Hi everyone,
I've never been to the Caribbean, and know little about it. But my fiance and I only have one week for a honeymoon in August, we're getting married on the east coast (of the US) and don't want to spend tons of time traveling, she wants to go somewhere "outside the US", and she wants "tropical". That sounds like the Caribbean to me.

We'd like to go somewhere other than Jamaica, St. Thomas, St. John and the Bahamas because she's already been to them.

What we want: Very nice and comfortable accomodations--I want her to be pampered. Great beaches and a pool. Great food (I want to eat very well). Some water activities. And maybe some opportunities to explore a bit during the day and to dine outside the hotel in the evening.

We don't really care about nightlife. I'm not a big fan of all-inclusive places, though I'll certainly listen to good suggestions. I really don't want a place that's overwhelmingly crowded and touristy. Money is unfortunately a little bit of an object (I can't drop $1000 a day), but I'm willing to spend what I need to spend to make this the greatest trip of her life. I guess I want it to be kind of a special place. Let me know what anyone thinks, and MANY thanks for the suggestions.

Talk to a travel agent in your area, they would have access to information and honeymoon packages. That's the best way to find out what kind of options you have for your honeymoon especially if you don't know alot about the carribean.

I can recommend a couple of places that have honeymoon packages www.romorabay.com and www.cocodimama.com These are on 2 family islands in the Bahamas, and have beautiful beaches, a bit of shopping and nite life, but mainly alot of relaxation.

A travel agent will be able to give you lots of ideas and have brochures of the islands, with lots of pictures so you have a better idea of what is available.

Have a great time.

I've wanted to avoid travel agents, but may have to talk with a couple and see what they say. I want this honeymoon to be relaxing, but also fun. And I guess I'm also hoping to do something kind of unique (at least for us). And while I'm not trying specifically to keep up with the Joneses, one of my brothers honeymooned for two weeks across the Greek Islands, and the other did an amazing week on St. John in a cottage overlooking the sea. And her sister honeymooned last year in Belize for two weeks and had just the greatest adventure. I really want something equally special. And by that, I don't mean I necessarily want it to be the same. In fact, that's part of the point. I don't want it to be the same as theirs. I want special, but different. If only I had two weeks.

Have you thought about Nevis. There is a wonderful Four Seasons resort there. Its off season so prices would be less. Plus there are lots of restuarants you can go to at night. There is also Nisbet Plantation which is a great property. Or look at rosewood hotels, they are mostly in the Caribbean and very upscale. Any would be a great choice!

I'll definitely look into Nevis. What does anyone know about St. Barts. I just talked with a friend who actually called me from St. Barts--he spends a lot of time down there. He raved about it, and said it was one of his favorite places in the world. But he's also really rich, and I'm REALLY not. Somehow when I hear St. Barts, I kind of automatically tune out because I just assume nobody goes there unless they're loaded. But am I being hasty? Is it worth considering? Could I do a week in St. Barts for $4000 and still have fun, or would we feel like we were watching our pennies everywhere we went?

You can do St Barths for less than $4000 for sure. Actually I am headed back there for Thanksgiving. In St Barths I would suggest renting a villa. You MUST rent a car there as there are not really taxis. Island is small so its really easy to get around on your own. Look at www.sbhonline.com

The forums there are GREAT and you can ask about specific villas, there is someone who will be able to answer any questions you would have.

You can rent a 1 bedroom cottage for about $1000-$1500 for a week. or of course stay at a hotel, they are all small. If you are interested in a villa - look at www.wimco.com the website I just mentioned does have some villas for rent by owner.

I think one of the hotels guanahani is doing a special 1 euro = 1 dollar for the summer.

By the way , a lot of people who love St Barths love Nevis once they go - Nevis would be less expensive. Let me know if you want more info about either!

Well, first of all, congrats on the honeymoon & wedding. Secondly, I'm a little surprised that nobody has mentioned hurricane season to you. If you've never traveled to the Caribbean, you might not be aware that August-October is the height of the hurricane season with September being the peak. Some islands are more likely to get than others, and chances are very good that a huricane will NOT strike any given island at any given time. But you need to at least be aware of the possibility of a ruined and/or curtailed vacation due to weather--just check out various trip insurance policies before you go. Conventional wisdom has it that the farther south you go, the less likely you are to experience a hurricane--many people travel to Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Trinidad, Tobago, Grenada, and Barbados for this reason. But last year Grenada was devastated, and I do mean devastated, by a powerful hurricane. So clearly there's no fool-proof location, but if you're comfortable with pretty good odds, you can still have a wonderful honeymoon in the Caribbean in August.

