intraveler,
While we adore St Lucia and it does meet the "tropical, tropical, tropical" aspect, it does not meet the excellent food and nightlife criteria that the OP asked for. While there is good food available, St Lucia is not known for that aspect.

Thanks, snackman. we have good friends who just spent three weeks honeymooning in costa rica. they had a wonderful time, but they are rather adventurous, rugged souls - spending a good number of nights actually backpacking. we are not rugged. so the four seasons might be a lovely fit!

hey, blamona. we have talked with several friends and a couple of travel agents. am back in the mode of seriously reconsidering the maldives - apparently November is the start of their better weather. so question is, what resorts would you most recommend?

thanks!

I've been to Fiji, but I prefer Cook Islands, Bora bora and Maldives to them. I have not been to Marituis, but know people that have and also been to Seychelles, and all agree they like Seychelles more.
As to Maldives, all resorts are pretty decent. I split my time between one called Paradise Island (can't remember the Maldive name for it) and Soneva Fushi. S oneva Fushi was spectacular, but kinda hard to get to. Helicopter ride cost as much as a night's stay, but oh so worth it. I was there before One and Only and 4 seasons opened theirs, but you can't go wrong with either. Also heard good things about Huvan fushi, the Hilton, and the Banyan Tree.
I went through the old ClubMed (they've changed islands since then) and Ihuru (now called Angsana) Full Moon, and Rihiveli. 3 others, but can't remember the names! Ihuru is where most postcard pictures are taken, and one of the other 3 (sorry) also has lots of pictures taken of it. If you stay at a North Mali Atoll, you can take lots of day trips to the others. From Soneva Fushi, you can take day trips to village atolls and deserted atolls and sand bars. Pick the one with amenities you want, or split it between 2. Of the above mentioned, Ihuru was good for a day trip, but seemed a little dated, Rihveli had a spectacular setting, but isolated from most, plus not many amenities.

I'd suggest going to Barbados. It has some of everything any island can offer except for gambling and a volcano. Lovely people, lush green tropical setting, clean air, pure water, wide range of hotels, beaches, water sports, sightseeing such as caves, tropical gardens, animal preserves, plantation houses, submarine ride. Outstanding restaurants, both in hotels and independent. Nitelife at hotels and elsewhere. All revolves around a British/Caribbean culture so you don't feel like you're just in tropical America. Barbados is a really special place with a strong economy, not dependent only on tourism, so a visitor experiences a sense of a place which is beyond just a resort on a beach. Generally avoid August-October (hurricane season)even though Barbados is far enough south to hardly ever get hit by a hurricane. Otherwise weather is great all year-perpetual summer with water temps over 80 deg. even in winter. Lowest hotel rates are mid-April to mid-December, with a big jump in high season. Calmest water for swimming/snorkeling is on the calm
west coast north of Bridgetown. IMO the class act on that stretch is Coral Reef Club. Family-owned for 50 years, low-rise and plantation cottage style hotel in beautiful tropical gardens and fine beach. Barbados is a really special place. See www.barbados.org and www.coralreefbarbados.com

thanks, all! after much researching for the past several days, we're heavily leaning toward the maldives...despite the lack of nightlife options. thinking that such a special trip deserves and equally exceptional destination. Not so much wanting/needing clubs, but in the early stages of research, had this image of the maldives that we would be completely and totally alone for the entire two weeks on some patch of beach with a palm tree! but...after looking into some of the specific resorts, we might split our time (five nights and five nights) between a totally secluded resort and one with a host of restaurants and a little bit more chic atmosphere. weather - november is actually the start of their summer season...so fingers crossed for no rain (or at least not too much). decided not to take a chance with the carribean and hurricanes.

so, that said...has anyone been to the soneva gili and/or huvafen fushi in the maldives? if so, i would love to hear thoughts on rooms, service, food, etc. did you do the inclusive package or figure out lunch and dinner on your own? and...are there any particular villas you would most recommend on the property? thanks!

FYI - Air Tahiti Nui runs nonstop service to Tahiti from JFK 3 times a week. The flight is 12 hours. Tahiti is only 2 hours flying time south of Hawaii. But I agree with many of the others. Bora Bora, while beautiful is very quiet...literally no nightlife.

bklyngrl,
Maldives is a great choice, again Seychelles great too, expensive to get to, as are Maldives. I highly second the recommendation for layover in London, perhaps Frankfurt, Paris and/or Dubai, I guess depends on the airline you choose. Also look at Reunion, nice too.
Kam, I think you mean Tahiti is 2 hours flying time difference from US mainland, e.g. Hawaii is 5 hours from LA, Tahiti is about 7 hours from LA, however to fly from Hawaii to Tahiti that flight time is about 4 or 5 hours.

Hello bklyngrl! It sound to me like you should go to Purto Rico and stay at the EL SAN JUAN resort in Isla Verde. It is a beautifu resort close to all the shopping, nightlife casinos and whatever you want. It is also close to the beautiful EL YUNQUE rainforest.I dont have the website address for the El San Juan right now but I will get it for you and post it here for you to check it out.

Here is the web address for the WYNDHAM EL SAN JUAN resort bklyngrl. Go to wwww.wyndham.com and you can check it out there.For what you are looking for you will love that resort they have beautiful rooms, a great casino and restaurant and they are close to so many wonderful things you will enjoy.

If you are looking for a remote place just for honeymooners, go to Tahiti. We went there for a two and a half week honeymoon, and it was absolutely gorgeous. It took us 14 hours from NJ to get there (6 hours out to LA, then 8 hours to Tahiti). However, if you are looking for a night life, this is not the place to go. Also, it is extremely pricy.

We just recently took a two week vacation out to Hawaii. That was fabulous, and you can find a pretty good nightlife there. The only thing it doesn't have are casinos. Direct flights from Newark are 9.5 hours to 10 hours long. If you decide to go there, spend most of your time in Maui. We stayed at the Grand Wailea Resort (www.grandwailea.com). It was like staying at Daddy Warbuck's estate in Annie. Expensive, but highly recommended. Suggestion is to skip the island of Oahu. It is mainly city area with spring breakers, but do go see the USS Arizonia Memorial at Pearl Harbor during the day.

If you want to go somewhere closer, go to Aruba. It is outside the hurricane belt, so the weather there is pretty much guaranteed to be nice all year round. Stay at the Renaissance Hotel in Oranjestad. It is the only hotel on the island that has it's own private island. The night life there is great...restaurants, casinos, clubs, bars, shows, shopping, you name it. They have it. This is a fun place with lots to do, and it is less expensive than the other places. Plus, direct flight from Newark is less than 5 hours long.

Hope this helps!