Please help!! my Fiance and I choose a honeymoon destination!!

[gaapguy]

Congratulations. My wife and I married and honeymooned at Half Moon in Montego Bay Jamaica in 2003. The resort staff, food, accomodations, and wedding were all fabulous. We've since been back to Half Moon 4 times, on each anniversary. The current Luxurylink offering including the spa treatment would be a wonder way to start your new life together. Air fare from the US (try American Airlines) is very reasonable and Montego Bay has easy access from Miami. Congratulations again and I hope you enjoy "MoBay"...

[gaapguy]

Another thought on Half Moon, look at either package available at Luxurylink. One is "bid now" (without the spa), and the other is "buy-it now" (with the spa). You can add the spa treatment as an additional charge once you arrive at Half Moon. You will save some money with "bid now" assuming the travel dates available with the package fit with your honeymoon dates... Again, congratulations.

[kyshel]

I prefer Vieques Island (PR) over the main island. There are some lovely small hotels/paradors there and beach access is no longer as restricted by the military as in the past. Bioluminescent Bay is one of the finest in the world and bodes well for a very romantic swim, albeit with other tourists (ignore them--it's like swimming with fairies-- Esther Willians in glitter water!! I would personally avoid the big hotel (Wyndham?) and look at Blue Horizon or similar. If time is not a factor--get the passports now--without them, you really limit your travel options. And it's the best ID you can have--PLUS--take a good photo and you'll look that age for 10 yrs!! I'l get another post off w/more details later--I'm late for dinner.

[kyshel]

More info:
www.viequestravelguide.com

bravo hotel has changed hands since I stayed there and it looks like a very favorable upgrade. it's convenient to some night life, too.

wyndham @ martineau bay might be a good choice if you can get special promo package.

there are so many recent villa rentals, too. that would mean a car and driving the very small island, and limited night life [with drinking].
inn at blue horizon is top-notch but small,isolated, no beach on site. not sure where their prices are these days.
next door is hector's by the sea--weekly rentals that range from cozy to spacious--not upscale but nice property w/basic amenities--pool, ac, kitchenettes, hot tub. etc

food for thought @ dominican republic:
cayo levantando (sp?) bahia principe resorts should be running smoothly after first year in operation--it wasn't avail last time I wanted to stay--it looks gorgeous, but may be too isolated for you? very european clientele

[ferret]

Based on my read of what they want, Vieques is too remote/out of the way. I see them wanting something more commercial/mainstream. This their first trip outside of the US, and they want a comfy resort, shopping, and activities. I could be wrong but my 2 cents. I would have recommended Paradisus Playa Concal CR but decided against it for similar reasons.

[kyshel]

Wow, Ferret--I considered CR AI's and dismissed that idea, too.
I can see where Vieques might be wrong choice based on same train of thought [after reading all the posts again].
Hawaii can be cost-prohibitive; with their budget Riviera Maya offers more options for upscale properties.
A cruise may be a really good idea, but they still need passports. I loved cruising for years--that may be the right option for their dates.

I saw a great LL deal for Azul in Puerto Morelos near Playacar--maybe that's a good compromise between AI and access to Cancun (pub crawls still exist)

Reply to the bride-to-be:
Young lady---Get your passports--the world is yours!!

[kc4leewards]

One of the best kept secrets in the Caribbean is the beauty and luxury of the Leeward Islands--including Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Barts and St. Martin. These are smaller islands with incredibly beautiful beaches, luxury hotels and atmospheres considerably less hectic than Jamaica or Puerto Rico.

For honeymooners and incurable romantics, I suggest either Anguilla, St. Kitts or Nevis. Anguilla has some of the top resorts of the Caribbean, including Cap Juluca, CuisinArt and Malliouhana (my favorite). Plus they have a dolphin experience, great beaches and lots of top quality restaurants. See www.anguilla-vacation.com for more info.

St. Kitts and Nevis have picturesque plantation inns, where the accommodations center around a restored great house from the colonial period, and the rooms are graciously decorated in antiques. Among my favorites are Ottley Plantation Inn and Rawlins Plantation Inn in St. Kitts, and Nisbet Plantation Inn in Nevis. Nevis also has a Four Seasons with its accompanying golf course, and St. Kitts has a large Marriott and adjacent golf course, if you are looking for these types of hotels. For more information see www.stkitts-tourism.com and www.nevisisland.com

Let me know if you need more information about any of the Leewards.

[claassenam]

Thanks for the great information on the leeward islands kc, but how can pshia possibly stay at such upscale resorts on her budget? Including airfare from the East Coast, they would only be able to pay for a couple nights at any of the resorts you listed (which I know begin at about $600/night - even LL's great packages would make this difficult to attain.) Can you recommend any more budget-friendly resorts?

[ferret]

kyshel: i think you are right and the azul deal would be ideal. i haven't noticed that one, but hopefully the OP will keep an eye out for it. honestly i think they will end up going with something outside of ll as they are pretty much first time travelers. but we are giving good advice.