Caribbean vacation ideas never been
 

I’m trying to plan a vacation to Caribbean. I’ve never been to any of the island and never had any experience with all inclusive. Newly married, this is our honey moon, but we don’t need the all the gimics when you search on google for honeymoon vacation. We just want a great memorable vacation for roughly 6-8k without flights. Looking to go 10-14 days in August.

This is what we know and want to do:
Nice big beach- not overly crowded
Golf- through resort or option to get to a course
Charter Fishing- preferably not through a resort. I have read you get better quality fishing with private rather then subsidized through the resort
Ziplining- something thrilling
Off resort excursions- option for day trips.
One Spa day- couples thing doesn’t have to be top tier, we just want to go to it.

thanks in advance!

Congratulations on the nuptuals, and welcome to Fodors!

Many of us who lurk here are do-it-yourselfers, and happy to offer any tips we can. Your idea of planning a trip yourself can definitely save you $ (maybe), and open up a lot of options. The question of whether to stay at an all-inclusive resort (AI) or not comes up frequently. There are those who swear BY them, and those who swear AT them..... Count me in the latter group, but I acknowledge an AI can have benefits. Now, I nearly exclusively stay at places that have at least a kitchenette, no matter where I travel. I have no interest in eating in a restaurant 3 meals a day...

If golf is a must-have, that will reduce the options as many of the islands are mountainous with limited to no golf options. The Bahamas, on the other hand, have many golf options. Larger islands like Puerto Rico, Jamaica, or in Mexico will have golf courses. I'm not a golfer, so maybe others can offer real tips.

As for "something thrilling" - I'm in the camp that has no interest in power sports (jet skis, para sailing, ziplining, etc). For me, I would put into the "thrilling" bucket things like discovering an isolated cove while hiking, snorkeling right off the beach and seeing all sorts of fish and coral, finding a fresh-from-the boat fish restaurant where "catch of the day" is literally right off the boat docked there... You can find water sports just about anywhere without having to look far at all, or to book through a resort.

Enjoy your planning!

Thanks for the info!

thrilling can be anything. I’m not interested in Jamaica, but Mexico sounds fun.

We are thinking all inclusive but maybe we could do a week at a Al resort and another week at an airbnb/non ai.

There are so many islands, it becomes overwhelming. We were quoted Saint Lucia, sandles la toc. But seeing some of the more recent reviews on YouTube it wasn’t rated as high as the travel agent stated. Plus they said we would get board after week at sandles which I find weird.

If you can forego staying at an All Inclusive you might want to consider staying at the Marriott Resort on St. Kitts. The resort, which should be in your price range, is located on a 3/4 mile long stretch of uncrowded beach, has a half-dozen or so on-resort dining venues, an on-site spa, a small on-site casino and its own Championship Golf Course right across the road. There are another 1/2 dozen or so restaurants within a few minutes walk down the street and a similar number of beach bars another 15 minutes walk from the resort. The island offers a number of other very nice beaches, ziplining, ATV tours, rainforest and volcano hikes, deep sea fishing, snorkeling and diving excursions, day sails to the neighboring island of Nevis and a variety of other off-resort activities.

The Marriott used to offer and optional meal plan but I'm not sure it still does. Regardless, St. Kitts has so many dining options available around the island (everything from inexpensive roadside stands and typical Fast Food chains, to casual restaurants offering moderately priced local dishes to fine dining going AI or confining yourself to only on-resort dining would be a big mistake.

II suppose you know that August it rather the rainy season in the Caribbean.
The ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao) may be the driest of all Caribbean IIslands

Late Summer, while not that much hotter, is very humid in the Caribbean. I live the Caribbean from Late Fall through Spring, not so much in Summer.

As already mentioned, I was coming to say about the weather. August is rainy (even hurricane) season in much of the Caribbean and the Caribbean coast of Mexico.

https://www.hotelmousai.com/
Here's a luxury All Inclusive just south of Puerto Vallarta (Pacific coast side, Bay of Banderas)

I know that there are several golf courses in Curacao, the town of Willemstad is a fun wander. Can't help with resorts, I only visited for a day (with a local) off a cruise ship.

Correct that the ABC islands are off the hurricane track and don't get much rain in August. But it will be hot, you can use weatherspark to review conditions.

https://www.tensingpen.com/
This would have been my honeymoon suggestion, but then I read you weren't interested in Jamaica.

Feliz luna de miel :-) happy moon of honey