Looking for a Honeymoon Locale

[NoSkillz]

I'm getting married at the end of October and I'm looking to take the future wife on a nice 10 day honeymoon right after the wedding. I'm wondering if anyone here has been to an exotic place that exceeded expectations...

I'm leaning towards the Pacific side since the Atlantic and Gulf side will be smack in the middle of hurricane season in November.

Some places I've scouted out include:

• Kauai (Princeville looks really nice but expensive)
• Maui
• Fiji
• Bora Bora

A couple of important things to note. My sister wants to pick up the tab for the honeymoon, an extremely gracious (but overwhelming for me) gift. She insists on us flying business class the whole way, which is fine since she has airmiles coming out the wazoo from all the travelling she does through her business. So money isn't necessarily the biggest factor...

However, that being said, I don't want to get out of hand with the hotel we stay at because when my sister ends up getting married, I'd like to do something similar for her.

So, does anyone have any suggestions or positive experiences to talk about? Even if it's in a different area of the world then where I'm looking?

[gottimd]

www.lasventanas.com

In Cabo San Lucas. Best place I have ever been, superior service, very romantic. Spent 8 days there, it was heaven.

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by NoSkillz

I'm getting married at the end of October and I'm looking to take the future wife on a nice 10 day honeymoon right after the wedding. I'm wondering if anyone here has been to an exotic place that exceeded expectations...

I'm leaning towards the Pacific side since the Atlantic and Gulf side will be smack in the middle of hurricane season in November.

Some places I've scouted out include:

• Kauai (Princeville looks really nice but expensive)
• Maui
• Fiji
• Bora Bora

A couple of important things to note. My sister wants to pick up the tab for the honeymoon, an extremely gracious (but overwhelming for me) gift. She insists on us flying business class the whole way, which is fine since she has airmiles coming out the wazoo from all the travelling she does through her business. So money isn't necessarily the biggest factor...

However, that being said, I don't want to get out of hand with the hotel we stay at because when my sister ends up getting married, I'd like to do something similar for her.

So, does anyone have any suggestions or positive experiences to talk about? Even if it's in a different area of the world then where I'm looking?

We went to Kauai for our honeymoon and LOVED it. If you go, get this guidebook. It put all others to shame. It ended up being the only one we used/needed, but we used/needed it a lot.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/096...lance&n=283155

Also, make sure that you take a helicopter ride while you are down there. Best way to see parts of the island that you will never see.

Also, if you are looking to save your sister some money, and you like hiking/outdoors, one thing that you can do is spend a few days in cabins in the state park up in the mountains (I forget the name, but it is the only park up there) and then spend the remainder of the trip in a nice hotel on the beach.

[Eaglesfan27]

No suggestions, but November is NOT the middle of hurricane season for the Atlantic or Gulf. August and September are the middle of the hurricane season in the Atlantic and the Gulf and there are usually not many storms in November. That being said, I really am looking forward to vacationing in several different places in the Caribbean, but haven't done so yet, and can't offer any valid suggestions.

[Coffee Warlord]

I've heard Kauai is lovely, and I've been to Maui, which was beautiful.

[PadresFan104]

I went to Kauai a few years ago for my honeymoon and it was the best vacation experience of my life. I cannot wait to go back. We stayed on the Southeast side of the island, at the Grand Hyatt Resort and Spa in Poipu. It was AMAZING.

The best part was the check-in. We could only afford a non-ocean view room, but when they realized we were honeymooners, they upgraded us to an ocean view at the same price.

A truly unforgettable experience.

[rkmsuf]

Komoniwannalaya is beautiful that time of year.

[Fidatelo]

My wife and I really enjoyed our honeymoon at the Bahia Principe in the Mayan Riviera (Mexico) at the end of last november.

[sportsfan13]

Was planning on going to Rockhouse Hotel, Negril. Check out their website. You can get your own private Villa for only $100-something per night.

www.rockhousehotel.com

[Passacaglia]

Go to Europe.

[JeeberD]

I'm heading to Barbados in a month...I'll let you know how it was when we get back.

[NoSkillz]

Great suggestions so far. Keep 'em coming!

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

No suggestions, but November is NOT the middle of hurricane season for the Atlantic or Gulf. August and September are the middle of the hurricane season in the Atlantic and the Gulf and there are usually not many storms in November. That being said, I really am looking forward to vacationing in several different places in the Caribbean, but haven't done so yet, and can't offer any valid suggestions.

Well that opens up the Atlantic side as well. My sister has good things to say about Nevis and Anguilla so I guess I have more homework to do!

[Mustang]

If I could make a small suggestion, leave for a Honeymoon a week (or 3-4 days after the wedding instead of the following day. We found the honeymoon that much more enjoyable knowing that we didn't have a bunch of post-wedding things to come back to.

What are your thoughts on cruises? If you have 10 days, you might not want to be in one area for that long and you could take in 5 or 6 places.

[NoSkillz]

Originally Posted by Mustang

If I could make a small suggestion, leave for a Honeymoon a week (or 3-4 days after the wedding instead of the following day. We found the honeymoon that much more enjoyable knowing that we didn't have a bunch of post-wedding things to come back to.

