Planning honeymoon in July 2009 and want to stay in a luxurious, secluded, romantic resort. Prefer to have a room with a private plunge pool or outside jacuzzi, great white sand beach, good snorkeling, service and food. Hopefully not a bunch of families with small kids. Don't really want to pay more than $1000 per night. I have seen Turtle Island and a couple of others but they are a few hundred dollars a night over $1000. Also have looked at Aitutaki Lagoon's private villa in the Cooks. QUESTIONS: #1 Fiji vs Cooks, why?. #2 Which resort(s) fit what we are looking for? #3 Is 7 nights a good number of nights or is that too long or short in one place? #4 Is it better to book through a travel agent or directly with resort?? #5 Is it better to do all-inclusive resort or travel package? Thanks, Tracey

If you get down to two or free and have a few bob spare for me to do a recce for you, say just a night here and there, I could probably find the time to do a funded look around for you.

Hi Flex!

I've been to both areas and they both have your Wish List of amenities as there are so many levels of resorts in each destination.

For your questions:

It's hard to answer one place vs. the other -- when I'm doing an itinerary for a client, I take their previous travel experiences, what the goal is of their trip, their interets, etc.

7 nights - too long or too short in one place? Assuming you will be busy with wedding plans, I think unpacking and plopping yourselves down in one spot will be the most relaxing!

Also, since I don't know where you're coming from, is that 7 days including travel time? I'm in California, and even that requires two days that you really can only figure in as "travel days".

As I am a travel agent, I gotta go for that choice! I'd suggest you find a Fiji or Cooks Specialist. (btw, I don't put myself in that category, although I have been to both places and done site inspections on a number of resorts in both; specifically Cooks.

All inclusive or travel package? well, with all inclusive you know your costs up front and don't have to "guesstimate" additional monies being spent once there, which, after spending money on a wedding could be a factor.

Hope this is helpful!

Melodie
Certified Aussie & Kiwi Specialist

Thank you for your responses. Traveling from Dallas and are also looking at Belize or Caribbean as well now. Lots to look at!

Hi Again Tracey!

As you're travelling from DFW, and if you have "just" a week, including travel time, that means you'd have to fly from DFW to LA, then change planes (wait in airport) to make connections onto Cooks or Fiji....that's alot of travel time for so short a trip.

Obviously, Belize (or Costa Rica) would be much easier (and less expensive). Your dollar would certainly go further, and there are some beautiful resorts in both Belize and Costa Rica that would certainly fit the bill for a honeymoon.

Ditto the Caribbean where there are tons of all inclusive resorts that offer you a much better value for your dollar. My recommendation there would be "Couples" resorts, which are just stunning, with great food, beautiful beaches and very romantic.

Hope this is helpful!

Melodie

As far as value for the dollar goes, the exchange rate with Fiji $ is very good right now. We loved our recent trip to Fiji. We flew from SFO to LAX then on to Fiji. We spent 10 days on Navini Island, which is probably a few notches below what you want, but it was fantastic nonetheless. The Fijian people are so amazingly friendly and lovely. If I were planning a trip to Fiji with your wish list and in your budget I'd look into Taveuni Palms, Qamea or maybe Royal Davui.

After looking at flights I see that we will burn nearly two days of travel time to the South Pacific and be much more expensive on airfare. I am looking at Belize as well and the Caribbean and it may just come down to how much time we can be away and the total cost since we would have to be away longer because of travel time. Also don't know how expensive the wedding will be yet!!

Recommend the Maldives. I've been to Fiji but not the Cook Islands.

Tracey,

that's what I was afraid of - the time you have and the distance involved - as Iamq said, it's pretty easy to get to that part of the world from the West Coast (not so easy from Dallas)!

Cilla, the Maldives are even further from her and would break the bank!

And you said you don't know how expensive your wedding will be? That's easy..if it's like most weddings, more than you thought!

Melodie