Professional honeymooners: dream job or nightmare?

by Laurel Miller on

Does a half-year working honeymoon sound like your idea of a dream job? If so, you might want to contact RunawayBrideandGroom.com, an Irish travel agency catering to destination weddings and honeymoons.

But wait- there’s more! You’ll also be paid 20,000 euros (about $27,000). “The Ultimate Job” is the latest in a series of promotions designed to capture the public imagination and serve as a “brilliant” marketing tool for people and places. The idea was inspired by last year’s blockbuster “Best Job in the World” campaign in Australia.

Winners will travel the globe for six months, and get paid to test out the most romantic wedding and honeymoon destinations around the world. More than 1,000 couples have already applied for the chance to be sent to resorts in Africa, Europe, Asia and the United States. You don’t have to be Irish to apply, but you do have to tout Ireland as part of the process.

Hopefuls have until April 7 to apply for the “horrendous assignment” — as the company teasingly calls it (hee.) — which starts mid-May. B.Y.O. Viagra and UTI medicine.

The winners will be asked to blog about their experiences a few times a week, “when they can get out of the hammock after sipping a glass of champagne,” says Rosemarie Meleady, managing director of RunawayBrideandGroom.com. Assuming they stay sober long enough, they must also write for The Irish Times once a month.

While 182.5 days of globetrotting is a dream job for many (mainly real travel writers), it would still test the limits of even the most solid of couples. Here’s hoping the company also throws in a good divorce lawyer.

Hotel Review: JW Marriott, Ritz-Carlton wake up downtown L.A.

by Melanie Nayer on

L.A. LIVE – the sports and entertainment complex that envelops the Nokia Theater and STAPLES Center – is hoping to change the way people view downtown Los Angeles. Thanks to the stadiums, restaurants, nightclubs, shopping and outdoor pavilions that opened in October 2007, downtown Los Angeles was revived with a faint heartbeat. Now, two new hotels are opening their doors in an effort to wake up the district and give people a reason to spend the night in downtown L.A.

The J.W. Marriott Hotel Los Angeles and Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles make up the $2.5 billion building in heart of the L.A. LIVE complex, boasting 1,001 rooms total (878 rooms in the J.W. Marriott and 123 rooms at the Ritz-Carlton and Ritz-Carlton Residences). While the hotels share the space as part of the luxury brand’s global portfolio, the two brands maintain their individuality in design and style.

J.W. Marriott hotel designers took advantage of the lobby’s open frame. The neutral colors on the walls and rugs are contrasted with modern furniture in reds, purples and animal prints, emphasizing the enormous space while still giving travelers a comfortable place to rest upon arrival. A few steps past the check-in counter, however, and you’re transported to a futuristic display of lights, mirrors and lots of action.

The hotel is home to one of L.A.’s newest dining destinations, L.A. Market. The full-service restaurant created by the “Rock-n-Roll” celebrity chef Kerry Simon is sourced from organic, sustainable and local sources, and combines his flare for everyday foods with his bold personality. The sushi pizza is a favorite of hotel employees, and Simon’s signature burgers are worth every bite. The Mixing Room – located across the lobby from the restaurant – takes guests on a mixology escapade of signature cocktails and cosmic creations in an all white-and-gold furnished space with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Nokia Plaza.


The J.W. Marriott guest rooms occupy floors 4-12 and are substantial in size and stature. There’s a 4000-square-foot fitness center and a pool for those who want to soak in the California sun. While guests of the J.W. Marriott have access to the Ritz-Carlton’s 8000-square-foot spa, some areas of the hotel remain exclusive to Ritz-Carlton clientele.If the J.W. Marriott is the meeting space of L.A. LIVE’s grand collection, the Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE is the area’s exclusive retreat.

