Local Foreigner Love Stories
We're not shy about disclosing our [travel] crushes around here, but there are certain properties around the world that really make us feel warm and fuzzy. Today, we have a special Valentine's Day edition of #travelcrushtuesday - so crack open that box of chocolates, pop the champagne, and read on for some of the properties where TLF team members have celebrated engagements, weddings, and honeymoons. After all, what's more romantic than travel?
Le Bristol, Paris
“I got engaged on a terrace at Le Bristol, in a bathrobe, the morning after my 30th birthday. My husband was going to propose the night before, but changed course because I started hysterically crying when he presented me with my birthday gift, which was a WALLET (a gag to throw me off the scent of the impending proposal - clearly I fell right into his trap.)”
Barkley Hickox
Rosewood Miramar Beach
“I got engaged in a private little spot on Miramar Beach in Santa Barbara, and then my mom and sister showed up with champagne and surprised us with a room at Rosewood Miramar Beach!
Three weeks later, Travis Barker proposed to Kourtney Kardashian in the same place, so let’s just say Freddy was a trendsetter (minus the one million roses)!”
Amanda Schulenberg
The Retreat at Blue Lagoon
“My husband proposed to me in Thórsmörk Valley in Iceland when we were superjeeping. We had champagne, drove on the black sand beaches, saw waterfalls, and hiked a glacier, and then spent the night at the Retreat at Blue Lagoon, with dinner at Moss and a spa day!”
Missy Fauser
The Balmoral
“We got engaged in Edinburgh, atop Arthur's Seat! He acted SO odd the whole day... I totally knew it was coming. He hired a photographer, who missed the proposal (Ian was smiling at everyone with a camera as we hiked up, trying to figure out if they were THE photographer.) She eventually found us and took some presh photos of us afterward, and then we celebrated with drinks at the Balmoral!”
Hutton Beckcom
Estelle Manor
“My (now) fiance and I love Christmas and wanted to go somewhere festive to recreate the cute British cottage scenes from the movie The Holiday. We had a dreamy few days at Estelle Manor in the Cotswolds, with stunning Christmas trees everywhere, hot chocolate, holiday music, cold weather - it was perfect.
One afternoon, we’re sitting by the fire playing backgammon and drinking fresh apple cider. He switches to beer and proceeds to have several pints in an hour - and he kept going to the bathroom. I was confused, but mostly thought, ‘Whatever - he’s on vacation!’
An hour later, he leaves to go to the bathroom AGAIN. Then, he calls me and asks me to come up to our room - we had the STUNNING Estelle Suite. He had conspired with the hotel team, who covered the suite with white rose petals & candles - it was MAGICAL!”
Emily Pariseau
The Little Nell
“My husband orchestrated a clever plan by asking Tim, the Director of Sales at the Little Nell, to extend a fake invite for an industry FAM trip during MLK weekend, intending it as a backdrop for his proposal. But I declined, as Barkley already had a trip to Aspen planned that same month. He then surprised me over my December birthday with a trip. I was so frustrated, pointing out the redundancy with Barkley’s trip, unaware of his proposal plans.
Upon arrival, we were greeted with a beautiful suite and a fully planned itinerary, including dining, spa, and a manicure - all without raising my suspicions. It wasn’t until we were on the mountain that I noticed Andrew’s unusual confidence in navigating, despite it being his first time on the Highlands and only his third time on skis...”
alexandra hanover
Relais Christine, The Orient Express, and The Gritti Palace
I of course planned my own honeymoon, and he said as long as it involved train travel, he would go wherever I wanted. I chose Paris (Relais Christine), the Orient Express, & Venice (the Gritti Palace.) The Gritti upgraded us to a gorgeous canal-front room and it was so beautiful that I cried!