Honeymoon-First time to Caribbean
Apr 17th, 2012, 07:33 PM
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Honeymoon-First time to Caribbean
My fiance and I are trying to plan our honeymoon and would love some advice for our first trip to the Caribbean. We are getting married early November, 2012 and will be heading out right away for the honeymoon. At this point in time we are leaning towards staying at an All Inclusive. We are not huge drinkers, but like to have some cocktails and are not real particular about food (fiance is more of a burger, steak, and wing guy while I love a variety of non-American cuisine). We are both 25 and have traveled extensively in the US, but not so much outside of the US, except for when I studied abroad in South Africa and stayed at some of the worst of hostels to some of the nicest resorts.
We are both interested in a nice beach/pool, but also interested in some day time excursions. We would love to do some deep sea fishing, golfing, hiking, snorkeling and local shopping trips. The fiance would also really like a casino either at the resort or nearby (we are big fans of Vegas).
We have been overwhelmed by all of the incredible places to chose from. Some of the places that have interested us so far are Jamaica, Aruba, Punta Cana, and Turks and Caicos, but we are really willing to try anywhere as we will most likely love any place we go.
We are looking to keep the budget around $3000-4000 for air fare (from Chicago), lodging and food for both of us, but would be willing to go up to $5000 for a clean and safe location. Ideally we are looking at 10-12 nights. Here are some of our top requests:
All inclusive
Nearby excursions/day time activities
Casino
Adult Only
Clear blue water/white sand beach
Thank you for any and all input, we greatly appreciate it!
We are both interested in a nice beach/pool, but also interested in some day time excursions. We would love to do some deep sea fishing, golfing, hiking, snorkeling and local shopping trips. The fiance would also really like a casino either at the resort or nearby (we are big fans of Vegas).
We have been overwhelmed by all of the incredible places to chose from. Some of the places that have interested us so far are Jamaica, Aruba, Punta Cana, and Turks and Caicos, but we are really willing to try anywhere as we will most likely love any place we go.
We are looking to keep the budget around $3000-4000 for air fare (from Chicago), lodging and food for both of us, but would be willing to go up to $5000 for a clean and safe location. Ideally we are looking at 10-12 nights. Here are some of our top requests:
All inclusive
Nearby excursions/day time activities
Casino
Adult Only
Clear blue water/white sand beach
Thank you for any and all input, we greatly appreciate it!
Apr 18th, 2012, 07:22 AM
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The abundance of all inclusive resorts are mostly located in Mexico, Jamaica and The Dominican Republic. There are limited destinations that have casinos. Adult only will also be hard to find.
The one place that I can think of that has all your criteria and might fit your $5,000 budget would be the Manchebo Resort in Aruba. You might have to cut your length of stay to meet that budget.
http://www.manchebo.com/
I hesitate to recommend AI in Aruba as it has tons of really great restaurants/bars in all price ranges, but I do understand that drink prices can get really extravagant.
T & C does not have many AI resorts and only one is adults only, which is Club Med and I would not recommend for a honeymoon. The Veranda is very nice, but quite pricey and not adult's only. Don't know if it will meet your budget. No casinos there.
Mexico will have everything except casinos and will probably fall under your budget. They have the best lux hotels at affordable prices.
Jamaica will have everything but casinos. I recommend to hire a taxi or driver to take you for excursions or shopping or just go with the resort's excursion desk.
The DR might meet some of your criteria. I don't think they have casinos. Offsite excursions are limited and you should go with resort tours. There are a limited amount of adults only resorts.
We love AI resorts. Have been to 15 and we love Las Vegas. Have been many times over the past 10 years. PLEASE do not get caught up with needing to have a casino. The casinos in the Caribbean are nothing like Las Vegas. We were quite disappointed.
