Hi Dreamizon! I believe that with both TNT Vacations (www.tntvacations.com) and GWV Travel (www.gwvtravel.com) you can book direct, no need to get an agent involved. I would reiterate what many people have already posted that you can do a trip to the Caribbean for the amount you want to spend, especially during the summer!!! Our first trip to the Caribbean, oh so many moons ago, was done on an extremely limited budget. So limited that I would be embarassed to post it! Anyway, where there is a will, there's a way. Don't give up!!!!

dreamizon,
I'll second the recommendation for the Jamaica Inn. We spent our honeymoon there 7 years ago and returned in December of last year. It's quiet and tranquil and the verandahs are great for just reading/relaxing. They have snorkeling equipment, kayaks, and a sunfish available for guests. There's no motorized watersports or any kind of 'organized activity'. You can have your meals served on the dining terrace, on your own verandah, or for lunch, on the beach. The past 2 years they've run a 2 free night special for every 7 in the off season.

I think you mentioned that you were also looking into Belize which is a great, inexpensive destination. In addition to Ambergris Caye, you may want to consider Placencia.

Go to www.applevacations.com, click on SIZZLING SPECIALS, click on Columbus, also try Cincinnati. Apple runs charter service from both. That will give you an idea. Then call your Travel Agent, you have to book through a Travel Agent and get her/him to help you make the right choice. Also, go to www.debbiescaribbeanresortreview.com for additional help. Good Luck. $3500 is absolutely no problem. We have been to many places that fit your description and have not paid anywhere near $3500. Best Wishes on your coming marriage.

Me and my boyfriend booked a trip to Puerto Plata Dominican Republic for 7 nites at an all inclusive beachfront resort for $580pp.airfare included through expedia.

If you want cheap Caribean, Dominican Rep. is the way to go. And most of the resorts are all inclusive and are beachfront.

I hear the beaches in Punta Cana, are much nicer and aren't much more expensive. You might want to think about that. I think $3,500 is an excellent budget. It probably won't do for the more expensive places like Paradise Island, St. Lucia or Aruba... but it should be more than enough for a 5 star resort in Dominican Republic!

If you want to get a real "bang for your buck" drive up to Toronto (approx 6 hours) then fly down to Cuba. There are some wonderful deals available and best of all for you is that they are priced in Canadian dollars so your US dollars will go much farther.
You can get a summer deal on a top AI resort, airfare included for $1200 Canadian (one week) which would work out to not much more than $800 US for you.
Suggestions include
Melia Club Sol Cayo Largo (simply wondeful 4.5 star resort on quiet offshore island (south coast)
Cayo Coco
Varadero
You can get lots of info on the web, and if you want to book, take the 2.5 hour drive up to Windsor and check it all out with a Canadian travel agent.
Have fun and congratulations.
Steve

dreamizon, in case you still are looking, I have topped a post titled "Peach and Quiet", a very affordable, low key, on the ocean, (they have a honeymoon room called "Passion&quot simple but charming inn with a great history. It might fit the bill.

One very nice and very reasonably priced hotel in Anguilla is the Rendezvous Bay Beach Hotel. Right on a beautiful almost deserted beach, and very quiet, with excellent food! Could be worth looking into - but of course I have no idea what the cost would be for you if airfare is included.

Carola22, how long has it been since you stayed at the Rendevous Bay Beach Hotel? I have been considering going there next year (Don't want to spring for the Cap Jaluca just yet....)

Tiramisu and dreamizon; the Antigua Bound Website is:
http://groups.msn.com/AntiguaBound/

They have lots of information on Pineapple Beach Resort, but also other Antiguan hotels as well such as Blue Waters,Coco Bay and Jolly Beach.

The photos on the site are amazing!

