Latin America for Lovers

written by Carla Hunt | Posted on June 21st, 2014 - Recommend Magazine

The honeymoon experience in Latin America embraces upscale country inns; mountain and jungle lodges; seaside hideaways; and capital city treats.

The Personal Touch
"When asked to pick a personal favorite for a honeymoon, Sandra Borello, president of Borello Travel & Tours, says, “My first choice would be as exotic as possible, focused on both romance and wildlife"

Buenos Aires, mi amor

Buenos Aires is custom-made for couples who understand it takes two to tango: out dancing in a milonga social club, watching a nightclub tango show, or taking lessons together. Beyond its signature rhythm, honeymooners love B.A. for its best-of-everything in museums, street fairs, steakhouses, nightlife and historic barrios (neighborhoods) such as Palermo Viejo for high fashion buys; Palermo Hollywood for a cutting-edge contemporary vibe; San Telmo for antiques and authentic restaurants; and La Recoleta for fine galleries, museums and high-end hotels.

Truly wonderful boutique hotels are all the rage in B.A., and there are many luxurious and romantic choices. At the top of the list is Hub Porteño, with the critically acclaimed Tarquino Restaurant and flower-filled rooftop terrace, nestled in the exclusive La Recoleta neighborhood. This stunning townhouse hotel makes honeymooners at home in 11 light-filled suites, appointed with Belle Epoque furnishings and art work by Argentine masters on loan from the Fortabat Art Collection, as well as iPad/iPod docking stations, WiFi and Nespresso machine. Honeymooner extras can include room service (no time limit), flowers, non-alcoholic drinks and snacks in the room, as well as late 6 p.m. check-out, “Daily Candy” (a surprise aperitif in the hotel living room each afternoon), and the above-and-beyond services of concierges who help to introduce guests to the best B.A. experiences. hubporteno.com 

The Personal Touch

When asked to pick a personal favorite for a honeymoon, Sandra Borello, president of Borello Travel & Tours, says, “My first choice would be as exotic as possible, focused on both romance and wildlife: a cruise to Antarctica. In fact, if it could be arranged, it would be wondrous to be married en-route. My second choice would also be afloat, say aboard the Stella Australis cruising between Ushuaia and Punta Arenas, or an Amazon honeymoon on one of the luxury river boats cruising out of Iquitos in Peru.” She adds that many couples and/or their travel agents pick mostly iconic places if they are honeymooning in South America, including Machu Picchu, a luxury lodge in the Amazon, Iguassu Falls combined with Rio in Brazil. In fact, “While our recommendations, of course, depend on the clients, we believe the best honeymoons incorporate at least two destinations. The first will be the gateway city, where after a long flight from North America everyone should stop and rest. South American cities are modern, fun, interesting, and offer excellent hotels—grand or boutique. In Lima, for instance, we use the new and elegant Hotel B where in the delightful neighborhood of Barranco, our honeymooners are guaranteed Atelier rooms prepared for reception with a bottle of Champagne, flowers, and petit-fours. It’s important to make capital gateways an appealing part of the honeymoon planning. To this we suggest all kinds of combination itineraries: Take Buenos Aires and add time for the traditional estancia ranch experience in the countryside and/or wine tastings, fine dining, hiking and biking during a luxury lodge stay in the Mendoza wine country; make the same kind of city-and-beyond combination in Ecuador, with time in the lovely city of Quito, combined with highlands dining, horseback riding, nature hikes on the working ranch of Hacienda Zuleta and/or rainforest discoveries in and around the luxury Mashpi Lodge.

“I won’t say we are overwhelmed with requests for honeymoons, but the bookings are increasing, client reports are gratifying, and agents can recommend with confidence the most memorable honeymoons in the other America.”
borellotravel.com

 


http://www.recommend.com/magazine-archive/june-2014/latin-america-lovers/