First of all I'm really happy that I've discovered these forums. There are so many helpful and nice people here.

We’re getting married in November and planning to go to Caribbean for our honeymoon mid November for 7-10 days. I’ve been doing a lot of reading (mostly here) for 2 weeks and narrowed down our choices. But let me first list what we are looking for:

1) Good weather (warm weather, no rain)
2) Romantic getaway (doesn't have to a be private island but we prefer a good honeymoon spot, not like a family resort)
3) Comfort, luxury (Luxury is not a must if the resort has something special to offer)
4) Great beach/water and snorkeling options (I’m into diving and my fiancée enjoys snorkeling a lot)
5) Up to a 500$ daily rate

Here is what I’ve found so far:

1) St. John (Caneel Bay Hotel)
It seems like St. John has nice beaches and great sonerkeling options. Since it’s close to St. Thomas, shopping is good as well. And of course Caneel Bay looks great.

2) St. Lucia (haven’t found a resort yet)
St. Lucia seems to be a lush island and the most romantic place to me. But beach/water doesn’t seem to be as good as other locations.

3) Turks & Caicos (Palms or Somerset)
Water looks best, but not the island itself. It seemed too flat to me and according to the reviews I’ve read, there is not much to do there other than swimming.

4) Aruba (Bucuti Beach Resort)
Aruba’s nice weather is appealing and Bucutti seems to have a nice and big beach. And it’s very affordable compared to my other options.

5) Jamaica (Couples Swept Away, Negril)
A very colorful island with culture & spirit. I've read many good reviews about this resort. But according to the pictures I’ve seen, CSA doesn’t seem to be luxurious despite its not low rates.

Right now I’m leaning towards St. John and St. Lucia. If the transportation between two were easy, I could split our honeymoon and stay on both.

What do you think of these resorts and islands? Which one do you recommend? I’m also open to new islands or resorts. And a combination of islands would be great (if travelling is easy).

Thanks a lot

norad,
Caneel Bay Resort on St John is nice.We snorkeled there and loved the beaches on this property.It is also close to Cruz Bay.

Christie

Thanks christiegr.

any other comments/recommendations?

Not to make your list any longer, but have you thought about Grand Cayman? There is a brand new Ritz Carlton there and the island is known for diving and snorkeling. (We are going next summer.)
Of the group you mentioned, I think Caneel Bay would be a great honeymoon spot.
St. Lucia is very lush and so I would think that it gets more rain than some of the other islands mentioned.
I have been to Aruba and the Bucuti is supposed to be nice. We stayed on Palm Beach at the Marriott. Aruba was fun and the sand is white and the water is that aqua color. The restaurants are excellent and there is some nightlife. But it is a very arid island. The resorts are lush, but the island itself is desert-like. That was okay with me because we had 5 minutes of rain one day the 7 days we were there. Very hot and take lots of sunscreen.
Good luck in your decision making.

Please remember that Nov. is still hurricane season so rain could be a problem anywhere- the ABCs (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao) are known to be least likely to get hit - but get insurance no matter where you book.

Hard to go wrong with Caneel if you can do it within your budget. Similarly, you can look into some of the Virgin Gorda/BVI resorts - Little Dix, Biras Creek, Peter Island, Guana Island. scubamom.com has a great description/comparison of each of these resorts.

In St. Lucia would suggest you look at Anse Chastanet - espececially good as a diver and good snorkeling as well, though not as good at St. John. We got a good dive package deal here last December through PADI travel. The beach is not white sand, but the island is very lush and scenic. Ti Kay Village is another place to check out - does have snorkeling, but less of a focus on diving.

Congratulations and good luck.

Well, you've done your research, sure enough. Too bad there's no guarantee for no rain on any of the islands you're considering, but considering averages, you'll be better off statistically on Aruba or Provo. However, you seem a little reluctant to choose one of those two islands, based on your post.

I understand that you want to choose an atmosphere that is romantic but truthfully, since you'll be on your honeymoon, you'll be creating a romantic aura around yourselves wherever you go!

I agree that Caneel Bay seems to offer most of what you're looking for in one location of the places you're considering.

However, I would urge you to consider two other spots in the British Virgin Islands, which another poster has already mentioned: Guana Island, which is a private island resort north of Tortola, and Biras Creek, a very secluded and romantic resort on Virgin Gorda. Both are more expensive than the $500/day mark, but they also include all meals. Guana may in fact also cover all beverages these days, which they didn't when I honeymooned there in 2003. But the point is that with the value of the meals thrown in, those two places will very likely come in at around the same prices as the other places you're looking at.

Biras doesn't have the variety of beaches or the off shore snorkeling that Caneel has, but it does offer a more intimate setting, better food, and Boston whalers for going out on your own to explore the wonderful snorkeling and beaches all through the North Sound.

Guana offers fantastic hiking all over the island (it's really more of a nature preserve), good snorkeling off the main beach, and other secluded snorkeling spots that you can only get to by boat or by hiking. The food here is good but simply prepared, but you can count on its being completely fresh--they grow their own produce, bake their own breads, and use the fresh catch of the day in their meals. You can also get a very romantic castaway picnic here--get dropped off elsewhere on the island with chairs, umbrellas, a large basket of food, and just tell them when to pick you up. (You could probably do a version of this at any resort you're considering, but at Guana it only cost $30, at least back in 2003.)

Anyway, you're on the right track with the places you're considering. And just remember--any place you don't do for your honeymoon would be perfect for a special anniversary!

beliuve it or not i agree with christie...i second caneel bay....

also
check out the wedding packages that i read about on line...they are located at a resort called gallows Point in cruz bay on st john.....

i spoke with a very happy couple and family when i was in cruz bay a month ago who had a great sunset ceremony and then had dinner at stone terrace restaurant (where i was)

st john is great....lets hope the island gets over its past serious crime problems the past 17 months...it should...