To babyblue - We checked out this hotel very recently, just got back from Anguilla two weeks ago. We did not actually stay at this hotel yet, but are planning to do so next summer. We have been on Anguilla twice now and stayed at Frangipani. This is also a very nice hotel, but more expensive. While on Anguilla in late July we checked out other hotels as well. And we really liked Rendezvous. The manager gave us a tour of the rooms and told us they had been recently refurbished. You should realize, though, that this is not a luxury hotel. The rooms are basic but spacious and clean. But they do not have television, for instance. There is a games room, though, which does have television. And the best thing is that these rooms, the so-called villa rooms, are on a beautiful beach - you can step right from your room on to the sand. They have large balconies or patios. There is also the 'original' hotel which is cheaper but I wouldn't recommend that; it's apparently rather noisy, the rooms are older and further from the beach. Hope this helps!

Thanks Carola22. I really do not mind the "non-luxury" accomodations, my most important concern is the beach and proximity to dining. A clean, safe room is all I need.

I hear that the manager at this hotel is really great...

I just read about The Royal Hideaway in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, on another post here in Fodors. It is an all-inclusive. The beaches on the Mexican Riviera are some of the most beautiful you will ever see (although I wouldn't recommend Cancun for a honeymoon) but Playa del Carmen is a good choice. Check out their website at http://www.royalhideaway.com. I was just looking at it and it is gorgeous! Just right for a romantic honeymoom and I understand the staff treats the guests wonderfully. Best of luck.

To babyblue again: Yes the manager, Bart, is excellent, very committed and alert; we've met him twice now and had some nice talks and he's one of the reasons we've decided to give this hotel a try! (BTW the restaurant is also very good.)

My God for that price you can live large. No sweat. Plenty of choices.

We fly from Columbus also but this winter we may try Detroit...3 hours away and no need to change planes as these are charters/direct flights:

www.vacationhotline.com - flights may stop in summer though, check. They do fly all winter and I believe you can book a hotel package too, though we prefer to pick our own accomodations and just use the air.

We go to Jamaica most times, Negril or Treasure Beach or the east coast, but they fly elsewhere also.

This reply is for Mec, I was at the Royal Hideaway last October and it was absolutely beautiful. If you have any question I would be happy to answer them for you! Susan

Here's a hidden gem on the pricey gold coast of Barbados. The deal is that beachfront apartments and cottages serving researchers at McGill University's Bellairs Institute will be rented out to tourists. Great area and the price is right. Have a look at:

http://www.divefree.net/species/bellairs.htm

Susan: I'm looking at the Royal Hideway for a trip in December. Do you happen to know about the "nearby golf?" I'm wondering how close it is to the hotel and how much a round costs. Thanks!

Try Secret Harbour resort on St. Thomas, VI.
We just came from a 4-night package there (Expedia.com, hotel (oceanfront) + airfare + cancel insurance = $1500 for two) that sounds like it would be in your budget, especially since summer is low season for the VI.
Absolutely wonderful secluded cove location and beautifully flowered and treed grounds. Gentle lagoon for local snorkeling, or the onsite dive store will do boating expeditions. Book oceanfront room instead of the oceanview.
Onsite restaurant is one of the best on the island. Budget $60 p/p per day if you are eating exclusively at the hotel. Or, since rooms have stove/refrig, save a bit by buying breakfast/lunch fixings at the local supermarket (Red Hook landing over the next hill, $8 p/p taxi roundtrip). Hurricane season for them begins late August, though we went last week and had only 1 rainy day (which we spent snorkeling).
Excursions: Ecotours does a friendly kayak/snorkel expedition in quiet inland salt lake for $50 p/p.
Ferry to St. John ($3 p/p each way) is good for a day trip. Rent a jeep there to explore this lovely island with one pristine secluded beach after another. We did so and were happy we didn't use the taxi tours for this purpose.
Trips to downtown Charlotte Amilie are $18 p/p each way, so an expensive add-on to a restaurant excursion there.
Roads are thin and winding up-and-down-hill with no sidewalks and therefore not for walking or biking. Folks drive on the left there.

To LS: I found this website link that offers more info on the golf course. I remember passing by it on the way to townand it was maybe 2 or 3 min. from the Royal Hideaway. Here is the link: http://www.golfinmexico.com/playacar.htm hopefully this helps! -Susan