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Honeymoon & Travel | Travel Tips
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• DIY Massage
  These luxury properties offer private hands-on instruction for couples who want to help each other relax during and after the honeymoon.by Jenna MahoneyCoconut Bay Beach Resort & SpaLife is a breeze at Coconut Bay, St. Lucia.This hideaway on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia contains a quiet adults-only enclave with its own guest rooms, pool, beach, fitness center and last but not least a wonderfully relaxing spa. Called Kai Mer, French Creole for “house by the sea,” the spa has outdoor manicure/pedicure patios, treatment rooms with magnificent ocean views and private outside showers, and a menu of services using ingredients that celebrate the bounty of the sea. You can sign up for the 90-minute massage instruction session that’s held on a patio overlooking the ocean. What could be better than learning the art of bodywork with your new husband to the murmuring sounds of the nearby sea? The spa’s pick-your-own aloe treatment is perfect for those of you who may forget to reapply the sunblock, and the reflexology treatment, which is performed seaside, accompanied by sweet, fruity cocktails, will make you appreciate your feet as you never have before. Vieux Fort, St. Lucia; rates start at $320 a night, all-inclusive; coconutbayresortandspa.comMohegan SunMagic hands at Mohegan SunThe slots are great and so are the bars and restaurants at this huge resort in southeastern Connecticut. And don’t miss the 60-shop mall and the cabaret theater. But we think you’ll really hit the jackpot at the Elemis Spa, an oasis of pampering that features lots of couple’s treatments. First, there’s the hour-and-45-minute Strawberry Moon ritual, with its sexy, flower-filled bath for two, followed by chocolate-dipped strawberries and champagne. There’s a couple’s massage and hands-on instruction by staff practitioners. You’ll also receive jasmine-infused massage oils to take home with you, so that you’ll be able to recreate your experience once the honeymoon is over. 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard, Uncasville, CT; rates start at $200 a night; mohegansun.comSandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort & Offshore Island Leave stress out of the picture at Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort.This all-inclusive couples-only resort sits on a secluded strand of Bahamian beach, with its own romantic private island beckoning beyond the waves. Head straight for the spa and sign up for the In Each Other’s Hands massage class. The spa’s relaxation experts will show you how to customize your massage oil, and then teach you basic bodywork techniques. For even more pampering, follow up your class with the two-hours-plus Wrapped in Romance package, featuring an island sugar and orange scrub for two, a seaweed wrap and a whirlpool soak with champagne. Last come side-by-side warm stone massages. Another signature treatment: The Tropical Bliss massage. It may seem like a standard Swedish massage at first, but the application of warm sand to your feet makes for a very happy ending. Cable Beach, Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas; rates start at $420 per person, per night, all-inclusive; sandals.comPhotography: (from top) Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa—St. Lucia; courtesy of Sandals Resort; courtesy of Mohegan Sun.
