Smiley25

We are getting married next August and are still trying to decide where to take our honeymoon. We are concerned about it being hurricane season but really want to go to the carribean. We want a small resort....nothing with 300 rooms or the club med feel. (I have been to club med before and it's great, just not what we want for our honeymoon) Requirements are a beautiful beach, day trip options (sailing, snorkeling, etc) good food, and nothing too loud or crazy. Any suggestions are much appreciated!

afah

Have you thought about a small villa as opposed to a small resort. That way you have lots of privacy, can dictate your meals and when you want to rise in the mornings? It can also be a lot cheaper. August can be active for hurricanes, but usually it's September that affects the Caribbean. Have you a particular island in mind? How far do you have to/want to travel. All these items can make a difference. Some islands are more geared to casinos and lots of night life. Some are more geared to great eating and beautiful beaches. While my husband and I have a beautiful small villa with a pool,in St. John which I am sure you would enjoy, I would be happy to give you other suggestions, since we have traveled around the islands for a while.

mjulius

Try Coral Gardens resort on the island of Providenciales in Turks and Caicos. It is an all-suite resort on one of the most spectacular beaches in the Caribbean. On-site restaurant is excellent, and the beach grill is fine for breakfast and/or lunch. There is an incredible snorkeling reef starting about 10 feet from the shore right in front of the resort, and turtle grass beds (with lots of large hawksbill turtles) an easy swim from shore. You can take day trips from there to other of the T&C islands, and there is an on-site activities coordinator. Coral Gardens frequently offers packages for auction at luxurylink.com, and you can save a bundle that way. Have fun and good luck with the wedding!

A_Traveller

I notice you have 2 threads going with essentially the same theme - i.e. a Caribbean vacation in August. As others have pointed out August is hurricane season in the Caribbean and while September and early October are traditionally the busiest months as far as tropical storms are concerned this year and last year have been exceptions to the rule. For instance, so far this year there have been 13 number tropical depressions, 11 of which have developed into named storms. If you are set on travelling in August consider the islands of Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire. While no island is completely safe those three are very far south and generally considered out of the hurricane belt.

ONZGO

I found Aruba too Americanized. It is a small (19.6 x 6 miles) island that is basically flat, windy and desert like because of lack of vegetation. It is not outside the hurricane belt as was marketed by Aruba tourism as such and there was a warning out for Aruba last fall when hurricane Ivan went by. Luckily it missed Aruba, but there was major flooding, damage to some hotels and some beach erosion. Aruba is not very romantica unless you like highrises on the beach and lots of American fast food chains and restaurants with gambling as the main form of entertainment. Almost every hotel has a casino, so if you like to gamble go to Aruba. Aruba doesn't have great snorkelling either and we found the water clarity lacking compared to other islands we have visited.

If you want to feel you have been away somewhere tropical with a Caribbean feel try another island, if you want to feel you have stayed at home in America, try Aruba.

I would suggest Barbados, St. Vincent, the Grenedines, Grenada, St. Lucia and Tobago if you are really worried about hurricanes, because they are in the same area of the hurricane belt as is Aruba and will give you a true Caribbean/tropical vacation.

Good luck with your travel plans and honeymoon choice.

Smiley25

Thank you all so much for your suggestions. I was prety set on going to Palm Island, but the more I keep looking, the more places I keep finding. Now I am also considering Coral Reef Club in Barbados and Spice Island Resort in Grenada. I am trying to keep the search focused far south in the Carribean. Have been to Aruba before and while it is beautiful, we are looking for smaller resorts and less Americanized. I'm still researching online, feel free to keep the suggestions coming and thanks for the help.

meli802

There is a great secluded and romantic resort on South Andros Island that is very quiet and intimate. There are some water activities there such as snorkeling and sailing and if other activities are wanted there is a local divemaster on the island who could help you plan. His website is prob. the most informative as to what there is to offer and plus he is very easy to reach and answer you questions. I just appreciated the fact that he was so willing to work with me and even helped me plan my trip to the resort and basically did it all. www.androsdiving.com