worldview

My girlfriend turns 30 in May, and for her birthday present, I want to suprise her with a summer getaway. She teaches, and will only be able to get away during the last half of August.

She loves beautiful beaches and clear water. She loves looking for sea shells, and she is obsessed with swimming in the water! I'm looking for the right place to take her, and my initial thought was for about a week. Could do 5 nights or so if the price is right. My budget is around $2,500. I'm including all expenses in this budget (airfare, etc). Flying from Detroit.

Some of the places i'm considering:

Jamaica (she's is interested)
Antigua
Turks and Caicos
Puerto Rico
Beliz
Cozumel
Cayman Islands

Please provide ideas, experiences. We like culture too, so it would be nice if there's some nearby culture to experience. But the first priority is romance and beauty. We want to be able to go out on the beach at night.

Okay, i'm depending on all you Fodorites, help me out! Thank you times 1,000.

jb

eileen

Take a look at Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. You fly into Cancun which usually has cheaper flights than most other destinations. There's a lot of interesting Mayan ruins in the region. It will also be less expensive than the other destinations. Frankly, I think Antigua, T & C, Cayman will be difficult to do on your budget and you want a nice trip, of course! Negril, Jamaica is another good choice, especially for someone your age. Check out the Rock House in Negril, looks really great. It's up on the cliffs (hence the name). If you want to be on the beach, there are lots of reasonable choices, check out Idle Awhile. Belize also might be an option, depending on flights (it can be difficult and expensive to get to).

fishee

I agree with eileen that Cozumel likely to be cheapest airfare (via CUN). Local food is very good and reasonably priced, great fresh fish. I'd go here if you're interested in snorkeling and diving but it's the least pretty of the three places I've been. (It's still gorgeous....)

We stayed at Condumel and Miramar condos for 99/night - I preferred Condumel.

http://www.condumel.com/
http://www.cozumelvillas.com/condumel.html


Negril - higher airfare and accommodations 50% more expensive but very romantic and beautiful. Great local food but not cheap...

http://www.rockhousehotel.com/escape.php

this place is cheaper and still incredibly romantic:
http://www.catchajamaica.com/thesagittarius.htm

Belize: generally higher airfares and need to book another flight on a 8 seater to get out to the cayes. (although 273 total from JFK last month) The second plane ride is amazing though and felt like an activity and not just transportation. Belize very romantic, no hustle and bustle, and there are few cars on the island -- everyone gets around by golfcart and walking.

We stayed here and it was incredible but the price has gone up since our visit. The sailboat is key to the best vacation ever -- incredible snorkeling and diving and the sailboat is very romantic.

http://www.cayecasa.com/

We did 6 nights at all these places for under 2500 and that includes diving and boating costs but we found very low airfare since we're located in a hub city - $200-320. All the trips were amazing -- good luck! She'll love it.

thebestpuppeteer

What about the Royal at Playa Del Carmen. Small resort with great service and food. Jacuzzi in every room. great swimming beach and you can walk to the ferry to Cozmel.

worldview

Thank you for your input. I am putting this vacation on hold as a friend asked that I help plan his wedding in the Bahamas next year. I'm going to start a new blog to help find the destination for him. That said, we could end up at one of the places mentioned here. The Jamaica rock house looks amazing, as well as the places in Cozumel. Thank you!!!

thebarkeep

In regard to your Central Europe trip you are planning... write me, thebarkeep at hotmail. I'm an old guy who's lived and worked where you're going, and can refer you to some other "big-blue" colleagues to help you out as well.

Sassafrass

Thebarkeep, his central Europe trip was a couple of years ago.

RoamsAround

Rainbow - You are responding to a tread from 4 years ago just to advertise your rental properties.