Honeymoon Ideas

Old Feb 13th, 2004, 11:55 AM
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Honeymoon Ideas

Hi. I'm getting married at the end of August and my fiance and I want to have our honeymoon in the Caribbean, but we do not know where to go. I have been looking in St. Thomas, St. John, Aruba, Cayman Isands, St. Martin, and Jamaica. Our budget is $2100 (for airfare and hotel for 6 nights). We both love outdoor activities. We do not want all-inclusive, instead we want to have a kitchenette in the room and be able to see the ocean in the near distance. We would prefer to be within walking distance of a private beach that is not too crowded.
Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!
Joncon6 is offline  
Old Feb 13th, 2004, 01:08 PM
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Have you ever been to the Caribbean before?
Do you have any preconceived ideas about what you want your island to look like and 'feel' like?
In the absence of any other info, I'd recommend Aruba.
One, you'll minimize your hurricane risk (which is a non-trivial issue at all the other islands you listed).
Second, you can stretch your dollars quite far on Aruba...especially since you'll be travelling in 'low season'.
I would not compromise by accepting anything less than a beachfront hotel for your honeymoon.
Where are you flying from?
Even if your airfare were $500 each (common summer fare from many places if you look around) that would leave you almost $200/nt for hotel. You can get rates at places like the Radisson (large beachfront resort) for under $180/nt.
Plenty to do on Aruba, great weather, good food, very safe (but not very tropical looking. That is, very little vegetation).
Just one idea for you to look into. There are plenty of other options.
Have fun planning, and best wishes.
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Old Feb 19th, 2004, 09:25 AM
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RE:travleis

I've been to the Caribbean twice, once in Puerto Rico and another at Tortola. I'm looking for a place that is on or very close to a beach. The room to have a kitchen so we can cook our own food and town nearby b/c I'm not sure that I would be able to rent a car. (I'm 23yrs old). So looking for a nice seculed beach, but near a town so we don't have to rely on a car.
We are the outdoor type, so snorkeling, hiking, swimming, lush forests are our thing.
Thanks for any help.
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Old Feb 19th, 2004, 04:13 PM
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You might look into a villa on St. John.
Great hiking (75% of the island is national park), great beaches, great natural beauty (but very humid in August).
Unfortunately all car rental agencies there have a 25 year age minimum.
Villas rent for reasonable rates and of course have a kitchen.
If you don't want or need the resources and amenities of a resort, a villa is a great option.
Take a look at what you can get for $236/nt, for example:
http://www.caribbeanway.com/villa-page/ind/105750.asp
Or, $1350/wk: http://www.vivacations.com/villas/creolla.htm
Or these villas at <$1600/wk.
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Old Feb 19th, 2004, 04:48 PM
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This idea maybe a little too expensive from what you are saying but fits the description well. The resort below has a Sun, Sea and Sand Package for a 1 bedroom suite for $1,575 for 7 nights including breakfast daily. You would fly into Sint Maarten and take a ferry to Anguilla.

http://www.frangipani.ai/

If you click on the "Rooms" icon on the left side of the page, then click on "Rate Cards" highlighted in blue, then scroll down to ...7 Nights Sun, Sea & Sand you will see the offer which includes breakfast daily...that's one less meal to buy.

If you are interested and want to see the floor plan of this place, click on the "Condo Sales" tab. The last paragraph in blue it shows the floor plans. There are 2 1 bedroom suites on the upper floors and a Junior suite. Best views are from the upper floors. This offer gives you a full kitchen, separate bedroom, large deck for sitting and rigth on the beach.

If there is anyway you could swing this, you wouldn't be sorry. It's a gorgeous small resort.

If that is too expensive, then take a look at this place in Anguilla which would run about $200 less for 6 nights but no breakfast:

http://www.news.ai/ref/bluewaters.html

Here are some special offers for off season for St. Barts:

http://www.wiol.com/st-bart/deals.html

Here's a place to convert the Euro to dollars:

http://www.xe.com/ucc/

If you have an interest in St. Barts, you should come to the St. Barts forum and learn more there: www.sbhonline.com

Good luck. If I can be of any other help, let me know. You might want to get your name put on the email list for www.travelzoo.com which emails out sales each Wednesday. You can email me at [email protected]. I've been doing a lot of research for us and have found many jewels in the Caribbean in my search.
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Old Feb 19th, 2004, 05:23 PM
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Just a different thought - when I travel to Hilton Head South Carolina I feel like I'm in the Caribbean without the same travel bill. Great beaches, great restaurants (all types of food and price points), can choose condos or hotels. Great golf, tennis, trails where you can walk, bike or rollerblade. Biking on the beach is great too. Savannah is near by (within an hour) if you have a rainy day. Most people fly into Savannah or Hilton Head.
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Old Feb 19th, 2004, 06:19 PM
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$2100 including airfare is a pretty tall order. The only way you will find that is a package deal that includes the airfare. The Caribbean is cheaper in the summer but the airfare is still pretty expensive. You may have to settle for continental US. Perhaps the Outer Banks of the Carolinas. It also depends where you are departing from too.
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Old Feb 19th, 2004, 08:19 PM
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While I agree with the comments that it's possible to arrange a decent beach vacation/honeymoon in the USA, I will strongly disagree that the Atlantic coastal beaches in any state can come close to matching the good, let alone great, beaches in the Caribbean.
The sand quality, the water color, the water temperatures, and the marine life at the better Caribbean beaches are simply in a different league entirely.

Most people wouldn't be willing to spend the time and money to reach them if there weren't a significant difference.
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Old Feb 20th, 2004, 08:47 AM
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Check out the airlines, they have vacation packages that are pretty good. Depending on where you are flying from, AAVacations.com is great, and you can get some decent fares with rooms.
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Old Feb 21st, 2004, 07:50 AM
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Joncon6, check this website out, maybe some possibilities there:

http://www.1877femtrip.com/vacations.../special_4.htm

I've purchased airline tickets from this company and they have had the best prices I could find.
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Old Feb 25th, 2004, 09:49 AM
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Check out St.John.I have been twice.Both times we stayed at The Estate Lindholm.It is a charming and beautiful place.There is a small frig and microwave plus sink and utensils.There is a bbq grill available on the deck.The view is gorgeous.It is right next to a natural park that has 2 beaches only reached by wallking the trail or by boat.If you stayed here you wouldnt even have to rent a car.You are a close walk to town and beaches.Taxis come by often and could take you to any of the beaches or town for about 3-5 dollars each.The inns off season prices are very affordable.Breakfast is included.There are only 9 rooms so it is very romantic.The owners Lauren and Brion are so helpful with anything you need.They even have beach chairs ,umbrellas, and coolers.We are not the big hotel all inclusive type either.This place is like a little secret.Check out the website at www.estatelindholm.com .It is even better than it looks.
Good luck ! P.S. I see low rates to st.john often. just keep checking online.Your budget is doable.
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