If you are interested check out our picture site. We've been to various Caribbean Islands, Mexico and Las Vegas many times.
http://community.webshots.com/user/kvrlvn
The one place that I can think of that has all your criteria and might fit your $5,000 budget would be the Manchebo Resort in Aruba. You might have to cut your length of stay to meet that budget.
http://www.manchebo.com/
I hesitate to recommend AI in Aruba as it has tons of really great restaurants/bars in all price ranges, but I do understand that drink prices can get really extravagant.
T & C does not have many AI resorts and only one is adults only, which is Club Med and I would not recommend for a honeymoon. The Veranda is very nice, but quite pricey and not adult's only. Don't know if it will meet your budget. No casinos there.
Mexico will have everything except casinos and will probably fall under your budget. They have the best lux hotels at affordable prices.
Jamaica will have everything but casinos. I recommend to hire a taxi or driver to take you for excursions or shopping or just go with the resort's excursion desk.
The DR might meet some of your criteria. I don't think they have casinos. Offsite excursions are limited and you should go with resort tours. There are a limited amount of adults only resorts.
We love AI resorts. Have been to 15 and we love Las Vegas. Have been many times over the past 10 years. PLEASE do not get caught up with needing to have a casino. The casinos in the Caribbean are nothing like Las Vegas. We were quite disappointed.
If you are interested check out our picture site. We've been to various Caribbean Islands, Mexico and Las Vegas many times.
http://community.webshots.com/user/kvrlvn
Apr 18th, 2012, 08:05 AM
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I agree with the previous post about casinos.
On my honeymoon we stayed at Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort on St. Thomas USVI. It is an AI. St. Thomas is wonderful for shopping and excursions. Visit Magens Bay, wonderful beach.It was wonderful! We also visited St. John by ferry (15mins). St. John was wonderful for snorkeling, best beaches, beautiful turquoise water, some excursions. St. John has many beaches/bays that are to die for(Caneel bay, Trunk bay, Cinnamin bay, etc).
Would recommend any Sandals Resort-my favorites are Sandals Negril, Jamaica & Sandals in Bahamas.
Jamaica is also a place to consider. Sandals in Negril or most AI in Negril. Negril has the best beaches and prettiest water in Jamaica (better than Montego Bay or Ochios Rios).
Have a wonderful honeymoon!
On my honeymoon we stayed at Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort on St. Thomas USVI. It is an AI. St. Thomas is wonderful for shopping and excursions. Visit Magens Bay, wonderful beach.It was wonderful! We also visited St. John by ferry (15mins). St. John was wonderful for snorkeling, best beaches, beautiful turquoise water, some excursions. St. John has many beaches/bays that are to die for(Caneel bay, Trunk bay, Cinnamin bay, etc).
Would recommend any Sandals Resort-my favorites are Sandals Negril, Jamaica & Sandals in Bahamas.
Jamaica is also a place to consider. Sandals in Negril or most AI in Negril. Negril has the best beaches and prettiest water in Jamaica (better than Montego Bay or Ochios Rios).
Have a wonderful honeymoon!
Apr 18th, 2012, 05:49 PM
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Thank you so much for the great responses! It looks like it will be best for us to let go of the casino requirement and we can just do another Vegas trip a different time and really enjoy the beach and outdoors on the honeymoon. I wouldn't even mind starting off in Vegas for a couple days and then following up with some relaxing at an AI.
After reading the responses it sounds like we should look into Jamaica, Aruba, and St. Thomas more closely.
KVR can't wait to check out your photos, thanks again for the excellent post! If you happen to check back on this thread, where are the top three favorite AI's you guys have stayed?
After reading the responses it sounds like we should look into Jamaica, Aruba, and St. Thomas more closely.
KVR can't wait to check out your photos, thanks again for the excellent post! If you happen to check back on this thread, where are the top three favorite AI's you guys have stayed?
