Turkeys in Paradise: We Splurge

Since it was our honeymoon, it seemed only reasonable to "splurge" a little bit (you know, since a trip to Hawaii wasn't enough).

However, these "extras" wouldn't have been possible if it wasn't for the kindness of our family and friends. Although we didn't do a honeyfund (like The Castles), we were very lucky. I mentioned how we were gifted a helicopter ride by my Aunt & Uncle and a dinner from our friends A&J, but Mr. Turkey's parents were especially giving. FIL & SMIL Turkey booked our flights to Hawaii using their frequent flier miles, while MIL & SFIL Turkey gave us a very generous monetary gift for our trip.

Oh, and Brother Turkey is super awesome too. More on him below.

Throwback photo with Brother Turkey in Hawaii

Our first splurge was in Lana'i...on massages!

Stealth self-portrait in the locker room

Mr. Turkey had never had a massage (!) outside of a sports one, so this was a completely new experience for him. We decided to go all out, doing an oceanside couples Lomi Lomi massage. Lomi Lomi is a Hawaiian massage style, but I couldn't really tell you too much about the specifics!

Our massage was here, on the bluff of the resort

If we hadn't been laying face down, this is what we would have seen 

The massage therapists used coconut lotion which smelled amazing. Between that and the ocean waves crashing in the background, the experience was phenomenal and very "Hawaiian". It was also great timing, as it was 4 days after the wedding and some of our muscles were still very sore (from dancing!).

Crazy as it might seem, our next splurge was that very evening. I teased you with a photo of an empty plate in my food post, saying it represented the best meal we had in Hawaii. It also represented our biggest meal.

You see, Mr. Turkey and I were hoping to do a dinner on the beach or some sort of intimate meal while on our honeymoon. Believe it or not, we couldn't find a lot of options (part of this is because the resorts are on public beaches)...and those that did exist were wildly expensive. Although we do love food, we also had to be reasonable.

This is where the awesome Brother Turkey comes in. When getting ready the afternoon of our wedding, he told Mr. Turkey that he wanted to gift us an Ocean Hale dinner.

Set ocean-side overlooking pristine Hulopo`e Bay, the Ocean Hale invites guests to enjoy

an evening of romance in a private and exclusive setting.

It was an absolutely beautiful evening when we made our way to a cabana by the ocean. The concierge actually escorted us from the lobby down to our dinner, giving us some champagne along the way for good measure.

One of our favorite photos from the entire trip

Our cabana...and sunset...awaits

When we arrived at our table, we were presented with leis and had an iPod playing Hawaiian music (lots of Iz).

This.is.the.life.

The dinner was five courses, which had been chosen ahead of time. Incredible doesn't even begin to describe the food. The flavors, the presentation - it was picture perfect. To maximize the experience, Mr. Turkey and I chose different items.

Mr. Turkey's dinner

Starting from top left and working clockwise, the Mr. enjoyed:

• Beetroot Carpaccio - goat cheese mousse & balsamic reduction
• Pan Seared Scallop - chorizo, cauliflower puree & Truss cherry tomatoes
• Pan Seared Mahi Mahi - lobster risotto, asparagus & Romesco sauce
• Raspberry trilogy - raspberry macaroon, cheesecake lollipop & raspberry Verrine

Mrs. Turkey's dinner

My meal was equally as spectacular; again, from top left, working clockwise:

• Salad of Fried Calamari - grapefruit, spinach & grilled Maui onions
• Creamy Truffle Spaghetti - fresh shaved black truffles
• Grilled Prime New York Strip - sweet corn hash, onion jam & hairline fries
• Chocolate Hazelnut Cream Bar - mango-Lilikoi Sorbet, chocolate cardamom streusel & banana gelee
  
  

You might notice that I've only shared 4 courses for each of us. That's because the second to last course was actually shared. 

Cheese plate and a very colorful fruit plate

Despite some touch and go moments, we did make it through all 5 courses alive, albeit incredibly full. But the experience was not over, as we were provided with a stargazer, which allowed us to locate stars and identify celestial bodies (I sound fancy, don't I?).

Checking out the sky

It was really wonderful to not be rushed out after we finished eating and Mr. Turkey and I took our sweet time, soaking up every last minute. That's what the couch was there for, after all!

As you can tell, this was a special, memorable dinner and for anyone visiting Lana'i, we would highly recommend it. Thanks a million, Brother Turkey!



Our next splurge involved significantly less food (we didn't really need to eat for days after the Ocean Hale, after all). When on Maui, we fell in love with the tranquility / infinity pool area at the Four Seasons. So, on one of our last days there, we decided to secure some of the best seats in the house with a luxury cabana.

Our view for the day

To take full advantage, we showed up at exactly 7am (when the pool opened) and stayed until the servers wanted to kick us out (12 hours)! All day we were spoiled - from champagne in the refrigerator to a fresh fruit plate to lunch in the shade to being able to watch our beloved Phillies on TV.

What were the chances that they would be the nighttime game?!?!?

We also enjoyed some fun libations in a pineapple!

A Mai Tai for Mr. Turkey, a Pina Colada for me

It was a fantastic, relaxing day and the cover from the sun was also greatly appreciated. Totally worth it!

Our other "splurges" during the trip were reserved for souvenirs. Since we were so far from home, we didn't want to return to Philadelphia and wish that we had bought something! We were most excited to find fun gifts for our family members and some nice keepsakes for our home (prints of where we had been).

Did you (or do you plan to) splurge on your honeymoon? Share how!

Miss a recap?

Honeymoon by the numbers

Food, Glorious Food!

Fun, Fun, Fun