My fiance and I are planning our vacation for September 08. I am having a tough time deciding because I want to go everywhere so I end up planning like 6 different vacations. We have two full weeks for our honeymoon. We definitely want something that has beaches, but we would also like either some history or adventure for our vacation. We enjoy everything from laying on the beach in Mexico, to hiking a volcano in Costa Rica, to checking out the historical sites in Italy. Here are some of the options I was considering. I would love some great feedback!

1.week in Rio/week in the Amazon
2.two weeks in Greece (3 athens, 3 mykonos or rhones, 3 in Santorini, 4 in Crete)
3.Celebrity Cruise from Barcelona to Venice. (Stops in Italy, Nice, Corfu, Dubrovnik)
4.Two weeks in Vietnam/Cambodia
5.Two weeks in Bali (Splitting our time between Ubod and Seminyak or Sanur)
6. Two weeks in French Polynesia

I had also considered Thailand and Chile, but due to the weather there in September I have decided against them. Any thoughts, suggestions, or new ideas would be greatly appreciated!!

Hi,

To combine one week at Ubud (very authentic) and one week at Seminyak or Sanur (very tourist) sounds a great idea.

We have just returned from Ubud, Bali, and I have some tips:
- Ubud is perfect for visiting temples, rice terraces, authentic markets and fantastic towns.
- You need a car to visit all those interesting places. Consider a car with a driver. Roads are very good but to drive there is very stressful. Roads are very narrow with plenty of motorcycles which drives you crazy. And with a driver you will enjoy more the incredible views.
- We stayed at Alila Ubud hotel and it was great. Great forest views from the rooms in the second floor, they are smaller but have the best views (and are cheaper). The hotel is 15' from downtown Ubud with free shuttles, in the middle of rice fields and temples, perfect service, amazing pool and very reasonable prices. You can completely trust the pictures in their website.
- We visited the Four Seasons, of course it is nicer but much more expensive and it seemed to be less "spiritually connected" with the environs.
- Check the weather in September. Now it was very humid and rains every day after midday.
- Near Ubud, do not miss the rice terraces north of Tagallalang, Pura Gunung Kawi spring temple and Tenganan Aga village.
- Always bring your sarong and belt to enter temples.
- The only "adventure" around there is a soft rafting and diving. Costa Rica have more adventure activities.

Good luck and be happy in your marriage!
B

Marit77 i am like you~ I want to go everywhere but at some point you have to make a choice! I am from Greece and i will go in San Francisco and Hawaii from my honeymoon in September as well ;-)

I like all your ideas but i can give you advice for Greece.

First of all i think that you'll love it because you'll see lots of different things in one trip. I would stay 2 days Athens, 3 days Mykonos, 3 days santorini and 5 days in Crete. Also what time in September you plan on going?

Since you enjoy everything you'll be able to see historical sites (Acropolis, Delos), beautiful beaches (mykonos and crete), a volcano and an amzing scenery(santorini) with hiking to Samaria Gorge in Crete. I've never been there but i know that it's really really beautiful. (and exhausting as well).

If you decide on Greece, come to the european forum and we'll give you lots of information regarding your planning!

Thank you burrito and cristine27! Bali and Greece have been my two top ideas.

Cristine27 - Do you have any suggestions for honeymoon hotels? Is it easier to book a package deal with flights/ferries between the islands or is it easy to schedule them myself?

Marit i have no idea what package deals you can get from US but personally i prefer booking everything myself. Of course if you have an agency it's less stressful but for me, planning is half the fun of travelling!!
In all three islands you can find LOTS of beautiful hotels, and if you decide on Santorini i strongly suggest you to stay in the town of Oia!
Also even if you haven't decided on a destination yet, post another message in the european forum in greece and you'll get more responses and suggestions there. (this honeymoon forum is not very active