I understand that September is in the midst of hurricane season in the Caribbean. Is this accurate? Where should I plan my honeymoon during mid- to late September? Should I stay away from the Caribbean and go for the South Pacific instead??? <BR> <BR>Thanks a bunch!!!

We honeymooned in Barbados in Sept 87, the first night there a depression swept by with lots of lightening, had afew trees down by morning, rest of week was great! hurricanes generally dont travel this far south. You can also check out the ABC isles for the same reason: Arube, Bonaire and Curacao. <BR>Enjoy!

Andrea- I'm in the same situation. Our honeymoon is in late Sept. I've been told it's a good idea to stick to Southern Caribbean, like Aruba. I've looked into some Sandals and I think they have a guarantee if a hurricane directly hits your island. Today I'm leaning towards the Atlantis Hotel in the Bahamas. There are excellent deals at www.previewtravel.com with American Airlines for September. I think I'm going to take my chances with the Bahamas even though it isn't a southern island. I thought about Tahiti or Bali. Feel free to email me. I'd be interested in hearing what you decide.

Bequia in St. Vincent is considered south of the hurricane belt. Sept. is very calm and quiet here. If you are interested just contact me. <BR> <BR>Bob

Andrea - July through October is hurricane season, and is also considered the "rainy" season throughout the Caribbean. You've already gotten some very good advice - the southern islands is where you want to be, but you'd also be better off with an island that doesn't get quite as much rain. I honeymooned in Barbados in August and we had perfect weather every day. "Rainy" season in Barbados means you may get a passing shower or two each day, and once in a while you might get a day that is more rain than sun. Beyond that, hardly enough to ruin a vacation. Nearby St. Lucia, however, is an island with a rainforest and is much more lush - that one gets a great deal more rain. I would stick to Barbados, Aruba, Curacao or others in that area. To me the northern islands pose too much of a risk for a honeymoon that you would either have a storm while there or be traveling after damage has already been done. Congratulations and have a great time!

While we have tended to go the the Caribbean is July and August for years we would avoid September, it is the peak of the hurricane season and in the entire area you will get much more rain than normal. The top destinations close during that time and tend to open in December. For a honeymoon, I would pick Fiji over either the Caribbean or Tahiti if you want a small island paradise. <BR>Check out http://www.bulafiji.com and http://www.MatangiIsland.com

Hi Andrea- <BR>I totally forgot about Aruba. Like the previous posts, Aruba is in that part of the Carribean where they don't get hurricanes- as a reuslt the island is dry and arid. But it is very beautiful and the water is warm and very clear. Let me know, and I'll bring some pictures.

Hurricanes usually don't strike anything from Dominica southward. Mind you, A hurricane that's a cat.4 (Like Georges) will be felt in St. Lucia(S) and Anguilla (N). I wouldn't be concerned about hurricanes. I was in St. Kitts for Georges. St. Kitts is the Southernmost Leeward Island, and it's last direct hurricane was in 1928 (aside from Georges). It's worth the risk going to the island of your dreams despite the hurricane season. The houses in most of the islands are well built and you will be safe. I speak from experience. Goto www.ocod.mb.ca THe bottom of that webpage has links to the Eastern Caribbean island tourism info. If you want info/pictures on St. Kitts or Nevis, email me.

Just a wild shot, here, but have you considered the Mediteranean instead? The Greek Islands are really beautiful in September, and the weather is perfect. Not to discourage you if you are set on Caribbean, but this way you won't have to be concerned about rain OR hurricanes.

I would recommend Jamaica (of course) - Grand Lido San Souci - a superclubs resort or Couples Negril. It is the rainy season - but the rain is light and does not affect one much at all and the mornings are fine.

I would recommend Jamaica (of course) - Grand Lido San Souci - a superclubs resort or Couples Negril. It is the rainy season - but the rain is light and does not affect one much at all and the mornings are fine.

I'm sure of the hurricane insurance at Sandals but I seem to remember something about paying extra...would have to check papers to be sure....find out first..Mark

Just a little thought to add to all this.. But, what we call a hurricaine in the Caribbean is called a Typhoon in the South Pacific. and I THINK they hit at the same time of year hurricaines do.

