Help: Honeymoon Choices: T&C, Aruba, Curacao, or other?
 

Hello!
I LOVE reading the comments and suggestions from everyone regarding their Carribben experiences. Especially the more experienced travelers so I'm hoping you can help. My fiance and I are trying to decide where to go on our honeymoon in May 2010. We switched from Hawaii and wanted to pick something more unique/exotic. Some places we've visited include, Mo Bay Jamaica, PR, Bahamas, USVI, DR and Mexico. We'd like to try some place new to explore together. Our preferences: picturesque property, peaceful, more adults than children, good service and food, local tour options, some nightlife. Requirements: beach property, relatively simple travel from US East Coast (max 1 lay over). Bonus: plunge or private pool. :) Flexible: AI or non-AI, resort or boutique. We really enjoyed Half Moon (Jamaica) and would love to mirror or exceed their level of service and food.
After speaking to other folks, we're considering Turks & Caicos, Aruba, or Curacao, but looking for some insight. We'd also like to incorporate some type of honeymoon registry to maximize our trip, if possible.
Your thoughts are much appreciated.
Continued safe travels to all!

Having never been, I probably shouldn't comment, but I sure wouldn't consider Aruba to be unique or exotic. I'm sure it's a lovely island, but it's also quite Americanized.

How about Grenada? Very beautiful and lush. The locals are wonderful. Hiking and touring opportunities.

Or St. Kitts/Nevis. Nevis is pretty quiet, but it's a beautiful island.

You won't find hotels with private plunge pools in Aruba, Curacao or T & C, AI hotels are not abundant on those Islands either, and none are lush, exotic or tropical. They are flat and arid. I've been to all 3 and prefer Aruba. I like the commercialism, the shopping, the set up of hotels to restuarants which are literally across the street from each other on Palm Beach, the atmosphere and things to see and do.

T & C has the best beach we've ever been to, but the Island is all about the water with nothing else really to do. It's good for a nice relaxing on the beach type vacation. You'll need to rent a car.

Curacao is very hard to get to from the US. The beaches are made of coral, the snorkeling was OK. Everything is quite spread out so you'll need a rental car, a good map and a lot of patience to find anything. Too much trouble and expense for a return trip.

For unique/exotic with plunge pools, look at Ladera on St. Lucia. They also offer an AI plan and you can set up a gift registery on their web-site. St. Lucia's topography is a lot like Jamaica. Make sure you do a full Island tour in order to experience the wonderful beauty. We loved St. Lucia and went with Sandals Grande, which was a mistake.

Curacao is an idyllic island. It's not lush, but it would be a great place to start celebrating your marriage. You will find yourselves sharing the island mostly with other couples. We saw very few kids. It's not a "house party" type of place which for you would be great as you don't want one of those types of "fun" places on your honeymooon. Plus, the food is great and lots to see/do according to your schedule.

Palm Island outside of Barbados is ALL-Inclusive, cater to honeymoons I beleive. Need a direct flight to Barbados, then an island hopper from there I beleive. Suppose to be very nice, not sure if they have Private plunge pools though. Pics of the place look very unique/exotic.

The Caves in Negril Jamaica is suppose to be one of the top Honeymoon Exotic resorts, small boutique. One problem though, No beach...its not on 7 Mile but built on the Cliffs in West end. Good news though is you get to Cliff Jump...maybe check that if you want something very unique. I think you eat in Caves and they have it set up very romantic. Its close to Ricks Cafe, I saw it from a distance recently, plus you get the great sunsets there. Problem is it may be booked up unless going off-season. I checked for Feb 2011 and its booked up already....

Thank you all for your feedback. You've all raised some good points, especially the fact that the islands we listed are arid, not lush or tropical. We're OPEN to suggestions.
I've noticed Grenada mentioned in quite a few blogs and I like the idea of not being so Americanized. If we had to rank importance from high to low it would be: island beauty,tours/sightseeing, then AI.
Is there a website that provides a side-by-side comparison of the islands (i.e. lush vs. arid, languages, currency, touristy vs. quiet, etc.)?

may want to check out Costa Rica too then, not an island but has everything else from what I understand.

Grenada is wonderful, but Im not sure it would meet your 1 layover preference. Curacao is wonderful, especially Kura Hulanda Lodge, but it's quite isolated and the island itself is arid; nothing lush about it. Aruba is very touristy and if I had my choice I'd pick Curacao over Aruba. The snorkeling is waaay better; or try Bonaire if you like to dive.

T&C is lovely. Go now before it's overbuilt. Grace Bay is beautiful, but there are other beaches with less development. Getting around is easy and rental cars, at least when I was there, weren't too bad. There's an Avis at the airport that was good.

Costa Rica sounds fun and exotic. I havent been but would love to go someday.

Peace, Greenie

If you're interested in Costa Rica check out The Springs Resort and Spa. It's recently opened. I would love to stay there someday.

http://www.thespringscostarica.com/

I've heard good things about Costa Rica, I think the Pacific side is more desirable? and you don't want to go during rainy season because they get alot there. Probably cheaper than alot of these islands too.

FYI--The "Estates at The Grace Bay Club", new condo section of the resort, opened 1/09 on Turks and Caicos has plunge pools if you get a 1 st floor unit, private cabanas etc...stunning however, we LOVE The Somerset also on Grace Bay , Turks and Caicos. I would pick turks !!

Have you considered Roatan, one of the Bay Islands of Honduras? Accessible from Newark/NJ or Atlanta or Miami. It is a beautiful, lush, Island, not Americanized. You will find the beautiful turquoise Carribean, white sand, gorgeous weather. This fall 9 holes of the 18 hole Pete Dye Golf course will open. There are no huge hotel chains so it remains relatively uncrowded. You can snorkel right from the beach. The food on the Island is awesome....tons of fresh seafood...the prices are much more reasonable than most of the more popular destinations. Several cruise lines stop there and it is a favorite destination among cruisers. Check it out. You won't be disappointed.

The property that meets all your criteria (including private plunge pool and beachfront, yet secluded and less children) my favorite is Parrot Cay. you can have your own private villa, with plunge pool, gorgeous stunning beach, and extremely easy travel from East Coast. Another bonus? One of the driest islands, so chances of coming back with a deep tan are increased! 8-)

My husband and I spent our honeymoon in St. Lucia. We flew from Newark to San Juan and then from San Juan to St. Lucia (one layover).

We stayed at the Sandals Halycon (Sp?) which was nice but I wouldn't recommend it. We did see Anse Chastenet from a sightseeing boat on our way to the Pitons and it looked beautiful. I also read up about Jade Mountain. While on the pricey side, the rooms look amazing: http://www.jademountainstlucia.com/

While not technically exotic, our favorite place is still Caneel Bay on St. John.
-Susan

recently on the Travel Channel, they did a list of the most romantic and exotic resorts.

Jade Mountain was #1, looks to me like rooms don't have A/C though and you are dependent on wind/breeze. Plus no beach, being on the mountain.

The Caves, in Negril on the Cliffs was on this list too. No beach their either, but you can atleast jump in the ocean off the cliffs in front of you.

both expensive from what I understand.

Curacao if you can afford to stay at the Kura Hulanda, its so so romantic.Although you said Caribbean I will go off topic & say The Secrets Capri in Playa Del Carmen mexico is the place to honeymoon.I know you have been to Mexico already but Secrets is like another world & nokids allowed.CHeck out these 2 are my vote.COngrats