Jamaica!
We settled on a honeymoon destination! We haven't purchased tickets yet, FH has to check the schedule at work. I can't go anywhere until after Labor Day, which I know is peak hurricane season, but I plan to buy insurance and I've read enough stories where everything was fine minus a little rain so I'm not terribly concerned about it.
I spent like 4 hours yesterday morning researching all-inclusive hotels and reading reviews, but I'd like to get some recommendations from people who have been there. Where did you stay in Jamaica? What did you like/dislike? I hear Negril is great, but is it better than Ocho Rios?
The resorts I'm deciding between are:
The Grand Pineapple
http://www.grandpineapple.com/
It's got more character than the more corporate places which I like, but only one restaurant/bar. It doesn't include airport transfers, but we'd be able to afford the best room there (Beachside Cottage) and have plenty of money left over for tours and eating elsewhere. It's not kid-free but I feel like mid-September is school time for pretty much everyone anyway.
Breezes Grand Negril (or Runaway Bay or Trelawney)
http://www.breezes.com/resorts/breezes-grand-negril/
It's pricier and more corporate, but also maybe safer? We'd be able to get one of their mid-range rooms (Jr Suite Beachfront) and airport transfers are included. We'd still need to pay extra for tours it looks like, but there are a lot more choices for restaurants and bars. I just feel like we'd be missing out on some of the local flavor if we go with one of the more corporate places. Then again, the beach might be better too. Also, the other two on the island look interesting and since there won't likely be any kids, maybe it'd be a perfect time to go.
The third one I'm looking at is the Couples Swept Away (or San Souci or Tower Isle)
More corporate and more expensive, but it also looks REALLY nice. Plus swim up bars! Not really interested in the "au natural" but who knows I guess. Heh. We'd be able to afford one of their mid-range rooms again, though possibly not an ocean adjacent one. I suppose that's not a big deal though. I don't plan on spending too much time in our room. The restaurants and bars look pretty good actually though I'd still like to explore the island a bit more and do the local flavor though. I have to admit I'm a tiny bit sketchy about doing so. I know people who have, but it seems like you really have to watch out for the con artists. The last thing I need on my honeymoon is to be ripped off by some guy. It's one thing on a regular vacation, but a honeymoon is different. This is why I'm thinking that maybe this time, doing the more corporate resort would be a good idea.
So, Dear WPers, what advice can you give me about Jamaica? Thank you!
P.S. This is both of our first time to the Caribbean, both our first time off the North American continent and FH's first time to a tropical part of the world.
I spent like 4 hours yesterday morning researching all-inclusive hotels and reading reviews, but I'd like to get some recommendations from people who have been there. Where did you stay in Jamaica? What did you like/dislike? I hear Negril is great, but is it better than Ocho Rios?
The resorts I'm deciding between are:
The Grand Pineapple
http://www.grandpineapple.com/
It's got more character than the more corporate places which I like, but only one restaurant/bar. It doesn't include airport transfers, but we'd be able to afford the best room there (Beachside Cottage) and have plenty of money left over for tours and eating elsewhere. It's not kid-free but I feel like mid-September is school time for pretty much everyone anyway.
Breezes Grand Negril (or Runaway Bay or Trelawney)
http://www.breezes.com/resorts/breezes-grand-negril/
It's pricier and more corporate, but also maybe safer? We'd be able to get one of their mid-range rooms (Jr Suite Beachfront) and airport transfers are included. We'd still need to pay extra for tours it looks like, but there are a lot more choices for restaurants and bars. I just feel like we'd be missing out on some of the local flavor if we go with one of the more corporate places. Then again, the beach might be better too. Also, the other two on the island look interesting and since there won't likely be any kids, maybe it'd be a perfect time to go.
The third one I'm looking at is the Couples Swept Away (or San Souci or Tower Isle)
More corporate and more expensive, but it also looks REALLY nice. Plus swim up bars! Not really interested in the "au natural" but who knows I guess. Heh. We'd be able to afford one of their mid-range rooms again, though possibly not an ocean adjacent one. I suppose that's not a big deal though. I don't plan on spending too much time in our room. The restaurants and bars look pretty good actually though I'd still like to explore the island a bit more and do the local flavor though. I have to admit I'm a tiny bit sketchy about doing so. I know people who have, but it seems like you really have to watch out for the con artists. The last thing I need on my honeymoon is to be ripped off by some guy. It's one thing on a regular vacation, but a honeymoon is different. This is why I'm thinking that maybe this time, doing the more corporate resort would be a good idea.
So, Dear WPers, what advice can you give me about Jamaica? Thank you!
P.S. This is both of our first time to the Caribbean, both our first time off the North American continent and FH's first time to a tropical part of the world.