates start at $205 for single occupancy for an overnight stay and include a welcome drink, dinner at nahm, Thompson’s signed book, one night’s stay, and breakfast.

The offer is valid August 1- October 31, 2010.

Can’t get enough of a local farmers’ market? Take a trip out west and sample the Southwestern flavors at the Santa Fe Farmer’s Market, ranked among the Top 10 in the country. Inn on the Alameda invites locavores to stroll through the colorful and scent-sual market in their new Railyard home, while enjoying the extras thrown in with the Fresh Santa Fe Package. After stocking up on hand-crafted cheeses, fresh produce, and numerous artisanal products unique to New Mexico, wander along Canyon Road and take in the art scene. (American Style magazine just ranked Santa Fe #2 for the top 25 Art in Small Cities, and the Inn is the closest hotel to Canyon road.)
Included in the package is:
• A three-night stay in an accommodation of your choice, based on double occupancy
• $20 per person in Farmer’s Market tokens
• A gift certificate for $40 for lunch at Il Piatto, a downtown trattoria with a passion for local ingredients
• A pair of Santa Fe Farmers’ Market caps and re-useable market bags
• A sumptuous daily continental breakfast
• A daily wine and cheese hour

Fresh Santa Fe is available for a three-night stay on Sundays through Wednesdays until the end of October, with rates ranging from $531 to $1041. To book, please call 888-984-2121.

While Londoners flock down to the Mediterranean, August is the time for a Yankee invasion. Restaurants aren’t as crowded, it’s easier to get tickets to coveted West End shows, and Buckingham Palace opens its doors to visitors (see our full round-up below). Two of the city’s hottest hotels, the Metropolitan and The Halkin, are also offering discounted rates, making it easy to hop across the Atlantic for a British mini-break. The hotels sit in a prime locale, sandwiched by Hyde Park and the Buckingham Palace Gardens, perfect for summer strolls and picnics.

At The Met, book ahead with the “Ultimate Savings” offer to get a City Room from £179, roughly $257 (compared to the standard rate of £390, a savings of 55% and roughly $305) with a minimum of two nights. (Must be booked at least seven nights in advance, valid through December 31, 2010.) Over at The Halkin, “Extend that Weekend Feeling” is discounting weekend rates by 20% when guests stay three nights. A double room starts at £450 a night, roughly $650. Three nights at that rate would £1350, or roughly $1950, but with the discount it’s only £1080 ($1560), making it a savings of about $390. Use that little bonus to load up on Top Shop must-haves or to procure tickets to a West End show. After a day of finding quirky antique treasures on Portobello Road or numerous crossings of the Thames, relax and take in the green views from one of the 51 rooms overlooking Hyde Park at the Metropolitan. At The Halkin, fill up on Thai fare at Chef David Thompson’s nahm, the first Thai restaurant in Europe to be awarded a Michelin star.

Herewith, our round-up of August’s key events…

Music Festivals

V Festival

What: a two-day festival featuring artists Kings of Leon, Passion Pit, Imogen Heap, and many more

When: August 21-22

Where: Hylands Park and Weston Park

80s Rewind Festival

What: celebration of 80s music, dressing up encouraged

When: August 20

Where: Remenham, Oxon (about an hour from London)

LED Festival

What: David Guetta, Audio Bully, and more pump out dance music in the last summer festival at Victoria Park

When: August 27

Where: Victoria Park

Get Loaded in the Park

What: The last concert in August promises to be one of the best parties of the summer.

When: August 29

Where: Clapham Common

Hyde Park in the summer

Art Exhibits

Henry Moore

What: An exhibition celebrating the artist’s influence in 20^th century sculpture

When: Through August 15

Where: The Tate Britain

Victoria & Albert: Art & Love in London

What: An exhibition featuring over 400 works from the Royal Collection gathered during the lives of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

When: Through October 31

Where: The Queen’s Gallery

Newspeak: British Art Now

What:  An exhibition focused on the new and exciting artists coming out of the UK in the past few years

When: June 2-October 17

Where: The Saatchi Gallery

West End Shows

La Bête

What: David Hirson’s fun 1991 play tells the story of a dramatist leading an acting company in the 17th-century court of Prince Conti, starring Joanna Lumley, aka Patsy from Ab Fab.

