Honeymoon Destination
April 21, 2012 6:55 PM Subscribe
Upcoming Honeymoon: I want to give the future-wife a dream honeymoon (funds are limited as we're paying for the wedding and honeymoon ourselves). We had initially thought Europe, but apparently it cools off there in December?! After some digging, the future-wife wants to go somewhere we can just be catered to. An all-inclusive seems like the bet option. I am looking for anyone with first-hand experience at any all-inclusive resorts, specifically Excellence Playa Mujeres in Mexico. As a little disclaimer, we are foodies, and we both have walked along some pretty awesome beaches. We aren't vacation snobs, I just want to have an unforgettable honeymoon. Thanks for your help!!
We went to a Sandals in Jamaica for our honeymoon and it was the perfect choice. We would ordinarily never be into the all-inclusive thing but after spending months planning a wedding we wanted to go somewhere where decision-making was minimal. I can't recommend this place for its food or beautiful beaches, so I can't help you out there. But in terms of honeymoons, going to an all-inclusive place is the way to go.
posted by Nathanial Hörnblowér at 7:36 PM on April 21, 2012
posted by Nathanial Hörnblowér at 7:36 PM on April 21, 2012
My wife and I just went to India. It was her first trip, and the goal was much the same as yours - we're pretty adventurous types, but we really just wanted to relax this trip. We stayed at the Taj in Kovalam, Kerala, as I'd been there before for a too-short weekend and had an amazing time. Their website is sparse, but the place is great. They have a menu of activities to choose from, the onsite restaurants are genuinely outstanding, the accommodations are first-rate, and well, you won't believe the prices. We spent more on 4 days in Hawaii than we did on 8 days in Kovalam. December is an utterly amazing time to go, too.
And, as a bonus, you're in India, which is pretty cool.
The specifics of my own trip aside, absolutely don't neglect the Asian options. The value is absolutely unbelievable.
posted by TheNewWazoo at 7:58 PM on April 21, 2012 [4 favorites]
And, as a bonus, you're in India, which is pretty cool.
The specifics of my own trip aside, absolutely don't neglect the Asian options. The value is absolutely unbelievable.
posted by TheNewWazoo at 7:58 PM on April 21, 2012 [4 favorites]
We went to El Dorado Royale in Cancun for our honeymoon. I went in with rather low expectations and was definitely pleased with the experience. I was most skeptical about the food, but it was impressively and surprisingly good. Nice pools, activities and drinks, and there's plenty of cool excursions to do.
We were very happy we booked with a travel agent for this because they were able to sort through all the options and get us a good deal. They only charged $50 / person to do the arrangements, which I thought was a great value.
posted by emkelley at 8:18 PM on April 21, 2012
We were very happy we booked with a travel agent for this because they were able to sort through all the options and get us a good deal. They only charged $50 / person to do the arrangements, which I thought was a great value.
posted by emkelley at 8:18 PM on April 21, 2012
We stayed in Tulum (beach zone) last year for a week, which is about 130km south of Cancun and thus much less developed. Our beachside accommodation was pretty upmarket, but much lower key than many of the mega resorts nearer Cancun. Also, if you're into food, one thing I enjoyed was visiting the various restaurants in Tulum as we were breakfast only; assuming you can walk to other restaurants, I'd really recommend this, rather than being stuck with one menu. Tulum has some very nice ruins too. If you want details, drop me a meMail/ email.
posted by rhymer at 12:40 AM on April 22, 2012
posted by rhymer at 12:40 AM on April 22, 2012
We have just booked our honeymoon, after weeks and weeks of reading tripadvisor reviews of the various hotels on the Riviera Maya in Mexico. I can't comment on it because we haven't yet been, but I just wanted to share something that factored in our decision in case it helps you:
We decided to go for one of the Excellence hotels in Mexico (Excellence Playa Mujeres or Excellence Riviera Maya) because both were the number one hotel in their area and consistently had excellent reviews on tripadvisor. Also you say your wife would like to go somewhere you can just be catered to. From what I've read the Excellence resorts would be perfect for this as everybody says their service is exceptional. However while EPM is newer and more modern, we went with ERC because we plan to do a few day trips while we are there and EPM is further north so would add an extra 45 minutes or so onto any journeys, as all the places we want to go to are south of both hotels. Not sure if this will make any difference to you or not - just wanted to mention it.
