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Honeymoon Discussions

Frustrated with HM

Planning our HM has been just as stressful as planning our wedding. Fiance and I decided on Secrets St James for 7 nights in a preferred club suite, and since we planned to stay 7 nights, we got the HM package complimentary. I believe it was around $3800 which was good for out $4k budget. We sat down with his parents to book (We don't have a credit card that a high enough limit but they do, so we gave them the money) but decided not to because we wanted to make sure that we could get the complimentary HM package even if booking through a travel web site. (If this is a no brainer, forgive us. We have never done this.) So the next day, I stumbled onto trip advisor. My heart sank as I saw the bad pictures and read the bad reviews. The resort was rated 76. I understand completely that different people have different standards, but even the reviews written by people who rated the resort pretty high said the food wasn't that special.
Then we somewhat decided on Sandals Montego Bay. It isn't that much more expensive dollar wise, but we don't get nearly the amount of stuff we get at Secrets. The room is $3900 without a HM package. Plus, the excursions/tours are a lot more expensive.
I don't really know what to do. It's a rough subject between fiance and I because he says that I have taken everything over and he would never attempt to plan any of it because he sees how picky I am about everything. He wants me to just make a decision and stick to it but the problem is, I can't find a place that I really really like that has good reviews.
Fiance is dead set against Mexico, so that's out. Hawaii is nice, but everything I've looked at it too expensive to not be AI. My absolute favorite place to go would be Costa Rica, but I want to stay on the beach, and I haven't found anything there either.
I feel like I'm being too picky, but at the same time, we have a nice enough budget that I should be able to find something. I just don't really know where.

Re: Frustrated with HM

  • I was looking at Secrets St James too until I read the reviews on Trip Advisor. We are going to Couples Swept Away now. It is pretty comparable in price & includes a lot of extras that other AI's don't. The Couples chain has 3 other resorts too.
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  • I second the couples resorts, we're staying at Tower Isle, it has so many great inclusions!!
  • lexa10lexa10 member
    10 Comments
    What are the ratings like for couples resorts on trip advisor?
  • Have you considered the Dominican Republic? I ended up going to Puerto Rico for my HM, but looked into a lot of different places in the Caribbean and remember DR having a lot of AIs and being reasonably priced.
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  • I am going to Costa Rica and our AI is on the beach-RIU Guanacaste!
  • I'd also have to recommend Couples Resorts.  My FI and I stayed there last June.  We have stayed at PLENTY of AI resorts and we definitely got the most for our money there.  Plus we only left the resort once (we wanted to check out Rick's Cafe) otherwise there was always so much going on and so much to do that we enjoyed every second of our vacation on the resort ( we stayed for 10 days)  Not to mention that I have never had food that amazing from an AI there was not a bad thing of food there!
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  • Try the Excellence in P. Cana Dominican Republic. We have been there and are going back for our honeymoon. Not sure exactly what you are looking for in a package, but FI likes his food kind of plain and he loved the food there (except the French restaurant, but it just wasn't our taste in food). Try to keep in mind that if you are going to a resort (whether all inclusive or not) the food is going to be different from where you live. We ventured out and tried a few different types of food because it's all inclusive and we figured if we hated it we could go get some food we really liked. Good luck in your search!
  • maddie7maddie7 member
    500 Comments
    Check here- Travelzoo deals are amazing! and cheap!
    http://www.travelzoo.com/vacations/caribbean/ or here:

    http://www.applevacations.com/hotels/paradisus-punta-cana-resort.html - we booked the Paradisius through Apple and it was just a gorgeous resort!
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_honeymoon_frustrated-hm?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:11Discussion:e464666f-262a-4dc8-a317-06384ea611b5Post:71921191-f64b-4da9-9f57-8271c7c60a36">Re: Frustrated with HM</a>:
    [QUOTE]What are the ratings like for couples resorts on trip advisor?
    Posted by lexa10[/QUOTE]

    I believe they have the top ratings on Trip Advisor for AI's in Jamaica.
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  • hz80408hz80408 member
    5000 Comments 5 Love Its Combo Breaker

    I definitely recommend looking at tripadvisor before booking anything and I know it's frustrating, but just think of it this way: at least you found out ahead of time before you got there and were dissappointed!

