Best Resort on the Beach for a Honeymoon?

[EileenSRN]

We are giving our son and fiance a week for their honeymoon in August 2009. We've never been. I have some good traders. They'd like a place on the beach, all inclusive. I know you guys will have several great recommendations for me.
Thanks in advance,
Eileen

 

[Karen G]

their honeymoon in August 2009. . . I have some good traders. They'd like a place on the beach, all inclusive.

Save your good traders and check out RCI extra vacations or last call. Since you (or they?) will be paying the all-inclusive fees, which can be pretty high, you might want to save your timeshare week, maintenance fee on it, and exchange fee.

Do you know if they want to go to Cancun or Cabo? There are more all-inclusives in Cancun. My daughter and her husband are going to the Sun Palace in Cancun in April and it gets great reviews on tripadvisor. It's a couple-only resort. There are several other Palace resorts in Cancun and nearby and I believe you can use the facilities at all of them if you're staying at any one of them.

If they would consider Cabo, there are a couple on the beach (Medano is the name of the swimmable Cabo beach) that I'd recommend. Pueblo Bonito Rose or Pueblo Bonito Los Cabos--they are right next to each other, within walking distance of town, and on a great beach with a lot of water activities. These two are NOT all-inclusive, but there are many interesting & good places to eat within walking distance.

 

[laura1957]

Palace Resorts - Sun Palace is couples only. They are all wonderful and yes, you can visit all of them. Came in handy for us a few times. I have stayed at Moon and Aventura (adults only, unless they have changed that), and visited Playacar, Cozumel, and Xpu-ha for meals, drinks and activities. Service was fantastic at all of them.

 

[pcgirl54]

Eileen

I don't have any suggestions for you but I wanted to say that this is the reason I bought my first TS so when our 3 sons get married I would be able to give them the honeymoon their parents could never afford.

Good for you! Isn't it a wonderful thing to be able to do for our children!!!

 

[ace2000]

Our daughter got married in October 2007. We bought them an AI week at Aventura Spa (adults-only) and they absolutely loved it. They usually offer an amazing RCI special in October (hopefully August would be available.

 

[EileenSRN]

It sure is!

Eileen

I don't have any suggestions for you but I wanted to say that this is the reason I bought my first TS so when our 3 sons get married I would be able to give them the honeymoon their parents could never afford.

Good for you! Isn't it a wonderful thing to be able to do for our children!!!

pcgirl,
Owning TS has hidden benefits. I was given my first by my Mom when he became too old to use it. Before that the only vacations my family took were to visit other family. My hubby, an educational administrator, felt the district couldn't live without him for more than 5 days in a row. He learned the value of a Feb break vacation. Now we own more weeks than we can use (till we retire), but I wouldn't change any of it.
But...Mexico...
Thank you all. Seems there's really one great place for the honeymooners.
Is it worth the AI if you're not a big drinker? Is food so expensive (or not safe) in the local area that the price is worth it?
Eileen

 

[Carolyn]

Don't forget about the Hawaiian Islands, especially Kauai and Maui (#1 Honeymoon destination) Good Luck.

Carolyn

 

[pcgirl54]

Eileen

If you opt not for AI for then you may want to consider Maui.

Maui is the trip we took in 2008 to Westin Ka'anapali after 33 yrs of marriage and putting the boys through college. A honeymoon there would be heaven indeed if airfare is affordable for you/them.

The words that came out of my mouth on our first day is this is where we need to send our sons when they get married. Breathtaking just absolutely breathtaking and so much to do.

There are many inexpensive places to eat and grocers to pick up necessities.

We have been thinking of where to go this year and have not done AI in the past due to the cost as we do not spend $1500-$2000 on vacation for drinks/meals. AI resorts and fees in the Grand Velas, Punta Cana in the DR ,Barbados and St Lucia. Airfare is $780pp and the AI is $66 pp per day to $225pp per day in some places.

Seems pricey for a regular vacation but yours is to plan a honeymoon and then there are no worries about where to dine due to a tight budget.

Maybe it's worth checking out travel deals with airfare,resort/meals included to compare to the loss of week/exchange/ MF and annual fee.

 

[SherryS]

Last January, I was looking for a nice honeymoon for our son....Someone here recommended Pueblo Bonito at Sunset Beach for last July. Our kids thought that this resort was awesome, in son's words "the nicest resort we've EVER visited" and he had been to LOTS of resorts since we first started to timeshare and trade in 1985. Sunset Beach is NOT all-inclusive, but they did use some room service and the swim-up bar. They thought it was reasonably priced. Said they didn't need a car, because of the free shuttle, and they got to decent restaurants in town via shuttle. They thought it was the perfect place for honeymoon!

