All Inclusive Caribbean Suggestions/Help?!?

butterflyjumper1

FI and I are wanting to book our honeymoon soon and need some advice!  

Late July/early August 2012 honeymoon, would love to make our honeymoon last up to 8-9 nights, and are looking to spend somewhere around $6000 (but would spend a little more if we found something awesome).  

We want to be on a beach, would prefer a private suite of some sort, and would love to have an AI option. 

We have been looking into Sandals, Beaches, Secrets, and Couples as options - but have no idea where the best place to go is, or what the best value would be?? 

We really don't care about nightlife or going out - we just want to spend time with each other and be somewhere secluded.  

Any suggestions that you ladies have would be much appreciated!!! We have both done Puerto Rico and the Bahamas and want to stay away from those two options since we have been there.  Neither of us have been anywhere else in the Caribbean so are a little overwhelmed by our choices and the hotel/all inclusive options! 

WVgalinNYC

I've been surfing this forum because we are going to Beaches Turks and Caicos next month and wanted to see if anyone else had offered experience on going there.  We've done Secrets, Sandals, RIU, and Palace resorts- they are all really nice.  My husband wants to get in to diving so our travel agent had us look at Beaches T & C-- it is a family resort, but can apparently also be very coupley. 
My best advice would be to work with an agent.  I would have never had thought to look at Beaches on my own, but our agent has always been really great suggesting places based on what we are looking for.  If you want her contact info, shoot me a PM and I can send it to you.  We are in NYC, she's in VA- but email/phone works great for us. 
Good Luck!

bridetobemo

Any of the couples resorts are amazing, and even for their top tier room for 8-9 nights would fit into your budget! We stayed at couples tower isle in july for 7 nights in their middle tier room, and with flights from st. louis, it was right around $3300.00 so its definitely doable for $6k. They have so many amazing inclusions too other than just the typical all inclusive that includes all meals and drinks!

bridetobemo

Look at my married bio, all of the pictures of excursions we went on we didnt have to pay any extra for!

butterflyjumper1

thanks so much for the insight, ladies!! bridetobemo, your blog post was so detailed/amazing, and it looked like you guys had such a fantastic time that it gave me goosebumps!! i can't believe that catamarans and excursions and horseback riding are included in your package at couples, that sounds incredible!

BURGH2NYC

My hubby and I went to the Windjammer Landing resort in Saint Lucia.

This is a good place to stay for people 30+.  My husband and I are in our early 40s and a lot of the people there were our age or older and a few were there with their kids.

It's a nice quiet resort - not a lot of 20 somethings drinking too much.  If that sounds good to you, I do recommend it.  

We had a private villa with our own little plunge pool - this could be the sort of thing you would like since you mention you'd like something secluded.

graysquirrel

We stayed at the Valentin Imperial Maya in the Riviera Maya and it was fantastic! You could probably get one of the diamond suite rooms with its own private patio and a couple jacuzzis for your budget. We loved the place for its beach, food, and laid back atmosphere. It was a fantastic place to relax.

stameycr

We went to the Iberostar Grand in PuntaCana and it was awesome. Great food, weather, quiet, adults only, etc. Not including flights we paid about $3800 for 6 nights. Highly recommended!

[Deleted User]

I prefer to stay at smaller boutique properties because the level of service you get is so much better.  The Caves in Negril is AI and only has 12 cottages. Moondance Villas, also in Negril, has an awesome honeymoon villa and the food is amazing. You have your own chef who cooks whatever you want.  If you want a chain, the Zoetry resorts are small and very nice as well.   Calabash Cove in St. Lucia has approximately 22 rooms and an AI option. I've never personally stayed there, but my BFF really loved it for her honeymoon. Most of the time when I go to the caribbean, I prefer to stay at a villa and hire a chef. It's not any more expensive and it's a lot more relaxing.