Jamaica!

[nikoel]

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

Comments

[ferdelance]

My husband and I are going to Jamaica for our one year anniversary in two weeks. We are staying at Iberostar Rose Hall Grand in Montego Bay. http://www.iberostar.com/EN/-hotels/Iberostar-Grand-Hotel-Rose-Hall_3_134.html

From what I hear Negril has the nicest beaches on the island. We researched the breezes in Trelawney and didn't hear such great things. Have you checked out reviews on trip advisor?

[nikoel]

I have, but there are just so many and most of them are good. It seems we can't really go wrong with any of the places I listed, but the 7-mile beach is definitely the big famous one.

Happy Anniversary! Let me know how it was!

[ferdelance]

Our friends stayed at Couples swept away for their honeymoon and loved it!! I think it helps to review trip advisor alot and also review the traveler photos on the site because they seem to be more helpful than the photos on the hotel websites.

[nikoel]

I'll keep looking there. Thanks!

[amymeenieminymo]

I can't give much advice but we're honeymooning there in November. We're staying at the Grand Palladium and Lady Hamilton resort in Montego Bay. It was the one I could find with the nicest room for the price ($1923 total). I'm too chicken to stray from the resort, so we won't be experiencing any local flavor whatsoever. I also love that its all inclusive so all meals and snacks and some activities are included like snorklng and sun fish sailing.

I'd be careful if you're going in September, I've heard late August and September are the prime hurrican months, though I know you know that. But if I were you I would consider waiting a little if you can. We're arriving November 1st which is the very tail end up the rainy season(when hurricanes are pretty rare), and a good month and a half before the busy season starts so it's kind of the perfect time.

[thought_bubbls]

The Palladium is AWESOME!! You won't be disappointed!

[amymeenieminymo]

Excellent, thanks!

[nikoel]

That's a really good price! That place looks nice too.

I really don't think I can wait. I'm going to have an especially hellacious 2 weeks of work up through Labor Day and am going to need to gtfo of here! The risk is worth it to me. I'll make sure to choose a place that has an evacuation plan and I definitely plan to buy insurance.

[purplmarsh]

I went to Couples Swept Away in June 2006 with my ex-boyfriend and wrote a really long post about it: http://purplmarsh.livejournal.com/59553.html although I guess now it might be out of date. The Couples resorts websites has forums with reviews and things that might be more current, though.

Basically, I had an incredible time - absolutely gorgeous and romantic and the food was quite good - and I thought the price was really reasonable when scuba diving and snorkeling was included. I used www.honeymoonsinc.com even though I wasn't on my honeymoon because the prices were cheaper there than anywhere else I found online and 2 free massages were thrown in through them.

[nikoel]

Wow! Great info! Thanks! Did you venture out at all? Go on any of the tours?

[purplmarsh]

Not really - we mostly did all of the things that were part of the "all-inclusive" part. We went on the included sunset catamaran tour, which to be honest we didn't like very much.

[nikoel]

Thanks. The place I'm looking at has all the tours as add-ons, but the hotel is so cheap the add-ons don't break the bank.

[thought_bubbls]

I just came back from Jamaica a few days ago

[nikoel]

That's funny that you mention Playa del Carmen because that is where my friends who have been to Negril before have been going to every vacation since Jamaica. To be honest, it's not my first choice, but FH wants to go there and I am just happy to go somewhere tropical (he was originally talking about Ireland and while that would be lovely, I really wanted to do a beach honeymoon). Thank you for the tips! I have heard about the solicitors which sounds pretty annoying and upsetting, but I understand why it happens. I also heard it's best to stay put at night. That's too bad, but again I get it.

Thanks for all the great info!

[zukpager305]

Hmm, I didn't have that experience with the solicitors. perhaps Sandals does a better job at keeping them at bay? I saw some in boats around the swimming area on the Sandals beach, but they would get yelled at if they tried crossing over to the roped off swimming area. The only solicitors I was annoyed by was the damned photographers Sandals has. Freaking paparazzi, everywhere you go they want to take your picture so you can spend like 20 bucks a pop on it. But they did take "no" for an answer

[zukpager305]

We stayed at the Sandals Inn in Montego Bay

[nikoel]

Thank you so much! This was a ton of great info! Yay! I will look into Sandals. I'm glad they have one smaller place because that was the reason I didn't want to go with them. Thanks!!