Suggestions for planning honeymoon...

[AustinInDallas]

So my wedding is in 3 months and its the usually last minute stuff. Havent even booked our honeymoon.

I was wondering if anyone had some good suggestions. My budget is <2500. Prefer to be around 2k, but have budget for more. We also prefer all inclusive and 4-5 nights.

It seem cheapcaribbean.com has some really good deals that INCLUDE air. We will be flying out of DFW airport in dallas. And this resort seemeed very well priced. Includes air, all inclusive resort, no kids, beautiful beaches.

http://www.cheapcaribbean.com/resor...ers.bookingType=P&priceAndBook.packageId=3659

ANY suggestions would be greatly appreciated. We have our passports, so any country besides cuba and NK is cool

 

[thirdeye]

My wife and I did Aruba for our honeymoon. That was like 9 years ago but I know we did an all inclusive place for around the same price you're looking at. Might be worth checking out.

 

[purbeast0]

aruba owns. not very far from dfw either.

may also want to check out cabo in mexico. i just got back from my first all inclusive experience in costa rica, and i don't think i'll be doing all inclusive again. felt very limiting. however our friends who were there with us went to an all inclusive place in cabo that they said had much better food and drinks.

i don't think the beaches are as nice as the mayan riviera though. i've been to cancun twice and it is awesome. close to where you are looking but a different environment. if you end up going there, i STRONGLY recommend spending a day at xel-ha. that is one of my favorite places i've ever been.

http://www.xelha.com/

 

[crashtestdummy]

You can save a lot of money by staying in the US. I'm not much of a beach person, but the best beach place I've been to is Sanibel Island in Florida.

If I had the budget you were looking at, I might think about doing either the southwest national parks and/or a west coast trip visiting San Fran, Napa, and Big Sur. You wouldn't really even have to plan the trip, just pick an arrival airport, a departure airport, and rent a car. Everything you do in between is just at your own pace.

 

[purbeast0]

You can save a lot of money by staying in the US. I'm not much of a beach person, but the best beach place I've been to is Sanibel Island in Florida.

If I had the budget you were looking at, I might think about doing either the southwest national parks and/or a west coast trip visiting San Fran, Napa, and Big Sur. You wouldn't really even have to plan the trip, just pick an arrival airport, a departure airport, and rent a car. Everything you do in between is just at your own pace.

that isn't really true at all. but you said you aren't much of a beach person so it makes sense why you wouldn't know about it.

mexico is much cheaper than most places in the usa. hell when i stayed at the atlantis in the bahamas it was when i was also looking at the florida keys. the price to stay in the atlantis hotel in the bahamas was the same price or cheaper than the places i was looking at in the keys.

and mexico is much cheaper than the bahamas. mexico also has nicer beaches than anywhere you will find in florida.

 

[crashtestdummy]

Fair enough on Mexico, I was more thinking the Caribbean. And the Florida Keys are overpriced and not all that great. (Despite not being a beach person myself, my family goes to Florida every year.) Sanibel and Sarasota are both much nicer and generally cheaper.

 

[bigrash]

We did Hawaii last year for our honeymoon and loved it. But you'll need more than 3-4 days there and it's super expensive.

Be careful with cheapcarribean. My coworker was telling me about an awesome deal they had, so I went to check it out, and they had tons of crazy fees ($200 per person) that they only show in the final screen while booking.

 

[Ausm]

I would plan for the divorce first, that way it would lessen the pain.

 

[VulgarDisplay]

I went to the dominican republic for my honeymoon. We had a blast. 8 days 7 nights was around $3500 for two people. The food was kinda meh, but who cares the free booze made it all worth while.

I wouldn't go to mexico because all you hear now is horror stories about tourists there. Unless you're into watching your new wife get raped in front of you.

 

[blackdogdeek]

We went on a Royal Caribbean cruise for our honeymoon and loved it. I bet with all the negative publicity lately you could get better prices.

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

Maybe you can find something on travelzoo.com or eversave.com or one of the groupon type sites.

Something like http://www.travelzoo.com/local-deals/hawaii/Getaway/42292

Istanbul/turkey is out of your budget but I just got back from there and it's a beautiful country. A night cruise on the Bosphorous would be very romantic/picturesque. Cappadocia is supposed to be a popular place for hot air balloon rides (ehhh). There's a cave hotel you can stay in also. Maybe not for your honeymoon but a future trip.
http://www.travelzoo.com/vacations/...t-Escorted-Spring-or-Fall-Trip-w-Air-1419684/

 

[purbeast0]

I went to the dominican republic for my honeymoon. We had a blast. 8 days 7 nights was around $3500 for two people. The food was kinda meh, but who cares the free booze made it all worth while.

