A NEW MOON
Spring is almost here and change with it. If your life has taken a new direction, it’s the perfect time to take a ’moon…
We all know that Honeymoons are for newlyweds, but why must we stop there? Introducing new travel trends, including Redundamoons for the recently unemployed, Mellowmoons for when it’s all about you and Babymoons for mums-to-be…
REDUNDAMOONS
For the newly “retired”
If last year saw you hugging your pot plant outside your former place of employment, 2010 should be all about exploring pastures new. You might feel that the last thing you can afford to do is book a holiday, but travel can help you reassess your direction as well as bucking up your mood. Volunteer holidays and learning breaks can open up new opportunities. For ideas, browse a copy of Hands-On Holidays by Guy Hobbs (Crimson Publishing) or Volunteer by Charlotte Hindle (Lonely Planet).
Tremayne Carew Pole, MD and founder of the guidebook series Hg2: A Hedonist’s Guide To…, found that inspiration struck while he was abroad. “Getting away to take stock of your life cannot be recommended highly enough,” he says. “I had my light bulb moment in Budapest. It was a weekend break spent wandering round the city in desperate search of a good bar that set me on the path of quitting my job as an estate agent and setting up my Hg2 city guide business (www.hg2.com). Six years later, I’ve worked harder than I ever have in my life but I haven’t looked back.” These are his tips for blow-your-redundancy hedonism: Chamonix: “Pump some thunder through your veins on a five day ice-climbing course (www.guidemontblanc.com) – exhilarating and terrifying by turns. Challenge yourself on the mountain by day then go wild at The Clubhouse – Milk & Honey’s Alpine outpost – by night.”
Tel Aviv: “Modern and stylish, Israel’s capital offers high-octane glamour. Spend a few days partying and exploring, then head over to the West Bank to discover the Palestine behind the headlines. Home to Hebron, Bethlehem and Jericho, it has a fascinating history to match its global significance. Added to that, the restaurants, bars and clubs of Ramallah are surprisingly good.”
Ibiza: “There’s no better place to obliterate office life in a whirl of spectacular hedonism. Get yourself a VIP table at Pacha (left) for David Guetta’s F*** Me I’m Famous night; lounge away your hangover at El Chiringuito on Es Cavallat; and hire a boat such as the Echo Of Ibiza (www.ibizanon. sense.com) to take you for lunch at Juan y Andrea on Formentera. You’ll come back poorer, thinner and probably not all that tanned – but you will never forget it.”
MELLOWMOONS
For frazzled bodies and souls Have you noticed that 2010 rhymes with zen? If you’re hoping this year will leave you less toxic and more chilled than the last, it’s no good lying on the sofa penning endless New Year’s resolutions. Instead, show your commitment to a healthy, stress-free new life by booking a Mellowmoon somewhere sunny. Gabby Chelmicka, 45, a working mum from Bristol, says she came back “de-stressed, toned and very relaxed” after a combined yoga and surfing break in the Algarve. “I was really in need of a bit of ‘me’ time away from my work, the kids – everything. I had a little trepidation at the thought of going away on my own, but it turned out to be the perfect solo holiday. Of the eight of us there, six had travelled alone. Simply spending the day in the sea would have been rejuvenating enough in itself, but learning to read the waves, as well as ride them, was a real education. Then doing an hour’s yoga on the beach at the end of the day was a perfect way of stretching tired muscles.” Gabby booked with yoga, detox and fitness break expert Lotus Journeys, which offers programmes in a number of Jet2.com destinations. Try taking your own Mellowmoon in one of these locations: Algarve: Yoga and surfing (seven nights at 1,050 euros, March through October). Includes two daily yoga sessions with five surf lessons from a pro on a wide, golden beach in the Monte de Brava area. Plus accommodation, equipment hire, Faro airport transfers and healthy meals.
Alicante: Fitness and weight-loss (seven nights at 1,250 euros, ongoing). Held at a private villa with two pools near the coastal town of Javea. Includes a consultation with a doctor, nutritional advice, personal training, pilates, cardio sessions, yoga, meditation and massage. Plus accommodation, airport transfers and full board (www.lotusjourneys.com).
BABYMOONS
For parents-to-be “Three years ago there were almost no Babymoon packages in Europe, but now many resorts here offer them,” says Ilonka Molijn of BabyMoon getaways (www.baby-moon.eu).
Babymoons usually include spa treatments and are popular in resorts where partners can enjoy other activities such as golf. “New trends include pre-natal nutrition consultation; massage sessions where guys can learn how to massage their pregnant partners; and special ‘cravings chefs’,” says Molijn. JetAway correspondent Gemma Harris, five months pregnant, tested out two top Babymoon destinations: Edinburgh: “One Spa at the Sheraton offers an Espa Total Indulgence Pre/Post Natal Treatment (£95, 1hr 20mins; www.. onespa.com). This full-body treatment and massage is all about easing muscle pains and hydrating the skin, which can become dry and itchy during pregnancy. Sweet almond and calendula body oil is used to relax and soothe, and red and white mud wraps with apricot kernel help the scalp. No essential oils are used as these can enter the bloodstream. Staff are well versed in pre-natal massage techniques, and they know how to adjust the bed and towels for comfort and relieve pressure on your back and knees.”
Madeira: “With its lush tropical gardens and warm year-round temperature, Madeira makes for an ideal pre-baby getaway. Get a hotel within walking distance of Funchal for easy access to a wide range of restaurants. Seafood is big here: best avoid grilled razor clams and octopus salads to be safe, but you can OD on vitamin C-packed mocktails with freshly squeezed pineapple, papaya, mango and orange juice on tap. Pampering options include the Babymoon spa session at Quintas das Vistas Palace Gardens’ Chandra Spa (www.. quintadasvistas madeira.com) and pregnancy massages at Choupana Hills Resort & Spa (www.choupanahills.com).”
THE MINIMOON
For credit-crunched Honeymooners The Minimoon – a short, wallet-friendly break – is the latest trend for newlyweds. A recent poll of Wedding Ideas magazine readers found that over three-quarters of couples were planning a Honeymoon lasting less than two weeks, and 30% were going away for just one week or under. Minimooners named a tight budget (74%) and work worries (56%) as reasons for taking a brief flit rather than the more traditional two- or three-week Honeymoon. A shorter timeframe means sunny short-haul spots are most popular for Minimoons. Here are JetAway’s ideal Minimoon locations…
Sharm el Sheikh: Because there’s no shortage of sun, with exotic palm-fringed pools to canoodle by. Not to mention camel rides for those classic honeymoon snaps, and fantastic snorkeling and diving for outdoorsy Minimooners. Tunisia: With its scented spice markets and treasure-filled souks, sexy boutique hotel-style riads and delicious tagine dinners Tunisia is great for romance. Hire a four-by-four and escape to a Saharan oasis, explore cute, traditional fishing villages or hide away in a wild, wind-swept beach resort.
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