<p>ECMother, I think our OP said the honeymooners will be likely returning to CA after the trip, so HI is a possible option. </p>
<p>If they like walks under moonlight, then Honua Kai or another Kaanapali beach hotel would be a good option. There is a boardwalk that goes along the beach for about 1.5-2 miles, and it is very safe and just perfect for such walks. The path is not very crowded, and parts of it feel like wilderness. Very romantic! I have never stayed at the Sheraton at the Black Rock, but I walked through the grounds and it is a gorgeous property.</p>
<p>Maui has a lot of activities that are cheap: snorkeling, hiking at the volcano park, road to Hana… just to name a few most well known ones. The young couple will need a car to get around. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t stay at the Sheraton, it’s not great value. I think Honua Kai through VRBO is great value. For Fairmont Orchid if you book 120 days ahead you get 30% discount.</p>
<p>As a former upstate NYer, I would endorse Costs Rica. Easier trip than Hawaii with plenty of adventures: surfing, zip lining, white water rafting. I suggest checking out Rafiki Safari Lodge. I have stayed there and it is unique, gorgeous, and has a number of adventurous activities to try. It isn’t a beach property, but we loved it. However, it is not traditional. A great small resort is FloraBlanca but don’t think it is all inclusive. </p>
<p>I don’t really know of a resort that fits the requirements exactly so hopefully others do, but Costa Rica is special!! I have been to Hawaii multiple times too for comparison. Also lovely, but I would choose CR. </p>
<p>Why would you choose Costa Rica over Hawaii? Is it only because of the very long trip to Hawaii from NY? I went to Hawaii at around their age from NY, and, yes, it was a very long trip, but I was better able to handle that trip when I was their age than I would now.</p>
<p>I think they’d expect to rent a car if they go to Hawaii. Should/would they rent a car in non-US locations?</p>
<p>Even if it is a far distance to go to HI from East Coast, it is pretty close to CA, where they will be returning. I’d choose HI over a foreign country if you want to reduce hassles of currency exchanges, passports, customs, etc. Driving is also easier, as the rules of the road are the same and you can rent cars and lodging easily in HI.</p>
<p>I agree with you, HImom, for the exact reasons you enumerated. S1 is used to traveling domestically and having a rental car at his disposal. He’s also quite stubborn and might insist on renting a car in a foreign country without considering the hassles. Nobody wants a honeymoon to be bogged down with hassles.</p>
<p>I would also consider the west coast of Mexico in the Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo area. I stayed at the Club Med there years ago and really enjoyed the area. Technically in rainy season but that generally means showers in the evening or morning. I would probably choose this place for a honeymoon - <a href=“http://www.capellahotels.com/ixtapa/”>http://www.capellahotels.com/ixtapa/</a></p>
<p>Aruba would probably be at the top of the list for great beaches, snorkeling, and all inclusive resorts. Renting a jeep is pretty cool in Aruba…felt like we were driving on the moon.
My favorite beach is West Bay in Roatan, beautiful water and great snorkeling. Nightlife poor and tv was all in Spanish so might not be the best honeymoon destination.
We went to Negril in Jamaica for our honeymoon and I would put it right up there with Aruba. Beautiful water and beaches with a fair amount to do for activities.</p>
<p>Nope… we didn’t like the cattle calls every time you depart and return to the ship. I felt like a cow being herded out to pasture. That’s a part of pretty much every cruise experience if you want to leave the ship for tours. I was also very disappointed in how they handled H’s norovirus, as you would be too from what I’ve read on the ebola thread. They had no qualms letting him disembark on our final day with everyone else, although they were the ones who insisted he be quarantined the day before until disembarkation. This was Caribbean Princess. Their staff at the salon was very, very pushy, trying to get me to buy a bunch of products I didn’t want when all I wanted to do was get my nails done. When I went to use the gym, half of it was usually being taken up by seminars they were holding trying to sell people a bunch of other products, so I couldn’t use the equipment I wanted to. The entertainment left a lot to be desired.</p>
<p>When H and I travel, we prefer to explore an area thoroughly… get out to where the locals are and take our time, and be flexible with the schedule depending on what we find. With the cruise, you get part of a day to do something, but have to be back on their schedule, not your own. The only cruise I’d ever do again would be an Alaskan cruise, because you get to see things you can’t if you just do a land tour. </p>
<p>Actually when we took a cruise as a family, S1 (the groom) was the only one who had a really good time, but a cruise won’t work for them for their honeymoon because they can’t leave on a weekend and wouldn’t want to take a cruise shorter than a week.</p>
<p>I’ll emphasize to him the hassle of renting/driving in Mexico, and the ease of doing it elsewhere (hawaii, Aruba). </p>
<p>Shellfell, yes, driving in Mexico is not only dangerous, but there are other problems. It is not uncommon to be stopped by a local cop who would always find some flaw with the car or the documents. The only way to get out of getting a ticket or being arrested is to pay a bribe. If one chooses to pay the ticket, it has to be done innperson at the municipal court or police office, and the unlucky ticket payer needs to plan an entire day for doing this, and knowledge of Spanish is a must. Locals do not like tourists driving around and can toss rocks at you etc. Unlike in the US, all ocean shore access is private, so everywhere you go, you have to pay. Plus, one has to buy local insurance, because US insurance is useless in Mexico. A car rental could be $100/week, but insurance can cost ten time as much! If one does not buy coverage, then upon the return of the car the agency will nitpick every minor scratch and dent and will try to force you to pay for “damage.”</p>
<p>This is what Tripadvisor says, and this is what we confirmed. :)</p>
<p>I’ll pass that along to S1, if he hasn’t seen it already on Tripadvisor. He hasn’t taken Spanish since HS, hates to spend money (especially unnecessarily), and would probably get himself arrested for mouthing off about how ridiculous the Mexican authorities are. </p>
<p>The Osa Peninsula is amazing! It would be rainy season though and the dirt roads out there wash out. It would be worth researching more. One other possible strike against it for a honeymoon is that the beaches are less conventionally swimmable with sting rays and poisonous sea snakes close in to shore.</p>
<p>Shellfell, some of Tripadvisor reviews of car rentals in Mexico sound like movie fiction, but having experienced some of that stuff firsthand, I can assert that they are not made up. That said, taking a cab there is cheap and efficient. Hotels in Riviera Maya provide shuttles to and from the airport, and that is a much safer way of getting around.</p>
<p>I have personally been to Mexico @ 6 or 7 times. I would no longer recommend it as a vacation spot in today’s world. Now Puerto Rico is an absolute charming island, but again, not sure of hurricane season. I agree with the suggestion of Aruba. We actually were in all ABC islands, Aruba, Bonaire & Curacao. Aruba had the fabulous beaches and nightlife. Bonaire has diving and snorkeling, very primitive still. Curacao has beaches and shopping! I’m sure this couple will research and find the best honeymoon spot for them. Helps to talk to travel agents who can tell which places are the best for September visits. Shellfell: I know they ruled out Europe, but Spain & Portugal has warm beaches, shopping, nightlife, activities…maybe they can be swayed! ;)</p>
Very romantic! I have never stayed at the Sheraton at the Black Rock, but I walked through the grounds and it is a gorgeous property.</p>