I need help choosing between going to Moorea & Bora Bora or the Carribean for my honeymoon in April 2004. Our budget is around $6,000 - so do we go to an all inclusive resort in the Caribbean OR go to FP and be more conservative with our spending -- I heard it was very expensive there? It's our honeymoon so we want to: relax, have fun together, see beautiful beaches.. you know the normal honeymoon stuff. Please let me know which you recommend...and if it's the Carribbean, let me know which resort is the best!

We just saw "Whale Rider" last night which is a movie that was filmed in New Zealand--the scenery was gorgeous, so my pick would be a romantic honeymoon anywhere in the South Pacific!
Otherwise, closer to the U.S. I would recommend the Eden Rock Hotel in St. Barts but it certainly is not inexpensive.

FP pros are: much more exotic and beautiful than anything in the Caribbean, very low density tourism, very unique accommodation options with the overwater bungalows which you won't find in the Caribbean or Hawaii, peaceful, romantic, unbeatable snorkelling with warm/quiet water in lagoons and great marine life.
FP cons are: travel time (another 4 -5 hours past Hawaii), limited variety of food, food generally more expensive than Caribbean, very quiet (no nightlife in Bora Bora, don't bother with Tahiti), not much retail outside Papeete.

All inclusives in the Caribbean can be pretty soulless IMO, and the proponents of AI's tout the simplicity, no worries, no cash set up. All very true.
With the resorts on Bora Bora you can also get meal inclusive plans, but the bonus is that you have a truly exotic setting without many other people around. Bora Bora is very different from Hawaii and the Caribbean, in large part due to geographic issues. The towering green volcano with protected lagoons and abundant marine life isn't found anywhere in the Caribe or HI. The Caribbean is an all-purpose destination with something for most everyone's taste. Bora Bora is tailor made for honeymoons. If you can find a package that fits your budget, I'd go that direction.

Where are you flying from and how long do you intend to stay. You will lose 3-4 days in travel time.

An over water bungalow will cost you 65000 XFP converted in USD = approx $630.00 per night. If you're going to fly literally half way around the world, you have to stay in an over the water bungalow, since there is no other accommodations like that anywhere! It would be like going to France and not seeing the Eiffel Tower. Airfare is also time consuming considering that even if you live in Australia, it's a long flight. I would take into consideration how much time you have for your honeymoon. I think you have to be realistic here $6000.00 isn't going to get you to Bora Bora. Airfare will cost at least $3000.00.

The best places for a caribbean honeymoon, IMHO would be St. Barths, Anguilla or Peter Island (BVI). There are not All inclusives on St. Barths or Anguilla, Peter island is an upscale "all iclusive". I do not recommend going the Sandals route as you can get so much more for your money and have a great caribbean experience. Do a little research as to what may interest you. Bora Bora looks beautiful, but you will need to expand your budget.

We go to the Caribbean every year, but we spent our honeymoon in Bora Bora and Moorea. These islands were the most romantic islands we have ever visited and while the food is expensive and limited and the flight is long it is definitely worth it and it really doesn't matter......you are truly in paradise. I agree with travelis. Find a package that fits your budget and go! Congratulations.

Sorry I read you budget as $9,000 not $6,000. SandyFeet is absolutely right. You really can't do it on $6,000. If you can, take her suggestion and try to expand your budget, if not I concur with Anguilla or St. Barts. Have never been to Peter Island, but heard it is wonderful. Also, have heard that St. John is wonderful for a honeymoon. Good Luck!

I'm not so sure about the 6 thousand budget - I'd check because I think it can be done. While overwater is nice, it's not the only way to go. We've been 3 times to Moorea and have always stayed in garden bungalows and never felt like we missed a thing. We'd sit on our porch and look at the water which was quite close. Being over the water, while I'm sure it's fantastic, isn't worth lots of extra money to me. Just my opinion. We had a great time. Check out package deals. By the way - it's a 7 or 7 and 1/2 hour flight from Los Angeles.

I really think you should strongly consider Fiji. It is very beautiful, the people are exceptionally friendly and the dolloar is strong. In 2001 we were there and dinner in town for 3 was $50.00. And these were very nice places. Food is outrageous in FP. Breakfast can be $30.00 pp and there are stories all over about the $20.00 hamburger. If it must be FP then consider Club Med because of the food.

