Indecision between Several Countries...Which Would You Pick?
Apr 17th, 2009, 01:01 PM
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Indecision between Several Countries...Which Would You Pick?
Hi, I would like to start of by saying thank you to everyone who post in these forums. I have been reading a lot and it is very helpful to get different view points.
My finance and I are planning a destination wedding for next spring('10). Our goal is to be able to spend quality time discovering a new place with close family and friends. We are looking for a place that allows us to have a wedding on the beach while still having other types of activities to partake in. While we love the beach and will definitely snorkel and swim we also want to have a variety of land activities (ie: hiking, biking, history, tubing/rafting, zip lining, horseback riding, type things) to do as well. The key is to not have to spend a lot of time traveling to access everything. We are not looking for a place that has a lot of night life. We ideally would like to find a place were we feel we can spend quality time with our guest without having a lot of strangers around.
We have been considering Belize (Hopkins type area - less touristy and from what I read seems to be closer to a variety of activities - though I do worry about the sand flies and the ocean not being clear), Costa Rica (not exactly sure of an area here...maybe Manuel Antonio?!?), Puerto Rico and St. Lucia. Of course we are still in the exploration phase and open to any suggestions!
I would love to hear your opinion of these (or any other) areas and any suggestions you might have! A very anxious and indecisive bride thanks you in advance for your assistance
My finance and I are planning a destination wedding for next spring('10). Our goal is to be able to spend quality time discovering a new place with close family and friends. We are looking for a place that allows us to have a wedding on the beach while still having other types of activities to partake in. While we love the beach and will definitely snorkel and swim we also want to have a variety of land activities (ie: hiking, biking, history, tubing/rafting, zip lining, horseback riding, type things) to do as well. The key is to not have to spend a lot of time traveling to access everything. We are not looking for a place that has a lot of night life. We ideally would like to find a place were we feel we can spend quality time with our guest without having a lot of strangers around.
We have been considering Belize (Hopkins type area - less touristy and from what I read seems to be closer to a variety of activities - though I do worry about the sand flies and the ocean not being clear), Costa Rica (not exactly sure of an area here...maybe Manuel Antonio?!?), Puerto Rico and St. Lucia. Of course we are still in the exploration phase and open to any suggestions!
I would love to hear your opinion of these (or any other) areas and any suggestions you might have! A very anxious and indecisive bride thanks you in advance for your assistance
Apr 17th, 2009, 02:18 PM
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www.manuelantoniopark.com
fits the bill...
www.tulemar.com
www.hotelparador.com
or
www.tamarindo.com
www.ocotalbeachresort.com
www.hotelcapitansuizo.com
If it is just about beach diving Xanadu Resort Ambergris...
Congrats have fun,
fits the bill...
www.tulemar.com
www.hotelparador.com
or
www.tamarindo.com
www.ocotalbeachresort.com
www.hotelcapitansuizo.com
If it is just about beach diving Xanadu Resort Ambergris...
Congrats have fun,
Apr 17th, 2009, 02:20 PM
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Apr 17th, 2009, 02:23 PM
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Apr 17th, 2009, 02:38 PM
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I say go for Belize - the diving and snorkeling are world class, and the inland activites look awesome! They speak English, and it's easy to get to. Look at the Victoria House on Ambergris caye (http://www.victoria-house.com/), or The Inn at Robert's Grove (http://www.robertsgrove.com/) Placencia or Cayo Espanto (http://www.aprivateisland.com/) or inland, there's Blancaneaux (http://www.blancaneaux.com/desk/). I'm sure there are many other places, too.
And, don't forget, in the long run, this is only one day out of what will be many in your long and happy marriage, so don't sweat it - you'll have a great time!
Congrats!
And, don't forget, in the long run, this is only one day out of what will be many in your long and happy marriage, so don't sweat it - you'll have a great time!
Congrats!