When: June 28-August 28

The Merry Wives of Windsor at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre

What: Enjoy this comedy in Shakespeare’s own Globe Theatre.

When: August 14-October 2

Into The Woods at London’s Open Air Theatre

What: Watch the celebrated Sondheim play outdoors in Regent’s Park

When: August 5-September 11

New Restaurants

Bar Boulud – Knightsbridge

This New York gem opened a British outpost in May with two bright rooms, a charcuterie counter, and a lounge.

Petrus – Belgravia

Gordon Ramsey’s French restaurant opened in March and boasts a glass wine case with 2,000 bottles.

Viajante – Bethnal Green

Opened in April, this eclectic new spot is in the former Bethnal Green Town Hall.

The Milroy – Mayfair

Just opened in May to the public, the restaurant serves up modern European fare and occupies the space that once housed Henry VIII’s hunting lodge.

More

Notting Hill Carnival

What: A huge street fair set up by London’s West Indian population, full of food carts, steel drum bands, and crazy costumes.

When: August 29-30

Outdoor Opera in Holland Park

What: Operas in the open air, set in beautiful Holland Park.

When:   La Forza del Destino, August 4, 6, 10, 12, 14 at 7:30pm

                Francesca da Rimini, August 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 at 7:30pm

                Fantastic Mr. Fox, August 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14 at 7:30pm

Dover Street Market

What: Take advantage of summer sales at this fashion forward hot spot. The chic flock here for the latest from Lanvin, YSL, and Rodarte.

Got a passion for Picasso? Not everyone has $106.5 million burning a hole in his pocket – which is the going price for a Picasso these days. Quell your art envy with help from The Victoria-Jungfrau Collection. Switzerland is hosting two upcoming exhibitions devoted to Pablo, brimming with priceless oeuvres. With the Art & Culture package at the Bellevue Palace in Berne, art lovers get a bubbling flute of champagne upon arrival, a sumptuous breakfast buffet in the morning, a four-course dinner at La Terrasse, and admission to the Paul Klee Zentrum to see the Klee Meets Picasso in Berne exhibition. (The exhibition runs from June 6-September 26.) Starting October 15, a Pablo Picasso Retrospective will grace the city of Zurich. With the City Break package at Eden au Lac, guests get two nights in a deluxe double room overlooking Lake Zurich, complimentary breakfast, a four-course dinner at Restaurant Eden, and plenty of time to peruse those Picassos.

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While finally getting a guy to propose may relieve one set of worries, planning a wedding brings on a whole new bunch of ‘em. The Park Hyatt Chicago has introduced an engagement package for brides-to-be to bask in the glow of a shiny new ring, and hold off on wedding planning for the weekend. Grab your maid of honor or mother of the bride and head to Chicago. The package includes overnight accommodations for two, two tickets to the Chicago History Museum’s “I Do! Chicago Ties the Knot” exhibition, two glasses of champagne in the NoMI Lounge, two manicures and paraffin hand treatments at Tiffani Kim at the Park, and a two hour bridal tour with ShopWalk owner Danielle Lutz with tips on how to create a wardrobe for the big day. After pampering you for two days, they send you off with a one year subscription to your favorite bridal magazine to help you start the planning.

Rates start at $400 and must be booked 7 days in advance.

For the laidback couple: beach time

Riviera Maya, Mexico

Rosewood Mayakoba  knows that running around town to pick up save the dates, sample wedding cakes and find the perfect dress is hard work, even with the help of a great wedding planner or maid of honor so the five-night “Honeymoon Mayan Romance” package begins with top-shelf tequila upon arrival, and is all about chilling out. Take a Tantric Yoga class and enjoy a Moonlight Massage for two on your suite terrace. Glory in your private plunge pool and butler and end the day in an Aroma Bath with champagne and chocolate. You’ll also get a Couple’s Massage instruction session with 30 minutes of “alone time.” Let stress slip away at this gorgeous resort, nestled between the Yucatán jungle and Caribbean Sea that marries high design with serious luxury. Rates start at $1152 per night.

Visit www.rosewoodmayakoba.com or 888-ROSEWOOD for more details.

