Planning honeymoon in July 2009 and want to stay in a luxurious, secluded, romantic resort. Prefer to have a room (cabana, villa, etc.) 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. QUESTIONS: #1 Which island? #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 not? Thanks, Tracey

Try Sivory Punta Cana

I have a few suggestions based on your wants. For romantic rustic luxury, check out www.laluna.com on Grenada, beautiful, lush island in the southern Caribbean. It falls well into your price range. On the same island, check out the Spice Island Beach Resort private pool suites, which are gorgeous. There's not as much snorkeling off of this beach but it offers everything else on your list. The private pool suites are just a little above your price range, I believe, but this resort is all inclusive, so with meals and drinks added it would fall within a commensurate budget.

I've not stayed there, but I've read great things about Biras Creek on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands. They have added private pools to their highest end suites. Again, the nightly rate is above $1000/night, but these rates also include all meals, so like Spice Island, it would be commensurate.

For less money than $1000/night you could rent a fabulous staffed villa with a full sized pool on many islands--not sure if that appeals at all to you or not. But the privacy that comes with a villa is hard to beat!

Great suggestions from ejcrowe. LaLuna would fit most of what you are looking for. Here are some photos from a recent trip:
http://www.imageevent.com/kajugo/200...rgrenadahotels
Scroll towards the middle starting with photo #18.


http://www.imageevent.com/kajugo/2008octobergrenada
(Starting with photo #13...although I am still re-arranging the album so that number may change...but they are loaded there.)
The underwater photos were all taken while snorkeling in front of LaLuna. We saw quite a variety of fish, though no colorful corals. Enough to keep us entertained for a few hours of snorkeling.

Oooh, great photos! I didn't know you stayed at La Luna this time around. Or if I knew once I had forgotten! I also spent some time going back through all of your 2008 photos, which made me want to go back to Nevis!

Those are some great pictures, thank you. I think I am looking for something a little more luxurious. Kind of thinking St. Lucia or Anguilla? We do not want to stay at some large super resort rather something relatively small.

St. Lucia and Anguilla are at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of Caribbean island. What about each one attracts you, and which set of characteristics do you find more attractive?

www.spiceislandbeachresort.com is the website for Spice Island. I can understand that LaLuna might not be luxurious enough for you, but if the Luxury Almond Pool Suites at Spice Island aren't luxurious enough for you, I don't know what to say...

Cap Juluca on Anguilla has a few private pool suites, but I think they may be beyond your price range. Also on Anguilla, you might want to consider the Altamer or CoveCastles properties, but again, I'm not sure, but they may be beyond your budget.

Maybe take a look at Parrot Caye, a private island resort in the Turks & Caicos chain?

And on St. Lucia, you could take a look at the Jade Mountain resort, which is the exclusive section of the Anse Chastenet resort, but again, they may not be in your budget. The beach isn't white sand and the rooms are not on the beach, but this has to be the most luxurious place on St. Lucia. Jalousie, Ladera and Anse Chastenet are probably all too rustic for you, but well within your budget. In fact, with the exception of the imported sand on the Jalousie beach, your request for a "great white sand beach" may be impossible to find on St. Lucia, period, so I'm curious what about that island attracts you.

On St Lucia, Jade Mountain has suites with private jacuzzis or infinity pools. The regular rates for suites with infinity pools are more than $1000 per night but they do list auctions on luxurylink. The current auction listed isn't for your travel dates but you can keep an eye on the offerings there to see if they list one for summer dates. The jacuzzi suites are less than $1000/night in July. The beach below however is not white sand but is supposed to have good snorkeling. The suites are also open air so no A/C. I don't know if that's a requirement. I won't be staying there until May so my comments are just based on research.

I don't know if you'd consider Jamaica, but the White Suite as well as some of the cottages at the Jamaica Inn have private pools. These would be within your price range. I've stayed there 3 times (although my most recent stay was back in 2004) and the service has been excellent each time. The food has varied from very good to great depending on the chef at the time. The beach is white sand and very private and there's good, but not great, snorkeling in front of the west wing premier suites. I've never seen small kids there.

I know you were also considering Belize. The snorkeling in Belize is simply in another league IMO compared to every place else I've been in the Caribbean, but the places I can think of there with private pool or jacuzzi are all more than $1000/night.

Again thank you for your input. I agree, Spice Island type of room is exactly what I am looking for and the rates are fine. Definitely one to consider! St. Lucia seems to have a few similar resorts and has supposedly good snorkeling and lush landscape even though the sand may not be white. I am just basically trying to make a list and then cull it down.

Anguilla would be my suggestion. It offers everything you are looking for except the private pool or jacuzzi. The Cuisinart is very luxurious and romantic and has top of the line service.
The pool there is often practically deserted-so it would almost be like having your own pool. There were several days on our last trip that my husband and I were the only ones at the pool!

Don't know if you've made a decision already or would also consider Mexico, but you can look at the Mayan Riviera area which has gorgeous white sand beaches. Esencia has garden suites with plunge pools and all villas at The Tides have private pools. Both are within your price range and The Tides does not accept children. I haven't stayed at either.

Definately Anguilla then!!! Most beautiful beaches in the world - very quiet -very romantic. Try Cuisinart Resort - perfect for couples and to just lay on the beach and take the occasional dip in the beautiful caribbean sea. Just a few very nice restaurants so you don't have to worry about a "bad" place to eat as they are all good. OR, Turks and Caicos - The Regent Palms resort or Sommerset both on Grace Bay.

Third possible option - St. Barts - Eden House Resort!

Congratulations!

Just want to add that you are looking at prime hurricane season. You might want to add some insurance or look for a place outside the hurricane zone.

The most romantic of the 20 or so islands to which we have been is, hands downs, the Jalousie Plantation on St. Lucia. It has little cabanas with private plunge pools situated around the Pitons. Stunning.

I would definitely do Anguilla. The beaches are beautiful and the restaurants are fabulous. It is very laid-back and romantic. However, I would look at staying at a smaller place than Cuisinart. My suggestion would be Frangipani. They only have a dozen or so rooms and are on Meads Bay which I think is the best beach on the island. No jacuzzi but the most beautiful new infinity pool-a fabulous spot to watch the sunset from!