Need Honeymoon Advice

[Boilers]

USA All-inclusive resorts

Are there any all-inclusive resorts in the United States? - Yahoo! Answers

All Inclusive Resort In United States - Compare cheap hotel rates and make discount reservations at NexTag

USA All Inclusive Resorts - ResortsandLodges.com
(there is the drop-down option to select ALL INCLUSIVE. Looks like they list eighty resorts)

Family Beach Vacation Resorts | Club Med All-Inclusive Resorts

All Inclusive Resorts in the US

All-Inclusive Resorts Travel and All-Inclusive Resorts Vacation on Orbitz

Why All-Inclusive Vacations Pay Off - US News and World Report

Caribbean Vacation Packages - Specializing in Family Vacations, Destination Weddings, All Inclusive Resorts, Honeymoons and Group Travel

United States All Inclusive Resorts | Reference.com

 

[redneckmedic]

I would just suck it up for her sake (you will get used to the pain) and go to the Dominican Republic or something as equal. just say a prayer or two and post here so we can too!!!

 

[Scutter01]

It's all about how well you know your fiancee and what she likes...

Once she says "I DO", she's contractually obligated to like what you tell her to like. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

[public servant]

Once she says "I DO", she's contractually obligated to like what you tell her to like. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

YESSSSS!!! :bigballs:

 

[Joe Williams]

Alaska is unspeakably beautiful. Spent four years there, and have always wanted to go back. Thinking about taking the family up next summer.

Myrtle Beach and/or the barrier islands are awesome if she really wants ocean.

The Southwest has a number of resorts for a taste of an area very different than anything around here.

 

[joslar15]

If you are still in the service go to military one source and see what kind of specials you can get there.

Go someplace classy, someplace that you two will remember in 20, 30, or 60 years and look back and go that was nice, we had a good time there. Try to stay away from trendy and cool. If you do Vegas then do it in style like you never will be able to do it again, and stay someplace like The Bellagio.

Great advice! I even bought one of those ceramic models of the ship that you see in curio cabinets of old folks!

 

[hornadylnl]

If you don't ever plan on leaving the hotel room, find the nicest and most expensive hotel room in Indy. But I'll tell you, you will be severely disappointed because her thoughts of a perfect honeymoon and yours aren't the same.

 

[jennybird]

Indy, listen to me. Take her to North-western part of Arkansas. It's unbelievably gorgeous there. Mountains, waterfalls, lakes, springs, wildlife... breathtaking! There are tons of things to do, and you MUST take her to Eureka Springs... she'll love it! You both will actually. Jakal and I honeymooned there. We chose a place neither of us had been to before and we hit the jackpot! Everyone there was down to earth and couldn't be any nicer. Neither of us can wait to go back again. I'm hoping to retire there some day actually.

Here's a couple of sites to get you started...
Arkansas Tourist Information - Arkansas Information
Eureka Springs, Arkansas in the Beautiful Ozark Mountains
Diamond Mines - Crater of Diamonds State Park

 

[Old Salt]

Something to keep in mind is, normally to a guy, a honeymoon is a cool vacation; to a woman it is something she has been looking forward to for many years and something she wants to reminisce on for the rest of her life.

I have been to most of the places mentioned here, and enjoyed every trip, but if she wants beach, all inclusive (including drinks), and you want to do it at a reasonable price, think about the Dominican Republic.

In August my wife and I are going to a five star hotel (we've been there twice before, so we know what it is like), all food, drinks, airfare, and tips included (we generally tip more anyway but no one has their hand out). It has one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. I say this having lived in Puerto Rico and Japan, and visited the Virgin Islands, Hawaii, and Australia. We are going for 12 days and the total cost, including taxes, is $3200.

Don't judge the rest of the world based on the Middle East. There are a lot of great places out there. Hopefully your bride will be with you for the rest of your life. If she thinks she had the honeymoon she always dreamed of, that will go a long way to ensuring your new life starts off pleasantly. What ever you decide, Congratulations and Good Luck.

 

[theweakerbrother]

I highly recommend Gatlinburg, TN. If she wants something fancy, what about Guam? It is exotic and territory owned by the United States.

 

[Joe Williams]

I highly recommend Gatlinburg, TN. If she wants something fancy, what about Guam? It is exotic and territory owned by the United States.

