Honeymoon help!!! Please!
 

Hey everyone.

My fiance and I are going on our Honeymoon the second week of May. This year. So this is coming up FAST.

We're rather picky and we've had an impossible time trying to pick a place. We've decided we want the Carribean because we've never been anywhere with that kind of blue/green/clear water and white sand beaches. So anything that has Carribean beaches would work. (ie. Mexico, Belize, Honduras, any of the islands...)

Here's what we'd like: Nice beaches, hopefully some that we can find that aren't too crowded, and maybe even secluded. We are also into culture and would like a place with something to do. (I'm not talking bars or nightlife.) I'm talking rain forests, maybe some ruins or something, something FUN and interesting. Good cities or open air markets, etc...

Finally, we want a hotel at wherever this place is to have maybe a nice beach hut or beach villa or at least a private balcony or something. Something with a jacuzzi or plunge pool. And with an ocean view. And not TOO expensive.

I know I'm asking a lot, but I know people here have travelled far and wide and I figure I'd ask for some help.

If anyone can offer anything, I would be eternally grateful. I've got to make a decision somehow in the next week or so.

Thanks so much.

I don't know what your price range is, but take a look at Maroma in Mexico. Their website is www.maromahotel.com.

Hey there. I think Maroma is a little too expensive for us. It's a beautiful place, but we'd have to get their cheapest room to afford it.

Keep the suggestions rolling in.

If you want ruins and sightseeing and things to do, you should look at Mexico. Fly into Cancun and go south to the Mayan Riviera or Cozumel. There are many hotels in both areas. Look at Pariso la de Bonita or Royal Hideaway (AI) for starters. On Cozumel you could look at Grand Cozumel for AI or Playa Azul for smaller and no meals. Half the fun of a trip is looking at all your options.

I think you'd like the Mayan Riviera - try looking at Al Cielo Hotel (www.alcielohotel.com) on Xpu Ha Beach - between Playa del Carmen and Akumal. You would probably want a car if you were staying here so you could do some exploring. If you want to be closer to a town - there are a couple of nice places on the beach in Playa del Carmen - Las Palapas and Shangri La Caribe. For some unique tours check out Alltournative Tours (www.allournative.com). Two great websites on this region are www.playadelcarmeninfo.com and www.locogringo.com.

Barbados or St. Lucia

You are not going to find something with all creteria, so you will have to tell the most important features. Mexico is a lot of fun with lots of activities, but it is crowded and not secluded!!! (Although the prices are really good) The Islands with the blue/green/clear water are flat and scrubby and tend to be expensive and not much to do. (ex Anguilla, Turks and Caicos) If you want a plunge pool, jacuzzi, or oceanfront, they will be expensive on EVERY island in the caribbean. ($450-$600 a night range?) If you want rainforests and ruins, the hilly Islands don't tend to have the best beaches. St. John's and Virgin Gorda sounds close to what you're looking for, but they are expensive. If you tell us what is MOST important, and at what budget, we can help further.

Ikal del Mar is similar to/less pricey than/near Maroma. There are quite a few offroad away-from-hotelzone-tourists in the stretch a half hour south of Cancun.

Check out the Westin on St.John USVI.

I agree with Tivertonhouse - you can find many a seculded beach/hotel in Mexico - you just have to get away from the "tourista zones".

How about the Gallows Point Resort on St. John? That's where I'm going on my honeymoon this June. St. John has beautiful beaches, and some secluded ones. You're also a ferry ride away from St. Thomas that has more activity.

We are staying in an upper ocean front room. The rates were pretty reasonable compared to a lot of places we looked at. They have a pool. They have a rocky beach that you can snorkel off of, but not a huge sandy beach. But to us it was worth it to stay there and go to other beaches.

The Westin is a beautiful resort in St. John's, but the beach is not that nice, you have to travel to a better beach. Gallows Point is a nice resort, but once again not on the beach, so you have to taxi to the pretty beaches. Avoid Trunk Bay on Cruise day!!! Although it's a stunner, you'll be sharing towels with stangers.

You could also try anegada in the BVI there are a few small villas and a couple of places to stay - guaranteed some of the best beaches. Check out http://community.webshots.com/user/gordaguy for some shots - also www.traveltalkonline.com has lots of forums on various places in the Carib.

You'll probably get more for your $ in Mexico. There are lots of choices on the Mayan Riviera. If Royal Hideaway is too expensive, try the Riu Palace in Playacar. There are several all inclusives there that you may like. Go to Locogringo.com and really check out the accommodations around Playa del Carmen and Akumal. Loco forum is also very helpful.

I would suggest Grenada, for a romantic place to stay try Petit Bacaye situated right on the beach giving seclusion. there are many places of interest on the island to visit

I have to agree with PAgirl.
One of my girlfriends just got married in Playa Del Carmen and sent me photos of her wedding. The town looks so cute and the resort where she actualy had the wedding was the Shangri La caribe.
Rated by Frommers as one of their fav's for the area. They have what you are looking for I believe with the private villa type places to stay and the prices are good and inc. usually bkfst and lunch or bkfst and dinner - not sure.
Here is the website attached though so you can check it out. I think this is what you are looking for. The pics of the beach my friend sent me are gorgeous. I had just gotten back in touch with this friend and was invited to go to the wedding but had a trip planned the same weekend...I was very disappointed I could not go. Good Luck!
liasun.
www.shangrilacaribe.net

http://www.frommers.com/destinations...en/H35818.html

one other place after re reading your post i thought of was puerto rico.
they have alot to do their not what you would expect but, i am really into the outdoors hiking, biking etc...not so much water sports but they have that too.
try the southwest coast of the island which is the caribbean side.
the place to stay might be the
tres mirenas- three mermaids.
you are close to the bioluminescent bay and other good snorkeling spots.
or you can also try the copamarina beach resort more of an eco friendly but nice not granola type place i hear they have a very good dive center right there. if you go to this area you are also near coffee plantations and a dry forest or something like that i can look up the info if you are interested. there is good hiking and there are guides plus mountain biking excursions.
there are two other nice hotels.
the horned dorset primavera which is probably out of your price range at $600/nt. and then rincon of the seas which is a newer resort. dont forget pr also has the rainforest on the northeast part of the island.
someone has a trip report posted on here of all the stuff they did and they did a ton and it might be good for you to review. if i can find it i will let you know who wrote it.

The Abaco inn on elbow cay[hope town] in the Abaco's is one of the most romantic spots I've ever experienced. Search on Google and you'll be impressed. No cruise ships no casino's.Just a cute bungalo on a beautiful beach, great food and reasonable.

Hey Tom.

What resort in the Caymans would that be???

You've piqued my curiosity!!!

I know that you want Caribbean suggestions..but have you thought about Hawaii?More specifically Kauai..it has everything.I think that you would be pleasantly suprised.Check it out...