With this in mind, many hotels and resorts offer a luxurious honeymoon or romance package that provides more than just a room for a night or two.
"Fantastic Honeymoon" Package?
The Mandarin Oriental, Miami bills its romance package as a "Fantastic Honeymoon" -- and it did seem one of the most appealing deals I've reviewed recently. Just to make sure, I asked Dana and Yuri, my Florida stringers, to check it out.
The package starts with a personal chauffeur, who greets arriving guests at the Miami airport and drives them to the door. Facilities at the hotel include a three-level holistic spa, fitness center, infinity-edge swimming pool, and private beach.
The Honeymoon Package includes:
- Accommodations for two nights
- American breakfast daily for two
- Bottle of champagne and chocolates in-room upon arrival
- Three-course dinner for two at Azul, the hotel's award-winning restaurant (beverages and gratuities not included)
- Round-trip sedan transfers to and from Miami International Airport or Port of Miami
- One 50-minute aromatherapy massage per person per stay
Impressions
"Everyone was extremely nice, and so helpful," Dana remarked. "The valet escorted me to the front desk, asked if I needed help with my bag, and told the clerk I was there to check in. After I did so, I was escorted once again, this time to the elevator.
"The lobby is classy and contemporary, and the hotel seems to attract a young, international crowd. Our room -- 1902 -- was a corner suite with two bathrooms and a balcony that had two loungers, two chairs, and a table.
"The master bath is covered in floor to ceiling yellow marble and has potted orchids on the windowsills. But like most hotels the bathtub is too small for two people -- and so is the shower.
"The food at both Café Sambal (which serves breakfast and innovative sushi lunches) and Azul is just amazing, in terms of both taste and presentation. And the service is attentive, friendly, professional.
"Staying at the hotel can get expensive. The spa is so nice that you're likely to want more services although only one is included in the package (we opted for side-by-side massages). And since we live nearby and have different schedules, we drove instead of taking the limo in, and that was a mistake: It costs $24 a day to park a car, and we had two there for two days! And watch out for in-room fees: I lit a candle in the room, which I thought was free, and I was billed $30. For a cranberry juice and small bottle of Absolut from the minibar, the charge was $47."
"The location is good. There's a 1.3-mile landscaped walkway on the perimeter of Brickell Key, a romantic place to stroll. And Miami Beach is a quick trip over the causeway."
The Verdict
"Everything at Mandarin Oriental, Miami is top-notch – ultra chic and contemporary."
And what about the expense? "You only live once!"
As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary accommodation and meals for the purpose of reviewing those services. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.
