TSG Tip: How to Honeymoon
Honeymoons, by definition, are trips of a lifetime, which calls for the experts in travel planning. Enter The Travel Studio, a cohort of luxury travel advisors and travel-centric shop from jet-setters Anne Liles and Ragan Stone.
Ahead of her honeymoon, Editor + Owner of The Scout Guide Birmingham Rebecca Todd Stewart tapped the Scouted Travel Experts to plan their first getaway as newlyweds. From narrowing down a destination (Sugar Beach, a Viceroy resort in St. Lucia) to divulging insider information on the resort, Anne Liles and the entire TTS team delivered. Here, Rebecca and TSG Birmingham Editorial Manager Makenzi Hogan discuss the details. Keep reading for need-to-know tips on traveling to Sugar Beach and what to pack.
Makenzi Hogan: Rebecca, y’all’s honeymoon looked so fabulous, tell me everything…
Rebecca Todd Stewart: My husband Reed and I had the most fabulous time. We’re both so glad we worked with The Travel Studio to plan the experience.
MH: Let’s chat specifics, where did you go and how did you land on the location?
RTS: When Reed and I were discussing our honeymoon plans, we knew we wanted a low-key, all-inclusive resort. We chatted St. Barths, Antigua, Mexico, and St. Lucia, which we ultimately chose as our destination. I’d heard of Sugar Beach previously and the Viceroy at Sugar Beach was the first place that Anne of The Travel Studio suggested to us. When she shared that each room came with a private pool and butler, I was sold.
MH: What was the planning process like with The Travel Studio?
RTS: I reached out seven or eight months in advance to collaborate with Anne on our honeymoon. I shared with her what we were looking for — to sit on the beach, cocktail in hand, with absolutely no agenda — and Anne guided us through the entire planning process. While excursions weren’t something Reed and I were interested in for this trip, Anne and Ivy encouraged us to experience the Viceroy spa. They were right, the spa is a total must.
MH: Do tell…
RTS: A full spa day for Reed and I was arranged. I highly recommend a Couples Massage and a Hydration Facial (they use Tata Harper skincare products!), as well as a Sun Soothing Body Wrap for your husband after he inevitably ignores your advice of reapplying sunscreen…
MH: What else did Anne and The Travel Studio arrange for y’all?
RTS: They scheduled a car service to pick us up and drop us off at the airport, which was amazing. But they can really do anything! The Travel Studio is fabulously organized, Anne and her assistant Ivy Sharp sent us a link to an app that included our entire itinerary — flight info, transportation, activities etc.
MH: I know you to be quite the planner… What was it like working with The Travel Studio to plan your honeymoon?
RTS: Yes, I’m typically an over-planner who spends hours researching the best spots, but I totally trusted Anne with every suggestion and arrangement she made. Her knowledge is unparalleled. You can spend all day googling, but you’re really just scratching the surface of what’s out there and missing the truly special, more boutique resorts and experiences.
MH: Let’s chat more about the experience. I know you and Reed were looking for a true beach resort vacation — the brunch, beach, bar, repeat agenda, if you will. You didn’t need to tap The Travel Studio for extracurricular experiences. But, were there any other benefits to collaborating with The Travel Studio for this type of vacation?
RTS: Absolutely. Like I said, their knowledge is unparalleled, and The Travel Studio knew every hidden gem at Sugar Beach. Think: the best restaurants to the must-do experiences. They were also wonderfully knowledgable about tipping etiquette and how to secure upgrades, which, of course, they arranged for us. By working with Anne we received a resort credit, upgrade to a villa (based on availability) and complimentary breakfast. All were divine!
BEACH ESSENTIALS from BIRMINGHAM
The perfect trip begins at home. To ensure our bags are perfectly packed, we tapped scouted Birmingham boutiques for beach essentials. At Le Weekend, Rebecca found the perfect swimsuits (shop the exact suit here). From The Atelier, Rebecca picked up post-beach, no-makeup-makeup favorites, including Westman Atelier Makeup foundation and blush. At Gunn Dermatology, Rebecca sourced a year-round sunscreen compact (available in-office), which offers the perfect beach glow, covers up redness, and offers SPF 60 sun protection. And, from The Travel Studio, Rebecca picked up the most darling Lornay Murray sunhat and spray sunscreen with a nostalgic scent.
Visit thetravel-studio.com to learn more about designing a dream getaway. There, you can also stock up on the essentials you’ll need for your trip. Don’t forget to tell them Scout sent you!
