EPA81

Hi there, just wanted to get some info on what would be a great resort in the Caribbean for first time travelers. We are both 24 and are looking for something that could keep us active during the day and looking at possibly beginning of December.

We have both decided that Mexico is out

All inclusive would be a plus

Oceanview

Don't really know what I should spend

Preferably few kids

Ask away if you have anymore questions for me

RoamsAround

What you you are describing can be found on almost every island in the Caribbean.

In order to be of any real help we need more info from you. Tell us:

1) What's your budget for accommodations, food, excursions and airfare? You have to be specific as it's perhaps the most important factor in deciding where you can afford to go. Telling us "you don't know" doesn't help and using terms like "affordable", "won't break the bank", "not over the top" are meaningless without a dollar point of reference.

2) When in December are you traveling? It could make a big difference both in terms of room cost - early December is often much less than mid-to-late December.

3) How long a trip are you planning- a few days, a week, two weeks, a month?

4) What type of activities interest you and your new spouse?

5) Where are you traveling from?

6) How long are you willing to take to reach your destination? Are you willing to take one or more connecting flights and or ferries to reach your destination or do expect to get there non-stop from your nearest International Gateway Airport?

7) You have to define what "great resort" means to you. What type of amenities do you need?

8) What type of island appeals to you? There are big islands, small island, flat arid islands, lush mountainous islands, islands with great beaches, islands with only a few beaches, etc. The thing is no two islands are alike and no one island "has it all"?

9) Have you been on any other trips or vacations? if so what did you like and what did you dislike?

10) Tell us what's in your mind's eye when you think of a Caribbean Resort that way it will be easier for us to help you find your "dream spot".

The more you can tell us about your self and your soon to be suppose the easier it will be to steer you in the right direction.

EPA81

1) What's your budget for accommodations, food, excursions and airfare? I would say somewhere between 5-7k

2) When in December are you traveling? Beginning of December. I have seen tickets double around Xmas time

3) How long a trip are you planning- a few days, a week, two weeks, a month? A week. Thought I included that

4) What type of activities interest you and your new spouse? We enjoy golf, snorkeling, some nightlife, hiking, fishing. There's preobably some I am forgetting there.

5) Where are you traveling from? Fargo, ND or MSP

6) How long are you willing to take to reach your destination? Multi-stop doesn't bother me too much, as long as the layovers aren't out of hand.

7) What type of amenities do you need? AI first, but not at the expense of terrible food. Elsewise - bar, beach, pool, taxi, restaurant.

8) What type of island appeals to you? There are big islands, small island, flat arid islands, lush mountainous islands, islands with great beaches, islands with only a few beaches, etc. The thing is no two islands are alike and no one island "has it all"? Beach is a must, mountains would be a plus.

9) Have you been on any other trips or vacations? if so what did you like and what did you dislike? The most "tropical" place we have ever been would be Florida, although that was at least a dozen years ago. Therefore, I can't properly answer either 8 or 10.

10) Tell us what's in your mind's eye when you think of a Caribbean Resort that way it will be easier for us to help you find your "dream spot". Umm... I think of beach and and exploring. Beautiful landscapes (I only see flat farmland here)

Hope this helps at least a little bit

KVR

With that budget, you could probably pick almost any AI out there. The majority are in Mexico, Jamaica and the Dominican Rebuplic. Since you ruled out Mexico, Jamaica seems to fit most of the criteria you listed. St. Lucia comes in a close second, but we found the beaches and snorkeling there to be sub-par. The sightseeing was fabulous though.

Look at the Couples resorts in Jamaica, the Iberostar and Secrets resorts in Montego Bay and the Jewell Dunn's River resort in Ocho Rios.

EPA81

Thanks KVR.

I heard mixed things about going off of the resort in Jamaica. Is there anything I should worry about should I want to get off the resort for a little exploring?

Odin

Barbados is a great island for first time visitors to the Caribbean. It has plenty of nightlife around the south coast, St Lawrence, beautiful calm beaches on the west coast, great golf courses. Snorkelling is not fantastic, it's ok though, even just on hotel beaches if there are a few rocks around. Taking an excursion to the east coast is interesting, totally different to the west coast. There are many restaurants and many options for hotels, either AI or otherwise.

St Lucia is also a great honeymoon destination, the beaches in the north of the island are paler than those in the south, if the colour of the sand matters. Snorkelling is great around the Pitons where there is a marine reserve and around Anse Cochon. If you stay around Rodney Bay there are many restaurants/bars so AI is not necessary but elsewhere on the island hotels can be isolated so AI is a good idea.

St Martin is another option, no need for AI here since there are so many restaurants.

Negril Jamaica, fabulous 7 mile beach with many restaurants/bars, AI not necessary but if you really need AI there are hotels offering that in Negril. Restaurants in the cliffs area are really good and the area is beautiful.

Then there is Antigua... many islands could fit the bill.

KVR

We've been to Negril and Ocho Rios. In Negril, we booked off property tours at the hotel for the Black River Falls, Appleton Rum Factory, YS Falls and Mayfield Falls. We took a cab to the craft market, Margaritaville and Rick's Cafe.

In Ocho Rios, I hired a driver to take us to various sightseeing places in that area. I found the locals in Ocho Rios way more agressive than Negril. We have been to Mexico at least 10 times over 12 years and I feel way more comfortable walking off a resort in Mexico than I did in Jamaica. We really have no desire to return to Jamaica. It's like been there, done that. Mexico just has so many great things to see and do off property and even after all our trips we haven't seen or done everything there yet. We had the best time in Cabo San Lucas in December.

If you are interested, I have all of our vacation photos on-line. We've been to several Caribbean Islands as well as Mexico. You might see a destination that interests you.

http://kvrlvnphotogallery.shutterfly.com/pictures/5