Apr 18th, 2012, 06:12 PM
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1.) The Royal Playa del Carmen, MX
The best food, no reservations required for resturants, 24 hours appeatizer bar with beer tap and liquor self serve, hot tub in all rooms, not just the expensive catagory rooms. They have since built a second pool, 5 minute walk to all the restaurants, bars, entertainment and shopping on 5th Avenue, ton of things to see and do off property. Other choices would be the Iberostar Grand Parsario, Secrets Maroma, El Dorado Maroma.
2.) The Jewel Dunn's River in Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Fabulous pool with swim up bar, food was good, beautiful area. We did a photo shoot with a staff photographer. 30 pictures for $60. So worth it. Plenty of things to see and do off property. You'll need to hire a driver or one of the resorts taxi. The shopping area is full of many agressive vendors. Negril is a good choice also. We didn't expereince aggression there. Couples Negril or Sunset at the Palms.
3.) Aruba is my favorite Caribbean Island next to Mexico, but don't go AI there. To me, Aruba is a little like Las Vegas with a beach. The Palm Beach area has high rise hotels rooms and literally across the street are tons of restaurants, bars, shopping and entertainment. Beach front are additional restaurants and bars. We stayed at the Holiday Inn AI, and it was not worth it. The Radisson get the best reviews. Sometimes they offer food and bar credits up to $200. Check their web-site under dining.
We have stayed at 2 Sandals and the Wyndham Sugar Bay. Sandals is over priced for what they offer, and we did not care for St. Thomas. The Wyndham was OK.
We are going to Barbados this year. I'm finding AI hotels quite expensive and not offering as much as what we get in Mexico and Jamaica, but it's an Island we want to see. We are hoping to do day trips to Grenada and the Grenadines. We are going the first week of November.
The best food, no reservations required for resturants, 24 hours appeatizer bar with beer tap and liquor self serve, hot tub in all rooms, not just the expensive catagory rooms. They have since built a second pool, 5 minute walk to all the restaurants, bars, entertainment and shopping on 5th Avenue, ton of things to see and do off property. Other choices would be the Iberostar Grand Parsario, Secrets Maroma, El Dorado Maroma.
2.) The Jewel Dunn's River in Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Fabulous pool with swim up bar, food was good, beautiful area. We did a photo shoot with a staff photographer. 30 pictures for $60. So worth it. Plenty of things to see and do off property. You'll need to hire a driver or one of the resorts taxi. The shopping area is full of many agressive vendors. Negril is a good choice also. We didn't expereince aggression there. Couples Negril or Sunset at the Palms.
3.) Aruba is my favorite Caribbean Island next to Mexico, but don't go AI there. To me, Aruba is a little like Las Vegas with a beach. The Palm Beach area has high rise hotels rooms and literally across the street are tons of restaurants, bars, shopping and entertainment. Beach front are additional restaurants and bars. We stayed at the Holiday Inn AI, and it was not worth it. The Radisson get the best reviews. Sometimes they offer food and bar credits up to $200. Check their web-site under dining.
We have stayed at 2 Sandals and the Wyndham Sugar Bay. Sandals is over priced for what they offer, and we did not care for St. Thomas. The Wyndham was OK.
We are going to Barbados this year. I'm finding AI hotels quite expensive and not offering as much as what we get in Mexico and Jamaica, but it's an Island we want to see. We are hoping to do day trips to Grenada and the Grenadines. We are going the first week of November.
Apr 18th, 2012, 06:16 PM
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Just wanted to add. We went to Key West for our 10th wedding anniversary and we loved it. Felt a little like Aruba with all the resturants and bars, but cheaper and the food tasted much better. If you've not been, put on your to go list for an anniversary.
Congrats!
Congrats!
Apr 18th, 2012, 07:15 PM
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Thanks again for another helpful response KVR! I was able to check our some of your pictures and I really like the ones from Jamaica. Did you include some of the ones from the photographer in there? If so, they look really nice!
I was really happy to see that you listed Couples Negril, we had a family friend recommended it and it seems like I keep going back to it as one our of our top choices. I really like the fact that it seems like they include some of the excursions we are looking to do and have nearby restaurants and shopping. Do you think Negril would be the best location or should I look into any of the other Couples resorts?