What are your thoughts on cruises? If you have 10 days, you might not want to be in one area for that long and you could take in 5 or 6 places.

Our wedding will be on the Saturday and we won't leave for the honeymoon until Monday night or Tuesday morning so that should give us enough time to relax a bit after the wedding and settle any last minute stuff.

A cruise is something we're looking at doing in the future but not on the honeymoon. It might seem strange but we are keen on just staying in the one place and maybe taking little day-trips while there as opposed to island hopping - we think it will make the vacation seem longer without all the travelling between places. And much more relaxing!

[Runtheball]

Bora Bora is beautiful, and if you do go to French Polynesia you should definitely stop there. However, there is very little to do there besides snorkel and lay on the beach: both great options, and I'm sure you'll find more interesting things to do on your honeymoon anyway .

A much better choice is Moorea. The snorkeling is better than BB, and there are good restaurants and a larger island to explore. Try the Intercontinental Resort on the north side of the island.

[digamma]

www.nannai.com.br

[gottimd]

Originally Posted by Runtheball

Bora Bora is beautiful, and if you do go to French Polynesia you should definitely stop there. However, there is very little to do there besides snorkel and lay on the beach: both great options, and I'm sure you'll find more interesting things to do on your honeymoon anyway .

A much better choice is Moorea. The snorkeling is better than BB, and there are good restaurants and a larger island to explore. Try the Intercontinental Resort on the north side of the island.

That is where we wanted to go, but flight time and cost to get there from the East Coast was too much in money and days just flying to and from.

[Raiders Army]

Beruit isn't too bad this time of year.

[Bee]

I heard Alaska is nice in November.

[scooter]

Originally Posted by PadresFan104

I went to Kauai a few years ago for my honeymoon and it was the best vacation experience of my life. I cannot wait to go back. We stayed on the Southeast side of the island, at the Grand Hyatt Resort and Spa in Poipu. It was AMAZING.

The best part was the check-in. We could only afford a non-ocean view room, but when they realized we were honeymooners, they upgraded us to an ocean view at the same price.

A truly unforgettable experience.

I'll echo these thoughts. My wife and I stayed in the same place on our honeymoon 10 years ago. At that time, they had just reopened the resort after having to totally reconstruct it after a hurricane (I'm not sure what time of year is Pacific hurricane season). We stayed on the top floor, center (we splurged) and had a great time (and a great view). We took daytrips around the island and did the helicopter thing (take your dramamine). We also spent a lot of time just lounging around by the pool and on our deck. Our favorite thing though was the breakfast - it was outstanding.

We wanted to go back again for our 5-year anniversary, but we missed, so 2 years ago we went to Maui instead and stayed at the Hyatt there. We had a great time there too (they also have a great breakfast). There seemed to be more things to do on Maui, but there were also more people. Both places were great and we would love to go back again, but for a honeymoon, I'd probably pick Kauai.

[Flasch186]

didnt someone recently take a nice trip to Pakistan?

[ice4277]

Toledo is lovely this time of year. You can barely smell the pollution or cow poop.

[Flasch186]

seriously, i go on my cruise with the Fiancee on August 13th and will give you an update. Im sure a cruise is NOT the optimal thing for a honeymoon (im just guessing on that) but at least Ill have a verdict one way or the other.

[ice4277]

Originally Posted by Flasch186

seriously, i go on my cruise with the Fiancee on August 13th and will give you an update. Im sure a cruise is NOT the optimal thing for a honeymoon (im just guessing on that) but at least Ill have a verdict one way or the other.

True, you could get murdered and thrown overboard.

[jamesUMD]

Belize. Just came back from a wedding there and it was awesome.

[DanGarion]

Whatever you do check http://www.tripadvisor.com for people's reviews of the places!

[Flame Eater]

Hotel Hana Maui...That's it...That's the list.

You're very welcome.

Bye-Bye

[rkmsuf]

Wanalikadiki is supposed to be a lot of fun.

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

Wanalikadiki is supposed to be a lot of fun.

That depends on if you are doing the liki or she is...

[Router Help]

Originally Posted by JeeberD

I'm heading to Barbados in a month...I'll let you know how it was when we get back.

Hah! Me too!

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Runtheball

Bora Bora is beautiful, and if you do go to French Polynesia you should definitely stop there. However, there is very little to do there besides snorkel and lay on the beach: both great options, and I'm sure you'll find more interesting things to do on your honeymoon anyway .

A much better choice is Moorea. The snorkeling is better than BB, and there are good restaurants and a larger island to explore. Try the Intercontinental Resort on the north side of the island.

My wife and I went on our honeymoon to Tahiti and it was wonderful. We've been to all the major islands on Hawaii and still prefer Tahiti. I would suggest that you actually get the best of both worlds. We went to Bora Bora first. The wedding is pretty exhausting and you'll be run down, so Bora Bora offers the perfect place to relax. I would tell you that the small cost of upgrade to an over-the-water bungalow is well worth it. In Bora Bora, we had snorkeling gear in our room and could simply climb down a ladder off our bungalow directly into the water to snorkel in our own little area without ever leaving our room. Bora Bora also has some really nice art galleries and you can actually rent a 'fun car' and drive around the island to visit all of the sites in a day.

