“Morton’s Steakhouse Restaurant on 5th Avenue is hands down; the best food I have ever tasted.”
The couple: Grace & Declan Collins
Date of Honeymoon: June 2015 | Location: New York City, Las Vegas & Cancun
Price range: €7,000 | Travel agent: GoHop.ie
The Destinations
New York City
Home to iconic landmarks, towering skyscrapers and world class shopping facilities, New York City has something recognisable around every corner. Times Square, the Empire State Building and Madison Square Garden are just some of this cities highlights.
Las Vegas
The bright lights of Las Vegas attracted over 40 million visitors last year, tourists can’t get enough of the 24/7 entertainment. Many famous movies have been filmed here such as Rainman and The Godfather, the city is just as it appears in the movies, non-stop excitement!
Cancun, Mexico
Cancun is known for its stunning beaches, vibrant nightlife and its incredible scuba diving opportunities. With its gorgeous weather and world renowned resorts, it is no surprise that Cancun in one of GoHop.ie’s top 10 honeymoon destinations.
What kind of honeymoon was it?
This honeymoon was the ideal mix of shopping, adventure, relaxation and romance. We did all the shopping we could handle in NYC, got adventurous with a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon and then spent nine romantic nights in a luxurious Cancun beach resort.
Where did you stay and would you recommend it?
First up was NYC for four nights, we stayed in the 4-star Hotel Row on 8th Ave. We were warned about the resort fees so we had no surprises. Our agent even arranged for a bottle of champagne to be waiting for us! We stayed in a Standard Double Room. The Location was ideal, we were literally around the corner from Times Square, minutes from Hell’s Kitchen and there was also a subway stop just feet away.
In Vegas we went all out and stayed in the Bellagio Resort and there are no words to properly justify the luxury of this resort! We stayed for three nights in a Deluxe Double Room with a Pool View. It’s the most amazing hotel we have ever stayed in! Our room was huge, the bathroom was all marble and we even had a little balcony overlooking the pool, it was top class and worth every single penny.
We stayed in the 5* Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort and Spa while in Mexico. They made a great first impression as we were greeted with a glass of champagne. We spent nine days here in an Ocean View Room on an All-inclusive basis. We were looking for a place with sea, sand and sun and we certainly found it. With palm trees everywhere, pristine gardens and white sand beaches, we were in paradise. Every single one of the staff are so helpful and genuinely do everything to ensure you are having a good time. We had nine blissful days of beach relaxation, fabulous dinners and drinks, it was heaven.
What was the food like?
NYC and Vegas have a mix of every cuisine imaginable. The buffet in the Bellagio was to die for!
We went all-inclusive in Mexico and the food was fab. We were worried it might be a bit bland but that was not the case, everything was fresh! From omelettes made from scratch to fabulous steak dinners and gorgeous Italian food, the resort catered for everybody. We literally didn’t have to put our hand in our pockets for anything, it was fantastic. We did tip a lot because the employees really do work hard, they were very grateful.
What were the best bits?
Declan: The Big Bus Tour in NYC was a highlight for me. It’s a great way to see the whole city. We loved that you could hop on and off, so if there was an area you wanted to explore more you could get off the bus and do so. We decided to hop off and explore Madison Square Garden, I had seen this arena on TV a lot so it was great to finally see it in real life!
Grace: I just loved the bike tour of Central Park. We hired the bikes for three hours and brought a picnic along. We stopped at the iconic boathouse and lake and took in the sights, it was very romantic. We hired a rowing boat and went out onto the lake itself which was great fun. I would definitely recommend this bike tour!
Declan: There were so many attractions in Vegas it is hard to pick one! In particular, we loved the gondola ride in the Venetian Hotel. We also went to see a show, ‘The Rock of Ages’ which was brilliant.
Grace: We didn’t leave the resort in Mexico but simply lying by the pool, enjoying amazing food and being waited on hand and foot was a highlight for me.
Grace & Declan: Our favourite attraction has to be the Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour, it cost us $700, but it was well worth every single penny. The views were just out of this world. Afterwards, there was a Champagne breakfast rolled out on the floor of the Grand Canyon overlooking the river. I will cherish this memory for life!
Any tips?
NYC – Morton’s Steakhouse Restaurant on 5th Avenue is hands down the best food I have ever tasted. It is a bit pricey but we were celebrating 10 years together as well as our honeymoon and wanted to splash the cash.
Vegas – A pool party is a must while you are in Vegas! There are plenty of reps around the city waiting to add your name to the list. It’s a great way to experience Las Vegas ultimate party scene.
Mexico – The Dreams Resort in Mexico is very popular with families, which didn’t bother us at all but if that is something that would bother you maybe an adult only resort is more suited.
We are glad we booked with a travel agent, because we were worried about parting with all of that money and they took a lot of stress off of our shoulders. Our travel agent really knew what she was talking about and was always happy to answer our questions.
Grace and Declan booked their honeymoon with GoHop.ie. GoHop.ie have a dedicated honeymoon department specialising in USA, Caribbean and Cancun honeymoons. Visit them at GoHop.ie or call 01 241 2389.
