My fiancee and I are beginning to plan for our honeymoon. We are both 27 years old. We wanted to choose a destination where we can enjoy each other rather than "sites" so to speak. We decided on Jamaica because the main attraction is the beach. Perfect for relaxation, romance, beautiful beaches and experiences. I have read some threads that had comparisons of Couples vs Couples Swept Away vs Sandals vs Anti AI. These threads were definetly helpful.

We are getting married the 12th of July and plan to stay about 7 days. I am torn between Negril and Whitehouse. I love that Negril offers variety. It seems you can get a good sense of Jamaican culture because of the proximity of shops and dinning etc. Though the 7 mile beach sounds appealing I am worried that we wont have the privacy we are looking for.

The Whitehouse looks very beautiful from photos I have seen. I like that it is "isolated" because we might have more privacy due to the distance of it all. Though, I read that it is not very Jamaican. Are there places to see around Whitehouse(Sandals I guess)?

I guess I am looking for a little more direction from someone who has been. I want the trip to be memorable and romantic. Any ideas?

Negril is Negril, a chain resort/hotel town with one gorgeous beach. But it has little to do these days with the reality of Jamaica, other than where Jamaica goes to party. Accept that it's tourist to the max and then find privacy by booking into The Caves in the West End for arguably the top choice for a honeymoon. Pricey but not a chain like the others.
A decidedly memorable for what a honeymoon escape should be. Whitehouse is #2 on Sandals property roster on island, behind
Royal Plantation. It is a destination in itself -- a strange little patische of quasi European-styled buildings on also a great beach all its own; it's out in the country, which means you have far more opportunity to see more of island when you tire of the beach. But you can't walk to anywhere, mind you, whereas in Negril there are taximen everywhere. Sandals offers tour guides:contact Carolyn Barrett at www.barrettadventures.com for better prices, more personalized services. Within 45 min: birding hikes, mountain hikes, YS Falls, Appleton Rum plantation,Black River cruising, Pelican Bar, Peter Tosh Mausoleum, Scott's Cove, Middle Quarters, Bamboo Avenue.

Although I've never been to 7MB in July, I cant help but think it would be fairly quiet and possibly just the combination you're looking for.(beautiful beach & some privacy) At least you would have the opportunity go mix with some others whereas if you choose a more remote property and they are only 1/4 full in July, it might be more private than even you desire. Just a thought.

I agree with Michael. We tend to travel to Negril in the summer months and it is very quiet...just like we want it. I would recommend Negril without hesitation....but I have not traveled to Whitehouse. There would be plenty for you to do or not to do in Negril!

We have been to both Sandals Negril(3x)and Whitehouse once. Loved them both,but my vote would be Negril its our favorite.

Have not been to Whitehouse yet but we enjoy Negril, especially Couples Swept Away, quite romantic and special (and better than Sandals IME).

You will find a lot of people who have been to both resorts and can compare the for you at http://chris-n-cheryl.com/v-web/bulletin/bb/

Thank you all for your comments, I apologize for not getting back sooner. The fiancee has me working on a few "honey-do's." We decided to go with Sandals Whitehouse, though I was pushing for Tivertonhouse's recommendation on The Caves. My fiancee who is 5'1'' twisted my arm even though I out weigh her by 100lbs and stand at 6'3''. I know that the SWH is on the country side, but can I find things to see and do? Some excursions of some sort? Everyone on this thread thank you for the ideas, I took them into serious consideration.

Lots to do within about an hour's
radius. The tour desk at Sandals or
the private touring company Barrett
Adventures (www.barrettadventures.com) are your
starting points. A shortlist:

1) Fri/Sat open-air market at
Whitehouse and simple harborside
fish lunch at the rustic Jimmy'z

2) Pelican Bar/Black River and
Sister's Lou's, Riverside Dock,
The Idler for food.

3) Middle Quarters for peppershrimp,
YS Falls, Howie's 27 pots, Bamboo
Avenue, Apppleton Rum

4) New Market's country market
en route to Maroon Accompong and
Cockpit Country

5) Peter Tosh Mausoleum, hiking/
birding in Belmont with WOLDE
KRISTOS/Reliable Adventures

6) The Blue Hole Garden/Roaring
River Caves and Mayfields Falls
in Dolphin Mountains

Thanks for the additional info Tivertonhouse. I was looking at some of the pictures of the Pelican Bar. The best word I can use to describe my reaction, "cool." I have seen pictures of YS Falls, Black River and they seem to be interesting. I will look into the other recommendations you made and see what works. I am truly grateful for your help and appreciate your time.