You may not also know that the islands considered to have the "best" beaches (Aruba, Anguilla, Grand Cayman, etc) tend to be arid, scrubby and flat in the interior. Islands with lush, mountainous interiors tend to have smaller, cove-like beaches with darker sand. Some islands, like the Virgin Islands for example, offer nearly the best of both worlds. But most places tend to fall to one side or the other.

You say you don't want to spend a lot of time traveling, and that you don't want to spend tons of money for "very nice and comfortable accommodations, but these all mean different things to different people. If you can give us more of an idea, along with some specific examples of activities you'd like, we can better give you an idea.

Nevis is a wonderful, lush island with beaches that are beautiful to me, if not the archetypal Caribbean beach. There is much good food to be found there, but not the haute cuisine that, say, Anguilla is famous for. Look into Nisbet if you must be on the beach, or check out Montpelier plantation inn for a bit more elegant atmosphere and stunning mountainside views.

Outside of a hurricane scare, the British Virgin Islands would be perfect for you. You can rent a luxury villa or stay at a resort as a home base and then do several daysails--there's LOTS to explore here, and the islands are beautiful. Biras Creek hotel on Virgin Gorda might be a good choice for a jumping off point

Grenada might take longer to get to, but it offers a handful of truly beautiful tropical beaches combined with a very lush interior--perfect for hiking, mountain biking, or swimming in waterfalls. A handful of restaurants that get consistently rave reviews, but mostly dining places with less glitter that offer a more authentic Caribbean feel to them. From here you can daytrip to the Grenadines, a sailing & snorkeling capital of the region. It's hard to imagine a hotel more romantic than La Luna -- perfect for a honeymoon.

For a safer bet on location, try Curacao for an island where the Dutch heritage is still strong and balanced well with the island's African heritage. A less intimate island than any of the above, it would still offer plenty for an active honeymoon, though I'm not sure about the pampering factor.

Many people believe that Cap Juluca on Anguilla offers the quintessential honeymoon experience--beautiful, serene surroundings, nice accommodations, fabulous restaurants, and a beach to die for.

So, it really depends on what the MOST important factor for you might be. Think about it and give us some more feedback--and have fun planning! DOn't let the rush of information frustrate you.

EJ,
Thanks for the great feedback. You raise some interesting things to consider. Let me provide more feedback on what I'm thinking about.

First, I am extremely aware of the hurricane season and it's only been in the past week or so that I've slowly warmed to even considering the Caribbean. Honestly, it would be very easy at this point to talk me out of it again. Until this week, I've been fairly set on Bermuda. I've only started considering the Caribbean because it would give us many more options to think about, it doesn't sound like the odds are that much worse regarding hurricanes, and almost anywhere in the Caribbean in summer is less expensive than Bermuda in summer. I don't want to dwell too much on the money, but it does matter at least insofar as if I'm going to spend the money, I want to be sure we're getting the best value for the money and going someplace really special--not just a place that's been around forever and has a name, but when you get there you find out that it's overrated and past its prime.

I'll give a bit more detail about what I've envisioned for the trip. I've read that the southernmost islands can be very arid. She grew up in the desert southwest, so she's totally fine with the desert, but I would prefer something more lush. My one experience with the Caribbean was a week in Dominican Republic several years back, and that time of terrain is kind of what I've been thinking of. But I don't know how to compare the Dominican to other spots. Is the Dominican as lush as the lushest of the other Caribbean islands, or is it actually not considered lush in comparison, say, to a place like St. Lucia. I honestly have no idea. I'll talk to her again and see if she has a more pointed preference than she's stated thus far.

For water activities--maybe a little sailing, perhaps some snorkeling, but that would be the extent of it other than swimming, I think. Though there may be options I don't even know about. In terms of exploring, that's more for my benefit. She might be up for a hike or two, but I'm the one who probably wants to do more of that.

Otherwise, what I'm most looking for is a place that will be everything she would want it to be. And she wants a place with a beautiful room to sleep in and preferably one with a view of the ocean. With a pool to take a dip in and with a great beach that we will have easy access to. She loves to sleep and lay out and get sun. She likes jacuzzis. She likes just lying around and reading and relaxing, maybe getting a massage or spa treatment, and just having things be easy. In terms of other activities, she likes to eat out, and likes to shop, and likes to buzz around town and just roam around and see things.

I don't know if that helps. I guess I would imagine a room that is perhaps a suite, with a huge jacuzzi tub, only a quick walk down to the beach, with good food on the premises (or very nearby) but also with access to other local eateries, and a where we can experience at least a little bit of local color. We decidedly do NOT want to be one of a bazillion Americans in whatever location we go to. We do NOT want to be at a place teeming with children. And we do NOT want to be at a place that is even remotely uptight.

