chelseamaryland

Hi everybody!!

I am recently engaged, and will be planning a honeymoon for June 2015. I have no clue where to start! We definitely do not want to go to Jamaica or Mexico, and would like to go somewhere in the Caribbean. We have been to Nassau, Bahamas, and weren't really impressed. We found Turks and Caicos to be beautiful. We also would be okay with doing AI, or not doing AI. All we want to do is hang out by the pool or beach, with a drink in hand. We'd love good food, nice weather, and can go exploring if we feel like it. Our budget is 4000 including airfare. Thank you for any help!!!!!!

RoamsAround

You haven't given us very much to go on. You can find beaches on just about every island and well over 50% of the resorts in the Caribbean have pools and you can find good food and drink everywhere. Likewise weather is going to be essentially the same throughout the Caribbean in July (there's perhaps only a 3 to 5 degree F. difference in average temperatures between the cooler islands in the north and the warmer islands in the south. You also didn't say where you are flying from so we have no idea how much of your $4,000 budget will will have to be reserved for airfare. Lastly, you didn't say how long a trip you are planning (I assume you probably will be going for a week).

If you give us more information
: where you are flying from, what type of activities you like, what you liked and disliked about the places you previously visited it will make it easier for the regular contributors here to steer you in the right direction.

In the meantime, here are some suggestions to get you started:

1) To save on airfare look at destinations you can reach non-stop from your nearest International Gateway Airport as those will typically cost less to reach than destinations that require one or more inter-island connecting flights which can add considerably to your airfare costs. Depending on where you are flying from you are probably going to use up anywhere from $1,000 to $1,800 on airfare.

2) July is Low Season in the Caribbean so you will find some of the lowest room rates of the year. That said, after paying for your airfare you'll only have between $2,200 and $3,000 (or around $300 to $425 per day) for accommodations, food and activities. While that's not a very generous budget it is doable if you set your sights realistically. 4-Star and 5-Star resorts will most likely be out of your budget but you should certainly be able to some very nice 3-star and lower 4-star resort that are in your price range. When pricing rooms consider getting a garden view or mountain view room rather than a beachfront room. You'll save considerable money but still have full access to all the resort's amenities.

3) The Dominican Republic has loads of AI's that will be within your price range and you should be able to find decent non-stop airfares from most major International airports. Look also at Antigua as it has an abundance of very nice mid-priced resorts (some AI's) and it is relatively easy to reach from many International Airports. Aruba is another destination that is popular with honeymooners, is readily accessible from many International Airports and has a large selection of very nice resorts in all price ranges.

chelseamaryland

Sorry about that!!! We are flying out of Baltimore, Maryland, and are looking to go for 7 nights.

chelseamaryland

We will be mostly relaxing around the hotel or resort, perhaps exploring around towns, and I know if there was a casino nearby, we would go. We like T&C because it seemed a lot more quiet than Nassau. Nassau was very busy and loud, and we want to avoid that.

dontcallmecass

If you don’t mind staying at a simple 3 star hotel (not all inclusive), I think your budget is very doable. If you need a posh, luxurious hotel your budget will be much harder due to food costs.

If you want to avoid busy and loud, I would take a look at Barbados (West Coast), Bermuda (Not in the Caribbean though), Turks and Caicos, The USVI’s, The BVI’s, and Anguilla.

PlumeriaTattoo

We just had a week on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands for our wedding/honeymoon. We stayed at an amazing little beachfront villa and our cost (with air from Ohio) was about $5000, but we also had wedding-related expenses. The island is absolutely paradise; QUIET and uncrowded, romantic, and gorgeous. The beaches were so amazingly beautiful, and all of them are really different. Great food and drinks, and a laid back vibe. It's a very hilly island, so the terrain is lovely, and there are some old copper and sugar mine ruins to explore along with lots of little islands just a short ride away. Based on what you've written, I think you would enjoy it.

blamona

Is your budget basically air and hotel? Or are you trying to include food, drinks, activities? Can also make a difference.

From Baltimore to Caribbean there's nothing direct, you'll have to have a connection. (I fly from DC area)

Do you also need activities, culture, shopping? If it's just romance and relaxing, can make a difference in choosing a place.

The Out Islands in Bahamas are nothing like Nassau, you might want tovlook at some of them.

If you end up with money, or can save now because of the wedding to include part of the honeymoon, Anguilla would be fantastic. If you loved TCI, Anguilla would make a terrific honeymoon. But overall an expensive destination, more than TCI.