Where should we honeymoon?

January 23, 2018 12:45 PM

We're getting married in mid-August and hoping to leave for a four- to six-ish-day honeymoon a day or so later. Where should we go?

We live in Pittsburgh and are hoping to honeymoon somewhere warm and relaxing with lots of fancy drinks and tasty food. Something with a beach would be nice, as would something that's not too crazy-expensive. Ideally, it would be somewhere fairly easy to travel to, since we're not looking to be gone for any longer than a week.

Resorts (all-inclusive and otherwise) have been mentioned to us, but are there any specifically that stand out as a good deal and a good experience? What about any other pleasant locations with beaches?

Thanks in advance!

posted by gypsyhymns to Travel & Transportation (6 answers total)

That's a pretty broad question. You might want to start with How to choose a Caribbean island or You’ve decided to visit a Caribbean island — but which one?. Also consider Cancun or nearby areas in the Yucatan. We liked Tulum. Once you're chosen a location or two, look through the listings for that area, for example TripAdvisor, Frommers, and Lonely Planet. Then look for deals on booking.com. You'll also want to consider flight cost; in general, the smaller and quieter the destination, the more expensive the flight, and the fewer plane changes. Looks like you can fly direct from Pittsburgh to Cancun, but otherwise you'll have to change, frequently in Miami.

Hopefully, this sounds like fun. If not, ask around for a reliable local travel agent.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 1:57 PM on January 23, 2018 [1 favorite]

Are you a Costco member? So many places could fit your needs it sounds like their travel vacation package search might be a good way to check out options. From what you say it definitely sounds like a resort package trip would be fun and Costco Travel is reliable and easy for this kind of thing. I've only been to Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall in Jamaica which was perfect and amazing but recent crime around Montego Bay is something to be aware of. Booking.com worked great for me to save money on that trip (got the room for $300 something per night vs. $1000 something) but a honeymoon can be worth a splurge to ensure all goes well. So many great places in the Caribbean or Mexico. Renew your passports now! Congratulations!
posted by belau at 2:19 PM on January 23, 2018

The Vineyard presses some of these buttons but can be very expensive in august. Beach cottages can be super romantic but you are on your own for food and bev in most cases. The island is crowded then, if you can wait until after Labor Day you'll have a better time and spend a wee less. If for some reason Martha's Vineyard is on your collective bucket list, mefimail me, I can assist. Enjoy the big day!
posted by vrakatar at 4:01 PM on January 23, 2018

I would also look into Charleston, SC. Beautiful, historic, lovely beaches, you can find deals. The only hitch is that things might go awry bc that's hurricane season. As it is anywhere on the east coast or caribbean.
posted by greta simone at 5:16 PM on January 23, 2018

West coaster here, so I don't know anything, but mid-August is smack in the middle of hurricane season in the Caribbean. I'm guessing you folks just live with it, but it's something I would consider when planning my trip. The Yucatan seems to be a good area for avoiding hurricanes, so maybe focus your search there if this is a concern.
posted by cnc at 7:30 PM on January 23, 2018 [3 favorites]

Congratulations! I went here on a work trip last Sept and it was wonderful. The restaurants, staff, food, massages, facilities - everything was fantastic and other than tips, truly all inclusive (think massage was extra). Entertainment was excellent, dining was easily equivalent to meals that would be a couple hundred dollars in the US. Beautiful pool area and near the beach. Might be a little warm, but nice for relaxing. Highly recommended.
posted by OneSmartMonkey at 8:28 PM on January 23, 2018