gina

My fiance and I are getting married next September, and are in the lucky position of having to choose where to go for a honeymoon.

We are in our early 30's and our ideal is a week (or more) spent enjoying each other's company in a relatively quiet and intimate atmosphere. We are looking for a high level of accommodations/service and a selection of fine restaurants in the area. Also on my must-have list: sun! We don't want a place that requires extensive touring or sight-seeing.

Since we are getting married in September, the Caribbean seems out due to hurricane season (we don't want to risk it). And some of our more exotic choices (Bali, Fiji, Thailand, etc.) are looking questionable due to the political climate right now and in the next year.

We're surprised that Hawaii seems to be on our short list - we visited Maui and the Big Island for the first time last year and fell in love with Maui. We stayed at Kapalua Bay, which we loved, but are thinking about upgrading to the Four Seasons for the honeymoon. Also considering visiting one of the resorts on Lanai, or whether we could find a comparable place on Kuaui.

Can you suggest other places we should be considering? Perhaps we should not be so hasty to rule out the places I mentioned? We would appreciate all suggestions!

lisa

If I had the budget, the one place I would seriously consider for a honeymoon is Bora Bora/Tahiti. Try some searching on the web. They have some beautiful and luxurious places there, some literally ON the water!

John

Gina, where did you stay on the Big Island? You might consider the Mauna Lani, which meets all of your criteria.

That said, might I humbly suggest the south of France? The sun, the food, the hotel options, the history...oh my.

Congratulations, by the way.

Jack

A suite at Hayman Island Resort along the Great Barrier Reef would be a great option. We were there last September after the Olympics and had such a great time we're going back...to the resort in particular. If you're open to long flights, Hayman is a world class exotic resort.
Lizard Island is also an option there.
Tahiti is, of course, a great (safe) option.
Positano, Italy, with a side trip to Tuscany or the Italian lakes (Como, Lugano, etc) should also be considered.
The Greek Islands also belong on the overall list, but political issues are a negative.
There isn't anyplace in South America or Africa that fits your goals IMO.

gina

We stayed at the Mauna Kea on the Big Island - which we actually liked quite a bit, especially since we were there with a large group for a wedding. I guess we just weren't as thrilled with the rocky landscape of the Big Island, and we didn't like getting into our car and driving 20-30 minutes for dinner if we didn't want to eat at the hotel! But I've heard the Mauna Lani is great - in fact the bride and groom who married at the Mauna Kea spent their first night at the Mauna Lani.

Any specific hotels you can recommend for the South of France? That was on our short list, too, and we'd love to get a better sense of it!

kam

For sure the Mauna Kea on the Big Island. If you feel like it you can horseride on the Parker Ranch or see the volcano, if you don't, you can hang out on the world's prettiest beach. Quiet, great food and service and fairly close to the other good hotels along the coast down to Kona.

xxx

The Italian Coast sounds like a great choice for you. Great scenery, sun and wonderful food! I'd suggest that you post on the European forum as well and see what they have to offer.

Jack

The Cote d'Azur has a few small gems hotel-wise, and weather in September is still very nice.
It's not as user friendly, of course, as places like Hawaii. The beaches aren't as nice, many are pebbly rather than sandy, and small. Crowding is a problem in the summer but improves a lot by late September. If you're not at least a bit familiar with French, the experience will not be what it could.
One upside is that there are lots of interesting small towns and historical sites to visit within in a few hours along the coast, stretching from Marseilles to Monte Carlo.
Personally, I don't like the chain hotels in Cannes and Nice. Even the best, like the Negresco and Carlton aren't half as nice as the better places in Hawaii.
Italy has several advantages over France IMO. The coast is much prettier and more dramatic down by Positano, Capri makes for a neat side trip, Rome is unforgettable, the Italian lakes are one of my two favorite places in all of Europe for beauty and romantic ambience, and the food is unbelievably consistently good no matter where you dine. Italy is a wonderful place for a honeymoon. So many options. I was the best man at a wedding in Tuscany a couple years ago and it was like something right out of a storybook. 60 Americans made the trip over for the wedding. We're having a reunion to re-live it in 5 years, everyone who can return will.

John

Gina, start with Fodor's own miniguides on this website, look for their hotel listings on the Riveria or Provence. Check out the All-Hotels site for France, http://www.all-hotels.com/europe/france/home.htm - look at the Provence or Riveria listings (lots!).

For example, how about the Mas d'Artigny outside St. Paul de Vence, in the hills behind the coast. Half the rooms have their own private pool, overlooking the hills or the Mediterranean. Similar to Las Brisas in Acapulco, but without the Elvis associations. http://www.mas-artigny.com/mas-artigny01.htm

x

how about Aruba......don`t have to fret over hurricanes.....

gina

Wow - talk about inspiration! Thanks to Jack for providing such a thorough comparison - you definitely seem to have the feel for what we're looking for in a vacation!

