mleona333

My husband & I are planning a belated honeymoon. We want to go to "the islands" -- anywhere that is serene, quiet, NOT touristy, white beaches, turquoise water, etc. We're interested in snorkeling/diving, lying on the beach and relaxing. I have mild psoriasis and while sun is great for my skin, I don't want tons of people around staring. We have no interest in chic restaurants or fancy shopping. I've been told that Kauai is good but for more money, Anguilla would be best. My question is, roughly how much more money are we talking about? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

mnag

We honeymooned in Hawaii (maui, kuai and the big island). the following year we took our first caribbean trip to Anguilla. We enjoyed hawaii but for a honeymoon I would pick Anguilla. We still talk about it 14 years later. White sand beaches, fantastic restaurants and not touristy (atleast not back then). We've been to many isladns since but Anguilla still remains one of our favorites. The restaurants are expensive (expect dinner bills to be approx 150). I remember lunchs coming out to 50-75 for the two of us on an average.

suze

Hawaii does not have to be expensive (other than your airfare and even that depends how far you are traveling). Kauai sounds like the island you are after. As far as how cheap or expensive it completely depends where you stay, where you eat, what you choose to do.

The reputation of Hawaii being outrageously expensive comes from people who go over and stay at 5-star resorts, take helicopter rides, sunset cruises, other expensive formal activites, eat at high-end restaurants, etc.

To the example above, no way have I ever come even close to spending 150 on dinner or 75 on lunch in Hawaii myself (though certainly you could).

KVR

"serene, quiet, NOT touristy, white beaches, turquoise water, etc."

Having been to Maui and Ouha, you will not find any of those qualities on those 2 islands.

To us, Anguilla would not be in our price range. I would also look at Turks & Caicos. Everything you listed, but eaiser to get to and less expensive. Otherwise, I would chose Anguilla over Hawaii any day.

The way I read it I think mnag was quoting food prices for Anguilla and not Hawaii. However, we found Hawaii to be expensive compared to many other destinations in the Caribbean that offer the same type of entertainment and activities. Personally, we don't go on vacation to sit at a cheap hotel and do nothing but lay on the beach and eat in dive restaurants, so yes expenses can add up when opting for tours, excursions, site-seeing, diving, snorkeling and eating in good restaurants especially in a destination that can be more expensive than others.

sassy_cat

If as you say you have no interest in chic restaurants then Anguilla doesn't have to be prohibitively expensive. There are low key restaurants on the beach where you'll spend about $20-$30 for lunch for two (if you don't drink alcohol).

Anguilla has perfect beaches and is described as 'tranquility wrapped in blue'. It sounds like it would fit you perfectly but Hawaii has better snorkeling and more lush greenery.

Do a search on this forum and read some trip reports for Anguilla.

qwovadis

Anguilla snooty expensive flat as a pancake nice beaches though

Might consider that in winter but prefer www.runawahill.com

for awesome intimate experience with super beach or nearby

Pink Sands Resort quite romantic.

But Hawaii is my fav www.stayhawaii.com particularly in

late summer/fall lots less rain storms than Carib...

Volcanoes rain forest great culture so I would go there

Specifically for me www.princeresortshawaii.com

Hapuna Prince for me last year package $1k pp air car room

Had a wonderful time.. tend personally to get super bored

on flat hot deserty islands with little to do after a day or

so.... Congrats! Happy Planning!

qwovadis

http://www.westinprinceville.com/......tin_kauai...FM

nice have stayed here but rainier and pricier...

Got my Hapuna konaweb.com package last year on www.priceline.com

Direct flight to Kona from LAX less than 4 hours nice ride

So I probably would go for that...

qwovadis

pinksandsresort.com

runawayhill.com

valentinesdive.com

low price romantic intimacy best beach a little closer to the US

better cheaper than Anguilla for me though I enjoy all the

the options for adventure on the Big Island...

Great diving beaches you can even see terraforming up close

at Volcanoes NP only place in the world to do that...