Zammy1

Ok, I know this is a huge difference, white sands and Caribbean blue with casino's but no real all inclusives vs yellow sand and Pacific blue with the Mountains tossed in, great all inclusives no casino's, but it will be Hurricane season and I'm trying to stay away from the Hurricane belt.

Pro's/con's to both.....

In Puerto Vallarta best hotel for Honeymoon, all inclusive, on a great beach with a really nice pool.... 4 or 5 star....

I already posted on the Caribbean forum for Aruba

suze

I love Puerto Vallarta so will chime in with a vote for that as the best destination! It is a very romantic place, perfect for a honeymoon IMO. It has a nice mix with resorts but also a pretty, regular town to visit if they are interested. Sorry can't help with fancy all-inclusives as I stay at local hotels in downtown. Never been to Aruba so can't compare.

Zammy1

My travel agent told me Oct is the rainy season for Puerto Vallarta... Is this true?

suze

Official rainy season is the summer months thru August. I guess fall months could go either way. Usually PV rain comes in showers in the afternoon or at night. It would not be common for it to rain for days on end during any month. I have visited in all months Nov thru May so don't have first hand knowledge. I'm sure there are websites you can check historic weather for PV if you're interested.

sally17

Hi - I stayed in PV at the Westin in the Marina section which is a little outside of the town. It was an amazing hotel and we had the best trip. On the pro side - great food at great prices. We had amazing meals in some of the most romantic restaurants that overlooked the ocean for not a lot of money at all! On the con side - the beaches are not even close to Aruba and the riptide is strong so we stayed off the beach and by the pool instead. If your daughter is a huge beach person - tell her to go to Aruba.

I stayed at the Hyatt in Aruba years ago when it just opened. It was very nice although I have heard it needs some updating now. Aruba in general is much more expensive - so if $$ is an issue I would say PV.
Either way, she will have a grteat time!

suze

Are you sure they want to go all-inclusive? Puerto Vallarta has loads of amazing restaurants in all price ranges. I'd never want to restrict myself to resort food.

Also I'm not sure why you believe there were "great all inclusives" in PV, I would beg to differ.

ONZGO

I have been to Aruba and although I haven't been to Puerto Vallarta, I have been to Huatulco on that side of Mexico. We have travelled a fair amount in Mexico and the Caribbean and I can tell you that we were disappointed in Aruba. Aruba is so Americanized and has lots of American fast food chains and restaurants such as Tony Romas and Hooters on this tiny island that measures 19.6 x 6 miles. There are highrises on the beach and it lacks culture and history now and now they have recently lost their main tourist attraction (Natural Bridge) because it collapsed. I personally don't find Americanization and highrises on the beach to be very romantic. Don't be fooled by the belief that Aruba is outside the hurricane belt because it isn't and was something promoted by Aruba Tourism. Aruba is on the southern fringes of the hurricane belt as can be seen in this report from the Meterological Services of Netherland Antilles & Aruba.
http://www.meteo.an/meteo2/eng/repor...tm#climleeward

There was in fact a hurricane warning out for Aruba last fall when Ivan went through the area, but luckily Ivan missed Aruba, but there was major flooding, beach errosion and damage to some hotels. Barbados is also in this area and it too rarely gets a hurricane so here is another destination you may want to consider, but a hurricane is a possibility anywhere in the Caribbean.

We love the Mayan Riviera south of Cancun because of the beautiful white sand beaches and clear turquoise water, so you may want to consider this area of Mexico as well. This area has so much to see and do such as the Mayan ruins to explore, cenotes to swim and snorkel in and eco/water parks as well as shopping. Cancun proper is very Americanized and party central, but if you go a little further south to the Mayan Riviera you will find it more like old Mexico with beautiful new all inclusive resorts.

Our friends recently got back from Puerto Vallarta and they loved it and the cobblestone streets. I know from our visit to Huatulco on that side that the water was not turquoise like the other side of Mexico and the sand was yellow and not white like the other side, but still we had a great vacation and I know that Puerto Vallarta is on our to do list of vacations.

All inclusives are nice because you basically know what your vacation will cost before you leave home and you can eat and drink to your hearts delight and other things are also included in all inclusives. Plus you don't have to figure out where will we eat dinner tonight or pay for transportation to get there. It makes for a very relaxing vacation when you have $0.00 bill tab from the hotel at the end of your vacation. No need to carry money around and down to the beach/pool with you either. We have done both types of vacations and we enjoy the freedom and relaxation that all inclusives offers you. You can still go out to eat once or twice during the week if you want and still be ahead of the game price wise as the Caribbean in general is very expensive for food and drinks.

If you want to consider the Mayan Riviera area, I can personally recommend the Barcelo Maya resort because of the beautiful beach with on site snorkeling and no fighting for lounge chairs. Here is a private non-profit website set up by a lady who went to this resort and loved it so much she set up a website about this resort. There are lots of personal
vacation photos on the sticky post on the top of the discussion forum, so make sure you check them out for pictures of the resort and surrounding area.

http://www.unofficial-barcelo-maya.com/

There are so many beautiful and great all inclusives in this area that if the Barcelo Maya is not to your liking you find another one suited to your liking and there are even some all adults all inclusives in this area as well.

Congratulations and have a great honeymoon no matter which destination you choose to go to.

suze

Excellent points above. The ocean and beaches are much more typically beautiful on the Caribbean coast of Mexico. And my impression is the All-inclusive resorts much nicer.

I love Puerto Vallarta dearly but go there more for the town itself, the people, the local culture, and great restaurants. If I was looking for an all-inclusive resort for a beach vacation, well... I'd pick somewhere else (but not Aruba, just my opinion).

butsey

I have to agree with Suze If you decide to go to P.Vallarta please do not do an all inclusive you will miss so much dining at the great restaurants and doing so at different parts of town. I haven't been to Aruba but I do know something about it since my daughter went on her honeymoon there last year, she did have a great time and she stayed at the Occidental which is all inclusive. Since Natalee Holloway I would not go there even if they gave me a free trip. Now getting back to P.Vallarta I go all the time been there at the Marriott in April Lovely Hotel Great food and it is located at the Marina, I would definitely recommend this hotel Also am going in Nov and staying at the Sheraton also a nice hotel but I prefer the Marriott. That said If you want a Great beach I would go to the Carribean if you want more than just beach I would go to P.Vallarta they have so much more to offer. If you need any more info on either place I would be glad to help. My email is [email protected] Good Luck also try trip advisor.com and read reviews on both places.