Interestingly, Italy was the first place my fiance suggested but I nixed it because I felt like we'd have to do too much sightseeing, etc. But reading all these posts makes me think I may have been wrong! We'll definitely do some more research here.

Just in case we end up choosing the (admittedly more predictable) Hawaii route, could anyone comment on Lanai versus Kuaui?

All other advice continues to be welcome, of course! Thanks for your responses thus far!

kam

I'm recalling a conversation I had with a woman while standing in line waiting for a SWA flight from the Bay area to Seattle. It was my first trip up there and she started talking about her first trip which was for their honeymoon. She described a country hotel on an island near Seattle that you take a "float plane" to get to. The plane lands in the water directly in front of the hotel. Very little around except for beautiful nature and great service and food at the hotel. I thought it sounded just perfectly romantic but sadly can't remember the name of the resort. Maybe some of the Washingtonians can help you. You might not get the required sun part of your request however. Another place that I think is perfect is Italy--either Sardinia, Positano, Sicily etc. Lots of sun and most of the tourists have departed. Look at the San Pietro Hotel in Positano if you want the very best hotel in the very best setting! Friends of ours were married there and we've stayed twice, both times loving it. Another place would be Cenobio dei Dogi in Camogli about 25 km. south of Genoa. It's the former country palace of the doge of Genoa and is located right on the water. I would also suggest Palais Jamais in Fez, Morocco, but somehow the political climate doesn't seem quite right for it.

Jack

If you choose to look into Italy, gina, check out these places to start:
Le Sirenuse in Positano; www.sirenuse.it
Il San Pietro in Positano; www.ilsanpietro.it
Villa d'Este Lake Como (Cernobbio); www.villadeste.it

Venice, Florence, Rome, Tuscany and Capri are all wonderful places to visit in September. The biggest challenge is choosing the few you'll have time for. Lake Como, Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast are particularly suited to relaxing, low stress enjoyment IMO. I think your husband was onto something.

Jeanne

I also got married in September. We went to Greece for our honeymoon. It was beautiful. We visited Santorini and then rented a sailboat (with a captain) and sailed to a few islands in the Saronic Gulf. For our ten year anniversary (Sept 2002)I was looking into the Amalfi Coast. The photos are gorgeous.

x

While Greece is beautiful, the food in Italy can't be beat!

Jeanne

You are right. However, 10 years ago I didn't care too much about food. Now I'm a little older, food's extermely important!

curious

I was going to suggest the Amalfi coast or the Riviera, but someone's beaten me to it. IMO, both much better choices then Hawaii. What about Venice? Already suggested. Here are 2 I haven't heard yet, Nantucket. It is beautiful in September, weather is still warm, The Wauwinet and The Summer House are 2 of the most romantic, relaxing and beautiful places I can think of. There are great restaurants plus nice, easy sightseeing and one of the most charming towns in the world. Or, the Adirondacks at a really luxe lodge, like The Point or The Lake Placid Lodge. The weather should be wonderful in September and if you like to canoe, hike, or bike, you're in luck. Also I have heard the food is outstanding.

curious

Just though of 2 more, Bermuda (we've been twice in October and twice in June and have always had fantastic weather). Look at The Reefs there. Spectacular setting on a cliff above the Beach or at Ariel Sands. Both are lovely and have excellent food. Also what about La Casa que Canta, Las Ventanas or The Hotel Twin Dolphin in Cabo San Lucas?

Amy

My husband and I went to Costa Rica for our honeymoon in November 2000. It was beautiful!! We stayed for a week at the Melia Playa Conchal on the Pacific Coast. It is a beautiful resort with a great pool, beautiful beach, several different restaurants with great food, and fishing/etc. nearby. It also has a Casino and beautiful golf course. It seemed only about a third full when we were there - enough people but not crowded. We hung out at the beach and pool, and went fishing, and even rented a little moped a couple of days to check out the other beaches nearby. It was a wonderful relaxing week. There is also another brand new resort inland (where it is more tropical) that just opened but I can't remember the name. Our trip was not a typical Costa Rica trip in that it was on the coast, which does not have the rain forest/waterfalls etc. but it was wonderful and we can't wait to go back.

Email me if you are interested in hearing more....

Dottie

My husband and I returned from an Anniversary cruise to French Polynesia and I remember thinking if I were on a honeymoon I would want to stay on one of the Islands in their grass huts actually over the water. We took a smaller boat out pass them and they looked wonderful!! You swim off your front porch in crystal clear waters or you can take the back bridges from your home to the white sandy beaches. I liked Moorea,Bora Bora and Huahine the best. There is a lack of luxury restaurants as the county is poor but don't miss Bloody Mary's on Bora Bora if you go! You will love snorkleing with Manta rays on Bora Bora and the purchase of a Tahitian black pearl on Moorea. Tahiti is nice but we enjoyed the smaller Islands the best. Be sure to take a 4x4 safari at least once.