Apr 17th, 2009, 03:30 PM
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You might consider contacting Katie Valk - she has lots of experience planning weddings and trips to Belizes: www.belize-trips.com
Apr 17th, 2009, 03:32 PM
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Oops - in addition to adding an "s" to the end of Belize I didn't say that would be my recommendation and you might want to consider 2 stops, one for the beachy part and 1 for inland adventures. Here's the link to my trip photos and travelogues: http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections
Apr 18th, 2009, 03:24 AM
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Ylang Ylang Resort, Montezuma Costa Rica! We got married there this past February on the beach and I can't say enough about this resort and the people who run it. Check out my review on TripAdvisor (I'm addictedtocostarica on that forum) and the many other reviews. This place is a gem, lots of wildlife on the grounds, incredible oceanfront bungalows with the ocean just a stones throw away, delicious food, and a short walk to the very funky town of Montezuma. You can do lots of hiking at Cabo Blanco nature reserve or Curu. We are going back next year to celebrate our first year anniversary. Am counting down the days already....torture!!!!
Apr 18th, 2009, 06:16 AM
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We are going to a destination wedding at Hotel Parador in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica-and do I ever wish that they were getting married in the place where the bride, groom, and his family live or where the bride's parents live. I
nstead of being able to use one day of vacation time for a three daqy weekend, and take an inexpensive non-stop flight, we have to use many more of our precious and limited vacation days, take two expensive flights and a four hour van ride.
My mother, who uses oxygen 24/7, could go if it were in the US, but not to Costa Rica. We're thrilled to be invited, and want to go, but it means taking a vacation to a place we wouldn't select and giving up a vacation we were planning.
nstead of being able to use one day of vacation time for a three daqy weekend, and take an inexpensive non-stop flight, we have to use many more of our precious and limited vacation days, take two expensive flights and a four hour van ride.
My mother, who uses oxygen 24/7, could go if it were in the US, but not to Costa Rica. We're thrilled to be invited, and want to go, but it means taking a vacation to a place we wouldn't select and giving up a vacation we were planning.
Apr 18th, 2009, 06:23 AM
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I second Ylang Ylang. It's remote getting to Monetzuma but not too hard. You have to take the Puntarenas Car Ferry. Most everything you'd like to do can be done there (I'm not sure on the snorkeling)
We've stayed at Robert's Grove in Palencia. The place was nice and the beach was great but it was quite a distance across the lagoon to to any activities. We snorkeled and it was just OK. You have to boat out to the reef about 45min.
The horseback riding was so boring! You just rode around the perimiter fence of a ranch on skinney unstable little horses. Very boring after having to take a 30min boat ride across the lagoon and then drive 45 minutes inland to the horses.
Some of our group did do the tubing and they had a great time but I don't know the details.
We picked R's Grove for the same reasons you're looking at.
It is quiet with a great beach. Also the 2 little towns are just a hop away if you're into the bar life.
We've stayed at Robert's Grove in Palencia. The place was nice and the beach was great but it was quite a distance across the lagoon to to any activities. We snorkeled and it was just OK. You have to boat out to the reef about 45min.
The horseback riding was so boring! You just rode around the perimiter fence of a ranch on skinney unstable little horses. Very boring after having to take a 30min boat ride across the lagoon and then drive 45 minutes inland to the horses.
Some of our group did do the tubing and they had a great time but I don't know the details.
We picked R's Grove for the same reasons you're looking at.
It is quiet with a great beach. Also the 2 little towns are just a hop away if you're into the bar life.
Apr 19th, 2009, 06:46 PM
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When in the spring?
We just returned from Belize (first week of April) and it was WAY too hot. We have been to various Costa Rican beaches at the same time of year and it was hot, but not as stifling.
The snorkeling, however, was definitely better in Belize.
We just returned from Belize (first week of April) and it was WAY too hot. We have been to various Costa Rican beaches at the same time of year and it was hot, but not as stifling.
The snorkeling, however, was definitely better in Belize.
Apr 21st, 2009, 10:00 PM
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Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions!
