Ami Klykken
Everyone’s idea of romance is different. When it comes to travel, doing something out of the ordinary usually heightens the romance quotient. Whether you are planning a destination wedding, a honeymoon, a milestone anniversary trip or vow renewal or a glamorous getaway for two, I will find ways to make your trip unique to your romantic dreams and take care of all the details so you can focus on creating wonderful memories together.
A great example is a two-week honeymoon in Italy I recently planned. My goal was to make sure they maximized their time doing things they loved with minimal stress. To do that, I arranged all their transfers with trusted chauffeurs and set up private guides for all their experiences. Their hotels—and suites--were selected for views and romance. For example, at Hotel Belmondo Splendido Portofino, I arranged for a balcony room with panoramic sea views. Similarly, in Florence, their suite at the trendy Portrait Firenze hotel overlooked the Arno River and the Ponte Vecchio, and on the Amalfi Coast, they stayed at the historic Hotel Santa Caterina of Amalfi, a 19th-century villa surrounded by olive groves and fruit orchards with a private elevator to an exclusive beach club. Plus, at all their hotels, I was able to include complimentary breakfast, Wi-Fi, and other value-added amenities.
Each day had something special. Since they love to hike, I arranged some outstanding guided hikes. Going with a guide not only means you won’t you get lost, but you learn about the local culture and ecosystem. I enlisted an environmental specialist to lead them on a full-day hike from Portofino along the rocky headlands to the isolated monastery of San Fruttosa, and they lunched at a local restaurant perched on the cliffs and swam at a pretty cove. Private guides also led them on wonderful hikes in the Cinque Terre area, Capri, and the Amalfi Coast.
Other highlights include a wine-and-food focused day in Tuscany with visits to vineyards, olive oil and wine tastings, and lunch at a Michelin-star restaurant. They also visited Naples and Pompeii and enjoyed a private boat trip to Capri, stopping to visit the Blue, White, and Green grottos and to snorkel and swim at lovely beaches. One of the highlights was a private photo shoot I arranged for them along the cliffs of Ravello, one of the prettiest areas on the Amalfi Coast, and the finale was several days in Rome, based at the amazing Hotel Hassler.
When it comes to destination weddings, my experience as an event planner handling almost 250 weddings at an upscale hotel has armed me with creative ideas for ways to add romantic touches to weddings and romantic travel. Although many resorts and hotels have on-site planners, I like to check over the arrangements so I know every detail is thought through. I also can make suggestions for special touches, look at the timeline, and make sure that you have a viable contingency plan for bad weather that would not be a disappointment.
If you’re looking for a travel advisor who specializes in romance to plan your destination wedding, dream honeymoon or romantic getaway, I am here for you.