Does any of that help? Maybe we should just go to Bermuda, but I've become really intrigued by some of the Caribbean islands, and for whatever reason, I've never had an easy time warming up to Bermuda. It just strikes me (from the things I've read) as being over-priced and stodgy. But maybe I have it wrong.

The trick is. We only have seven days. We don't want to spend a full day on either end flying (which is what her dream destination, Hawaii, would have required). And we don't want to completely break the bank, though I'm willing to spend what I at least consider to be a fair amount. Is it unreasonable to believe I can do a beautiful, romantic week in the Caribbean for under $5000 total (including travel and food expenses)? If it is, let me know. As always, I'm grateful for the feedback. Sorry this message has gotten long.

Hi Don't rule out Bermuda yet! It is a very pretty island. It has a cute town for shopping, easy, inexpensive and safe bus transportation. It is tropical and lush (floral). It has great snorkeling and nice resorts with good food. It is a great honeymoon destination. The nightlife is dull, but than again, that was not a requirement.
If you like nice beaches, Anguilla is known for them. Across the way, would be ST. Martin, shopping, shopping, shopping!
The Virgin Islands-British or American was a great recommendation as it provides nice beaches with tropical and lush backgrounds.
It depends on where you live, on how fast you will get to your destination. I live in Virginia(central), but it takes a half of a day to get to even the Bahamas, because we have to change planes somewhere. So, if you are near a major city on the east coast, than look for the islands with direct flights. Bermuda, Aruba, St.Thomas, Puerto Rico are some that would most likely have a direct.
I have been to Aruba and it is a fun destination. I would love to try the Cayman for a trip, because it sounds like a great snorkel destination. It is still recovering from the hurricane last year, but I am sure it is still a lovely place. Have fun choosing.

There is nothing to stop you from doing St. John in August - except perhaps hurricane season. It is low season so you can get a beautiful villa very reasonably. The drawback is that they don't come with cooks so you'll have to eat out a lot and few cottages have great beach access although you can have your own private pool and hot tub. You can arrange to have a couple of romantic meals prepared in your villa and you can have it stocked with essentials prior to your stay.

Look at www.nisbetplantation.com and www.capjuluca.com - I think both of those would have exactly what you are looking for. The beaches on Anguilla are pretier, but Nevis is a much pretier island - very lush - Anguilla as an island is not much to look at. Nevis as a whole has more going for it.

okay. don't fret--you can easily do a fabulous and unforgettable honeymoon in August in the Caribbean for the kind of budget you have in mind. Check out the following places, and I'll try to list one or two things each hotel or island excels in.

Anguilla--gorgeous beaches, all over the island. easy to navigate for your own exploration. Good fine and casual dining all over the island. Check out the rooms at Cap Juluca for luxury. Check out the Jr. suites at Cuisinart for more spacious accommodations with a nice pool.

Nevis--more old style Caribbean, lush, small, easy to get around for your own exploring. Fantastic people. Best places are converteed plantation inns. Check out Nisbet for being on the beach, check out Montpelier for better views and atmosphere. Four Seasons very likely too stuffy for what you're looking for.

St. Lucia--gorgeous island with the iconic Piton mountains on southern end. Good snorkeling here. Difficult to drive around on your own, especially if you've never driven left side before. More of an old Caribbean feel. Check out Jalousie for more of a resort feel--great snorkeling, nice but small beach, spacious villa-style rooms with private plunge pool, spa on site, etc. Currently it's a Hilton but I've read it's been bought out by someone else.
Also check out Anse Chastenet, Ti Kaye Village, and Ladera on St. Lucia for various combinations of ameneties. You can also take a day trip to the Grenadines from here for great snorkeling and sailing.

Grenada--similar to St. Lucia in many ways. Check out La Luna here for a VERy romantic place to stay. Biggest drawback is travel time. If flying American Airlines, arrival time on island is 7-8pm or so. Not sure if flying other airlines. Great island for daytrips to the Grenadines for good sailing & snorkeling.

Barbados is an island with an overall more upscale feeling than most others. The west coast offers wonderful beaches and some upscale places. Sandy Lane is at the top of the charts for all-out luxury and prestige. Also check out Coral Reef Club here.

I believe with your budget that Jumby Bay, a private island off the coast of Antigua, could fit the bill--it might be just a shade over your budget. A very nice AI with great food & accommodations and you'd have the whole island of Antigua to explore by day if you wish.

Check out Little Dix Bay or Biras Creek on Virgin Gorda in the BVI. Both are gorgeous properties. Also look at Caneel Bay on St. John in the USVI. Great islands for daysails and snorkeling.

Check out the auctions on luxurylink.com -- even if you don't want to bid on a package, it's a great one-stop site for checking out and comparing various upscale places in the region.

