Road trip honeymoon

By Jessica Hopper

If you\'re looking for a honeymoon with a difference, then a Nevada/Californian road trip might just be the bon voyage for you. With a spot of sunbathing, sightseeing, adventure and bar-hopping all thrown in, what\'s not to love about a West Coast jaunt that pretty much caters for your every whimsical whim? I speak from personal experience. I just got back from my road trip honeymoon - and despite the jetlag, it couldn\'t have been sweeter...

It\'s not the destination, it\'s the journey...

With some spectacular scenery to be witnessed West-side, this trip couldn\'t be experienced to the full without a drive. That\'s why Virgin\'s FlyDrive option was the perfect way to see and explore the scenic route 101 of Nevada and California - a package that offers you the freedom and flexibility to go at your pace. We chose to fly from Gatwick to Vegas outbound, then San Francisco to Heathrow inbound - leaving our classic American Dodge Calibre hire car in Frisco at our request - perfecto! And what\'s more, travelling Virgin means travelling in style that incomparable. For honeymooners, a champagne breakfast in the club lounge followed by sophisticated in-flight service - be it Economy or Upper Class - is the perfect way to make the lengthy journey an all-important part of your honeymoon, not just a ways and means to get it started.

Virgin Holidays USA FlyDrive
Seven nights fly drive from £639 per person, includes free car hire.
Includes return international flights with Virgin Atlantic from Heathrow direct to Los Angeles or San Francisco, car hire included for the full duration. Price includes all applicable taxes and fuel surcharges which are subject to change, prices are based on departures from 01 Jan-31 Mar 09.

To book - www.virginholidays.com 0844 5573 860

Viva Las Vegas!

First stop, Vegas baby! After a short cab ride to The Strip, we head for our first hotel The Palazzo, the newest premier casino resort in Vegas. Connected to the Venetian by shared walks and waterways, this all-suite hotel is the very epitome of plush luxury. Our 1300 sq ft suite - with sunken living area, Italian marble bathroom and king-sized bed adorned with Egyptian cotton sheets - is breathtaking and hard to tear ourselves away from, but this is Vegas (baby!) and we\'ve got some exploring to do!

 
With so much to do and see in 4 miles, you\'ll be hard pushed to experience everything the Las Vegas Strip has to offer in a single strip, so the following feature pulls together reviews of a few must-sees and must-dos whilst surveying the ‘bright light city\' that are simply not to be missed...  

 
There\'s also more ideas on what to see and do at visitlasvegas.co.uk

The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino

With almost 5,000 luxury suites and a 120,000 sq ft casino, The Venetian is the biggest hotel in the world and an infamous focal point of the Las Vegas Strip, where you can enjoy the romance of Italy in the heart of the desert. A five-diamond rated resort, it\'s well worth spending a day exploring all this hotel has to offer, from the beautifully landscaped, five-acre rooftop pool deck, to the Grand Canal Shoppes - 80 luxury international boutiques lined along cobblestone walkways with canal running through where visitors can get a real taste of Italy with an authentic old-school gondola ride. As well as all this, there are 19 restaurants to choose from, a theatre, a spa and wedding chapel - plus our favourite after-hours hang-out, Tao Beach.

An icon of exotic exclusivity, Tao Beach is where the beautiful people of Vegas flock to drink champagne cocktails and dance atop the biggest hotel in the world... Enough said. We arrive at 3pm on our first day in Vegas and the party is already well under way. This beach club, complete with a mammoth luxury pool, lavish cabanas, a well stocked bar, DJ and bongo-bangers - it\'s easy to see why celebrities such as Jay Z and Heidi Klum are all seasoned fans. Well worth a look if you fancy a break from the casinos and a spot of people-watching.

venetian.com

TAO Beach
taolasvegas.com

Zumanity, The New York, New York Hotel and Casino

Enjoy the sensual side of Cirque de Soleil with this must-see sex extravaganza - the perfect show for couples, especially honeymooners! Leave your inhibitions at the door and enjoy...

This adult-themed production of thrills and giggles showcases some truly sensational acrobatics, burlesque cabaret and naughty fun. Don\'t miss the breathtaking ‘Waterbowl\', and be prepared to get involved during the climaxing ‘Orgy\' scene!

zumanity.com
Reservations: 001 702 740 6815
Show times: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 7.30pm and 10.30pm
Cost: from $79

Dream Catcher Tour of the Grand Canyon - Maverick Helicopters

You can\'t go to Nevada and not see the Grand Canyon, and the best way to tour this natural wonder is by air. Maverick Helicopters offer a VIP service that offers a smooth flight and the best views possible of what the desert has to offer. After a 50minute flight, during which our pilot, Riley, kept us fully in the know of what we seeing and the history of Nevada, we landed in the Grand Canyon for a champagne picnic and some great photo opportunities, before flying back at dusk with some spectacular views of the Las Vegas strip by night. A must-do for any holiday makers hitting Vegas.

maverickhelicopter.co.uk
Telephone: 0208 464 3432
Details: Hotel collection, 4.5 hour round trip
Cost: $532 per person including $44 Hualapai Indian Permit, landing fee
and $4 passenger facility charge

Planet Hollywood

Our third day in Vegas and we\'re off to our second hotel for a further 2 nights. If Palazzo means Palace in Italian, then Planet Hollywood roughly translated should mean FUN! Hip, modern and decidedly vivid, from the moment we check in at 11am and see sexy go-go dancers cavorting atop tables to booming house music whilst fellow revellers hit the black jack tables with cocktails in hand, we know we\'re in for a wild time!

Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino features accommodations fit for Hollywood Royalty and really celebrates ‘celebrity\'! There\'s a wide range of rooms and suites available atop the three-acre casino and gaming area, including the new and úber-cool Hollywood Hip Room. In both double bed and king bed rooms, you\'ll find a spacious bathroom with a separate, oversized soaking tub, seamless shower and marble vanity, whilst the décor is all about modern, boutique-style touches with bright colours, neon plastics and plush oversized cushions with vibrant motifs. Well worth a look and/or a stay with younger peeps looking to have a frolicking good time in Vegas!

planethollywoodresort.com

Phantom -- The Las Vegas Spectacular, The Venetian Theatre

Not to be missed, hubby and I got decked out in our Las Vegas finest to hit the úber elegant Venetian theatre and experience the world\'s most recognized musical masterpiece as it\'s never been seen before. Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular reunites Andrew Lloyd Webber, director Hal Prince, choreographer Gillian Lynne and others from the show\'s original creative team. Their show is reconceived into a 95-minute extravaganza, including each and every song from the original production. It really is breathtaking. From the very moment you enter this bravura, $40 million custom-built theatre, you find yourself in the famed Paris Opera House and immediately cast in the Phantom\'s world. Timeless music, out-of-this-world special effects, romance and anticipation - Phantom is a Las Vegas spectacle you\'ll never forget.

phantomlasvegas.com
Show Times: Monday - Saturday, 7pm and 9.30pm
Tuesday - Friday, 7pm
Ticket Prices: From $69
Reservations: 001 702 414 9000

SW and Blush, The Wynn

How better to follow an evening of such decadent luxury than dinner, dancing and cocktails at one of the Strip\'s most glamorous, tallest (and most golden!) hotels, The Wynn. We start with a mouth-watering Filet Mignon at SW - one of the best and most widely acclaimed steakhouses in Vegas - where we dine in a stunning outdoor patio area overlooking the Lake of Dreams. The award-winning star chef, David Walzog, has created a menu that redefines all the standard steakhouse classics with a variety of prime-cut steaks as well as speciality seafood. De-lish!

We followed our fine dining experience with a stroll through the Wynn\'s casino expansive casino then a late-night champagne cocktail at Blush (pictured), the Wynn\'s sophisticated and edgy yet elegant boutique nightclub, overlooking the casino and featuring an onyx lit dancefloor and 300 crème lanterns - it\'s simply too cool for school.

 
SW Steakhouse
wynnlasvegas.com
Cost: Starters from $14; Mains from $28

Blush
wynnlasvegas.com
Cost: $30 per person, guests staying at Wynn can also present
their room key for complimentary admission

The Sunset Marquis, West Hollywood

Next stop, LA. We hit the Sunset Marquis Hotel and Villas mid-afternoon and immediately know we\'ve come across a little gem right in the centre of Hollywood.

Located just off the infamous Sunset Boulevard (the Sunset Strip), a stone\'s throw from some of Hollywood hottest night spots and sights, Sunset Marquis is luxurious, contemporary and oh-so hip it hurts! Rock \'n\' Roll, baby!

Our one-bedroom villa, overlooking downtown LA on one side and Sunset Marquis\' amazingly beautiful and leafy gardens on the other, is wow-inducing. With a decidedly modern living area, a plush and big-bedded bedroom and the biggest, most stunning mosaic marble bathroom with separate shower and free-standing tub - we practically whoop on the spot!

The grounds are truly gorgeous, all trees, flowers and butterflies - the second you step inside Sunset Marquis, it\'s hard to believe you\'re in downtown LA, it\'s like a little lush heaven smack-bang in the middle of West Hollywood. There\'s a fantastic patio café where you can soak up the sun, a pool, gym and oh-so cool yet intimate restaurant, The Room.

However, the real jewel in this hotel\'s crown is 1200 - the hotel\'s intimate bar to which celebrities, rock stars and the crème de la crème of Hollywood\'s movers and shakers flock nightly. This small, dimly lit bar and outdoor heated courtyard are reserved exclusively for hotel guests and invited regulars. Some guests stay at the hotel just to hang out at the bar!

