wtm003

If you are traveling to the Carribean during hurricane season, just make sure you have travel insurance, a back-up plan and are prepared to be flexible. Hurricane Wilma hit the day I was scheduled to land in Cancun. What are the odds of that happening? Fortunately, I had travel insurance so I never worried about cancelling the trip. We ended up taking a last minute hiking trip in Utah. Probably, not what you would want for your honeymoon, so just keep some other options in the back of your mind.

iw

I agree..purchase that trip insurance. If it were me, I would try to pick a place that, historically, doesn't experience hurricanes since it would be a shame to postpone a major event, such as this. I have been to Aruba. IMHO (please anyone feel free to disagree) it is very Americanized and the food is so-so. We enjoyed our stay at the Marriott, but would not return to that particular island. I have read very good things about Curacao and did consider it for this year's trip. I love St. Kitts and Nevis and will be returning this summer. I like the fact that you can visit both islands easily by plane or ferry. I also will check out Anguilla this summer. Again, I have heard great things about it, but haven't been. I did love Maui! So much to see and do! Good luck!

katochan

We got married in early October and took our honeymoon in Greece. Went to several islands, Mykonos,Delos but by far the best place was Santorini. We stayed at Perivolos Villas. It was right on the caldera ("mouth" of inactive volcano) overlooking the ocean. Great archealogocial site when you're motiviated to do something other than lounge in the sun. Food was amazing (there and everywhere throughout Greece). I still dream about it!

KCKjo

Definitely Kauai! It is so beautiful.

xkenx

Seasons are reversed in the Pouth Pacific. October is spring there, so no typhoons. If there are any in the South Pacific, it would be around Feb-April. Hurricanes are very rare in Hawaii, with Maui the least susceptible. This is because a hurricane approaching from the east gets weakened by cool ocean waters to the east of the islands, while an approach from the south/southeast is blocked by the big island and weakened.

Kerry392

Aruba is incredibly beautiful. Plus, there is a lot to do. Also, the Bahamas are very nice.
After our wedding, I was quite content to just sit on the beach, relax and think about my beautiful wedding and the rest of my life with my fabulous husband. You probably don't want to go somewhere where you will run around all the time. Enjoy your honeymoon- life will come at you quick when you get home!!

TahitiTams

HI..
Congrat's!!
I say Moorea, Tahiti versus Fiji just because the Sea Snakes are the most poisonious creature on the planet and they are swimming amongst you and they come up to land at night...they have very small mouths but they are called 3 strokers in Fiji because that is how long you live..
Enjoy French Polynesia or somewhere really exotic like the Seychilles..
I have been to Cabo at least 20+ times and I love it but hate what it has become..Aruba, Pass...no, hurricane season still in Curacao, gorgeous but a different time of year than Oct.to be safe..
Maybe Kauai..
I am getting remarried in Kauai in Mid Sept and I am really looking forward to it after the beautiful Moorea experience..
I wish you all the best!

Gellers

I'd recommend Hawaii over Tahiti or Fiji if you haven't been to any of them. Reasoning: You're going to be totally exhausted after your wedding, and Hawaii is beautiful and exotic but still easy to navigate (no dealing with customs, passports, foreign language, etc.).

Hawaii is not the most original honeymoon destination, but it's popular for a reason...it's just a great place to visit. Really exotic "getaway" feeling, lots of fantastic restaurants, beautiful resorts, great weather, many things to see, etc.

Also, the flight from the midwest is gonna be brutal enough just to Hawaii alone. We were dying on our flight to Tahiti from the WEST COAST!

If you don't think you will be overly fazed by the travel time and foreign aspects, I'd recommend Tahiti. A couple things to keep in mind about Tahiti, though--it's exceedingly expensive, food options are limited, and we found the people there aren't particularly friendly. That said, we stayed at the nicest resorts of our LIVES there. And you feel like you are on the other end of the earth!

If you decide to go that route I'd break the trip up with a stay in Los Angeles or Las Vegas. The flight will take you about 9 hrs from California or Nevada. (They say 7 and a half on the tourism sites, but total b.s.).