Costa Rica:
A few of you mentioned that MA has poor snorkeling, does that mean trips out to areas off shore are poor or just off the beach type snorkeling is poor? It was funny to see a couple of people recommended Montezuma. I originally looked at that area but was worried about it lacking land activities. Is there good hiking here? Any other things you would recommend doing in the area? I saw there is snorkeling in the area..is it poor like in MA? Qwovadis: I heard that Tamarindo is quite commercial, is this true? I will also check out the northern pacific area more.
Belize:
Most of the comments regarding Belize focused on northern(Caye areas) or southern(Placencia) Belize versus the central area. We had been considering Hamanasi Resort in Hopkins Belize. I originally wanted to stay away from northern Belize because I was worried it was limited to just water based activities and there were more crowds. Though whether this is true or not I don't know?!? Also, we were thinking that central Belize would allow people to rent a car and drive to the area if they wanted to versus having to book an extra flight. Crosscheck, it is definitely good to know that it is so hot in April. I think our goal was to go earlier in the spring (Feb/March) and you have now given us an even better reason to go earlier rather than later.
While my fiance and I will probably take the time to travel around the area we decide on more and stay inland when people leave, I hate to ask people to split their limited time between two areas...hence why I was trying to find a place that both land and water activities were easily accessible. Neither of our families are even close to tan (or easily tanned) so while we want a beach and to be able to go snorkeling we also need places that have activities that can take place in the shade!
suze: We were looking at Mayan Riviera area but are worried it is too commercial with too many people...but you might know better!
Thank you again to everyone who took/takes the time to answer and for all the wonderful links to information and travel logs!
Costa Rica:
A few of you mentioned that MA has poor snorkeling, does that mean trips out to areas off shore are poor or just off the beach type snorkeling is poor? It was funny to see a couple of people recommended Montezuma. I originally looked at that area but was worried about it lacking land activities. Is there good hiking here? Any other things you would recommend doing in the area? I saw there is snorkeling in the area..is it poor like in MA? Qwovadis: I heard that Tamarindo is quite commercial, is this true? I will also check out the northern pacific area more.
Belize:
Most of the comments regarding Belize focused on northern(Caye areas) or southern(Placencia) Belize versus the central area. We had been considering Hamanasi Resort in Hopkins Belize. I originally wanted to stay away from northern Belize because I was worried it was limited to just water based activities and there were more crowds. Though whether this is true or not I don't know?!? Also, we were thinking that central Belize would allow people to rent a car and drive to the area if they wanted to versus having to book an extra flight. Crosscheck, it is definitely good to know that it is so hot in April. I think our goal was to go earlier in the spring (Feb/March) and you have now given us an even better reason to go earlier rather than later.
While my fiance and I will probably take the time to travel around the area we decide on more and stay inland when people leave, I hate to ask people to split their limited time between two areas...hence why I was trying to find a place that both land and water activities were easily accessible. Neither of our families are even close to tan (or easily tanned) so while we want a beach and to be able to go snorkeling we also need places that have activities that can take place in the shade!
suze: We were looking at Mayan Riviera area but are worried it is too commercial with too many people...but you might know better!
Thank you again to everyone who took/takes the time to answer and for all the wonderful links to information and travel logs!
Apr 22nd, 2009, 01:51 AM
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Manuel Antonio has a beautiful beach inside the national park, very pretty with lots of wildlife, especially capuchin monkeys. MA is easy to get around, most people speak English, and it has loads of good restaurants. We did a sailing/snorkeling tour, and although the water was very pretty, there was so much sediment in the water that it really limited visibility. We love snorkeling, and have done it in some great places like Hawaii, Greece, St. John, etc. The snorkeling in CR just isn't that great, but despite that fact we've made several trips to CR and love it.
Apr 22nd, 2009, 08:51 AM
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Why not try Tulum, Mexico?(u mention Mexico in your post).
Ana Y Jose would be awesome, plenty of hotels for guests to choose from, directly on the beach, close to incredible ruins, amazing ceynotes & snorkeling.
Ana Y Jose would be awesome, plenty of hotels for guests to choose from, directly on the beach, close to incredible ruins, amazing ceynotes & snorkeling.