After a few days, we did the short 25 minute flight over to Moorea and went hiking, off-roading, swimming in waterfalls, etc. Really nice change-up from Bora Bora. You honestly won't regret going down there. We're heading back there soon for our anniversary.

Another benefit of Tahiti is that it's actually no more expensive than Hawaii and is actually more affordable if you upgrade to the nicer rooms.

[JeeberD]

Originally Posted by Router Help

Hah! Me too!

When are you going to be there, and where are you staying? Maybe we can get together for an overpriced beer...

[Router Help]

Originally Posted by JeeberD

When are you going to be there, and where are you staying? Maybe we can get together for an overpriced beer...

August 21-28 at the Allamanda Beach Hotel. I found some websites online for bars that have very very affordable drink prices. I'll look them up again when I get home.

[JeeberD]

Spooky, we're going to be there August 21-27! We'll be staying at the Fairmont Royal Pavilion, on the western coast, so it doesn't look like we'll be neighbors. Not that the island of Barbados is all that huge...

And yeah, send me that bar info. Most of what I've seen so far has been really expensive...

[NoSkillz]

We've really opened it up now - I'm looking at a 'One and Only' resort in Maldives off the Indian Ocean. Very exotic but the prices...

Got to make a decision soon...

[JeeberD]

We looked at a place in the Maldives...it was gorgeous, but the airfare alone probably would have blown our budget.

[NoSkillz]

Originally Posted by JeeberD

We looked at a place in the Maldives...it was gorgeous, but the airfare alone probably would have blown our budget.

Yup, the Maldives are out and Kauai is in.

We booked nine nights at the Princeville resort. Airfare was likely a factor, as my sister just yesterday bought a house in a swanky area of Toronto so the cash crunch was on.

Still, looks like a beautiful resort. I'll definitely update the thread after the trip.

[Glengoyne]

Go the Bora Bora and Tahiti Route.

If you are a little adventurous I suggest Kia Ora Sauvage. You fly to Rangiaroa(sp?), and then a boat takes you to the far side of the atoll to an island with only 5 bungalows and a common hall. There is no electricity, but there is running water for showers. It makes for a very peaceful get away with practically no one around you.

There is a couple that stay on the island as caretakers. The husband leads expeditions to go snorkeling or hiking around neighboring islands. In a nutshell, this was the highlight of our tahitian honeymoon. We got to swim with Giant manta rays and sharks on the daily expeditions. The wife is a gourmet cook, and prepares the fresh fish the snorkeling ventures bring back.


The no power bit sounds weird, but honestly we didn't miss it, and neither of us is the least bit out-doorsy.

edit: too late it appears

[Runtheball]

Originally Posted by Glengoyne

Go the Bora Bora and Tahiti Route.

If you are a little adventurous I suggest Kia Ora Sauvage. You fly to Rangiaroa(sp?), and then a boat takes you to the far side of the atoll to an island with only 5 bungalows and a common hall. There is no electricity, but there is running water for showers. It makes for a very peaceful get away with practically no one around you.

There is a couple that stay on the island as caretakers. The husband leads expeditions to go snorkeling or hiking around neighboring islands. In a nutshell, this was the highlight of our tahitian honeymoon. We got to swim with Giant manta rays and sharks on the daily expeditions. The wife is a gourmet cook, and prepares the fresh fish the snorkeling ventures bring back.


The no power bit sounds weird, but honestly we didn't miss it, and neither of us is the least bit out-doorsy.

edit: too late it appears

I looked into this place while planning our honeymoon in Moorea and Bora Bora. It did sound like a great get away, but in the final analysis it would have gotten us too far away for our tastes. And I am kinda outdoorsy. In retrospect, I wouldn't have changed a thing from our honeymoon: 6 nights in Moorea, and 3 in Bora Bora.

I learned alot of great info about potential honeymoon locations through e-pinions. That's an excellent website.

[Glengoyne]

Originally Posted by Runtheball

I looked into this place while planning our honeymoon in Moorea and Bora Bora. It did sound like a great get away, but in the final analysis it would have gotten us too far away for our tastes. And I am kinda outdoorsy. In retrospect, I wouldn't have changed a thing from our honeymoon: 6 nights in Moorea, and 3 in Bora Bora.

I learned alot of great info about potential honeymoon locations through e-pinions. That's an excellent website.

I do think you would have enjoyed the Sauvage, but I certainly don't think there is anything wrong with Moorea and Bora Bora for a honeymoon. Pretty amazing locales. As a point of interest, another couple I know spent time on Moorea, and it turned out they took a four wheel drive tour from the same guy that took us. The driver's name was Reggie, and he was quite...memorable. Wondering if you took a four wheel drive tour up to the waterfall.

[Runtheball]

We drove up to Belvedere and took pictures, and stopped at some ruins along the way, and gave a few pints of blood to the mosquitos during a short jungle hike, but no 4wd tour.