nstiles

Hello, we need your help!! We are desperately trying to find a location(s) to take our honeymoon this late November (20th).. It seems to be a bad time to travel. I've been on the net for days trying to find something to suit us that is available. Here is our challenge:

I am formally from Toronto Canada until the last 5 year when I moved to the Barbados in the Caribbean where I met my fiancé. This is where we live. The wedding will be here. I like city, shopping, culture things where my fiancé is a very active outdoors guy.

I've read lots about medd. cruises but they all seem to stop Nov 5th.. and the weather end of Nov/early Dec looks poor. So that takes care of a lot of Europe. The Caribbean is out. We live here. It would be no different. Hawaii might have a south pacific feel but might be too commercial for us?

ANY TIPS would be helpful....seems to be a tricky time of year..(in between seasons!)

Thanks very much in advance!!!!

Madge1st

How about the South of France... (St. Tropez, Nice, Cannes, then on to Monaco). I don't know how much time you have? The weather should still be quite good at that time. I would assume you don't want really hot weather anyway if you are living in the Caribbean. I do think Hawaii would be also more of the same for you, although not all of Hawaii is really commercialized. The California coast might be an idea too. Some suggestions.

traveller69

I second the California coast. The weather in Northern California is still OK in November - how about the redwoods as well. The oregon coast is a romantic spot. The weather will be cooler but there are lots of nice hotel/motel accommodation with fireplaces right on the beach. Had one of my most romantic weekends ever on the Oregon coast!!

sobolik

My 2 cents worth. I do not know your budget but... I spent seven months on the Island of Palau Micronesia. (Survivor show had a show recently based from there but showed nothing of the place) The place is changing due to money/expansion comming from Japan. This change may be good or bad depending on the point of view. The Island of Yap and some of the others may be more authentic. Consider finding and going on a more authentic South Pacific Island experience before it disappears once and for all, baically to do nothing but hang out and mingle. Or go to Palau for a more developed Scuba Diving paradise. Also before it disappears. But since your are from an Island and may be sick of that bit, Consider doing a circular route tour of the USA national Parks. Look on a USA map it would basically take you from almost Canada to almost Mexico. A big oval top to bottom. It also would take you through California. That is more or less what I did for my honey moon 20 years ago. Also done in the Off season which beat the crowds. The National parks are also full of splender in the off season as well. A viewpoint you can share with those who have gone during the "correct" time. But if you go to a place like LA during a Holiday - off season or not - do not think everyone will have left and you will have no problems getting a room. I found no room for a bazillion miles on a holiday weekend. Also beware of Reservations they can be speeding ticket traps, whether you were speeding or not. (big yellow Wisconsin License plate, easy money) I still cannot go back to Arizona, my wife has always made fun of me for driving like an old grandpa. Get my hint?

Kate_W

It would be helpful to have a sense of how long you have for your holiday, your budget (basic, moderate, splurge, over-the-top), how far you're willing to travel, and how exotic you'd like to get.

My suggestion would be Spain. (My husband and I just spent half our honeymoon there; the other half was spent in Morocco). I'd go either to Barcelona or Andalucia (a region). Combine a few days (2-5, depending on how much time you have) in cities with a few days in the countryside, where you can do a little hiking. Barcelona should be pleasant (but it won't be hot). It's one of my favourite cities (great architecture, interesting museums, good shopping, good food). It's near Montserrat (a mountain), which makes for a good day trip hike.

Andalucia will probably be a little warmer (but still not hot). City stops might include one or more of Granada, Cordoba and Sevilla. They're very lively and the Moorish influence in Spain is very interesting (like getting a taste of North Africa without going there). To get to Andalucia, you would probably fly into Madrid (eg from Miami), spend a few days museum-hopping and shopping, and then take the high speed train down to Seville.

You could also stick a little closer to home by going to a great city in North America that has countryside nearby. For example, New York City plus the Catskills; Montreal and the Laurentians; San Francisco and wine country, etc. The weather won't be hot but (with the exception of Montreal), it won't be cold. There are probably a few other combinations I haven't considered (due to my limited familiarity with US cities) - but I bet there's an interesting combination in New Mexico, Louisiana, etc.

sobolik

PS A lot of people are mentioning California. I lived in the San Franciso Bay area for 1 1/2 yrs. Winter (November) can get chilly and border line cold but should not be oppressive. Mt. Shasta is north in the Mountains-colder but nice experience, A number of Natural wonders are nearby. So The San Franciso bay is a good candidate to home base from for sight seeing trips. San Franciso itself is visually very memerable. Southern california where I also lived, would probably be less memerable I think on a short trip but has its other merits.