More diversions in the area:

. Get a couples massage in an oceanside thatch pavilion with Lisa
Malmstadt in Whitehouse. US certified/licensed -- at prices considerably less than Sandals' spa.
Contact [email protected] for her
'spa menu' and photos.

. Go dolphin watching in the waters
from Treasure Beach to Parrottee Point, off which you'll find Pelican Bar, indeed ' the coolest
bar' around.

. Ask The Mighty Beestones, a local country mento band that plays at
Sandals Whitehouse, to play a particular song for you and your fiancee. Mento is the precursor of
ska/reggae and is a little more R&B.Lisa can get you intro to Errol, the band manager.

. Check out Mr.and Mrs.Chambers wholesale basket/rattan/straw shop just outside Black River (look for a basket hung at end of pole roadside -- the 'ad' that says they're open -- in front of a simple
ranch house that sits back from roadside. Also in area is a community of potters at Brompton, but their work is too big to lug
back on the plane (Spanish 17th cen.style primitive oxidation kiln fired urns).

I was in Negril last summer and preferred the west end far over the beach area. We honeymooned at Tensing Pen and the resort was wonderful, we were actually married there….Gorgeous! The Rockhouse was also lovely, we ate there quite often. The Caves was beautiful too. Those are my tops for Negril. We took a few excursions that led us out to the country and I will say it’s a bit away from the "action" center so to speak, but I preferred the beach there for its privacy, though in June Seven mile was quiet, but WE were sort of hassled a bit to buy things because it was slow. We did YS and Mayfield, and I have to say we had the pleasure of touring Mayfield all by ourselves with our guide. It was ridiculously romantic with just us. I loved it so much. YS was cool too, but it is a man-made fall, Mayfield is just natural. We actually met a few of the locals that live near Mayfield and use the river adjacent to it to bathe and filter water for their homes. So I guess to me Mayfield was just more special.

Make sure to end one of your days by experiencing an absolutely exquisite sunset out at Rick's Cafe.

"Go dolphin watching in the waters
from Treasure Beach to Parrottee Point, off which you'll find Pelican Bar"

Seconded. Done it twice, my favorite trip. I liked going up Black River in that same boat for an all-day thing but just the dolphins and a drink/snack/meal at Pelican is great too.

YS Falls, like Mayfields, is a natural, not man-made waterfalls.
YS is a series of 8 stepped falls and mountain pools with a canopy tour and a tubing downstream operation. In recent years, it's been modernized and tourist-facilitied quite a bit. But if you
go early morning before 10 you may have the place all to yourselves.
Mayfields Falls, in the Dolphin Head Mountains in Hanover is more a series of gentle stream falls reached by some Indiana Jones style rope bridges. Recently, there's been scuttlebutt in area over claims to falls by locals and a new owner of some land, an irascible white American best-avoided.

True YS is natural but as tiv says, more developed. There is an artificial (man made, whatever) swimming pool that fills with river water and has small pebbles for a bottom, but that's not right at the falls.

There are also steps and paths along YS's steeper falls.

All of you have put a smile on my face. Its wonderful to know that individuals like yourselves exist.

I have a few "generic" questions to ask. Are their foods I need to try? Certain drinks, dishes, etc. How are the people? Crime, so to speak. Do you need certain vaccinations? Are there some unwriiten laws of things not to say or do that might seem disrespectful?

I just want to respect Jamaican culture and tradition. I thought it would be good to ask, just in case.

Insight, Lonely Planet and Rough Guides to Jamaica, tho each with a different perspective/bias, should go on your reading/take to island
book list.

Try the grouper fish that are caught daily by the fishermen. Few other cuisines anywhere have such a wonderful mix of spices and tastes - sweet and hot. My personal favorites are the coconut cake, rum punch & and the jerk. Eating in Jamaica is a soul-satisfying experience. The locals are good, unforgettable people. Just like any vacation, you need to remember you are not at home any longer and use your head. No vaccinations needed.

For what it's worth, the last time I was to YS Falls (in June) I found very little there worth the time spent getting there. So so atmosphere, less than friendly locals (very unusual)and overall the place was not kept up anwhere like it use to be. IMHO.