You've gotten so may great responses! I was married in the Car. in early Oct. in Negril Jamaica. We were concerned about the same thing - its really a gamble - we didn't have a problem, but it did rain every afternoon although it was beautiful in the morning. Not as many people at our resort as in the high season. Good luck and have fun!

I want to share our recent experience at the Atlantis Royal Towers. We began our vacation on March 9, 1999. Due to bad weather, our plane was delayed and we were going to arrive in Nassau approximately 5 hours later than expected. Since we were supposed to be meeting my elderly parents at the Paradise Island Airport, we called them prior to their departure and told them to go directly to the hotel and we would arrange for them to check in to one of the four rooms we had reserved for our party (there were 7 adults and 2 children traveling on this trip). As guests of the casino, which we have been for the last couple of years, we contacted the casino hosts and told them of our delay and to arrange for my parents to check in. When we got to the hotel lobby, there were my parents, still not checked in and told that no one at the hotel could help them and they would just have to wait for the entire six hours until we arrived. That began our vacation. <BR> <BR>Having been to the Atlantis prior to all the expansion, we were well aware of prices and the service at the hotel. This trip proved to be much different. All meals went up in price no less than 50% from last year. The service was horrible and management showed absolutely no concern. When we arrived, there were people all over the lobby who appeared to be having problems checking-in. We had no problem as we checked-in through the VIP lounge, but we heard many disgruntled people discussing their check-in problems. As we had our rooms, we just chalked it up to a bad day for the front desk and went on with our vacation. <BR> <BR>We continued to discover extremely high prices (no less than $34 for an al a carte entree, $4 for a popsicle for the kids, $8 for a New York Times). And service continued to be extremely poor. We sat in the main lounge at the front lobby just to observe the waitresses in action (as we hadn't been waited on and got our own drinks). We sat for two hours watching two waitresses who never waited on one single table. <BR> <BR>Rooms were always made up, but with haphazard results - leaving soiled towels, etc., in the bathroom, etc. We continued on with our vacation and began talking with upwards of 100 other guests about their impressions of the Atlantis. We heard nothing but horror stories. People arriving at the hotel only to find that their reservations and confirmation numbers were meaningless. Being sent to absolutely horrible accommodations when there were no rooms. Waiting a minimum of two hours to check in, even in the case of corporate groups with a block of rooms. Extremely high prices and appalling service. No one was happy - and many of these people had been at the Atlantis in prior years and loved it, as we had. Many of these people were also casino guests and found that the casino hosts and managers did not afford them the treatment that they expected nor warranted based on their play in the casino. We seriously began to question whether we would ever go back to the Atlantis again. Even the pit bosses and the dealers were concerned and were complaining about the service to their clients and management's lack of concern. <BR> <BR>What made our decision for us was the day that we checked out. During check-out, we discovered the VIP lounge cannot do even the simplest tasks and we had to go to the front desk for everything. Upon check-out, we checked on our additional casino "comp" based on our play, which for some members of our party was in the 10's of thousands, as in prior years (during those trips, based on play, our rooms were "comped" as was most of our food). We were told that our play for this trip could only apply to our next trip to the Atlantis, that our casino rate on the rooms was all the "comp" we would receive! Not your standard treatment for casino players - especially someone considered a high roller at casino's in Connecticut, Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Very unhappy with the treatment, but vowing to contact the casino manager in the states when we got home, we asked that they get our transportation together for the trip to the airport and we would be off. This was to consist of two limos. When we got to the bell captain's station, we discovered only one limo with no room for our luggage. They said they would immediately get a luggage van and we could be off, which they did. When we arrived at the airport, the limo left and the van driver insisted that we pay his fare. Once again, not the service we were told we would receive. <BR> <BR>All in all, while the weather was beautiful, the rooms were only normal rooms - nothing exceptional for the rates, the new grounds are beautiful - though we still prefer the grounds at the older part of the hotel more, and some of the staff were very helpful. Other than that, we will never go back and experience that level of poor service again. We have written to all members of upper management and are speaking with the Player Development managers here in the states and perhaps it will help others who have yet to go to the Atlantis avoid all of the problems we and many other people suffered. <BR> <BR>Thanks for letting me vent.