I liked Guam MUCH better than Hawaii. Take cash. Lots of it. When I was there the Japanese liked to go to Guam as a honeymoon trip, and the prices reflected the massive amounts of cash they would carry around back then.

 

[Scutter01]

I liked Guam MUCH better than Hawaii. Take cash. Lots of it. When I was there the Japanese liked to go to Guam as a honeymoon trip, and the prices reflected the massive amounts of cash they would carry around back then.

I've heard Hawaii is really expensive, too. I've always wanted to go, but the cost is a major factor to me.

 

[public servant]

I've heard Hawaii is really expensive, too. I've always wanted to go, but the cost is a major factor to me.

Honestly...if you stay away from the highly populated tourist traps...it's no more expensive than anywhere else. We stayed 6 days/5 nights in a cottage and lodging was only around $700. I'd rather be secluded than mixed in with a million people. Breakfasts of fresh fruits and baked goods was included.

The lady that owned the cottages was incredible...and extremely helpful. I emailed her multiple times setting everything up...and called her multiple times before we booked it. The little town of Volcano Village was spectacular. The people were friendly and outgoing. The big island is the place to go. Here's the cottage we stayed in.

Volcano Places - Accommodations - Kate's Volcano Cottage

My only regret is that we didn't make the journey to Pearl Harbor.

When you rent a car...you have to sign an agreement that you won't take the car to the top of Mauna Kea ( Mauna Kea - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia )



or drive Saddle Road ( Hawaii Route 200 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ).


We did both...shhhhhh... Rent a Jeep!!

 

[mettle]

Fly to FL. and go to a little place called Palm harbor just north of Clearwater. I traveled via truck and travel trailor and camped there. NO tourists, NOT a commercial area etc. We went to the beaches there and they are NOT visited or busy. Beautiful.

 

[Caleb]

When you rent a car...you have to sign an agreement that you won't take the car to the top of Mauna Kea ( Mauna Kea - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia )

or drive Saddle Road ( Hawaii Route 200 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ).


We did both...shhhhhh... Rent a Jeep!!

Why can't you?

 

[Hoosier Gun Coat]

This is where my wife & I went on our honeymoon. Liked it so much we went back the following year.
Royal Hideaway Playacar, All Inclusive Luxury Vacations, Riviera Maya, Mexico

Stayed at this place in Costa Rica. It is very nice. Love Costa Rica.
Paradisus All Inclusive Luxury Resorts - Paradisus Playa Conchal - All-Inclusive Luxury Costa Rica Resort

Loved Costa Rica so much we bought our own place. Pictures are outdated, the whole interior has been redone.
Bienvenida a Villa Mariposa #8

 

[Boilers]

I've heard Hawaii is really expensive, too. I've always wanted to go, but the cost is a major factor to me.

Nope. Cheaper than most places I've gone. We had our flight and hotel in one price. $629 per person for like 5 nights. $500 back then (as now) was exceptional for round trip from Indy. Usually higher. So, that leaves $129 per person for 5 nights. Pretty cheap. It was in 20-30 story hotel about 2 or 3 blocks off of Waikiki beach. Included taxi to/from airport.

Meals we ate were local 'plate specials'. They included TWO MEATS and two sides $6. Plenty of McDonald's to go around, too for regular prices. I remember a whole lobster dinner for $15.

Deals are pretty good right now, too. But, I have not really tried to squeeze the lemon and see how much of a great deal I can find because I am not going anytime soon. But I was unsure what high prices people report.

Now, they DO have two-tier pricing. The pricing above is for tourists. The locals know one another and charge each other less. shrug. Didn't bother me.

 

[chasekerion4]

Virgin Islands is quite nice. My wife and I spent our Honeymoon at an all inclusive resort in St. Croix for a week. Absolutely beautiful and completely relaxing. We rented a jeep and drove all over the island, just taking in the scenery.

Indy,

There are only a few inclusives in the US, and they suck IMO. If you DO go to the Bahamas, I'd like to give you two other options.

In Nassau, there are two all inclusives.

The Wyndham Cable Beach and Breezes Bahamas. I've been to both several times.

Sandals is okay - (for couples, which most couples present are 60's or older) - IF you get a phenomenal deal. Aside from that deal, nothing special. Especially if you want the younger crowd instead of the denture crowd.

The Wyndham is nice; casino and sports betting inside the hotel.

