My fiance and I are ovewhelmed with our options for a wedding and honeymoon for March 2000. We are 36, 42, second marriages. We want quiet, preferably no or very few children, pretty beaches, watersports but not too crowded. We seem to have narrowed our choices to Caneel Bay on St. John, Galley Bay or Jumby Bay on Antigua or Jalousie on St. Lucia. Need all the opinions, suggestions possible. Are there any other places we should consider? Thanks in advance.

We spent a week in Antigua na dreally enjoyed it. Since you're getting married in March, you'll want to stay away from places that cater to the Spring Break crowd, and Antigua is defintiely not on the beaten path! Although we didn't stay at either of the resorts you mentioned, I've heard that both of them are quite nice. Good Luck!

We stayed at Galley Bay many years ago and it was wonderful. On our recent trip to Antigua we stopped by and it looked the same, although they had added a pool and a second restaurant since our original stay. It is very peaceful, and intimate. There is a large beach with relatively few rooms, so the beach always seemed private. They have something like 80 rooms and a half mile of private beach. <BR> <BR>There's a fabulous French restaurant very close by, if you decide to go there, called Chez Pascal. Its up on the hill overlooking Galley bay and we went there just last year. The view was pretty, the service great, and the food excellent.

My boyfriend and I were in St. Lucia last November and loved it -- we did not stay at the Jalousie Hilton but at a neighboring hotel, the Ladera (which was incredible -- open-air rooms cooled by constant breezes, each with perfect views of the Caribbean and the Pitons, private plunge pools in every room) -- but we did spend several days on the beach at Jalousie and ate several meals there also including lunch and dinner. We thought Jalousie was great. I would highly recommend the beach, food, drinks, pool, and service, although I can't vouch for the rooms because we didn't see them (although the people we met who were staying there all were thrilled with their rooms). If you go to St. Lucia I'm sure you won't be disappointed. There is excellent snorkeling, particularly at the nearby beach of Anse Chastanet. St. Lucians are wonderful people and it is the most beautiful place I've ever been. If you do go, make sure to go to Ladera for dinner or drinks at sunset at the very least -- it has what must be one of the most breathtaking views in the world, not to mention very good food. I also have a friend who goes to Jumby Bay every year -- she said it's amazing, although I thought I heard they had substantial hurricane damage last year. We considered going to Caneel Bay but heard mixed things about it (lots of praise, but also heard some say it was too hot with no A/C, food was overpriced, too many bugs, etc.) and in the end decided it was too much of a risk for the amount of money. We were glad we went where we did.

My fiance and I are getting married this Saturday (ahh!) at Sandals Dunn's River in Jamaica. We opted for this resort because it's couples only. We didn't want to be surrounded by a bunch of spring breaker kids. I'm 28, my fiance is 37. My first marriage (and hopefully my only one), and it's my fiance's second marraige. <BR> <BR>If interested in this resort, email me directly and I'll tell you all the details when we get back. <BR> <BR>Congrats on your upcoming wedding! <BR>-Christine

Melanie, I would suggest checking out Harbour Island in the Bahamas, it is easier to get to and was written up by Islands Magazine as one of the 10 most beautiful islands in the world and has one of the 10 most beautiful beaches too. <BR> <BR>HI looks like a 1700's fishing village which it was at one time and the first capital of the Bahamas. It also has one of the oldest churches in the new world, so lots of history here. <BR> <BR>I stay at Runaway Hill Club, it is very small and only 10 rooms. Each room is different, I like #8, with a fireplace and a small closed in porch. Breakfast and dinner is on the deck overlooking the pool and ocean, and the stars at night are breathtaking. There are several nice restaurants on the island and some GREAT water sports, if you want to snorkle or dive, there is even a wreck of a civil war TRAIN, yup, I said train, it was on it's way to Cuba on a barge shortly after the war and was sunk in a very bad storm. It is an amazing dive site. <BR> <BR>If I can be of any more help, please let me know, my email is [email protected]. <BR> <BR>Congratulations and have a wonderful wedding and fun honeymoon. <BR> <BR>tweedy <BR>

Melanie, can I suggest Harbour Island as a perfect getaway, it is very safe, laid back, great food, amazing beach and several resorts that will fit your budget. <BR> <BR>I have been going there for 15 years and LOVE HARBOUR ISLAND. HI was written up by Islands Magazine as one of the 10 most beautiful in the world and one of the 10 most beautiful beaches too. <BR> <BR>I stay at Runaway Hill Club, which is right on the beach, nice pool, great food and small, only 10 rooms (and no kids allowed). Breakfast (I usually don't make it to Breakfast) is on the porch overlooking the pool, beach and the ocean, and dinner is there weather permitting or in the dining room. <BR> <BR>I have met some really interested people there from all over the world and there are great snorlke and dive trips avaialble. There is even a wreck of a civil war train, sunk on a barge shortly after the civil war on it's way to Cuba and it makes an amazing dive site. <BR> <BR>Have a wonderful wedding and even better honeymoon and let me know if I can be of any more help. <BR> <BR>BTW, my favorite room at Runaway is #8 it even has a working fireplace, and a couch for snuggling, big king size bed and nice bathroom.

My husband and I were married on March 10th, 1999 at Rendezvous in St. Lucia. Rendezous is a 100 room resort (couples only - no children or singles allowed). Absolutely everything was beautiful - the accommodations, beach, resort, wedding (they took care of everything). I highly recommend this resort -- if you would like more info. please e-mail me.