August Honeymoon Ideas?

libby2483 · January 2012

My fiance and I are envisioning a honeymoon at an all-inclusive resort where we can relax on the beach and go on a few excursions. The problem that I am running into is that August seems to be hurricane season in the Caribbean and I am hesitant to travel to Mexico because of all of the violence there recently. Any suggestions for a honeymoon spot that allows us to relax on the beach while avoiding areas at high risk for hurricanes?

eclaire8198 · January 2012

Have you looked into St. Lucia at all? It's further south in the Caribbean so it is on the outskirts of the hurricane belt. We have friends who just honeymooned at the Sandals there in August and they had perfect weather the whole time. We haven't finalized our pans yet but are leaning towards St. Lucia.

calindi · January 2012

I'll say what I always say in response to worries about hurricane season - don't let it deter you from doing what you want, just make sure to have travel insurance for the 1-in-5000 chance you have a severe tropical storm or hurricane that would disrupt your travel. I live in Miami, have been here for 3 years, and there's probably been about 5 days total over that whole time period where we've had bad storms, and not one single hurricane. Sure, some days are a bit rainy, but that happens anywhere.

That said, August is VERY HOT in the Caribbean. If you're okay with feeling like you are wrapped in a moist hot blanket and even sitting outside in the shade makes you sweat constantly, then you'll have no problems. Personally, I want to stay as far away from anything south of Georgia in July & August (and recently early September - the heat has been lengthening and not becoming cooler until October now, it seems. Global warming at its finest).

If you're really set on the AI, perhaps Costa Rica? Their resorts are on the Nicoya Peninsula on the western coast, so it gives you protection from those hurricanes you're worried about. It's also not as humid (at least in the Nicoya Peninsula) as most of the Caribbean, so even though it'll still be quite hot, it probably won't be as sweat-inducing.

StephBeanWed61502 · January 2012

Aruba is considered "outside of" the hurricane belt - hurricanes can technically still happen there (and have), but it's less likely. My vote would be for Aruba.

Also, as far as I've heard, the violence in Mexico has been pretty confined to the border regions and drug-trafficking regions - I would think you'd be relatively safe in the major tourist areas (Riviera Maya, Cancun, Cozumel, Cabo).

calindi · January 2012

Oh, and also... Mexico. It's fine. Really. The violence is in northern border towns and about drugs, so it's mostly Mexicans-on-Mexicans. You don't see a lot of news about American tourists getting kidnapped or killed, right? Because that would be top news for sure if it happened. The resorts in Cancun are literally 2000 miles away. That's like saying you shouldn't go to Pennsylvania because there is violence in California. Makes no sense, right? Right. Don't let that stop you from planning travel to Mexico. However, my hot-as-hell assessment still stands. I would not go to Mexico from May-September.

gymbugmj2k · January 2012

have to chime in with my pet peeve of why so many people feel the need to head down that way. check out hawaii or florida or california. there's lots of all-inclusive resorts in the US! less hassle, no passport issues, still lots of sun and sand.

also perhaps consider a cruise?

FLsweetpea1979 · January 2012

We are trying to avoid the Caribbean as well, not just because of the hurricane issue (though we don't have flexible travel plans, so if a storm did interrupt our vacation, we couldn't take it again for at least a year), but also because of the heat. August in the Caribbean is extremely hot and humid... we looked briefly at Aruba and the southern Caribbean and websites actually said "August is very uncomfortable in Aruba", lol. We are looking at Hawaii, California and maybe even Maine or a cruise to Alaska.

VNEluvsAJB · January 2012

We just booked for St. Lucia for next August. We've been told that there are fewer hurricane problems there because of the more southerly location.

Also, we went to Mexico over the summer and had zero problems in Cancun & Cozumel. From what I understand there are very few problems in the tourist areas. Most of the violence in further north.

I really recommend speaking with a travel agent.Even if you ultimately book on your own travel agents are full of knowledge and it doesn't cost anything to ask.

calindi · January 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_august-2012-weddings_august-honeymoon-ideas?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:1fb748ee-7a4e-40eb-b4b4-e553486f4cacDiscussion:8a9447bd-7ab3-403d-b964-a3202e81b5a2Post:034f09ce-1dee-469b-942d-04aab690c7a4">Re: August Honeymoon Ideas?</a>:
[QUOTE]have to chime in with my pet peeve of why so many people feel the need to head down that way. check out hawaii or florida or california. there's lots of all-inclusive resorts in the US! less hassle, no passport issues, still lots of sun and sand. =) also perhaps consider a cruise?
Posted by gymbugmj2k[/QUOTE]

I've never heard of an all-inclusive in the US? At least not in the style of Mexico/Caribbean resorts, where booze and food are included and you can sit by a pool. There certainly isn't anything I've ever heard of in Florida, and I live here.

maggiebeth29 · January 2012

We're going to Cape Cod for a mini moon ... for five nights after the wedding. We figured it was too nice in upstate ny to head to the south right after the wedding.

