Honeymoon Help for Carribean Newbies

[LysaC]

Hello everyone!

I'm trying to help a friend of mine pick a carribean honeymoon . She and her fiancee are carribean newbies so there are approx boobillion options. They are going in July.

They will NOT get STJ or the BVI's so I'm at a loss. They are also very specific in their likes and dislikes (see criteria below)- no off the beaten path secluded honeymoon cottage native food ecofriendly hang out at Vie's with chickens and cats up close and personal with the flora and fauna kind of people.

Here is some criteria:

1. Prefer AI but not necessary.
2. Activities incl. but not limited to nightclubs, shopping, dancing, gambling, busy stuff that I can't relate to, non-beachy stuff (bride-to-be loves the sun & warm weather & oceanfront stuff but not the actual beach & sand and saltwater ).
3. Adults only prefered but not necessary.
4. Direct flight to destination must be available and preferably on a Delta flight.
5. American-type food must be available.

A Sandals resort is perfect in theory but the Bahamas Sandals has gotten a bad rap on Trip Advisor and we don't know yet if there is a direct flight to the St Lucian Grande Sandals. This couple will not got to Jamaica.

They stay in Comfort Inns all the time (points) and have only travelled on the mainland so really have no experience with luxurious carribean settings and destination hotels.

Ok, so this task is really hard- I realize that now that I typed this out .... but if anyone can help, I'd appreciate it and the bride would too.

Thanks!!

[mbw1024]

this is why I'm not in the travel business I was for a brief time and I helped a co worker from my Full time job book her honeymoon. She chose a place in St. Lucia and 3 days before her wedding called my crying saying how did I book her in a place that had no TV's??????????
She wanted to change to Sandal's immediately. Of course there was no way that was going to happen without paying big penalties so I told her to go buy a portable DVD player and be done with it! She did and they manage to get through their honeymoon without a TV

Anyway, maybe the should look at where they can get to direct first and go from there. What about Aruba?

Just an FYI if I recall correctly, when you fly to St. Lucia the main airport is not near most of the hotels. It can be over an hour through the mountains to get to your hotel. That may dissuade them from that trip
My client took a helicopter transfer to her hotel but of course that was not cheap.

[Xislandgirl]

I was going to recommend Aruba as well. There are many direct flights from many cities and it is the perfect location for those that aren't Caribbean junkies.

[martini girl]

Aruba could work. Many non-stop flights, lots of hotels both all-inclusive and not - we've always liked the Hyatt. American food as well as some island-type dishes. The beaches are nice, but since the wind always kicks up the sand, we typically hung out at the gorgeous pools. Casinos, restaurants, bars and nightclubs, water sports, sailing, great shopping at hotels and downtown. I'd recommend the hotels on Palm Beach, but I know other areas have grown considerably since we were last there (2002). Could fit many budgets as well. Lots to keep you busy, or not if you prefer. Aruba could fit the bill. We've been there, done that, and totally prefer St. John, but to each his own.

[jmq]

How about Cancun or Cabo on the Pacific side?
There are also some good umbrella drink resorts in Turks and Caicos.

[Xislandgirl]

We've been there, done that, and totally prefer St. John, but to each his own.

I am with ya, I will never go back to Aruba. I know people that go year after year and just don't get it.

[MarciaMarciaMarcia]

That new "adults only section" of Atlantis in the Bahamas might be up their alley. Maybe even Puerto Rico.....something on the glitzy Isla Verde strip might appeal to them. Old San Juan has charm and history, too. If they are the travel equivalent of the "hot house orchid" and don't wish to see any rough edges then Bermuda might be the answer. Maybe Elbow Beach which has all of the above and a spectacular beach that even people who hate sand whould have to love. July in Bermuda would be gorgeous.

[Ksea]

Jamaica sounds perfect for this couple. Direct flights, terrible american food, AI, nice pools and not so great beaches, tons of night life. Some half way decent resorts. I will never go back, but like others have said, to each his own!

[jayseadee]

I'd echo Aruba. There are a lot of nice high rise hotels with casino's and nightclubs along Palm Beach. I'm sure at least one is AI - it used to be The Allegro, but it has changed names a few times.

There are also some nice low-rises along Eagle beach (my favorite). The Bucuti Beach Resort is small and just built some new oceanfront suites. They are not AI, but have a meal plan - I think it was a dine-around. Lots of good restaurants on Aruba, so AI is not really needed. The Bucuti is on the widest stretch of Eagle beach and has (I think still) banned watersports from directly in front of their property, but they could walk next door and rent jet skiis, banana boats, ski, etc. The Alhambra, which is a fairly large casino, is right up the street; downtown is a few bus stops away. Aruba also is not hit by hurricanes (very, very rare) so would be a good choice for summer. Check out the Divi, it is AI, as well as its sister resort whose name escapes me.

Another option with direct flights (at least from Boston) is Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. It seems to have become the AI capital of late; can probably get some good deals in July.

Then there is Bermuda - not a lot of AI spots, but some beautiful beach resorts (no gambling); some nightlife, excellent shopping and great golf.