Maldives

At Naladhu, the Island Romance package begins before you even reach the property. A speedboat will meet you as you leave the airport to take you directly to this Maldivian island resort. A House Master will lead you to your private house, where Champagne cocktails and fruit are waiting. Spend the day by the pool or snorkeling in the reef then relax with a complimentary coconut milk bath for two. As if that wasn’t enough, chocolate cake to share is included!  Nightly rates for the Island Romance package begin at $1,475 per night with a four-night minimum (rate excludes service charge and Maldivian government bed tax).

 For the stress-crazed couple: inner peace

 Bali

Begin your journey together in Bali’s spiritual heartland, at the COMO Shambhala Estate, with a Wellness Program tailored to your needs. Give your marriage the brightest possible beginning by learning how to stress-battling techniques based on the philosophies of Yoga, Chi Kung and Tai Chi. Then let the experts in holistic healthcare go to work using massage, acupuncture, Ayurvedic therapy and hydrotherapy (using water from the Estate’s sacred, mineral-rich spring). Rates begin at $2,100 for a three night Stress Management program in a Garden Room. Visit http://www.cse.como.bz/rates-2010 for more details.

Turks & Caicos

Stay at Parrot Cay and simply ‘be’ as a couple in one of the few pristine places in the Caribbean: a 1,000-acre private island where the spacious, teak-filled bedrooms spill out onto a mile of powder soft beach. Recover from the pre-wedding jitters with complimentary extras like Pilates and yoga classes and use of windsurf boards and catamarans. A seven-night Parrot Cay Honeymoon also includes 60-minute couples massage, a candlelit dinner in the COMO Shambhala Cottage and a bottle of champagne on arrival. (BONUS: The COMO Shambhala Stress Management program is available here as well!) Rates start at $6,012 per couple.

For the classic couple: New England whimsy

 Nantucket, Massachusetts

The Wauwinet, a natural, stunning waterfront setting in Nantucket, is perfect for the couple that doesn’t want to go stray too far from home. Newlyweds can stay at one of the Wauwinet’s charming garden cottages, just slightly removed from the main buildings. Arrive at the hotel via the Wauwinet Lady, the hotel’s private charter, then indulge in couples treatments at The Spa by the Sea. With Nantucket Island Resort’s Hot Dates, Cool Rates promotion, rates at the Wauwinet start at $225 for 2010.

For the foodie couple: Southwest seasoning

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Stay at the Inn on the Alameda and explore our oldest capital city’s culinary and cultural delights for your honeymoon. With the Taste the City Different package, couples can take a three-hour walking tour around beautiful and historic Santa Fe with a chef guide to introduce you to the city’s most unique dining destinations. The next day, see who’s got better mincing skills with a cooking class and lunch to follow. When you’ve had your fill, the hotel’s Kiva fireplaces, triple-sheeted beds, and afternoon wine and cheese will be waiting. Don’t forget to bring home those authentic Southwestern recipes ‘por dos.’ Rates begin at $675 for a three-night package.

 For the adventurous couple: exotic escapades

Bhutan

Honeymoon in the largely unspoiled kingdom of Bhutan, and participate in adventurous activities that include rafting, archery, camping and fly-fishing at Uma Paro. Then hit the road with biking and trekking courses that visit local monasteries and villages for a slice of culture.  And don’t forget, the Bhutanese measure their wealth in Gross National Happiness, so the joy of recently married duos will certainly spike that statistic! Stay in a Como Suite and you’ll have a stunning 180 degree view of the Paro Valley. Rates start at $595 per night.

 Chiang Saen, Thailand

High in the rolling hills of Thailand’s north, Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa  is the perfect locale for the adventurous honeymooners to hang their hats before setting off for an unforgettable adventure.  Never a dull moment at the resort, couples can learn to ride, bathe, and feed Thai Asian elephants at the on-site elephant camp.  Choose the Mahout Discovery package for a three-day intensive mahout training course and learn all the sublties of elephant driving, or partake on a tri-country expedition on the Mekong through northern Thailand, Laos, and Burma, with the Three Country Discovery package.  Nightly rates for the Mahout Discovery package begin at $480 for a Deluxe Room, double occupancy, and at $682 for a Deluxe Room, double occupancy, for the Three Country Discovery package. Certain restrictions and conditions apply. Please refer to the package links for details.