Do you think it would be worth it to pay the extra price for an ocean view room? Also, I see a lot of people have made comments about reservations for restaurants at AI resorts. Is it a problem to get reservations and do you need to book them before you are there?
Key West-we took a family vacation there when I was really young and at that time I loved it- great shells on the beach and very lush. I was lucky enough to travel to Florida at least once a year growing up so we will definitely need to put that on an anniversary trip list!
I was really happy to see that you listed Couples Negril, we had a family friend recommended it and it seems like I keep going back to it as one our of our top choices. I really like the fact that it seems like they include some of the excursions we are looking to do and have nearby restaurants and shopping. Do you think Negril would be the best location or should I look into any of the other Couples resorts?
Do you think it would be worth it to pay the extra price for an ocean view room? Also, I see a lot of people have made comments about reservations for restaurants at AI resorts. Is it a problem to get reservations and do you need to book them before you are there?
Key West-we took a family vacation there when I was really young and at that time I loved it- great shells on the beach and very lush. I was lucky enough to travel to Florida at least once a year growing up so we will definitely need to put that on an anniversary trip list!
Apr 18th, 2012, 08:36 PM
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"Do you think it would be worth it to pay the extra price for an ocean view room?"
It really depends on you. I have always paid for the room catagory I could afford/live with and hope I get an upgrade. Sometimes I have and sometimes I haven't. The highest level room catagory at Couples Negril has a very nice bathroom.
We stayed next door at the RIU and I'm still kicking myself we didn't stay across the street at Sunset at the Palms. I would chose that over Couples Negril. It's less expensive also, since it's across the street from the beach. No big to me as I am a pool person.
Restaurant reservations: At some AI's it's a PIA and others it is not. Sandals and Couples you just go to conceriege desk the night before or morning of. Lower budget AI's such as the RIU's you have to get up at 7am and stand in line. I really try to avoid AI's with ala cart restaurant reservation system like that in place. They do not allow reservations prior to check in and some places have speficied times you can make reservations.
Negril gets the highest receommendations for location. It is more laid back and not as many aggressive vendors.
The pictures of us in the red and beige tropical shirts are the ones from the resort staff. We were supposed to go there for our 10th but the hotel closed and changed ownership before we went, so we went to Key West and then to the Jewel the following year.
It really depends on you. I have always paid for the room catagory I could afford/live with and hope I get an upgrade. Sometimes I have and sometimes I haven't. The highest level room catagory at Couples Negril has a very nice bathroom.
We stayed next door at the RIU and I'm still kicking myself we didn't stay across the street at Sunset at the Palms. I would chose that over Couples Negril. It's less expensive also, since it's across the street from the beach. No big to me as I am a pool person.
Restaurant reservations: At some AI's it's a PIA and others it is not. Sandals and Couples you just go to conceriege desk the night before or morning of. Lower budget AI's such as the RIU's you have to get up at 7am and stand in line. I really try to avoid AI's with ala cart restaurant reservation system like that in place. They do not allow reservations prior to check in and some places have speficied times you can make reservations.
Negril gets the highest receommendations for location. It is more laid back and not as many aggressive vendors.
The pictures of us in the red and beige tropical shirts are the ones from the resort staff. We were supposed to go there for our 10th but the hotel closed and changed ownership before we went, so we went to Key West and then to the Jewel the following year.
