Suggest Some All-Inclusive Honeymoon Destinations

[dmw16]

I am getting married next July and we are in the prelim stages of planning our honeymoon (along with everything else), and I am looking for input from people.

We want to go somewhere tropical. Bahamas, Caribbean, Virgin Islands, Antigua, St. Lucia, Etc (dont really want to go to Jamaica). You get the idea. Pretty much any island in the Atlantic. We want to stay at an all inclusive. We want to be able to snorkle, eat, drink, sit on the beach, and well...ummmm, yeah ;-)

Obviously Sandals is the default place. They advertise like crazy and have a lot of resorts. But I'd like to hear from people on here. I have read reviews online and most are negative, but I think that a lot of travel websites basically just become a place for people who had a bad experience to vent, but don't usually show the true nature of a resort.

So whether it is a particular Sandals resort that you liked or some other all inclusive please share.

Thanks in advance.

 

[grohl]

screw Scamdals. junk.

Ritz Carlton Jamaica. All you need to know.

All-inclusive package so worth it. There is a 4 diamond restaurant there that is amazing. All the drinks you want, even out at the beach. We never left the place for 5 days and 4 nights. And, if you have never been lucky enough to stay at a Ritz, man, they really know hoe to take care of you.

Basically like 20% of the people there have the all inclusive and the rest don't. The way I eat and drink, my tab would have been $200-300 a day. This is no exaggeration. You sign the bill and it's gone, never to be seen again. I think you pay like an extra $5 for room service.

I honeymooned in Grand Cayman, which was awesome, but expensive. I have been to Cancun (Ritz also) and this one is nicer. Jamaica is a s-hole but the Ritz is all you need.

 

[moshquerade]

It wasn't a honeymoon, but I've been at an all inclusive in Santa Domingo if you're interested in going there. Great price, great beach, great place.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Barcelo Maya Tropical in Playa Del Carmen

Link

 

[Axoliien]

Friends just went to Sandals last month, they were one of 2 couples there at the time. It was great for what they wanted, and they enjoyed it.

 

[dmw16]

Thanks for the suggestions so far. Please keep them coming.

 

[vi edit]

Wife & I "weddingmooned" at Sandals Antigua. We absolutely loved it. It's as good or as bad as you make it to be. If you are an outgoing type (like my wife and I) they are nonstop fun. We basically drank from 10:00AM till 2:00AM. Played beach volleyball with other couples daily. Snorkelled daily. Played bingo at the swim up bar. Scuba dived. Used the kayaks and windjammers, ect.

We were doing something nonstop and made the most of our stay. If you are a reclusive type that just wants a quiet hole to go burry yourself in and occassionaly slip out to a quiet beach for some sun, it's not for you.

Anyone that I've talked to that didn't like their Sandals stay were of the latter group.

 

[spidey07]

aruba, punta cana, belize. All reasonably priced.

Look for an adults only all-inclusive and make sure premium spirites are included as well. Resorts in the 4.5-5 star range are generally very nice.

For me no swim up bar mean me no stay.

 

[dmw16]

Thanks for the insight. I like the idea of meeting other couples and stuff. Need to talk with the wifey-to-be and see what she had in mind.

Spidey, any place in any of those places you can suggest specifically?

 

[meltdown75]

mayan

 

[RichieZ]

French Polynesia

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: dmw16
Thanks for the insight. I like the idea of meeting other couples and stuff. Need to talk with the wifey-to-be and see what she had in mind.

Spidey, any place in any of those places you can suggest specifically?

aruba - hilton
others, paradisus
I can't remember where I stayed in belize as there are few all inclusives there. My main advice would be spend a little extra for a nice resort as it is WELL worth it. Some places even include free 24 hour room service and a stocked bar. All included.

I really like cheapcarribean.com. I just got back from barbados and that was awesome. Other places were charging 2500+ per person for where I stayed. So I called up cheapcarribean and had them move dates around and wound up saving almost 1000 bucks a person with airfare.

 

[Pheran]

We honeymooned in Cancun and it was fantastic. We didn't do all-inclusive, but there are plenty of those options around. We'll probably go back someday.

 

[BornStar]

My wife and I stayed at Pink Beach in Bermuda for our honeymoon. It's not the cheapest place and you pay for drinks and lunch but it's really nice and Bermuda is gorgeous. When you tell them that you're there on your honeymoon they upgrade your room if possible so we ended up getting a suite that was right on the ocean when we only paid for a normal room. They also included a bottle of champagne.

 

[Sentrosi2121]

Here

 

[dmw16]

Thanks for the link. Much more affordable than Sandals in St. Lucia.

I had looked at Bermuda too, but I've heard the water can still be cold in early July. Can anyone comment?

 

[Uppsala9496]

I honeymooned in the BVI (wasn't all inclusive - meals included, no drinks). Anegada was by far my favorite island. The snorkeling is amazing.

I've also stayed at the RIU Palace Punta Cana. The RIU resorts are nice and typical of all-inclusives. You really can't go wrong.

 

[CatKillaZ]

Iraq Hilton

 

[BornStar]

Originally posted by: dmw16
Thanks for the link. Much more affordable than Sandals in St. Lucia.

I had looked at Bermuda too, but I've heard the water can still be cold in early July. Can anyone comment?

We went in late June and the water was very nice. I wouldn't expect that to be a problem for you. The other nice thing about Bermuda is you don't need to worry about exploring by yourself; my wife and I took the bus to Hamilton and the Dockyards and felt safe the entire time.

 

[rivan]

We got married on the beach here and we couldn't have had a better experience. We stayed for two weeks following. We've stayed at Riu hotels before and since, and have never had a single complaint.

 

[GasX]

Are you going to be holed up in the room screwing like jackrabbit honeymooners or are you going to take advantage of the resort and the surrounding area for their activities and nightlife?

 

[Axoliien]

Originally posted by: CatKillaZ
Iraq Hilton

Single again, are we?

 

[dmw16]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
Are you going to be holed up in the room screwing like jackrabbit honeymooners or are you going to take advantage of the resort and the surrounding area for their activities and nightlife?

Yes

I'd say we'll be doing a bit of the first thing you mentioned. But we'd certainly like to take advantage of the night life. We both enjoy going out and getting a few (too many) drinks and cutting loose.

Where does everyone suggest for fun night life?

Also, I'd appreciate comments on the crowds at the resorts. I'd rather not be somewhere overrun by little kids and stuff. Nothing wrong with kids in general, but I'd rather not deal with that on my honeymoon. Also like to avoid college kids. THat was one thing about Sandals that sounded good was the couples only thing.

Thanks.

 

[spidey07]

Adult only resorts are nice. No kiddos and it's usually relaxed. Plus the nude sunbathing is a treat for the eyes. More than one way to see a nice set of coconuts in the carribean.

Generally the higher up you go in price the less crowded it is. You could also look for resorts that have just recently opened as they beg for people to come.

 

[Uppsala9496]

Punta Cana and the BVI don't have much of a night life.