Our 10 year anniversary is coming up on September 1! Wow, a decade of togetherness! We did not have a honeymoon when we got married because, well, we eloped! The first 2 weeks of our marriage was spent in separate cities until I moved into a hotel with him for a few weeks in DC until our house was finished being built. The plan was to take a BIG honeymoon vacation on our 1 year anniversary. We decided on a cruise. Well, by the time the 1 year anniversary came, and we were sitting on that cruise ship, I was 10 weeks pregnant and SICK! I was miserable, tired and no fun to be around! I was mostly stuck in that TINY little room!
So, here we are 10 years later and we have never taken any sort of a vacation, except weekend getaways, without our children. This means I’m feeling all this pressure to have the perfect “honeymoon” vacation. We are planning it for late March or early April and I NEED YOUR HELP!
I’ve checked 3 books out of the library about the Caribbean and the Bahamas and I have read 2 of them cover to cover. I’ve looked at tons of websites for resorts and private villas. I’ve obsessed over this trip. I’m more than confused than ever.
Look at all these choices??? What is a girl to do??? She is turning to you all to weigh in! Give me some advice, tell me places you liked and even disliked!
I don't want this!
I’m not into HUGE resorts with lots of people. I’m thinking semi remote. I like the idea of the all inclusive, but then it worries me as well. I am very picky about my food. I don’t like buffets. What if I get tired of the food? Maybe discovering local flavors is more fun. Thoughts on all inclusive?
I’ve ruled out a cruise because we already did that. I don’t want to feel pressured to get on and off the ship and pick excursions, ride transportation to get to them and all that. Nothing scheduled for me on this trip. Just waking up and decided to do something or lay on beach and do nothing.
Here is my picky criteria:
1. Not too much hassle to get there from NC. I don’t want to spend an entire day traveling to get somewhere.
2. Not too big of a resort or hotel. No more than 3 stories.
3. Good food. Good food. Good food.
4. King size bed!
5. Open to renting a house or villa
Anybody got any advice for me? I might even be willing to pay for comments today! I beg on bended knee to dish out anything you got! Oh yes, pray for my parents too who will be on boy duty!
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi There! I, too, am a vacation planning obsessor so I feel your pain/joy! One of my favorite things to do is peruse the lonelyplanet.com travel forum Thorn Tree. Since you know you want to go to the Caribbean, search that and then read the thousands of real-life travel tales that real people (not paid critics!!) have to say about certain destinations. Specifically look for ‘Trip Reports’. Also, we’ve used VRBO for several different vacation rentals. ENJOY the planning . . . I’m currently working on a sea kayaking trip to the Sea of Cortez in March!!
Thanks so much for these great tips!!!
I’ve heard the Cayman Islands is a beautiful place to go, although I’ve never been there. My husband & I took a trip to Ocho Rios, Jamaica {years ago} …I wouldn’t recommend it at all. All-inclusive can be nice {don’t have to worry about cash, etc) as long as the place has a variety of restaurants to choose from:) Have fun wherever you decide!
Hello, It is me again…. Not sure when you want to leave, but NC to the Caribbean is about full day of travel… Not sure of your budget, but Sea Island, GA is very nice, pretty, and is upscale. If I was to go to the Caribbean I would go south to the BVI… costs a little more, but think it is worth it… I like cruising also, but not coming up this time of year. I was in the Bahamas Jan/Feb-08 and about FROZE.. not far enough south…. went to Cozumel Feb-09 and the weather was perfect…good luck!!!
I visited St. Thomas one year while on a cruise. We took the ferry to St. John, absolutely beautiful! Trunk Bay used to be listed as one of the top ten most beautiful beaches. We went to Cinnamon Bay, nobody else was there and also pretty. I have a friend who’s a travel agent, they go to St. John every year, says she’s addicted to it. They stay at a hotel not a resort. It’s slower paced and the beauty can’t be beat. Email me if you want more info and I’ll contact her for the hotel name. Our next vacation will probably be Jamaica in a year. Good luck and happy planning.