Without doubt, the best hotel we have ever stayed in, and one we very much hope to return to one day...

sunsetmarquishotel.com

The Georgian, Santa Monica

After the madness of Hollywood, we made the short trek down to Santa Monica beach for a couple of days of sun, sand, sea and relaxation. Our hotel, The Georgian, is located on Ocean Boulevard directly opposite the infamous Venice beach, and is so structurally beautiful and deliciously quirky you could take up a whole roll of film just snapping away at the exterior. Built in 1933, this stunning boutique hotel is decked out in art-deco grandeur and with a recent £1million renovation, it\'s world-class, consistently features in Top 10 Santa Monica hotels lists and has housed many a\' infamous actor and actress from Hollywood\'s golden era.

 
A short two-minute walk to Third Street Promenade in downtown Santa Monica and only a five-minute walk to Santa Monica Pier. It\'s the perfect location for those looking to explore the best of what LA has to offer.

georgianhotel.com

The Simpson House Inn, Santa Barbara

A trip to California is not complete without a stop-over in Santa Barbara, affectionately known as The American Riviera. With a fascinating history - with Spanish, Mexican and Rancho periods - and amazing architecture, it\'s almost like a little slice of Mexico right in the heart of California.

We take residence at The Simpson House Inn, the only five-diamond rated Bed & Breakfast in North America. The epitome of peace and serenity, this luxurious yet quaint inn is nestled on an acre of English gardens, private and secluded, with mature oaks, magnolias, fountains and numerous sitting areas dot the expansive lawns. This historic landmark Victorian estate is considered one of the most distinguished homes of its era in Southern California, and features the elegant 1874 Victorian home, restored 1878 barn and three garden cottages. We stay in the gorgeously cutesy Abbeywood cottage (pictured), a lovely little log cabin with original fireplace, Jacuzzi tub, antique canopied queen bed and a love-seat. The perfect location for honeymoon\'s looking for a little old-school romance...

simpsonhouseinn.com

San Francisco

Our last stop before home (boo!) is San Francisco. Cool fog. Hot restaurants. Neighbourhoods to explore. Cultures to experience - it wouldn\'t be a Californian road trip without a stop here. ‘Frisco is famous for its many must-see landmarks, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, the cable cars, Coit Tower, and Chinatown. With its steep rolling hills, eclectic mix of Victorian and modern architecture, and diverse, cosmopolitan population, a walk through San Francisco is like many a\' mini holiday in itself. A stroll through the iconic North Beach is essential - where the Beat Generation writers fueled the San Francisco Renaissance in the ‘50s. Stop off at The Haight, where the Hippy movement reached its peak with the 1967 Summer of Love. Dine at one of the many street-side café\'s in Little Italy for the best people-watching in the city. We particularly loved the authentically Italian pasta dishes at Caffe Delucchi on Columbus - a must for an afternoon of fine food and wine San Francisco style.

Hyatt Fisherman\'s Wharf, San Francisco

We stayed right in the heart of ‘Frisco at the Hyatt on Fisherman\'s Wharf, just minutes from downtown. Directly across from Pier 39 and a cable car stop that takes you straight to the fab shopping and dining spots in Union Square, China Town or North Beach. With great service, lovely suites, a stunning roof-top pool and the typically American Knuckles sports bar on site (great food, beer and pool tables for that perfect low key evening) with great city views, this hotel is a real gem for anyone looking for comfortable lodging and an ideal location for exploring what the city has to offer.

fishermanswharf.hyatt.com

Alcatraz Cruises

A trip to San Francisco wouldn\'t be complete without a visit to Alcatraz island - once home to some of America\'s most notorious criminals from 1934 to 1963, including infamous inmates like Al "Scarface" Capone, and the "Birdman" Robert Stroud, which have helped to establish the island\'s notoriety as one of the world\'s most legendary prisons.

Alcatraz Cruises operate from Pier 33 daily from 9am. We chose to take the more intimate and engaging Night Cruise (Thursday-Monday), which is the most complete of the tours on offer - and really lends itself to the creepy ambience of the prison. When you first see Alcatraz emerging from the mist and fog as the sun is setting on your short cruise outbound, it\'s goosebumps a plenty! This tour includes a personally narrated boat tour around the island; guided tours from the dock to the main prison building; "Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour" and a variety of special programs and presentations offered only at night, including the must-do Audio Tour of the cellblock, which can send shivers up the strapping of spines. Upon return you\'ll also enjoy a sunset silhouetting the Golden Gate Bridge and breath-taking views of San Francisco as night falls.

From $26. Book early to avoid disappointment.
alcatrazcruises.com

Hornblower Dinner Dance Cruise, San Francisco

A real must for honeymooners, we got decked in our ‘Frisco finery to attend a dinner dance cruise aboard the luxurious San Francisco Belle yacht. This blissful 3-hour cruise is the perfect way to celebrate a special evening. We enjoyed a heavenly 4 course dinner and sipped champagne whilst taking in the breathtaking bay views, whilst the fantastic live band certainly livened up proceedings. Sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge at dusk was a real highlight. One of the best evenings of our honeymoon - without doubt.

For more information, and to book visit hornblower.com