In contrast to the J.W. Marriott’s bold lobby design, the Ritz-Carlton entrance is dimly lit from a Swarvoski crystal chandelier set against deep mahogany wood. Recognizable on the outside by its glass facade, one of the most mesmerizing parts of the Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles, is its variations in the color of blue glass on every floor. Symbolic of the ocean or the sky (depending on how you like to view hues of blue), the LEED-certified structure almost looks as if its draped in diamonds when viewed from the right angle. Guests of the Ritz-Carlton have exclusive rights to the 3,400-square foot Club Lounge, rooftop pool and private fitness center.

Ritz-Carlton’s 123 guest rooms and private residences are located on the upper floors of the building but the pièce de résistance of this gem is the 24th floor restaurant, which offers views of Los Angeles from every table. During my tour of the hotel, a private dining area and wine cave were under construction, but will open in time for its first guests on April 2.

The outdoor pool on the 26th floor is also exclusive to Ritz-Carlton guests and comes shaded with cabanas and a rooftop bar and restaurant. If you’ve ever wondered what Los Angeles looks like from above, this is the spot to be.

While it’s likely you’ll be visiting the hotels as a guest, it’s worth noting the building’s gargantuan meeting space. With almost 100,000-square-feet at its disposal, the hotel is primed for conferences and events of all sizes.

The J.W. Marriott is currently open to guests, and the Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles will take its first reservations on April 2. Spending time in downtown LA just got a little more exciting.

Disconnect the video games – Hotel tip

by Gadling Staff on

When checking in to a hotel, ask the front desk to disconnect the video games from the TV.

When someone plays the games, the front desk automatically charges your room. If you’re unaware that your children have been playing video games while you are in the shower, you may have a surprise on your bill.

A unique retreat at the Lost Iguana Resort in Costa Rica

by Tom Johansmeyer on


So, what are you doing in May? If your plans are open, check out the “Volcanic Yoga & Spa Retreat” at the Lost Iguana Resort in Costa Rica. You’ll save almost 40 percent off the price of the six-night getaway with a price tag of only $800 while enjoying the “eco-chic” property and (more important), giving yourself the break you deserve.

From May 14 – 20, 2010, the Lost Iguana is hosting this unique retreat, which includes airport transportation, breakfast and dinner every day (you’re on your own for alcohol, though) and a $300 Golden Gecko spa credit along with your accommodations. And, there are daily yoga and water fitness classes to keep your body moving – when you’re not out on a guided nature hike.

Now, let’s get to the spa – nothing beats an amazing spa treatment. With your $300 spa credit, you can take advantage of a wide range of treatments in private open-air thatched bungalows. Volcanic clay and stone facials are on the menu, not to mention exotic body polishes to help you push out the toxins and stimulate your circulation. I’m particularly interested in the cocoon stream therapy treatment, which purifies and softens your skin.

If you have an open week in May and an itch to get on the road, this is the only way to scratch it. Sit in a spa, and let someone else do all the work of stretching your muscles for you.

South Florida hotels offer Passover packages

by Melanie Nayer on

What’s a Jewish family to do when Passover falls during Spring Break and all the flights to Florida are packed with college kids eating carbs?

While the debacherous enjoy their binge, some South Florida hotels are offering Passover packages to help families celebrate the ancient Israelites’ exodus from Egypt, while on vacation.

Our friends at the Miami Herald scoured South Beach (and beyond) and found hotels offering “Passover without the hassle” packages. For the thousands of religious families who make their own trek from New York to Miami every year, these hotel offerings are a great way to combine faith and festivity.

The Fontainebleau Resort in Miami Beach is serving kosher cocktails, gourmet sushi lunches and elaborate dinners perfect for a Passover feast while keeping in the tradition of no leavened bread or grains. Other hotels offering Passover packages include the Biltmore in Coral Gables, which the Herald reports is completely booked for 600 Passover guests; the Hyatt Regency Bonaventure in Weston, which will host 1,000 Passover vacationers; the Doral Golf Resort and Spa; and the Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort in Aventura.

Sipping kosher wine never tasted so good.