For the couple who wants it all: beach, adventure, culture

Changlang Beach, Trang, Thailand

Anantara Si Kao Resort & Spa in Thailand will satisfy the couple looking for an unforgettably full cultural experience. Try pretty much every water sport imaginable, from sailing, snorkeling, diving, windsurfing, waterskiing, to even swimming with sea cows! Need something to hang beside the marriage certificate? Get scuba-certified on site with the resorts 5-star PADI scuba diving center. And you both can learn how to prepare a full Thai meal with staff-led cooking classes.  More creative couples can partake in the art of Kae-Sa-Luk, Thai fruit and vegetable carving.  Book your stay online 40 days in advance between now and December 20, and receive 20% off and daily breakfast buffet for two with the Early Bird Bonus special package. Nightly rates begin at $270 for a Deluxe Garden Terrace room.

CARIBBEAN

Parrot Cay, Turks & Caicos
Getting married at a private island resort in the Caribbean is a fantastic kick-off to a new life.  Parrot Cay offers two beachfront setting for wedding ceremonies – a boardwalk aisle that leads to an unspoiled beach, or the beachfront of a private villa available for rent.  Parrot Cay also insists that stress need not be a part of the preparations; all weddings include the dedication of a planner to assist with all preparations, including reserving the dates, food and beverage details, music and entertainment, photography, and any other service requested.   Parrot Cay can accommodate small, intimate weddings, or can be bought out for larger weddings (up to 120 guests). 

Rosewood Mayakobá, Mexico
Weddings at Rosewood Mayakobá are all about choices – choose stunning outdoor venues like the white sand beach or the Plaza with views of the resort, lagoon, and tropical jungle.  Three different restaurants are available to cater.  Retreat to the privacy of a private plunge pool after the ceremony, or come down a day early with the wedding party and receive treatments at the resort’s spa, Sense, which is its own private island. 

NANTUCKET

White Elephant, Nantucket
The landmark White Elephant offers the perfect venue for an in-town wedding with 64 beautifully appointed rooms, suites, and stunning spa.  The hotel can also accommodate guests in the newly added White Elephant Loft, a luxurious three-bedroom, four-bathroom Loft complete with gourmet kitchen, gas fireplace, exquisite living room and dining room, sitting room, and massive skylights.  Also new this year are the White Elephant Hotel Residences – a collection of 25 one-, two-, and three-bedroom Hotel Residences just steps from the White Elephant.  At White Elephant, Nantucket Island Resorts can arrange for an array of ceremonies, from the sandy beaches of Brant Point Light to the green lawn overlooking Nantucket Harbor. The Sun Deck at the Brant Point Grill caters to up to 60 guests; for larger receptions of up to 300 people in the spring and fall, couples have the option of reserving the entire hotel and holding the reception under a tent on the lawn.   And if the soon-to-be newly-weds need to relax from all the hectic planning, guests can go off to town for shopping and biking, or the 32 miles of beach, while the couple can relax at the White Elephant Spa, complete with champagne and strawberries.


The Wauwinet, Nantucket
For those couples seeking a truly intimate experience, The Wauwinet offers an unrivaled location for the most elegant and classic weddings. Wedding season at The Wauwinet is in May or October, and the inn can accommodate up to 150 guests. Located nine miles outside of town on the peacefully secluded northeast tip of the island, guests can relax in one of the 28 guest rooms with bay or garden views or in one of the four garden cottages.. With a backdrop of Nantucket Bay at sunset, those who wed at The Wauwinet are hard-pressed to find a more romantic location. The Wauwinet offers the services of the highly-lauded TOPPER’S Executive Chef David Daniels who caters food to a pristine tent on the lawn overlooking the Bay.   Pre-wedding jitters can be taken care of with a couples’ massage at The Wauwinet Spa by the Sea.

THAILAND

Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa, Chiang Rai, Thailand
Perched amidst luxuriant tropical forests, Anantara Golden Triangle is culturally rich and naturally beautiful – a meaningful setting for an intimate garden wedding.  The resort offers two wedding packages that include everything necessary to make it a celebration to remember. The “Regal Elephant” wedding adds a Thai touch to the ceremony as the bride and groom share a memorable elephant ride.  

Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa, Thailand
The gentle lull of rolling waves and rose petals strewn on golden sand makes a wedding at Thailand’s original seaside resort paradise a favorite.  The “Western Wedding” at the Anantara Hua Hin provides a ceremonial cabana for the wedding, along with cake, decorations, and music.  For a more traditional Thai ceremony, The “Thai Wedding” includes sacred chanting by Buddhist monks during the “Rod Nam Sang” well-wishing holy water ceremony. 

Anantara Bophut Resort & Spa, Koh Samui, Thailand
Choose a stylish indoor ceremony or a beachfront exchange of vows at Anantara Bophut. Awaken to the sound of jovial drumbeats and the festive “Hae Khaan Maak” parade, as the groom escorts his bride from her chamber. Adorned in traditional Thai costumes and flower garlands, tie the knot in front of family and friends, followed by blessings from Buddhist monks and well-wishers during the “Rod Nam Sang” ceremony.

Anantara Si Kao Resort & Spa, Thailand
Glide into marital bliss on a catamaran weaving through the islands of the Andaman Sea off the coast of Trang. Anantara Si Kao offers these exotic options for exchanging vows.  For those looking for a more traditional approach, the resort also arranges for land ceremonies and receptions.

MALDIVES

Anantara Dhigu Resort & Spa and Anantara Veli Resort & Spa, both in the Maldives, offer several different packages for unique destination weddings.  Wedding experiences offered include getting hitched aboard a yacht sailing through the sea, or walking down a torch-lit aisle to the beat of island drummers.  Both resorts provide for all the necessities of a wedding ceremony; from photographers to flowers and cakes to spa treatments for bride and groom.

Cocoa Island
A private island in the South Male Atoll, Cocoa Island has just 33 suites and villas – so forget about crowds of strangers peering in on the ceremony.  Weddings are Cocoa Island are purely ceremonial (not recognized by law), so maybe the perfect place to take those gorgeous wedding photographs after a less aesthetic wedding at City Hall.

SOUTH ASIA

Uma Paro, Bhutan
Take part in an intimate and spiritual marriage blessing ceremony at the magnificent shrine of the Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s oldest temples. Wed amidst the splendor of this 7th-century temple’s magic orange trees, bearing fruit year-round. During the two-hour ceremony, 20 monks will conduct prayers, accompanied by drums, horns, and cymbals.

INDONESIA

Uma Ubud, Bali
Choose a legal marriage, commitment ceremony, or even a simple, traditional Balinese blessing in the quiet, culture-rich countryside of Bali. Arrange for your ceremony to take place in the remote meditation bale, a site for some of Bali’s most inspiring views of the River Oos and the Tjampuhan Valley. Let the resort do the work for you, covering everything from table settings, to flowers, even traditional masked fire dancers and Balinese music.

Middle photo courtesy of balionstages.blogspot.com

2010 resolutions already abandoned? Start fresh and toast to another New Year with COMO Hotels and Resorts Uma Ubud in Bali. Celebrate Nyepi Day, the Balinese New Year and annual Day of Silence, by booking the resort’s special two-night package, March 15-17.

Arrive in Bali on the Day of the Dead Moon for a three-hour guided tour of Ubud and a taste of the New Year festivities: dancing, parades, and entertainment characteristic of the night before Nyepi Day (much like our New Year’s Eve!). Guests will find themselves immersed in the rich spirituality of Balinese culture through a host of Nyepi rituals and colorful processions of Ogoh-Ogoh, intricately crafted paper mâché models symbolizing evil spirits.

Make sure to satisfy your thirst for exploring on the Day of the Dead Moon. Uma Ubud asks guests to respect the Balinese traditions and remain on the grounds of the resort during the following Day of Silence, when villagers remain indoors, stores close, and lighting is kept to a soft mellow glow. This custom is meant to trick demons and bad spirits (the Ogoh-Ogoh) into abandoning the island, thereby establishing a healthier and happier start to the New Year.

Bask in the calm of the island through self-reflection and meditation with complimentary yoga classes or a relaxing 60-minute COMO Shambhala treatment. Guests will also enjoy a quiet, traditional Balinese Rijstaffel dinner (numerous side dishes served with rice) at the resort’s Kemiri restaurant. Package rates start from $780 based on two people sharing.

Other inclusions:
- Two-nights of accommodation
- Daily breakfast
- One three-course set lunch and dinner
- Return airport transfers