You'll probably want to avoid Aruba, Sint Maarten and Grand Cayman as being a little too developed and/or commercialized. St. Barts is known for its sophistication, but in my husband's experience the island goes a little dead August-November. (Never been there myself.)

Lots of folks love Bermuda. I've never been there and for whatever reason I'm not keen on planning a trip there anytime soon. Bonaire and Curacao probably don't offer enough of what you're looking for. Neither would Saba, Statia, or Dominica. Can't say about the Domincan Republic, as I've neither been there nor read much about it. St. Kitts is similar to Nevis in that it's more lush and mountainous and has several plantation inns--lovely people, poor snorkeling, not a lot in the way of nightlife or shopping.

Unless one resort stands out head and shoulders above the rest, pick the island that most appeals to you for the most reasons. Then pick a place on the island. Then sit back, relax, and let the rum punches flow!

One more thought...a place that looks really appealing to me is Firefly on Mustique in the Grenadines. Small island, small inn with really personalized service, and the use of a golf cart in the room rate to explore the island. It's pretty expensive, at least by the standards my husband and I use for vacation, but I would personally splurge for it for a special occasion. It's definitely off the beaten path and you could definitely be pampered there, but it's not at all resort-y.

Wow, thank you everyone (but especially you EJ) for the amazing ideas. I'll read through them all, do some investigating and know that I'll have a much better idea soon. Right now, I'm finding Nevis, Anguilla and Barbados very interesting. But we'll see. This gives me a lot I can mull over. Many thanks.

Thinking about it further, I'd be curious what anyone's thoughts are on this question: if you were getting married on the East Coast in August, only had one week (realistically Sunday to the following Saturday) and wanted to go somewhere with great beaches that is tropical, where would you go? I've obviously focused this conversation on the Caribbean, but that's because it's the only place I can think of close enough. But the more I talk with my fiance, the more she seems concerned about the threat of hurricanes. I just feel like my hands are tied here. I don't know where else to go. Hawaii is entirely too far away for a one week trip, at least in my opinion. Is there somewhere else that I'm missing that I should consider? I know this is the Caribbean board, but maybe you, the very well traveled, can offer perspective. And maybe you'll think I'm unnecessarily concerned about hurricanes.

Thanks.

No you are being realistic, as August is the height of the hurricane season. If you do decide on the carribean, get hurricane insurcance/trip insurance, that way if something happens you have other options.

Also some resorts have sister properties, so if a hurricane is heading in a particular direction, often the resort has other options for you.

Again, just for the info, talk to a travel agent for what is out there, and get lots of pictures so you can decide what looks like the most fun.

You will gets lots of info on this site, and we all have our favorite islands.

The Travel Channel last year said that Harbour Island was the top destination in the Carribean, and it's fairly easy to get there from the East Coast, fly into Nassau and then take Bahamas Air or the Fast Ferry over. You will have all the transportation arranged for you, so all you have to do is show up and you will be wisked away to paradise.

There is a little shopping, some amazing snorkle sites, excellent restaurants, several nice places to stay AND one of the best beaches in the world.

Well, DH and I got married on the east coast five years ago, and went to St. Lucia for our honeymoon, but we had a bit more flexibility, which allowed us to leave the Monday after the wedding, and return the following Monday. Leaving out of BWI on Air Jamaica, it was a full day of travel both ways, catching a connecting flight in Montego Bay. It was almost dark when we reached the Jalousie, and we had to leave pretty early on our day of return. But, I did feel we had plenty of time at the resort, and the trip was an ideal honeymoon for us--lush island, pretty beach, nice private cottages set between the Pitons, excellent service.

This past January we wanted to take a trip, but had even more severe time restrictions--Monday to Friday. So, we didn't want to waste any time with connecting flights, and decided pretty easily on Jamaica. We had a very relaxing time.

I don't think there are a whole lot of tropical beach options in August that are easy to travel to from the East Coast and are clear of hurricane risk. I'm curious to see if someone has a suggestion!

ftrain- You said that your fiances' dream vacation is Hawaii...if you ever go make sure to include the island of Kauai.It has it all..very beautiful place.

As for your honeymoon..I have been to Aruba.IMO it is not the place for a honeymoon.The people are friendly and food is good however, it is not very romantic.

I have not been to Nevis..but have heard that it is nice.

The ABC islands are probably the safest bet to avoid a hurricane.Out of them,I would go to Bonaire for a nice,quiet honeymoon.Good luck planning and congrats on the upcoming wedding!!

Also Bonaire is the least commercialized of the ABC islands.It sounds like what you are looking for.

Just my 2 cents on Bonaire. Have researched it last week heavily. Travel time will be long, and beaches willnot be "great" as OP asked for.
ftrain, I would be concerned about the hurricane possibility as well. You are wise to be taking that into consideration, good luck. CArol