Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Honeymoon-Feb.2003 for under $10,000?

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PLEASE READ CAREFULLY: I don't think I'm being extreme or negative but realistic. The cheapest rates you quoted, Larry, are for a standard room, mountain view in Maui. I would not want to have a standard room, mountain view, on Maui for my honeymoon would you? That was also the lowest rate listed and you also left out tax, grats, airfare,(we still don't know where Steve if from) dining expenses and spending money. If they are from the east coast or there abouts I would not think they want to spend a major part of 8 days travelling. He also posted on the CARIBBEAN FORUM so maybe you are way off track here, and the South Pacific or Europe is not what he's looking for. We all know that you spend more money on your honeymoon than you do a vacation. Most people don't want a standard room for their honeymoon they want something special,so, my advice to you Steve is to call an excellent travel agent. He or she will be able to answer all of your questions and get the most for your money, instead of going by posters on Fodor's Travel Talk. It's a good place to get ideas but .... I think you can figure it out on your own. I have travelled many places and at all times of the year and I know what I'm talking about. I was in St. Barths in February and lunch with drinks for 2 cost $150.00. If you've been to St. Barths you know what I'm talking about, it is not uncommon. There are also quaint supermarkets in town where you can buy groceries, and small open air bistros for coffee and croisants for breakfast, not as expensive as going out every day but still expensive.It is one of the most expensive caribbean islands to be. I'm not trying to discourage anyone, but Most Caribbean Island resorts ie:Sandy Lane, Cap Juluca, Biras Creek etc... are going to cost more than you think. $10,000 with EVERYTHING in FEBRUARY, does not go as far as all of you think. I'm not saying it's not enough or being negative, but you have to plan carefully there is a limit.Prices DOUBLE in Jan, Feb and March. Theres more cost to a vacation, as you all know, other than a room.

Correction: scubatreks.com--click on Ti Kaye Village. Note the very reasonable terrific package for the Honeymoon Adventures Package for Winter 2003.

If there are "better" resorts than Four Seasons resorts as a whole, I'd sure like to know what and where they are! Be real. This is the world's premiere hotel and resort chain. Locations are top notch, food is outstanding, service is unsurpassed, and the traveller can trust that everything will be just right, or made to be so if it is not. Now I will freely admit that many travellers don't like the large resort ambience, and they don't want to feel like they're just part of the herd. For these people, places like the independent Caribbean resorts, the Fijian and Polynesian resorts etc, are havens. But to imply that Four Seasons resorts as a whole are anything less than world class, or that people who go to them aren't "seasoned travellers", is really quite silly. You won't run into many travel rookies at a typical Four Seasons resort (save for honeymooners, who are found at any type of desirable destination). (And yes, not all resorts within a chain reach the same quality standards....I'm only speaking of FS as an example of a generally top notch chain). If your point is that heavily planned and corporate-managed resorts aren't for everyone, I agree wholeheartedly. But don't try to imply that chains like Four Seasons are somehow intrinsically inferior as vacation destinations. You can't defend that point.

To "wakeup": For my honeymoon, I would not accept a standard room. But you're making a great many assumptions about Steve with virtually no info available. He stated he was open to "any islands, resorts, etc". Maybe just in the Caribbean? Can't tell from his question. Many people will post the same question simultaneously here, on the South Pacific board, etc. So to provide a narrow answer given the available question may or may not be the best for him. Also, I've learned here that many people (unlike me) don't care to spend big $$ on a suite or view room because they claim they're not going to spend a lot of time staring out the window, or in the room to begin with, etc. Is this Steve? I don't know. But your point was that he was going to have limited options at $10K for 8 nts. My point is that he can choose from among many of the world's top tropical destinations for under $10K. The examples I gave were the cheapest rooms. But even the view rooms are well within his range at most all those places. And just because YOU wouldn't want spend 2o hours travelling to the So Pacific doesn't mean he might not be willing to, if it were a dream destination. I know people who claim that less than 2 weeks at any island destination is too little to really enjoy the trip! For me, 3-5 days is plenty of time to adjust, unwind and enjoy myself, but that's just me. Steve's situation? I don't know. And don't assume that just because your experiences at a few places in the Caribbean suit your tastes just so, that others will have your same tastes. It always irritates me that so many advisers at Fodor's can't see beyond their own noses. Not everyone is like you! If giving advice, try to be open minded and remember that Steve hasn't given any clues about what he/they want out of this trip. Only a budget. You're being very narrow in your views. BTW, I've been to most all the places recommended in the posts above (in particular to all the non-Caribe places) and I don't have any particular bias toward any one part of the world as being best. The Caribe is great, but I don't favor it over several other places noted above.

To Larry: I've been to more than a few but it seems that you posted mainly Four Seasons Hotels, does not seem that you go "outside of the lines" very much. I did not advocate any one particular destination. It seems that you have a reading comp problem. Steve did not post anywhere but The Caribbean Forum, but you advised him to go everywhere but the caribbean. The one and only point I'm trying to make here is that the CARIBBEAN (whis Steve is inquiring about) is more expensive in Feb than any other time of the year and to be careful planning is honeymoon dollar because the money goes fast. I did not think that anyone was paying attention to the time of year he was travelling or the forum in which he posted. Everyone else went off on their own tangent including you, Larry. If you dont believe me than you have to read all the posts again but pay attention this time to Steves original post: this is what we know for sure: -Caribbean Forum -February 2003 -UNDER $10,000.00 -8 days honeymoon That leaves us to advise him on a romantic Honeymoon in the Caribbean 8 days 7 nights in February for under $10,000. Based on the info given to us by Steve I am advising him to see a Travel Agent that can get him the most for his CARIBBEAN honeymoon since February is the costliest time to travel there. I did not suggest any island in particular but did use some as an example so Steve can visit the web sites and compare prices from season to season. Do You Understand Larry?? So get off your Four Seasons soap box and pay attention what someone else is trying to say, and stop trying to read between the lines. It's a simple question posted.

WHY ON EARTH would you burn $10K when you could stay in a quaint, historical building like the Crystal Palace in St. Thomas ???? A room with a shared bath runs only $65 a night (plus 8% govt tax of course). Plus free pick up from the airport, and the chauffer Ronnie keeps a stash of the best ganja on the island, and he or his family will eagerly slob your johnson for pocket change. Don't go to one of those plastic resorts where they spritz you with Evian and spoon feed you sorbet on the beach... instead immerse yourself into the REAL Caribbean, St. Thomas Style!!!

LOL:) that's the funniest i've heard

I appreciate everyone's respones and help GREATLY. To answer some questions: I am from NJ, I am 26, I've already been to Aruba, Cancun, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, The Caymans, Maui, and Oahu. I've been to the best and not-so best (DR, PR, Can). I'm very flexible, not picky, and enjoy nightlife but wouldn't be lost without it. I was hoping to see the South Pacific, but I agree with most of you that 8 days isn't really long enough. So, I guess I'm looking at a "nice" Carribean resort.