honeymoon help?
 

My fiance and I are planning our honeymoon for the 2nd week in June 2004. We plan on 6 nights and are looking for a romantic and relaxed all-inclusive. I visited the Royal Hideaway in Playa del Carmen a couple of years ago and loved it. I am looking for something along the same lines. I am really hesitant about going to a Sandals or Superclubs resort. They seem too big and for lack of a better term...cheesy! I am open to anywhere in the Caribbean or Mexico. But, so far I am overwhelmed. Does anyone have any suggestions? We are looking to spend no more than $5000.

Thanks,
Mandy

If you've got $5000 to spend, even if that includes airfare you've got a HUGE variety of outstanding resorts to choose from in the Caribbean. With that kind of budget, I'd recommend that you check out Jumby Bay, a private island off the coast of Antigua, for wonderful AI that doesn't feel like an AI. (I've never stayed there myself, but people whose travel opinions I trust have nothing but fabulous things to say about it.) There are also places like Peter Island in the BVI that, while not an AI per se, do include all meals in the price of the package as well as extras, such as a sunset cruise or a couples massage. I'd advise you to look at the website www.luxurylink.com for a one-stop window shopping site. You won't find many (if any) sprawling and/or cheesy resort packages being offered there. The prices being offered for the auctions and the "buy now" packages will also give you a jumping off point for negotiations with any resort featured there, whether you use a travel agent or make your own arrangements.

I noticed a previous post that said you were interested in the British Virgins...Peter Island may be just up your alley. I just spent my honeymoon this summer at Guana Island in the BVI and it was an extraordinary experience. If you have questions, I'd be glad to answer. Also, check out www.scubamom.com and www.scubatreks.com for some great reviews and photographs of BVI resorts.

Take a look at Swept Away Negril. It is now part of the Couples chain. I have been there twice and it is anything but cheesy and you won't find nicer beach anywhere.

Hi there .. my husband and I honeymooned at the Royal Hideaway, and absolutely loved it too. If you're looking for something along the same lines (put not Couples or Sandals), try these:

Secrets Excellence Resort & Spa, Punta Cana, DR
http://www.secretsexcellence.com

Secrets have also just opened a brand new resort in Playa Del Carmen area called Secrets Capri, and are opening another resort called Secrets Excellence Mayan Riviera in 2004. I don't have the website handy, but you should be able to find info easily.

Also, another luxury resort, the Half Moon in Montego Bay, Jamaica:
http://www.halfmoon-resort.com/resort/

Good luck with your planning. /Jane

Mandy,
We're in a virtually identical place. We're honeymooning in June too (7th). Same budget, same questions. Same opinion of Sandals/Beaches Resorts. Perhaps we can keep eachother posted on our findings?

I'm trying to find a modern, adults only (preferred but not absolutely necessary), all-inclusive, some night stuff, definite beach stuff, some shopping, a/c, as-posh-as-we-can-get-on-5K, tropical (non-desert) place where we don't have to worry about a dang thing. A bigger resort is actually not a turn-off as we feel we may have more options that way.

It's my first time to the Caribbean and I've always dreamed of this, now I want to make sure I'm well-educated on it.

On our narrowed down list:
(No Mexico and no Jamaica)
Aruba (too windy, not lush tropics?)
Barbados
Bermuda (not lush tropics?)
Grand Cayman (too commercial?)
St. Thomas (enough to do?)
St. Marteen (clear water? safe? tropical?)

Hi Mandy!

I'm travelling to Jamaica for my honeymoon in January but not doing the AI thing.

For a small, supposedly beautiful and romantic, boutique all inclusive check out The Caves in Negril (Jamaica).

Visit www.islandoutpost.com I think they have honeymooon packages around $2500 for 5 nights.

Congratulations!

Another vote here for Swept Away in Negril. I am very biased cause we had the most wondermous honeymoon there. It could NOT have been any more romantic. Ahhh, what a happy, romantic, tropical honeymoon we had andwishthe same for everyone. Tremendous beach, tropical/romantic rooms, great food, lots of activities-if you were so inclined, friendly service. We wanted for nothing.

We loved St. John, USVI. You can either go to Caneel Bay Resort or our preference was a villa. There are numerous villas with pools/spas. It's a gorgeous island. The BVI's are closeby and you can take day boat trips or St. Thomas is a 20 min. ferry ride for great shopping.

St. John has everything your looking for.

Congrats.

I don't think you can do any better than Galley bay on Antigua. It is adults only, rooms on the beach ,great food ,not far from St Johns & an AI resort. If you want to see more reviews go to www.geographia.com & the Antigua & Barbuda forum .