    We stayed in Mexico and did the preferred club.  If it helps your budget at all, I'd say you can definitely visit Secrets resorts and have a wonderful stay without getting preferred club status.

    I've also heard wonderful things about Couples Swept Away Jaimaica.  GL w/deciding on a new spot.

  • lmg1115lmg1115 member
    10 Comments
    Have you seen this Living Social Escapes deal?

    http://escapes.livingsocial.com/deals/36554-7-nights-in-costa-rica?msdc_id=6&ref=MIADeal051111_43_2364email

    7 night stay for 2 in Costa rica for only $1496


    It was emailed yesterday... there are deals out there!
  • We are doin our HM at Majestic Elegance resort in *unta Cana domincan! You should check it out, its way affordable and great reviews

  • Are all the reviews bad? If like 25% are bad then don't choose that place. What about like Fiji or Australia the beaches are nice there too.


     
  • edited May 2011
    I think Mexico, Jamaica, and Bahamas will be the lowest in cost for accomodations as well as air fare...I had a great time at an AI in Tulum, Mexico...but if your hubby says no to Mexico...my cousin has done multiple trips to the Dominican republic AI, and again, all good things.
    My favorite place on earth (so far!) is the USVI, and I did a 5 night stay at Wyndham Sugar Bay.  It was great!  St. John is incredibly gorgeous, and both times I went there I had the best time snorkeling.
    I just did a trip to Costa Rica last summer, and hear nothing but amazing things about the RIU Guanacaste.  Tripadvisor is a great source for info about that country -- the experts really were spot on!  I would be going back this year if I could afford it.  I even refer to Tripadvisor for shorter trips around FL...I think they are reputable!
    Another good way to save on budget for honeymoon -- book your flight and hotel together throuh an online source like expedia.  We did our flight and last night in Costa Rica near the airport through expedia, and it was about $10 more for adding on the room...(our last stop on that trip was about 3 hours from the airport and we had an early flight.)
    Addition to post:  looking at your budget you could absolutely do Costa Rica.  We went last year for about $2500 including air fare and spending money.  Are you set on AI?  The food and water were both safe, delicious  and inexpensive in CR, and it was really fun to explore and spend time with the locals. 
  • You said your dream place would be Costa Rica.  You can DEFINITELY do CR with a $4k budget.  We are going this summer for our first anniversary - planned our trip with Costa Rica Experts.  Aaron gave us great suggestions and helped us plan an amazing 12 night trip within our budget.  Maybe shoot him an email and ask him about the Riu Guanacaste?  If you're not tied to AI, there are a lot of options in CR that would be perfect for your hm.  Two of our hotels include all meals (no drinks, but that's not that important to us) and two include breakfast. 

    At the very least, I'd check out their website to get some good ideas.

    Also, I have to ditto pps.  I always look at Trip Advisor before I book anything - the hotel's website can be misleading and I like to get travelers' perspectives. 
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  • I can also recommend Couples. We've been to Couple Sans Souci and It was hands down the most fabulous resort ever!!
  • We went to Costa Rica last year and loved it.  We stayed in Playa Conchal at Reserva Conchal in a one bedroom apt on the ownership side of the property.  It's on the same land as the Westin Playa Conchal (used to be called Paradisus Playa Conchal).  The Paradisus was an AI resort and very nice when we walked through it.  I preferred the beach club at the Reserva Conchal (nicer and not as crowded as the resort), but I think the resort will have more honeymoon type amenities.

    We also stayed in the Arenal Volcano area at the Hotel Royal Corin, and I highly recommend that as well.  We had a view of the volcano from our balcony and even saw an eruption one night with glowing rocks.  Everyone was clapping and cheering.  It was pretty cool (and not dangerous - haha).  The massage I had at the spa was one of the best I've ever had, and I consider myself a good judge of massages.

    I agree that you can find a very nice resort for not too much money in CR.  It would be a very nice honeymoon.  We went in rainy season (they call it green season) in July of last year.  It rained for about an hour every day, and the rest of the time was great weather.  I think one day it rained most of the day, but luckily that was the day we were driving from Arenal to Playa Conchal.


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