My best friend's daughter is getting married in September, 2003. My husband and I are giving them a "surprise honeymoon" as a wedding present. They WANT to be surprised so I'm doing all the research. We've narrowed it down to a few choices, some of which are Hawaii, Las Vegas, and the Cayman Islands. The bride-to-be mentioned the Poconos but I know nothing about that area. Any suggestions?

I definately have a suggestion.

Keep your nose out of their honeymoon and LEAVE THE BRIDE AND GROOM ALONE. If I was the groom I would really resent you and your husband's pushyness.

are you for real??
In case you ARE serious ,BTW, if they're thinking Poconos and you're thinking Hawaii or Cayman Islands, boy are you people out of sync!

I can't imagine letting someone else plan my honeymoon, but to each her own. If the bride mentioned the Poconos, then I think Las Vegas is definitely out. It looks like they are interested in a relaxing vacation with outdoor activities, in the mountains, possibly in a resort location.

Wow! What bad attitudes you people have. Just so you'll know, we've known this girl for 15 years, they are like family, and THEY will make the FINAL decision. I'm just helping them get suggestions and writing the check! Forget I asked!

As a recent bride i cannot fathom trusting anyone to surprise me with a honeymoon.... such a one-time special trip, it is something personal that the bride and groom should choose together. In fact, picking a destination is one of the most enjoyable details of wedding planning.

Please reconsider your plan.. even if they are telling you they want you to surprise them, you would be doing them a favor to allow them to chose.

PS FYI: I grew up in the Poconos (dont' live there anymore)... i am not ragging on the place, as I have family there, but I cannot in any way recommend it as a honeymoon spot.. it is WAYYY past its hey-day.

Just remember that Sept. is prime hurricane season in the Caribbean,

Does anyone today still honeymoon in the Poconos? Tacky, tacky, tacky.

What about a week in England or Paris?

Jill-
Your first post said you were surpising them with the honeymoon location. Now you say you're just writing the check. Big difference.

You say "we've known this girl for 15 years". So is the groom a potted plant or what? Maybe he can just tag along the rest of his life.

A week in Paris I think would be a great honeymoon; something different than the usual Hawaai/carribean cruise. Sept. is a great time to be in Paris, the weather will be wonderful. There are great restaurants, nice, cosy B&B's or luxurious 5 & 6* hotels, dinner in a bateau down the river Seine; they can take a trip out to the Chateau region, PLENTY to do!

If you really intend to follow through with this (and i think it best that the couple plans it together), at least ask them what type of HM they want.. warm and beachy? historic? adventerous? Personally, my husband and I wanted relaxing beach and thus, although we would love to visit Europe on a vacation, it was not what we wanted for a HM. Wedding planning can be stressful.

These are necessary details you should determine before brainstorming any potential locales.

having said that, although you are well intentioned and generous, give them a budget, maybe some travel magazines, and let them have fun choosing.

I just got married a few months ago and now how difficult it is to find a perfect honeymoon spot. Personally between the choices posted, Hawaii (although not original) will be my choice (and was where we actually went). If you pick Hawaii, you should focus on either Kuaui or Maui. Maui was the one we picked and we enjoyed it a great deal (even though I wanted to go to Europe). If Maui is your choice, they should stay a Wailea resort (though expensive has great beaches and very good weather)
Good luck

There is no way that your friend's daughter's husband wants you to plan the honeymoon. And neither does your friend's daughter want it. You are being a little self important.

There is no way that your friend's daughter's husband wants you to plan the honeymoon. And neither does your friend's daughter want it. You are being a little self important.

If you really want to be a friend just write them a check and let them choose what they want. Hawaii will easily cost 4k for a week compared to the significantly lower priced options mentioned.

Did everyone miss the point that this woman is being gracious enough to pay for a honeymoon? She never stated that she was insisting on her choice of locations, nor did she state that she was looking to take over. What a great gift! Maybe you could come up with three choices within your budget and let them choose. Just be sure to take in their choices when selecting the locations.

Jill, you don't mention your budget for this gift, and that will make a big difference. It seems like a pretty generous gift on your part (would you like to adopt me?).

If the bride-to-be is naive enough to ask for the Poconos, I'd say go for it and pocket the difference!

Considering that the woman asked for TRAVEL advice, and NOT anyone's advice on her personal life, I will try to actually do what this board is for, and render the travel advice requested. I also know a number of people who, at the prospect of a free honeymoon, would not care a bit if someone else chose the place and planned it. Not everyone is a control freak. (Now, I am, personally, but I know for a fact that if my sister in law had been given this option, she'd have loved it; she hates planning anything, and was too broke for much of a honeymoon anyway.)

Hawaii is the nicest place listed for the honeymoon. The Poconos is, as mentioned, past its heyday, but if the bride is interested in that, find out, and see. She may just be mentioning it because it is much less expensive.

The Caymans are nice, but there are Caribbean Islands with more to do, so find out what they like. If they love SCUBA, Caymans are great, if they'd like other activities better, another island may be better.

Las Vegas is a little risky. I don't know many people who find Vegas romantic.

If you choose Hawaii, you may want to go with Kauai or Maui, since those are the most romantic.

Definitely find out about their likes and dislikes!

Jill, I hope you are still here after some of the uncalled-for extremely rude replies. I think Hawai'i is the most romantic place on earth and perfect for a honeymoon. If you aren't familiar with Hawai'i you might want to look for the "Dummies" book on it which has a quiz to help you choose an island based on desired features and activities. You will know if they would prefer a hotel, but there are small cottages on all the islands which to me would be perfect for a honeymoon. These can be found for $100 a night or sometimes less. www.halealohakauai.net is one example on Kaua'i--I personally haven't been there, yet, but hope to on my next trip! The weather in Sept. is usually just about perfect, and it is the beginning of "low season" so less crowds and better deals. Have no idea what your budget is, but rest assured it's possible to have a wonderful trip to Hawai'i while staying in the moderately priced accomodations. Have fun planning!

I think you're all missing the point. If the bride was thinking Poconos it's obvious she has no taste. Apparently she knows that Jill does have taste and that's why she's willing to let Jill surprise them, knowing it will be better than the trailer trash honeymoon she would have picked. So go for it Jill.

I think it is really rude to call a honeymoon in the Poconos "trailer trash". I honeymooned in Kauai and Maui, but we could afford it. Other people can't and try to make that special time as romantic as possible, on whatever budget they have. My parents just took a weekend honeymoon to the mountains (not the Poconos, as we are from the west coast), but my mom still has all the brochures and pictures and gets teary eyed looking at them.

You could really hurt someone's feelings with a post like that, and I think it is completely uncalled for.