We have spent countless hours already surfing the internet and looking at many message boards for advice on where to take our honeymoon in August. We have looked in all directions but cannot "push the button".

Our rule is that we are not going to any place we've already been to. In the Caribbean one of us have already been to the following: Aruba a few times (loved it), St. Thomas, St. John, Puerto Rico, Vieques, Bahamas, Turks & Caicos and Grand Cayman. In Central America one of us has been to Costa Rica.

We have been to Cancun & Cozumel and off in the Pacific one of us has been to Oahu, Maui and Kauai (most beautiful trip).

We really want our Honeymoon to stand out from the other trips we have taken and don't want our Honeymoon to "merge" with the other trips we have taken since we've already been to quite a few places.

In terms of the Caribbean, what we are looking for is a place that we can spend a few days vegging out on the beach and a few other days taking day trips and having nice restaurants to go and other nightlife activities. As much as I'd love staying in a bungalow, once the sun sets our fear is that we will have nothing else to do. We are looking for a place that would satisfy both of these interests, or possibly stay at two different locations which are close by so we don't need to spend too much time packing/unpacking. We are also worked about hurricane season.

We have been throwing around the idea of going to Southern California (neither of us has been outside of San Fran) and hopefully find a relaxing place close enough so we can explore S. California (San Diego, Tijuana, Hollywood, Disneyland). We are not wine drinkers and would have a hard time appreciate all CA has to offer.

We quickly considered somewhere in the Southern Pacific (Fiji, Tahiti) but after checking flights ($1500 each), we didn't think we could afford it. The long flight is a slight deterrent but wouldn't be a deciding factor. I feel that would be the most beautiful/relaxing place but worry our other options outside of the beach would be limited.

We also threw around the idea of going to Europe as one of us hasn't been there. But we were concerned we couldn't find a relaxing place without the extra effort it takes to plan a trip to Europe. I also worry we might feel obligated to do more sightseeing than relaxing.

I heard Panama (Boca Del Toro) is beautiful and relaxing, but our fear is we would have nothing to do outside of our resort.

Lots and lots of thoughts from our end. Please help us straighten our crazy minds out! Thanks so much!

August would steer me away from tropical isles. We had an incredible time in South Africa. Terribly long flight and a bit pricey on air, but it was dirt cheap on the hotel and food part and we stayed in some awesome places that we could not have afforded elsewhere. We honeymooned in the BVIs 5 years ago and loved them best of all Carib destinations.Looks like you like to travel- lucky you! We do, too, and we never bore each other. That's a great thing to share. What else do you enjoy? Nature, hiking? We had a fabulous time in Banff Canada- that whole area is wonderful. Have you considered the Canadian Rockies?

Usacubs,

If you have a couple weeks and a generous budget, why not consider Southern Africa. It is a really beautiful dstination and you could combine a Cape Town visit with a weeklong safari, or just do a safari.

Some of the most exclusive (and romantic) properties in the world are in Southern Africa. By sticking to South Africa, you would be in their low season (although wildlife viewing is really at its best at this time). With a higher budget, you would be able to visit more remote safari destinations in Botswana and Zambia.

There is nothing like a luxury safari. You do a minimum of two activities per day, and depending on where you visit, this may include "game drives" in an open sided vehicle (think convertible Range Rover) and you drive around vast areas in search of lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, rhinos and countless other animals and birds. Also, there are other places where you are able to participate in "walking safaris" with an armed guide, and you will be out there, walking for 3 - 4 hours...it is a wonderful experience. Other activities include canoeing, river safaris on a motorized boat and even fishing (except when you fish in Africa, you may count on elephants, buffalo and other animals all around!).

Food and accomodations are superb at the higher end places. Just in case you are totally unfamiliar, here are just a few links:

www.chiawa.com
www.luangwariverlodge.com
www.sanctuarylodges.com
www.sabisabi.com
www.ccafrica.com
www.kwando.co.za
www.singita.co.za (Voted the #1 property in the world, year after year after year by Conde Nast Traveler)

Hi. Usacubs. You might find this link useful. It's a site put together by a guy calling himself "The Intrepid Berkeley Explorer " !! Bit strange but choc full of videos and photos he has made of all the places he has travelled to. Hope that helps. K :0)

http://www.geocities.com/intrepidber...rer/index.html

when you were looking at the south pacific did you look at the cook islands? my husband and i married there in 2001. it's much more reasonable than tahiti as they use the NZ dollar. we had a wonderful package deal including airfare.
you can look at the resorts website
http://www.rarotongan.co.ck/

You did note Hawaii was a most beautiful trip. There's probably a reason St. Lucia is a popular honeymoon destination and sometimes considered "the Hawaii of the Caribbean" (and the most lush island in the Caribbean).

I just booked our October honeymoon to there, after painstakingly trying to figure out where to go.

If you're not into wine, what about areas of California where it's not so "winey?"

Yosemite - I'd suggest one night at the Ahwahnee just because, then another night at the Tenaya Lodge in Fishcamp.

Sacramento for 2 days - lots to see & do.

If the weather holds & no snow by the time you come I'd suggest SF, then Sac, up to Tahoe overnight & down into Yosemite thru Tioga Pass. It's an absolutely breathtaking gorgeous, beautiful, spectacular drive. Then you can come out of Yosemite thru Hwy. 41, stay at Fishcamp the 2nd night and head down through Fresno and over to the coast (long 5 hour drive maybe, 4.5. but you could drive along the CA seashore par of the time back to SF & fly home. Don't know where you're from so maybe you live in this area. (I'm an hour from Yosemite.) Sac, Tahoe, Carmel/Monterey, SF would have the nightlife for you.

If you're thinking about Europe, and looking for somewhere romantic, try
www.irishlandmark.com
Myself and my finace have stayed at a couple of these properties, and from the visitors' book, lots of honeymooners from the US choose them too. Try Ann's Grove in Cork. Spectacular, but rural. Small town nearby, but Cork (second biggest city in Ireland) is only a 35-40 min drive. Landmark also has a couple of places in Dublin, which would offer more in the way of nightlife! And August can be a great month weatherwise. This year August was reasonable, but July was better - a few days with temps up in the mid-80s F.