Also--Cabo is becoming quite the hip spot. I haven't been since my college days, but friends have visited recently and came back with fantastic photos! That would be a great choice for a honeymoon too IMO--not a very long flight and you can choose one of the beautiful new resorts there.

Gellers

If you do decide on Hawaii--do a couple of islands. Our honeymoon was 2 weeks and we did 6 days on the Big Island, 5 on Maui, and 3 on Lanai. Smashing!

traveler100

My husband and I were JUST talking about how much we enjoyed our stay at Bucuti in Aruba a few years ago. I commented that I had expected Aruba to feel too Americanized but it didn't and I think that was in part due to staying at the Bucuti, smaller, and many Europeans stay there. We also loved putting up our little flag on the beach for drink service!

Curacao is wonderful also, we loved the great snorkeling right off the beaches.

If you had three full weeks I'd agree with Hawaii, or Fiji, but with "only" two, I think Curacao or Aruba would be fully enjoyable and relaxing for you. After all, you'll be coming down from some pretty high stress months beforehand, not to mention the wedding itself!

Congratulations, have a great time whatever you decide to do and enjoy your wedding day!

almost30

You have all been so helpful! I was getting a laugh out of the hurricane blog

We have it down to Cabo and Hawaii.

The first week we will select a resort and the second week of the trip we were given a week at a Marriot time share. So does anyone have a suggestion of where to use it in Puerta Vallerta or Aculpuco?

This is a really great time - thanks for the great honeymoon advice!

christy1

Choose Hawaii over Cabo-no question about it. If you want to visit Cabo at a later date, do that-it's so much closer and cheaper than Hawaii, and it certainly doesn't fit the "once in a lifetime" clause.

chasechow

I second Hawaii, especially for the "Once in a Lifetime" experience. Cabo can not compare and I would be willing to be that JUST ABOUT everyone here would tell you the same thing.

almost30

With all the great advice...we are thinking Hawaii. We received some great magazines on it today from the travel agent.

Any high end resorts that we should take a closer look at?

Also, we are thinking Maui and Kauai - good choices of islands?

Thanks!

TahitiTams

You have pinned it down to either Hawaii or Cabo...Do you travel much?
Hawaii hands down..
Cabo is something you do over a 4 day weekend.. 5 star prices with 3 star hotels and the town still has dirt streets and you are harassed all day long by timeshare people and street vendors..
Go enjoy the islands and please go to two islands..2 weeks in Cabo is way too much time..
Have you thought about the south of France? That is worth 2 weeks of bliss during that time..sun,fab bistros and great classic Hotels..

Have Fun..

girlonthego

Definitely go to Hawaii. You have chosen Maui and Kauai and I think they are excellent choices. High end resorts on Kauai are the Hyatt(sunny side) and the Princeville(rainier side). Maui has many high end resorts: Four Seasons, Grand Wailea, etc....
There are usually not many times you will get two weeks off together while you are young and working. The Caribbean or Mexico are great one week vacations. With the choice, Hawaii is a destination that is far and expensive. Unlike this board, most people don't go there to often.
To me, it is like enjoying another culture and yet it is american. There is a big asian influence in the culture and food. The people are very friendly and we enjoyed our trip there just a few weeks ago very much!

GeorgeW

Ladera Resort in St. Lucia. Very romantic, says my business partner who honeymooned there. A lot of privacy, of which you will enjoy. I wish my wife and I had honeymooned there.

christy1

Just one more thought: Hawaii is fantastic, and you could have a great honeymoon there. But, if you are still looking at something in the "once in a lifeime" category, Hawaii wouldn't be it. Plenty of people go there every year, and it's a great family destination, so you could easily (if kids are in your future) go there throughout your married/family life.

If you still want the once in a lifetime thing, I'd urge you to broaden your horizens a bit and do something like the South Pacific (Tahiti, Cook Islands), Greek Islands or some other romantic European destination, or someplace that you know might be more challenging with kids (again, sorry if I'm assuming wrongly) and that you won't get back to for a long time.

chasechow

Maui and Kuaui are great choices. I agree wholeheartedly with girlonthego for resorts. Hyatt on Kuaui and Four Seasons or Grand Wailea on Maui. Haven't been to the Fairmont, but that is also a possibilty?