Personally, I prefer the Breezes Bahamas. It's literally all-inclusive - you don't need your wallet at all, no tipping allowed. 4 bars, even one in the pool. The casino is 2 blocks to your west, scooter rentals, etc. right across the street.

Any beach place the rooms are going to be about the same. Sandals might throw you a bottle of $20 wine, but the floors are still tile and there will be sand from the beach tracked in on that tile. Any of the 3 places will do you just fine. BB is just my preference because of the cost vs. what you get. I think we pay like $79-$99 pp per night.

Since we live in Florida half the year, we drive from Jax to Fort Lauderdale and fly out of Fort Lauderdale on an airline called Spirit Air. They have deals all the time where the flights are dirt cheap. Considering taxes and fees required to governments, you can get in and out of the Bahamas for under $150 each person roundtrip. It's a 20-30 minute flight.

 

[public servant]

Why can't you?

The summit of Mauna Kea is almost 14,000 feet above sea level. At the top of which is an observatory complex. Somewhere around 10,000 feet there is no longer enough oxygen to support plant life. About half way up there is a lodging complex where the observatory workers and scientists spend several months acclimating themselves to the low oxygen levels before they go to the top where they spend several months at a time living and working.

At the end of their months-long shift they repeat the process and return to the lodging complex for several months to become accustom to the increased oxygen levels. You have never seen such blue skies in the daytime as you will from this elevation. And you can tell the difference because of the decreased oxygen levels. It is almost a strain to breathe. Climbing from the observatory parking lot up the trail to the actual peak is a chore.

Anyway...back to the reason they don't want you taking their rental cars to the top. The trip back down...almost 13,000 feet to Saddle Road winds and turns for 14 miles at an average grade of nearly 20 degrees. It's hard on the brakes...the rotors will be blue from overheating...and when they cool off...they are still blue. Not to mention you drive up through and back down through the clouds. Insurance doesn't cover damage to the car from this trip. So if your brakes fail and you run it off the side of the road and somehow you manage to live...they are going to want money for their car. So be careful. But there is nothing like watching the sun rise or set from 13,780 feet up.

Saddle Road was built by the US Army as a defense road in 1942. It was turned over to the state of Hawaii in 1959. Hawaii doesn't have the money to maintain the road properly...so upgrades and maintenance is slow going. There are still sections that are the original paving.

It is the only road that crosses the entire island. The other highways go around the island. It is filled with sharp turns and blind hills. And it is beautiful. We traveled west from the port town of Hilo and made the almost 60 mile trip. It took around 5 hours but we stopped a lot. We passed 3 cars. And there are only two or three homes on ranches the entire trip.

Saddle Road is billed as the most dangerous road in America. I think that's just a tourist thing. I don't know about that but I agree it's the most dangerous in Hawaii. But there are many head-on collisions due to the turns and hills. Again...this is why they don't want their rental cars on it.

And now I get to bore you with a few of the pics I took on the trip rather than the stock internet photos I posted earlier. I have hundreds...so consider yourself lucky I'm only forcing you to view a few.


A Hawaiian Lele (altar) at the junction of Saddle Road and Mauna Kea Access Road.

Mauna Kea Observatory from the summit (13780 ft. above sea level) and above the clouds.

Another Lele at the summit with the geological summit marker at the foot. And I admit...this is internet stock. I climbed the last couple hundred yards or so to the summit (hard with the low oxygen levels) and I forgot my damn camera. I was NOT doing it again!!! Anyway...this last few hundred yards only gets you maybe 50 feet higher. But it's probably 75 yards down and 125 yards up...both at about a 45 degree slope. *pant, pant*

Sunrise over the Kilauea Volcano Caldera. Volcanoes National Park. Home of the Hawaiian Goddess Pele.

Looking out over the Kilauea Volcano Caldera. Volcanoes National Park. 4091 feet above sea level. You can see the steam vents and has been constantly erupting since 1983.

OK...I'll stop boring you now. But if you ever have the chance...go. You only live once. I hate being around people. This is why I'd never go to Maui or one of the other tourist traps. But the opportunity to spend a week living on the top of a volcano is one you won't forget or regret.

 

[hemicharger]

My fiancee and I are taking our honeymoon in Vegas. We are only going for three days. Nothing too expensive but it will be a nice getaway.