In Jan 2013 we are planning on looking to go south ... hawaii maybe...

just a thought .. could do a short weekend trip somewhere and save your honeymoon for a few months later. it will extend your wedding!

good luck!

Eyejewel · January 2012

We are thinking maybe Fingerlakes Region in NY for the wineries and the lakes. Originally wanted NC but NY cuts the drive in half coming from RI and we arent as worried about the hurricane season in August.

mstoini · January 2012

Did Playa Del Carmen, Mexico last year and loved it! No reason not to go there unless you really hate the heat.

We're planning on going to Jamaica in August and staying at the Couples Negril All-Inclusive resort. Not too worried about hurricane season (lived near the gulf most of my life) and the hurricane scare is just a scare most of the time. But I'm hooked on all-inclusive resorts because you don't have to worry about pulling your money or credit card out for every meal or drink (aside from tipping of course) and just worrying about that type of stuff. It keeps it care-free!

I also didn't know there were a lot of all-inclusive resorts in the United States-you'll have to list those because I'd love to go!

rungirl12 · January 2012

Other beach ideas outside of the Caribbean are Hawaii or anything in the Pacific Rim (Fiji, Tahiti, etc). Indonesia & Bali have beautiful beaches. The Canary Islands of Spain or the Azores in Portugal are options. Also, MANY Greek Islands with beautiful beaches.

calindi · January 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_august-2012-weddings_august-honeymoon-ideas?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:1fb748ee-7a4e-40eb-b4b4-e553486f4cacDiscussion:8a9447bd-7ab3-403d-b964-a3202e81b5a2Post:27b3264f-bc68-4221-873f-6f3cdcd5bade">Re: August Honeymoon Ideas?</a>:
[QUOTE]We are thinking maybe Fingerlakes Region in NY for the wineries and the lakes. Originally wanted NC but NY cuts the drive in half coming from RI and we arent as worried about the hurricane season in August.
Posted by Eyejewel[/QUOTE]

I love this idea! It'll be gorgeous there in late August, nice summer weather without being too hot. Do you like sweet wine? Their late harvest wines are sooooo tasty!

We're going to wait until late September likely to go on a honeymoon, but we're going to Oregon & Washington State - going wine tasting, beer tasting, hiking, and staying in cute little B&Bs.

libby2483 · January 2012

Thanks for all of the great ideas, ladies!

After reading some posts on here and the honeymoon message board, I do feel more confident that it is safe to travel to Mexico. I did just travel there last year, and I never felt unsafe on the resort, so I guess I shouldn't worry.

I also appreciate all of the suggestions about places out of the hurricane belt and places that are a little less hot and humid.

After some thought, we are also considering going on a mini-moon somewhere in the U.S., and then traveling to the Caribbean later in December.

I definitely still have a lot of research to do and decisions to make, but this has definitely helped me to narrow it down and given me some excellent ideas!

msowena · January 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_august-2012-weddings_august-honeymoon-ideas?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:1fb748ee-7a4e-40eb-b4b4-e553486f4cacDiscussion:8a9447bd-7ab3-403d-b964-a3202e81b5a2Post:034f09ce-1dee-469b-942d-04aab690c7a4">Re: August Honeymoon Ideas?</a>:
[QUOTE]have to chime in with my pet peeve of why so many people feel the need to head down that way. check out hawaii or florida or california.<strong> there's lots of all-inclusive resorts in the US!</strong> less hassle, no passport issues, still lots of sun and sand. =) also perhaps consider a cruise?
Posted by gymbugmj2k[/QUOTE]

Can you give me some examples? I have read many times that there are absolutley no All Inclusive in the US (including Hawaii). I had the same idea as you mentioned...avoiding passports and staying in the US all inclusive. I know some hotels will offer breakfast included or a few dinners... but as far as I know there are none that are actually AI like they do in the carribean/mexico (All meals, snacks, drinks..alcoholic or otherwise). I hope this isn't coming off as attacking you at all... I'm honestly just curious and would love to know for furture vacations if I have been mislead (We booked an AI in Cancun because we wanted AI and it was the cheapest route we could find. Had we been able to stay in the US All Inclusive it would have been much cheaper I'm sure)

sorry, just finished reading this thread and realized people have already asked you this!

Eyejewel · January 2012

Calindi i would say i like sweeter wine. Our friend last year did a stay vacation for there honeymoon went to Martha's Vineyard then up to Maine and hit a bunch of breweries and had a blast. Im sure ill bring a bunch of bottles home with me from the honeymoon were just trying to figure out where to stay and not totally break the bank.

My wedding is August 10th so we'll be going mid August get the same heat level we are use to but figured to watersports, hit the wineries, small shops a little more laid back honeymoon. My cousin got stationed earlier last year in Washington state and said it is gorgeous out there.

skeppler1 · January 2012

That totally was our concern also, so I did a lot of research and we decided on Aruba. We still got full insurance coverage just in case though. We both are very excited to be spending a week at an all inclusive resort in the caribbean. We have heard so many great things about the island and are ready to experience them for ourselves.
There are a lot of resorts to choose from at various price ranges. We chose the Riu Palace

Hope this helps.

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