A good way to do cheaper meals - we'd stop at the grocery or road side stand and buy fresh pineapple and croissants or french bread. That made a wonderful =and relatively cheap - breakfast. Club Med on Moorea is no more. There is one, however, on Bora Bora.

Dee2
Its a 9 hour flight (Air new Zealand)or 8 1/2 hrs (quantas) from LAX. It also costs $2000.00 r/t from LAX for this leg of the trip. Since we don't know where they are flying from $2000.00 is already one third of their budget, and they still have to get to LA and pay for hotel/food etc...

ChelJosh
The other option for you for Bora Bora is a cruise on the Radisson Paul Gauguin. It will fit your budget and it includes everything - air fare will be lower due to a cruise booking. There are often specials which include upgrades to business class too! It is a beautiful very high rated cruise and many find this a very affordable option for an unforgettable honeymoon.

check it out: www.rscc.com

Be sure to check out Costco travel for air/hotel packages. Summer/ fall rates for 7 nights R/T air from LA and hotel to Fiji begin at $1589.00 and for FP (Moorea) at $1679.00.

We did Club Med on Bora Bora for $2400 each for 9 nights - ocean front including air for LAX. It was wonderful. Don't book directly with Club Med though, there are travel agents that will give you a 10-12% discount on Club Med because they give you back part of their commission. Bora Bora was absolutely fantastic. Extrememly laid back & exotic. A good resource for Tahiti is www.tahiti-explorer.com

On Jamaica, I've checked with allinclusive.com and they have some great rates on Couples Swept Away beach front including air that may fit into your budget. I've read only great reviews on Couples resorts.

Good Luck!

I ditto the sentiment expressed by others that if you are traveling from the US, your 6 grand will buy a lot more in the Caribbean than in the So. Pacific. Having said that, who hasn't dreamt of sleeping in a hamock next to one of those beautiful Bora Bora atolls? I sure have and I haven't been able to make that dream 'happen'.

If you go the Bora Bora route, check out travel consolidators, such as www.tahitivacation.com
www.islandsinthesun.com

They have specials of $999 per person including airfare and 5 nights in Bora Bora. That sure beats paying the 2 grand for airfare alone! Good luck and let us know what you do.

The Shangri-La Hotels include a beautiful resort in Fiji--Shangri-La.com, click on "Fiji". The rates are quite good with companies such as General Tours. I really don't know about the weather in April--it may be on the fringe of the rainy season.

I believe you can HM in FP in style (incl O/W bungalows) for $6,000 or less. Travelzoo and tahiti-explorer posted an incredible deal of 5 nights in Bora Bora at the Le Maitai including R/T air from LAX for only $999 per person!!!

A NY cousin hm'd there last year and got a special deal on the Windstar cruise.

In addition to the excellent advice from the above posters, check out the deals from air tahiti-nui (generally the most affordable air carrier) as well as pleasant holidays and the other consolidators (eg islands in the sun). And definitely check out tahiti-explorer.com!

You can't get the turquoise lagoons anywhere else (except maybe Aitutaki in the Cooks).

Personally I'd do the Caribbean (Jamaica is our favorite) for 2-3 weeks insead of a week in the SP. But not an all-inclusive, I'd probably do a villa (with cook) and/or small hotel (try different restaurants).

Blue Lagoon (yeah, where they made the movie) on the northeast coast of Jamaica in Portland has beautiful villas built on the water with sundecks and such way out over it.

Sandyfeet - I meant for them to look at air-hotel packages. Those are usually much cheaper than buying air and hotel as separtes.

Before we get ChelJosh's hopes up they should know that there are restrictions on some of these deals. For Example, the $999 from Travel Zoo does not include taxes or government fees,the trip must be booked and paid in full by October 8 and it is for travel between Nov 1 - Dec 4, 2003, and Jan 1 - March 25, 2004, There honeymoon is April.

I suggest finding a travel agent. Our TA found us a great package through Islands in the Sun. BTW, our flight from LA was 8 hours!

I went to Bora Bora, Moorea and Tahiti for my honeymoon. I thought the islands were beautiful but the accomodations and food were just too expensive! I later found an upscale cruise line that has small ships that go to the islands and stay at each island for more than one day. It would have been less to book a balcony room on this ship and would have seen more islands and would have been half the cost! You can't do the South Pacific and stay at a decent place for $6000. If you are on the west coast it will be more conveinient to just go to Hawaii. If you are on the East coast - caribbean will be easier.