Well, I missed my normal Monday post. Nothing really exciting to report since setting our wedding date. I did book our reception site and have been talking to different vendors. And, we are currently researching honeymoon locations- quite possibly the most important part of the whole wedding. This is quite overwhelming! Both of us are not frivolous spenders, so it is hard for us to pull the trigger on a decision that involves such a large amount of money. We want it to be perfect if we are going to spend that much on a vacation.
Our criteria is this:
1. Adults only
2. All inclusive
3. Warm and sunny in the first week of November
4. Possibility for excursions- canopy tour, zip line, snorkeling are some of our top choices
5. Several different restaurants
6. Being waited on hand and foot
Basically, we want to enjoy the sunshine, enjoy each other, and be pampered.
Places we are considering:
1. Sandals La Toc in St. Lucia
2. LeBlanc Spa Resort in Cancun
3. Other Sandals locations
4. Couples resorts in Jamaica
So, here's where I ask you for your advice. Where did you go on your honeymoon (or anniversary trip, etc.) that you absolutely loved? And, if you don't mind me asking, what is a ballpark figure for the resort plus flight package? What was included? What would you change if you could?
I love to research things and look at them from all angles so I know I am getting the best possible vacation for the best possible price. So, please help!
You have some great options listed. We went to Mexico last summer for a vacation. It was adults only and all inclusive at a place called Secrets Capri. I think it was the most economical out of all the Secrets resorts and we loved it! The food was amazing, the staff was super friendly and it was a very quiet couples environment. We spent less than $3000 on everything. I think that Sandals resorts are a little more pricey that that. If you need more info please e-mail me. I did a couple of blog posts on it in July of 2010.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I went to Dreams in Puerta Vallerta, Mexico and it was awesome. I do remember a few children but they were not a nuisance at all. It had delicious food at all of the restaurants, you didn't have to make reservation for when you wanted to go and the bars on the property are great. The town of Puerta Vallerta is also really fun and cute! I believe we spent around $3000 for 5 days. Goodluck!
ReplyDeleteMy sister and her husband stayed at one of the "Secrets" locations in Cancun and LOVED it!
ReplyDeleteMy friend and her hubs just got back from their honeymoon and they went to Mal Pais, Costa Rica. They stayed at Casa Chameleon. She said it was amazing! The pictures on fb look amazing also.
ReplyDeleteGood luck picking!!
We stayed at The Excellence resort in Punta Cana and loved it! It has some of everything and we were spoiled rotten! Also, we're looking in to going to The El Dorado resort in Riveria Maya this summer and I've heard awesome things about it too!
ReplyDeleteI have been to Couples Resorts in Jamaica and highly recommend it. The staff/service was excellent. The food was amazing and they offer several different options. They also offer a "swap" day where you can visit one of their other resorts for a day. The nightly entertainment was a lot of fun.
ReplyDeleteI HIGHLY recommed the Couples Resort in Negril, Jamaica!!! That is where we went and LOVED it. They were so accommodating and always made sure you had a drink in hand:) Email me if you want some more info!!!
ReplyDeleteWe went to Sandals in the Bahamas and LOVED IT!! It was so nice, the staff was wonderful and the food was delicious. You could leave the resort but we never did because they had so much to do there and had entertainment every night. I think the Sandals resorts are the best for your money. They wait on you hand and foot. I think ours was a little under 3000 for airfare and resort. Good luck picking.
ReplyDeleteWe are going to Sandals Halcyon in St. Lucia. It's a little smaller than Loc Toc but you can still eat at the other 2 resorts on the island.
ReplyDeleteOur only problem, airfare. The plane tickets there were REDIC. I thinking flying to the Bahamas or Jamaica may be a lot more affordable.
Let us know what you choose!
We've never done any all-inclusives and we were both so sick on our honeymoon that it wasn't all that fun (we went to Spain for 2 weeks). I told my husband that I deserve a repeat, ha ha! Once we were done with the wedding, we were just so exhausted that we didn't feel like doing any sight-seeing or anything that required getting out very often.
ReplyDeleteI have been to Cancun and wasn't that impressed. It's fine if you stay in the hotel/resort strip, but anything beyond that and you're traveling at your own risk. We've been to St. Thomas twice in the last 2 years and love it, but we stayed at the brand new Marriott timeshares and they're definitely not all-inclusive/adult-only.
Jamaica could be really nice. I have friends who've been there several times and loved it, but again, you have to be careful about not wandering beyond the resort/hotel main area. A friend of mine went to Costa Rica for her honeymoon and did all of the things you listed, but I'm not sure how warm it would be in early November.
We went to the Mayan Riviera the last week of January/first week of February & stayed at the Aventura Spa Palace. Adults only, all inclusive & absolutely fabulous. Would LOVE to go back. I've been told that all of the Palace Resorts are fabulous.
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog from Blue Eyed Bride, and I went to Sandals La Toc on my honeymoon in late September 2007, so I thought I'd comment:)
ReplyDeleteSt. Lucia is GORGEOUS, and the resort is awesome. The food is great, but if you are a foodie, don't expect food like you would get at a really nice restaurant at home. My understanding is it's excellent for an all inclusive, unless you go to something like a "gourmet all-inclusive". I think I'm just picky about food. Dont' get me wrong, it was really good, I think I just had way too high expectations. The staff was fabulous, and they even upgraded our room since we were on our honeymoon.
They do have several excursions, we did one of the more expensive ones- Land and Sea (I think it was about $200) which I highly reccommend if you end up going to St. Lucia. You get to see major spots on the island, including the volcano, some villages, and the botanical gardens, and then you take a catamaran back to the resort, stopping to snorkle. The restaurants can fill up fast, so figure out where you want to go and make reservations your first night. The Japanese and French restaurants were our favorite, but the Italian was the best for breakfast. We also went out the The Pier restaurant and The Halcyon, which was really delicious, however, if you get motion sickness at all, take medicine, as the roads are very curvy.
For a flight, try to fly into the smaller airport which is only about 15 minutes from La Toc. The other airport is a lot further away and again, I heard of several people that had issues with motion sickness on the ride.
The major downside to St. Lucia was the flight. It took us an entire day to get there (we had a 6 hour layover in Chicago), and flights are expensive. I believe it was about $3,800 for 5 nights including the flights. Our honeymoon was a gift from my in-laws, and it was amazing. I don't know that I'd spend that kind of money on one trip again, but if there's ever a time to splurge, it'd be your honeymoon! If you have any other questions, shoot me an email: crockett.lori@gmail.com.
blcrockett922.blogspot.com
We went to Secrets Maroma Beach on the Mayan Riviera in Mexico for our honeymoon and it was fabulous! Great food, great service, romantic, secluded with lots of entertainment/adventure options outside the resort if you want it. It was a new resort when we went in January of 2009 (It opened in August of 2008 I believe).
ReplyDelete