Hello! My fiance and I are looking at all-inclusives for our honeymoon in the Caribbean...with a few exceptions.

We'd like to stay away from the ever-popular "cheesy" atmosphere. We're looking to be pampered, yet have the option of great adventure. (i.e. Great food, water sports, water falls, cliff diving, local culture, etc...)

Did we mention great food? A beautiful beach would be a welcomed plus.

Friends have mentioned St. Lucia and St. Barthes...and yet we'd like some entertainment at night.

I know this is asking alot...any advice?

Most all-inclusives are not really known for great food. St Barths is not really an all-inclusive place, in fact I do not know of a hotel that does that. But for a really hefty price you could. That island is NOT one that you would want all-inclusive anyway as there are so many fabulous restaurants.

St Lucia - the Jalousie Plantation Resort is very nice and under new management as of June 1. It has an all-inclusive option. The food used to be good, so hopefully the new management will do even better!

We also avoided AIs for years for the same reasons, but we love Swept Atay in Negril, and their food is wonderful. It's colorful & local & abundant, huge variety, very healthy but fun & never dull. Swept Away is the alternative AI. No rah-rah atmosphere, very quiet & romantic, gorgeous beach, and rooms that are different from the standard floral bedspread thing. It's geared toward active people, but no push to do anything if you just want to lie on the beach all day. For major night life, you have to go into town, but Negril is pretty good for that.

Young Island St Vincent & the Grenadines.

You could also try:

Petite St Vincent
Jumby Bay
Peter Island

These are private islands so it would be very quiet. However, these places have lots of activities. It would be worth checking out as they have better food than most "cheezy" AIs

BTW - those that I just mentioned are not necessarily true AIs, just check their websites to see what is included.

Also Biras Creek - Virgin Gorda is great.

www.biras.com
www.peterisland.com
www.jumbybayresort.com
www.psvresort.com

GL

Thank you so much for your help. It seems, as I read over the forum, that many people recommend St. Lucia.

What would be the perfect way to enjoy all the island has to offer?

Any suggestions on hotels?

For what you seem to want in SL...I would stay in the Rodney Bay area. It is the tourist section, but that's the great thing about St. Lucia, it's not your americanized, commercialized, huge tourist island like St. Thomas, St. Martin, etc., which is what I like about it and why I've been there 10 times. There are many hotels in Rodney Bay area and all of them are fine. It just depends on your budget. Try to pick one along Reduit Beach. I'd recommend the Rex hotels (Rex. St. Lucian and the more upscale Royal, right next door to each other). The great part is there are tons of restaurants and bars up and down the street, so you don't have to taxi everywhere. You can do day trips to the other side of the island (Soufrierre) by boat or by car, so you get the best of both worlds. Let me know if you have any more specific questions on that area and I'll be glad to help.