Dear Readers,

If you've emailed us these past few weeks, you know that we've been on the road even more than usual lately. June sped by with a flurry of travel to check out what's new for romantic travelers, especially in the Caribbean.

Our first trip was to the US Virgin Islands. The islands have long been a favorite destination of ours but this trip really cemented our belief that not only are these islands one of easiest destinations for American couples but they're also one of the most romantic destinations as well.

We started our trip on beautiful St. John in a private villa; we've visited many throughout the region but this was our first time to stay in one...what a great way to really feel like you've got a home away from home! From St. John, we ferried over to St. Thomas for a day of checking out many of the island's most romantic hotels (OK, and for a few hours of shopping in Charlotte Amalie as well) before hopping a seaplane over to St. Croix.

We'd visited St. Croix many times in the past but this was our first time on the island in a couple of years, and we are happy to say that the island is looking great. We spent several days at The Buccaneer, a romantic resort where we had stayed on our very first trip to St. Croix, and the hotel was better than ever. We even had the chance to meet with several wedding planners on the island to talk with them about their tips for island weddings, wedding photos, and every concern you might have as a destination bride. Look for those stories in the coming weeks!

After a quick, quick turnaround at home, we left just a couple of days later to attend the Caribbean Hotel Industry Conference, better known as CHIC. Held this year in the Dominican Republic, the event brings together hundreds of Caribbean hoteliers with suppliers and journalists; it was a great way to both see old friends and to learn about what's new in the region. It was also our first time in Punta Cana, a fast growing tourist area that's booming. We heard some incredible hotel rates during our stay: some properties were as low as US$40 and 60 per night, ALL INCLUSIVE! We enjoyed a lunch and a tour of the new SuperClub's Breezes Punta Cana Beach Resort; it was bustling with couples and had all the style we've come to expect from a SuperClubs property.

Finally, we spent a few days in late June in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, speaking at a joint meeting of the Public Relations Society of America and the Society of American Travel Writers. We were on a panel to speak about online markets and met many representatives from romantic properties around the world. Speaking before a standing-room-only crowd was a little scary but Lovetripper.com received a great reception!

So now we're back home and back at the keyboards, writing up all the places we visited this past month. Stay tuned for stories on each of these destinations which hopefully will help you plan your next romantic getaway. And, if you don't have travel plans for a while, drop by to see what romantic fun we've found for you enjoy at home, from romantic travel movies to news of celebrity destination weddings.

Back with more soon! Paris and John

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