Aruba, St. Lucia or Antigua

Stina2012

All right ladies, I'm enjoying thinking of fun beach locations for our honeymoon!

We are going in mid-October. I'm familiar with Aruba and St. Lucia but not Antigua. I'm looking to relax on the beach with a pinia colada and FI wants to do a few activities.

Any thoughts?

Blueyed228

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_honeymoon_aruba-st-lucia-antigua?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:11Discussion:8599cf40-77e1-4fb3-b5c1-5bba567e97b6Post:26d8e1c6-a555-46de-853d-26285e01c2e8">Aruba, St. Lucia or Antigua</a>:
[QUOTE]All right ladies, I'm enjoying thinking of fun beach locations for our honeymoon! We are going in mid-October. I'm familiar with Aruba and St. Lucia but not Antigua. I'm looking to relax on the beach with a pinia colada and FI wants to do a few activities. Any thoughts?
Posted by Stina2012[/QUOTE]

I have been to all 3.  I love Aruba and St Lucia.  Antigua was my least favorite.  I didnt feel safe, especially at night (my girlfriends and I went and we were approached numerous times on the street by sketchy dudes), and my wallet got stolen at the resort.  It was also dirty and I got sick from the beef.

We stayed at Sandals in St Lucia.  If you want a nicer beach stay at the Grande.  If you go to Aruba, stay on Eagle Beach.

JMBsbride

Aruba, Eagle Beach!

Alysha Ipock

Aruba!!! Stay at the Riu!! It is truly an amazing place to go! The Riu was so nice. The food was wonderful! Go to the Jolly pirates its cheap and you have a blast! I suggest doing that early in your trip! and go to the natural pool!! Aruba is the greatest vacation you can take!! American money! they speak english and you can feel safe walking anytime of the day and anywhere!

Alysha Ipock

Aruba!!! Stay at the Riu!! It is truly an amazing place to go! The Riu was so nice. The food was wonderful! Go to the Jolly pirates its cheap and you have a blast! I suggest doing that early in your trip! and go to the natural pool!! Aruba is the greatest vacation you can take!! American money! they speak english and you can feel safe walking anytime of the day and anywhere!

Stina2012

Blueyed please tell me Sandals pays you to be a travel advisor! I think you have me convinced to do a Sandals in St Lucia! I've been debating this for a bit, but I think we may do it! How was the beach at La Toc? Was it wide enough for lounge chairs and cabanas? Did you guys go to the Grande at all?

Blueyed228

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_honeymoon_aruba-st-lucia-antigua?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:11Discussion:8599cf40-77e1-4fb3-b5c1-5bba567e97b6Post:5fc8b933-88b5-4315-827f-14f411b2a729">Re: Aruba, St. Lucia or Antigua</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong><u>Blueyed please tell me Sandals pays you to be a travel advisor!</u></strong> I think you have me convinced to do a Sandals in St Lucia! I've been debating this for a bit, but I think we may do it! How was the beach at La Toc? Was it wide enough for lounge chairs and cabanas? Did you guys go to the Grande at all?
Posted by Stina2012[/QUOTE]

Pfft, I wish, lol.

Honestly I just really enjoyed Aruba and St Lucia.  I didnt like Antigua at all.

The beach at La Toc is in the bay so the waves are rougher. Its a big beach, and they have chairs and cabanas, but the pools are the better draw then the beach.  We did spend a day at The Grande.  The beach was very nice and calm.

However, the beaches in St Lucia are public, so the locals are allowed on them, they are not allowed on the resort.  The Grande is more accessible to the locals and there is a parking lot right next to the beach for them to part at.  At La Toc, there are only a few locals on the beach because it is much harder to access.  There was 1 or 2 guys walking the beach offering to sell you pot, lol.  But that was it.  When we were at the Grande, we were approached by a dozen or so. But whichever resort you choose, you will have a blast.

mbody

OP, My FI and I were debating between St. Lucia and Antigua. We decided on St. Lucia because they had more excursions that we can do. We'll be there for 10 days, so I wanted a nice variety to choose between. We didn't look into Aruba.

We'll be staying at LaToc- we decided this pretty much because it was cheaper than the Grande so we're able to stay for 10 days not 7. What's nice is they have the eat and play at all three so we'll definitely head over to the Grande for a pool/beach day or two- especially because they have water skiing and we're skiiers

smartlypretty

Aruba! So safe, the locals and friendly, its always warm, and NEVER HUMID. Ugh, I hate humidity the most. Stay at the Hyatt! Most beautful resort ever. 

Stina2012

mbody, which room style did you pick? I know the butler suites are nice, I'm trying to convince FI.

OBX2011

How do you choose between the 3 different resorts?  Each of them are unique in their own way, which is making this that much harder.  Has anyone stayed at Halycon?  I have heard that it is the oldest of the 3 but has recently been rennovated with some good reviews and some bad ones as well, but that goes for any resort really.

Blueyed228

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_honeymoon_aruba-st-lucia-antigua?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:11Discussion:8599cf40-77e1-4fb3-b5c1-5bba567e97b6Post:145d8e93-d03b-4295-9086-7d9bb8cd867a">Re: Aruba, St. Lucia or Antigua</a>:
[QUOTE]How do you choose between the 3 different resorts?  Each of them are unique in their own way, which is making this that much harder.  Has anyone stayed at Halycon?  I have heard that it is the oldest of the 3 but has recently been rennovated with some good reviews and some bad ones as well, but that goes for any resort really.
Posted by OBX2011[/QUOTE]

It depends on what you want.  The Grande was more of a hotel feel (it used to be the Hyatt or Marriot, i forget which one), while La Toc was more of a resort feel.  But the beach at the Grande is nicer.  We never considered Halycon because it was the least nice of the resorts.  It is smaller too.  We chose La Toc because of the villas we wanted.  They are away from the main part of the resort, 2 story, ocean view, and had a private pool (and 2 butlers).  Both resorts were really nice though.

mbody

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_honeymoon_aruba-st-lucia-antigua?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:11Discussion:8599cf40-77e1-4fb3-b5c1-5bba567e97b6Post:eeab4dc6-1fce-47d9-a208-f6943d613e1c">Re: Aruba, St. Lucia or Antigua</a>:
[QUOTE]mbody, which room style did you pick? I know the butler suites are nice, I'm trying to convince FI. =)
Posted by Stina2012[/QUOTE]
From what I can recal it's something like the LaToc Honeymoon something or other. It's not a Butler or concierge room. I think it's the 4th lowest room or something. We just upgraded for a better view and location within the resort. We went through a travel agent and that's what she suggested for us after I told her what we were looking for. I'd never be able to convince my FI for a Butler room. He doesn't really ever want to "hire" someone to do something he can do himself.. that would apply to the whole Butler idea when it comes to him. Ah well.. hopefully you'll have better luck with that! Either way it will be a great time!! :)

mbody

I've never been to any yet but from what I heard of the halycon (from TA and a friend) is it is the most low-key of the three and is very gardeny (if that's a word.)

We we're looking for something a little more happening that what Halycon was described as b/c we like to meet new people, drink socially, ect.

TropicalWonder

We're heading to Aruba for our honeymoon. Soooo excited! We've booked a Tara suite at Bucuti on Eagle Beach. It's adults only and has a few packages to chose from. I've never been, but it looks like heaven. Good luck!