Also you might want to look into the reviews of the beaches at the excellence resorts, if that is something very important to you, as I think I've read that while they are nice, they perhaps don't rival beaches in other parts of Mexico.
posted by schmoo at 12:53 AM on April 22, 2012
We decided to go for one of the Excellence hotels in Mexico (Excellence Playa Mujeres or Excellence Riviera Maya) because both were the number one hotel in their area and consistently had excellent reviews on tripadvisor. Also you say your wife would like to go somewhere you can just be catered to. From what I've read the Excellence resorts would be perfect for this as everybody says their service is exceptional. However while EPM is newer and more modern, we went with ERC because we plan to do a few day trips while we are there and EPM is further north so would add an extra 45 minutes or so onto any journeys, as all the places we want to go to are south of both hotels. Not sure if this will make any difference to you or not - just wanted to mention it.
Also you might want to look into the reviews of the beaches at the excellence resorts, if that is something very important to you, as I think I've read that while they are nice, they perhaps don't rival beaches in other parts of Mexico.
posted by schmoo at 12:53 AM on April 22, 2012
Could you afford to go to the Grand Velas in Riviera Maya? It is absolutely beautiful, the resort, the rooms, the pools, everything. The food is one of the best things there, enough to make me want to go back even if the place's a bit expensive. There are several specialty restaurants (mexican, french, spanish, asian, italian...) and everything we ate was amazing. The spanish/vasque restaurant had a tasting menu that blew my mind. The in-room mini bar has enough stuff to make you want to stay in your room all day (don't), and the SPA is also a must, if only for the pool-circuit thing that they have. Also, the service is great and since tips are included in the room payment, any little extra to someone, say at the pool bar, goes a looong way. From all the places I've been, Cancun and Riviera Maya have the best service (including my own honeymoon experience in a Hawaiian Four Seasons).
Check the Gran Velas out if you can. If you decide to stay with the Excellence chain, which I don't know, I'd prefer anything on the mainland of Riviera Maya instead of Isla Mujeres as the beach and general surroundings are bound to be better. Also, no ferry needed each time you might want to leave the resort and do some sightseeing or touristy stuff (do visit Playa del Carmen, and Tulum and/or Chichen Itza...don't blindly fall into any "snorkel in underground rivers" tour, some are meh tourist traps and you'd be better off snorkeling in the actual ocean.
posted by CrazyLemonade at 6:08 AM on April 22, 2012
Check the Gran Velas out if you can. If you decide to stay with the Excellence chain, which I don't know, I'd prefer anything on the mainland of Riviera Maya instead of Isla Mujeres as the beach and general surroundings are bound to be better. Also, no ferry needed each time you might want to leave the resort and do some sightseeing or touristy stuff (do visit Playa del Carmen, and Tulum and/or Chichen Itza...don't blindly fall into any "snorkel in underground rivers" tour, some are meh tourist traps and you'd be better off snorkeling in the actual ocean.
posted by CrazyLemonade at 6:08 AM on April 22, 2012
I've never been. BUT... The Jaguar Reef Resort & Spa in Belize is where I'm dying to go on my honeymoon. Snokeling on the reef? Kayaking on the river? Hiking through a jaguar preserve? Hiking to Mayan ruins? They have all-inclusive honeymoon packages. I promise not to hate you too much if you go.
posted by magnetsphere at 10:18 AM on April 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by magnetsphere at 10:18 AM on April 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
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posted by Yellow at 7:12 PM on April 21, 2012 [1 favorite]