Hi All, I have been reading all the feedback others have received and figure with such a knowledgeable group better ask my own questions, all advice is appreciated. Planning mid Jan 201
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Cat:Caribbean and the AtlanticForum:0EE6B316
Cat:Caribbean and the AtlanticForum:0EE6B316Discussion:eb70ccc2-0fe0-4858-ae58-5a15f4a3fa5d
I have been reading all the feedback others have received and figure with such a knowledgeable group better ask my own questions, all advice is appreciated.
Planning mid Jan 2012 honeymoon for approx. 10-14 days, I am a sucker for the white sand, beautiful scenery, great swimming and lots of activities, not to mention good wine. The future wife is looking for more of a polished trip, shopping, great restaurants (hates buffets) and being pampered. Obviously it all comes at a cost, and the great thing about traveling is that you never quite know what to expect, but most experiences tend to exceed expectations. We would love to spend the entire trip at a Boutique hotel such as Viceroy in Anguilla, but the finances don’t support such dreaming. As a compromise I thought we could spend 3 or 4 nights at an upscale hotel and the remainder of the trip at a higher end all-inclusive such as sandals.. The challenge is that no island seems to have the higher end all-inclusive and a upscale hotel, with an Island we would like to explore. For example I hear great things about the Antiqua Sandals, but not so much about the Island itself.
1) How difficult is it to travel between the Islands?
2) Could one spend a week at Antiqua Sandals, then fly/ferry to Anguilla or St. Marteen?
3) Could you do the same but stay at the Sandals St. Lucia, then fly/ferry to Martinique?
4) Or am I asking for too much and we are better off staying at St. Lucia and simply changing hotels?
We both love the European influences on these Islands, good food and exploring options are a must, but at the same time, the worry free and cost savings of an all-inclusive gives you peace of mind.
I highly recommend St Barth for a honeymoon. Anytime I go anywhere else, it never compares to St Barth. There is no all inclusive there, however, and you really need a car to do it well. January is considered off season and there will be deals to be had. It's a zoo there until New Years Day, then slows until Feb. Village St Jean, Emeraude Plage are 2 lovely hotels on St Jean beach - the one place you could get away without a car since there are many great restaurants you can walk to - and St Jean is a great beach if you have to be "stuck" on one. Another "budget" hotel for St Barth is the Normandie, on L'Orient Beach.
I have never had a bad meal on the island - there is a wide range of restaurant options at all price points.
everything your future wife wants is there! the most chic, polished island in the Caribbean. You only have to be careful shopping - Hermes, Longchamps - everything in between - you can do a lot of damage there!
Try a combination of a week's cruising and a week at St. Barths. Although there are lot's of hi-end 6 star cruises, I'd recommend Celebrity and it's Aqua concierge level (mega ship), Oceana for it's mid-size, 5-1/2 star accommodations. And my favorite for beaches and water access, Windstar's Windsurf, a 300 passenger sailing/cruising ship. There's nothing more romantic than lying together on a deck hammock late at night when the Sails are unfurled and you're truly sailing on the world's largest sailing ship. Windstar is under new ownership.
Check out the forums on cruise critic or reviews of the respective ships.
The comments about St. Barts are all true but for what it will cost, you could buy a package to Hawaii. St. Barts is not the most beautiful or scenic island, but it is really fun. The food is spectacular from simple restaurants to the most expensive. There are all kinds of beaches, some isolated. some not but it is such a cool place. The beach buggies are perfect on the curvy roads. Oprah and Letterman are not frequent guests for nothing. The combination of Americans, French and St. Barts makes for a truly unique trip. I'm so glad I went when I did. You need serious money now, even in the off season.
To answer your other questions, there are ferries between Anguilla, St Martin and St. Barts. From Martinique there is a ferry to Marie Gallant. Flights between most islands are generally expensive. As for scenic beauty, forget any of the flat islands like the Caymans, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos,Volcanic ones are the most scenic. Jamaica is stunning but there are other problems. Actually Puerto Rico is huge w/beautiful beaches, rainforest and mountains. St. Thomas and St. Croix are both visually stunning.
Honestly, if you want an island with unparalleled scenic beauty, go to Maui or the Big Island or bite the bullet and go to Moorea or Bora Bora in Tahiti. Honolulu is fun but it is the land of the newlywed and the nearly dead. Still the "aloha spirit" exists and the friendliness of the Hawaiian people would make it a trip you would never forget.
Listen, the best thing you can do for planning a honeymoon trip is to find a travel agent that specializes in honeymoons. He/She will know more about which island has the combination of a boutique hotel and the all inclusive you say you want, but more importantly, they can take care of those incidentals that make a honeymoon special. They know which properties specialize in privacy or taking special care of their honeymoon guests. They can avoid sending you someplace where 10 cruise ships a day are arriving.
With 60% of its land area comprising a pristine national park, St. John US Virgin Islands is as far away as you can get from civilization, but still be just a short distance from upscale jewelry stores and boutiques. A visit to St. John is a must for those seeking true escape. Support American teritorys
Plus do a cruise also!!! I like Royal Caribbean best now. Radiance of the Seas class if you like medium size ships or I was on Allure of the Seas if you want a HUGE ship
Investigate St Maarten/St. Martin further--lots of upscale resorts for a few days, beautiful scenery, and Great Bay in Philipsburg is an all-inclusive resort that has a buffet, but also two sit-down restaurants. It's a Sonesta resort, has its own beach and a casino, is in walking distance to Philipsburg which has some really great restaurants. When you're not staying at the all-inclusive, go to Grand Case or Marigot for really fabulous restaurants!!
We loved St. Lucia. It has the feel of Tahiti close to the USA. I would recommend Anse Chastnet or Ladera resorts....google them!! they are awesome!! The scenery is breathtaking. I would recommend doing this island for part of your honeymoon and then another with more resorts and atmosphere that your wife would like. Have fun!!
Forget the cruises that others have recommended. Spend a week at Sandals Antigua (or Galley Bay) and then a few days on Anguilla at the deluxe Cusinart Resort with gourmet dining. The best of both worlds. Liat Airlines has a non-stop flight between these 2 islands. Enjoy your honeymoon. Talk to a Travel Agent who specializes in honeymoon destinations they can make your life easier.