 

[Larry]

Mayan palace Acapulco

Got both of my daughter's their honeymoon's at the Mayan Palace Acapulco and although not all inclusive they absolutelty loved the resort and still talk about it today. The resort is drop dead gorgeous and they now have the Grand Mayan Acapulco which shares the same property and is way nicer.

 

[geekette]

I wouldn't do AI due to cost, and found Cabo to be quite reasonably-priced for groceries and restaurants.

AI could make things extremely convenient for a honeymooning couple, tho. Especially if they have no plans to leave the resort.

 

[Zib]

There are several awesome resorts in Nuevo Vallarta. Villa Del Palmar Flamingos, Grand Mayan, Mayan Palace, Playa Del Sol Grand. These are not all inclusive but with Flamingos (gorgeous resort) you can choose to be all incusive. Then there is Grand Vellas Vallarta that IS all inclusiive. I have not stayed in Vellas Vallarta but I have heard it is wonderful. The ocean in Nuevo is much nicer that in town, Puerto Vallarta. All these resorts are, in my judgement, similar in upscale beauty, awesome pools, gyms and workout rooms etc. but if it were me and I had a choice of them, I think I'd go with Falmingos because all of these resorts are somewhat isolated out in Nuevo, but Flamingos is walking distance (30 min or so) to the very interesting little town of Bucerias where there are some good restaurants and interesting shopping. I agree with the choices in Cabo but would add Villa Del Palmar. Arcos, and Grand Mayan (GM is actually in San Jose Del Cabo walking distance to town) Good luck! Let us know what you find.

 

[pjrose]

If you're considering NOT going AI, then consider one of the Royal Resorts. There are many reasonably priced on-site restaurants at the Tri-Royals, two at the Royals Sands, and one at the Haciendas.

The Royal Haciendas is the newest and most upscale, and the jacuzzi on the terrace with ocean view is quite romantic With free delivery from the Express take-out onsite, they'll never have to leave their villa. The beach is very nice, snorkling right there, and Play del Carmen accessible via resort shuttle or taxi.

Club Internacional is very quiet and peaceful, and close to the wide variety of Cancun restaurants and nightlife.

The Sands and Tris (Mayan, Caribbean, and Islander) offer lots of pool areas and restaurant options, and as with VCI, unlimited Cancun restaurants are just a cab ride away.

All offer the option of quiet dinners in your own villa with free delivery from the "express" onsite, and there's a nice selection of wine and other drinks at the minimarkets at all of them.

The Royals are always on the top rated TUG resorts.

 

[richardm]

Ocho Cascadas in Vallarta...

I'll throw a vote in for this resort, but be sure to try a villa as near the top floor as possible...


edited....

Ouch! Just noticed the August travel date.. This resort may not be suitable as the villas are actually open to the breeze and I'm not sure what the temps are like during that time. It's a honeymoon so they probably won't be overdressed- but still....

How about on the coast in Washington state?

 

[Karen G]

If your son and his bride will be traveling in August, Cabo might be a better choice because of the weather. Cabo is a desert climate as opposed to Puerto Vallarta & Cancun, which would both be much more tropical and humid as well as hot. Early August would be better than late August as tropical storms seem to be more likely the very end of August/first of September.

Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach is usually pretty easy to get as they are actively selling and have a lot of developer inventory in RCI. Since it does have a free shuttle to the PB Rose, they could have access to the beach & downtown area that way.

 

[pammex]

Not sure what part of Mexico you are looking for but for a honeymoon with AI, I personally would love any of the Palace resorts.

Grand Velas in Neuvo Vallarta but is not all adults. Casa Velas is all adults though and a great honeymoon boutique hotel, not on beach but has free shuttle to private beach club just minutes away. It is a wonderful honeymoon spot in Puerto Vallarta. Also Velas Vallarta, though more lively and not adult only is another great honeymoon spot on beach with close proximity to lots to do.

The Mayan Resorts are also nice and do have meal plans but I think expensive considering they do not include drinks.

I would narrow down an area of Mexico and then try to research from there. Best wishes and congratulations..

 

[nazclk]

Resort

Have to agree with Sunset Beach as I own there and go every year. This year is February 14 and I can hardly wait. Also for honeymoons they have the new adults only Pacifica down from Sunset Beach. We always go there at least once during our stay and have breakfast.