• Have a Healthy Honeymoon
  Who wants to call in sick on their trip of a lifetime? Here, tips for staying on top of your game.by Carie WojdylaThe last thing anyone wants is to feel under the weather on their honeymoon—but it does happen. A few precautions should keep you both in great shape. The Prep StepFor a honeymoon in South Africa or Thailand, or even in Tahiti and Fiji, get ready to roll up your sleeves. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a visit to these and other popular spots require certain vaccinations. Visit your primary care physician four to six weeks before your departure to get the necessary boosters, as well as prescriptions for Cipro, a powerful antibiotic, and any antimalarials that you may need. Ask the doctor to recommend an over-the-counter antidiarrheal medication, like Imodium A-D and Pepto Bismol, to bring with you. Also, get her suggestions for the most effective insect repellents, sunscreens and antibacterial wipes. For more information, go to the Travelers’ Health section at the CDC’s website, cdc.gov. In-Flight Precautions You want to arrive at your destination feeling fresh and energetic. “To ensure that you get off the plane ready to have fun, avoid drinking alcohol while you’re in flight,” suggests John E. DiScala, founder of johnnyjet.com, an online travel source. Even one glass of wine with dinner can leave you feeling dehydrated and uncomfortable, he says. Instead, prepare yourself to be on local time by sleeping on a flight that will land in the morning; stay awake on one that will arrive at night. After check-in, take a short nap only if absolutely necessary, DiScala says. Fighting jet lag can be tough, but the best thing to do is to spend some time outdoors. How many times have you been on a flight and found yourself sitting behind a passenger who sounds like he’s coughing up a lung? According to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, one in five airline passengers reports contracting a cold within one week of flying. And this was true not only for passengers on long hauls, but also for those on shorter flights. If you don’t relish becoming part of that statistic, try Nozin Nasal Sanitizer or Airborne. Destination Dining 101 Like most travelers, you’ll probably want to throw caution to the winds and feast on the local delicacies. But do follow this basic rule: Drink only purified bottled water, and brush your teeth with it too. If a beverage comes with ice cubes, don’t drink it; the ice will be made from tap water, which may contain bacteria. You should also avoid salad (it’s been rinsed in tap water) and any fruit that can’t be peeled. It also makes sense to stay away from unpasteurized cheeses, which may contain bacteria that your body isn’t used to, as well as cream-based sauces, which may have been left unrefrigerated for too long. And only order meats cooked well-done. Air Ambulance Better to be safe than sorry. When you book your trip, look into Medjet Assist and AirMed International, medical transportation companies. If you become ill enough to need a medical evacuation, AirMed will transfer you to the hospital of your choice, as long as you’re at least 150 miles from home or on a cruise ship. On call round the clock, the fleet of aircraft provides a state-of-the-art intensive-care unit. A membership starts at $95 per person for a trip of up to 14 days, and coverage begins at the receiving hospital and doesn’t end until you are admitted to the hospital of your choice. Don’t worry about having to separate from your spouse, either. Anyone traveling with you can accompany you on the plane home—now that’s a relief!
• 5 Money-Saving Tips for Your Honeymoon
  Have a trip of a lifetime without breaking the bank. Five tips to help you save on your honeymoon.by Jenna MahoneyIt’s the ultimate vacation: Your honeymoon is the time to indulge in everything you’ve ever imagined—over-the-top spa treatments and multiple-course dinners with champagne. Can you do all this without squandering the down payment on your new home? Yes. Here’s how. Look OnlineExperts agree the best travel deals can usually be found on the Internet. Most of the popular websites have comparative-price charts to help you find the lowest airfare options. And large search engines like Kayak.com do all the cost analysis for you. Airline company websites often offer the lowest fare guarantees and pretty consistently waive booking charges and other fees when you reserve online. The same is true for hotels—calling the reservation line directly may result in lower rates. For car rentals, excursions and hotels, use meta-search tools, suggests Tom Meyers, editor at EuroCheapo.com, an online budget travel site. Resources like Travelocity’s new ExperienceFinder function and the CheapoSearch on EuroCheapo.com compare rates on several different booking sites in one place. Pick Packages All-inclusives give you the most bang for your buck. Plus, budgeting gets a whole lot easier when your lodging, meals, activities and alcohol are included in one tariff. If you’re not the all-inclusive type, you can still score big savings under a single price. Orbitz.com, Travelocity.com, Expedia.com and other websites offer package deals that include lodging, air and car rentals. “All-inclusive packages, whether you’re talking about island resorts or luxury hotel/air packages, can be a great deal,” says Meyers. Go Off-Season Travel to Mexico and the Caribbean in the summer and to Europe in the winter and you’ll save a few pesos, says John E. DiScala, founder of JohnnyJet.com, a travel web portal. That’s because the high season is synonymous with high prices—demand is at its peak, so resorts and airlines often charge as much as double. Opt for the shoulder season (the period between the high and low seasons) or off-season, and you’ll be treated to bargain prices. Check the weather reports ahead of time (weather.com is a great source), so you aren’t surprised if it’s too steamy to sit on the beach. Take the Road Less Traveled “Try flying out of secondary airports,” advises DiScala. Not only are the savings significant, but since these airports aren’t hubs, delays are less commo