Oh and Hawaii - need at least 10days from the east coast, I think. No gambling yet though. I'm guessing an island is an island and which sea/ocean doesn't really matter.

What about a cruise?

Tons of places out there. Has she considered finding an old-fashioned travel agent? There's probably a few still around

[sailorgirl]

I don't mean to be harsh... well Ok maybe I do . The question in my mind is, if you want your vacation to be exactly like home why not save the money and stay put? I know I should be more zen about it and if someone wants to spend their honeymoon packed in with a bunch of people exactly like the ones they left at home, sporting a fashionable florescent wrist band denoting which food plan they have... then who am I to say otherwise. That being said I second the suggestions of Bermuda, PR or Aruba, been to all three,easy acess from the east coast, many hotel options .

[sailorgirl]

PS Lysa, This project has disaster written all over it. Remember no good deed goes unpunished. The couple sounds hard to please, do yourself a favor and suggest a travel agent, let someone else take the heat when they come back complaining how horrible the honeymoon was.

[martini girl]

I don't get that all inclusive thing. I've only been to a few, all of which had less than average food, and way less than average drinks. I have no interest in that concept anymore. That wristband comment by Sailorgirl brought back some memories...no thanks!

I don't know that I'd suggest the adult-only area of Atlantis, I've priced that out and if your friends typically stay in Comfort Inns on points, they'll fall over from sticker shock on the room itself, not to mention the restaurant prices.

I think the Dominican Republic is a great suggestion. Lots of all-inclusives, nice beaches, very reasonably-priced, especially during the summer, and direct flights abound. Cancun or the Riviera Maya should be explored too. Easy flights, great pricing in the summer, lots to do, numerous AIs.
Lots of luck!

[jmq]

PS Lysa, This project has disaster written all over it. Remember no good deed goes unpunished. The couple sounds hard to please, do yourself a favor and suggest a travel agent, let someone else take the heat when they come back complaining how horrible the honeymoon was.

Good advice.
We call this the "lead pipe rule". If one of us starts going on and on too much about a vacation trip, restaurant, book, or movie to the point where somebody is actually gonna go there solely on our unsolicited advice, the other one is supposed to hit the blabbermouth upside the head with a lead pipe, or at least kick em under the table so they back off or at least invoke some different strokes disclaimers.

Not fun when someone you know personally takes your advice and then thinks what you thought was so great sucked for them.

But its OK to go on and on here and other forums, because at least you assume that you are dealing mostly with like minded folks. Even then, large grains of salt may be required. This was the thinking behind the "Most overrated/most underrated" thread that I started here back last April. It got lotsa views and replies and let folks vent about some of their disappointment with some of the "institutions" of STJ (for example, Skinnys took a LOT of hits) or let us know about some other places/things to do on STJ that werent getting their due props.
That was a fun one that maybe we should resurrect on the main board.

[liamsaunt]

I honestly don't have any suggestions, but I did want to say that I do not think Bermuda is a good choice for this couple, given what they want to do on their honeymoon. First of all, gambling is illegal on Bermuda. Secondly, there's not much nightlife. There's one dance club in downtown Hamilton that I know of, and sometimes the hotels have dinner shows, but that's pretty much it.

I second (third?) the recommendation for a travel agent! I bet they'd have some good ideas. Lots of people really enjoy the type of vacation you describe. (Just not me!)

[LysaC]

Seriously- you guys rock!!

After I typed out all the criteria, I figured you'all STJ lovers would be freaked and run away. Not so!!

After more research last night I discovered that Aruba matches with a lot of their likes/dislikes and it seems the majority of you feel the same way- awesome!! Then, coincindentally, they met with a JP last night and he also reccomended Aruba.

The Liberty Travel rep reccomended the Bahamas Sandals then found out about the bad reviews then took it back and hasn't reccomended anything else since. She's good- NOT!

IMHO, they should just do a Disney honeymoon package with a cruise and play it safe but they really want to get off the mainland and they REALLY should! Typically they limit themselves based on price rather than spending a little more and having a much better experience and I'm really pushing for them NOT to do that on their honeymoon. (Hubby and I are not even close to rich but we've learned that, if you do your research, you get what you pay for. We've never regretted any money we've spent on STJ!)

Atlantis was their first choice and honestly would be perfect for them except for 1. the price (I even balked at the price and spared no expense on my STJ trips!) and 2. the presence of kids. Lots and lots o' families. No one needs that kind of pressure on their honeymoon!

Jamaica's AI population seems to fit the bill but it's rep does not. They want to be able to go out and explore and Jamaica has a rep for being a little scary.

I too thought Bermuda would be a "civilized" way to ease into an island-type vacation but they don't want to do that cuz it's not far enough away from Boston.

I appreciate the concerns you have for my friendship with the bride to be. Don't worry- she's doing and does her own homework. I'm just helping cuz I'm bored and need a distraction and researching island vacations while sitting in my cubicle in cold New England is really fun!

So, Aruba it probably is!

Thanks all!!