Apr 21st, 2012, 10:10 PM
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Hi Sjbrandt2
I agree with KVR.....our favorite Caribbean island is also Aruba! It's paradise and perfect for a honeymoon. Most everyone speaks English on the island and American money is used without any problems. The variety of wonderful dining in Aruba is impressive.....from pizza and burgers to a great variety of exquisite cuisine. If you want quiet serenity on a beautiful beach then I would stay on Eagle or Manchebo Beach. If you want more excitement and activities and be within walking distance to other hotels, shopping, restaurants and casinos then I would stay on beautiful Palm Beach. Aruba offers water sports, fishing, snorkeling, hiking,shopping, party boats & party buses, jeep tours,romantic sunset sails, horseback riding and so much more. I suggest you look for a package deal that includes airfare, hotel, and beverage credits and not go with an all inclusive on this island.Also many resorts have a "One Cool Honeymoon" package.....check the links below:
http://www.arubahotelsbeaches.com/aruba-night-life.html
http://www.arubahotelsbeaches.com/aruba-activities.html
http://www.arubahotelsbeaches.com/aruba-honeymoon.html
Whatever you decide,enjoy every moment and treasure the memories!......JoLy226
I agree with KVR.....our favorite Caribbean island is also Aruba! It's paradise and perfect for a honeymoon. Most everyone speaks English on the island and American money is used without any problems. The variety of wonderful dining in Aruba is impressive.....from pizza and burgers to a great variety of exquisite cuisine. If you want quiet serenity on a beautiful beach then I would stay on Eagle or Manchebo Beach. If you want more excitement and activities and be within walking distance to other hotels, shopping, restaurants and casinos then I would stay on beautiful Palm Beach. Aruba offers water sports, fishing, snorkeling, hiking,shopping, party boats & party buses, jeep tours,romantic sunset sails, horseback riding and so much more. I suggest you look for a package deal that includes airfare, hotel, and beverage credits and not go with an all inclusive on this island.Also many resorts have a "One Cool Honeymoon" package.....check the links below:
http://www.arubahotelsbeaches.com/aruba-night-life.html
http://www.arubahotelsbeaches.com/aruba-activities.html
http://www.arubahotelsbeaches.com/aruba-honeymoon.html
Whatever you decide,enjoy every moment and treasure the memories!......JoLy226
Apr 22nd, 2012, 05:20 PM
#10
I can't help with specific All-Inclusives but I will make a strong vote for both Negril Jamaica or the Playa del Carmen area of Mexico for fitting your budget and most of what you are looking for. Both beautiful areas.
Apr 22nd, 2012, 07:15 PM
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If you want the best tropical island honeymoon get-aways, these are mostly all inclusive and the top 4 are on their own private islands.
http://best-caribbean-vacations.blog...ts-top-10.html
http://best-caribbean-vacations.blog...ts-top-10.html
Apr 24th, 2012, 06:27 PM
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Thank you all for the great posts! We are so excited to look into all of the great info we have received. We are really back and forth between Jamaica and Aruba right now. It may come down to finding the best deal as they both seem like great options that we will really enjoy.
Does anyone have any suggestions on if it would be best for us to try to book something now (6 months out) or should we try to wait for when it gets closer for a last minute deal?
Does anyone have any suggestions on if it would be best for us to try to book something now (6 months out) or should we try to wait for when it gets closer for a last minute deal?
Apr 25th, 2012, 03:01 PM
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I won't book my vacation to Barbados in November until September/October. I have found that once summer vacation is over and the kids are back in school, prices will come down.
When we went to Jamaica this past December, I started looking at prices in February. It was anywhere from $3,200 to $3,500. Never came down below $2,900. The first week of October it dropped to $2,600 and then I booked. I always book 6 weeks to 3 months out.
Look at http://www.retailmenot.com/view/orbitz.com for $75 and $100 off promo code for vacation packages. However, shop around other sites also. I have in the past used that code with a good discount, but other times I have found better deals on another site.
When we went to Jamaica this past December, I started looking at prices in February. It was anywhere from $3,200 to $3,500. Never came down below $2,900. The first week of October it dropped to $2,600 and then I booked. I always book 6 weeks to 3 months out.
Look at http://www.retailmenot.com/view/orbitz.com for $75 and $100 off promo code for vacation packages. However, shop around other sites also. I have in the past used that code with a good discount, but other times I have found better deals on another site.
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