I wouldn't go to mexico because all you hear now is horror stories about tourists there. Unless you're into watching your new wife get raped in front of you.

ah the uninformed. thanks for keeping prices down for the informed.

you should go read tripadvisor reports if you want to hear all the great stories about the tourists there, instead of reading about the couple bad incidents that happen in the drug running areas.

 

[vi edit]

I've had several coworkers do "Now Resorts" in Mexico.
http://www.nowresorts.com/

Had great things to say. They were doing special deals that were like 3 nights + airfair for $700 a person.

Mexico is a touchy subject given the violence and other problems with the country. A majority of the problems are at border towns but there's *just enough* other issues that happen in the tourist areas to keep you a bit weary.

Truth is that almost any place you go in the Caribbean is nothing more than a 3rd world country. Just a really pretty one with great weather. Step off the resort and you aren't in Kansas any more.

 

[AustinInDallas]

Unless you're into watching your new wife get raped in front of you.

do they charge extra for that?

 

[Newbian]

Get a soundproof room.

 

[AustinInDallas]

Maybe you can find something on travelzoo.com or eversave.com or one of the groupon type sites.

Something like http://www.travelzoo.com/local-deals/hawaii/Getaway/42292

Istanbul/turkey is out of your budget but I just got back from there and it's a beautiful country. A night cruise on the Bosphorous would be very romantic/picturesque. Cappadocia is supposed to be a popular place for hot air balloon rides (ehhh). There's a cave hotel you can stay in also. Maybe not for your honeymoon but a future trip.
http://www.travelzoo.com/vacations/...t-Escorted-Spring-or-Fall-Trip-w-Air-1419684/

I definately follow travel zoo very closely. always has amazing deals. Only bad thing is most of the trips are from NYC or Miami or LA. fees add up a lot from DFW

 

[tynopik]

disneyland

 

[Uppsala9496]

I did Virgin Gorda in the BVI for my honeymoon. Did Punta Cana for my one year anniversary. Stayed at the RIU Palace. Nice place. Was constructed less than a year before so everything was nice and new.

 

[highland145]

Pre-nup.



Grats.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Head to Playa Del Carmen outside Cancun -

Find an all inclusive with no kids -adults only. European style resort is a plus.

No need to leave the resort, they will have everything for you. Just book a regular room and head to the beach if you need a ocean view. When you check in mention, honeymoon, and they will prolly upgrade you as May onward is the low season.

You can spend as little as $175 a night for all inclusive adults only places and they range up to $500 a night for the classier 5* places.

Run the vacation dates through:
Kayak
CheapCarribean
Orbitz
Expedia
AppleVacations

Prices will vary by a few hundred dollars on each site. Coupon codes can be had for Orbitz too.

 

[AustinInDallas]

Pre-nup.



Grats.

its cool. we both have nothing to lose really

 

[highland145]

its cool. we both have nothing to lose really

Seriously, wishing you the best. 17 years in May.

 

[mvbighead]

Did a trip to Puerto Vallarta at Gold Crown Paradise (I believe). Under $1500 for 10 days (as a couple), the staff there was EXTREMELY courteous and helpful. 3-4 different restaurants at the site, free booze, and some pretty awesome staff in the restaurants. I would absolutely do that trip again if we didn't have the new kiddo. You honestly feel like everyone there wants you to have the time of your life.

 

[AustinInDallas]

aruba owns. not very far from dfw either.

may also want to check out cabo in mexico. i just got back from my first all inclusive experience in costa rica, and i don't think i'll be doing all inclusive again. felt very limiting. however our friends who were there with us went to an all inclusive place in cabo that they said had much better food and drinks.

i don't think the beaches are as nice as the mayan riviera though. i've been to cancun twice and it is awesome. close to where you are looking but a different environment. if you end up going there, i STRONGLY recommend spending a day at xel-ha. that is one of my favorite places i've ever been.

http://www.xelha.com/

to do something like this, how do you coordinate transportation?

 

[purbeast0]

to do something like this, how do you coordinate transportation?

they come pick you up from the hotel and bring you back. it's pretty standard with all of the excursions that you can do.