Need Help Planning Honeymoon

[kah]

Well, let me just start by telling you my vacation experience begins and ends with Disneyworld with my parents 16 years ago...

I am trying to figure out a reasonably priced, fun, romantic honeymoon, but I don't know where to start- not even with a location, since I've never been ANYWHERE.

Please give suggestions. Any and all are welcome. We are working on September, so weather in a location is important, and if we are planning on being gone for more than 3 days, then the boy has to come with (he'll be 14 months). Is it worth the price to book a tour/flight/hotel in a specific location, or should be book our flight and hotel through an online company (priceline, cheaptickets, orbitz) and rent a car when we get there and be our own tour guides? George likes swimming and water, I like beaches, but am afraid of the water. I like castles, George is bored by history. I don't need tropical weather, but warm would be nice. I would rather not experience a hurricane, tsunami, monsoon, etc on my first real vaca. We love eating and atmosphere, coffee and sunrise. Nightlife is of very little importance to us, but we do enjoy shows. (I know, this is starting to sound like a personal ad ~sigh~)

Please, help!!

[KingVoyeur]

I came across this while clicking random article on Wikipedia.

Quebradillas, Puerto Rico
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Quebradillas is a municipality of the island of Puerto Rico, located in the north-western shore. It is a small town of approximately 30,000 people.

The town was founded in 1823 by Don Felipe Ruiz. This town derives its name from the large amount of streams flowing through it. The name literally means "small streams".

Quebradillas is home of one of the 20 designated forest reserves in Puerto Rico, the Guajataca forest. In the Guajataca lake you can fish for bass, peacock bass and bluegill. The name Guajataca comes from the name of an Indian chief who lived in this area. There is also the Guajataca Beach to the north at the Atlantic Ocean.

Called "La Guarida del Pirata" (The Pirate's Hideout) in the old days before Quebradillas was a town this place was known to be a hideout for Pirates.

Northwest of Quebradillas lies the beautiful Guajataca Beach, with its white sands and wild and deep waters. It is perfect for sunning and collecting shells. One can also visit Lake Guajataca, another beautiful spot. This man-made lake (2.5 mi/4 km long) is a lovely place for hiking, camping, and fishing.

Sounds nice.

[sickness]

The panhandle of Florida is actually quite immune to hurricanes. They all go farther west or hit the peninsula and turn northeast.

[SlamShut]

Take everything you just typed up in your original post, kah, and tell it to a travel agent. They can advise you best where to go, and they can even draw up an itinerary or two for you. You won't have to pay most agents unless you book the trip.

[Space Tycoon]

Haiti looks like fun.

http://www.mckinley.net/haiti.jpg

[neglet]

I would rather not experience a hurricane, tsunami, monsoon, etc on my first real vaca.

Then I don't think the Gulf Coast in September is the best idea. That also rules out the Caribbean.:ohwell:

Right now you need to narrow your focus. Make a list of the things that each of you a) wants to do; and b) is willing to do. If you both like something (eg, beaches, shows), put that at the top of your list. If one of you likes something and the other is willing to go along (eg, he's willing to see one castle or museum you like, you're willing to go on one two-hour sailing or rafting trip), add that too. After you've identified what kinds of things you'd like to do, you can figure out where might be the best place to do it. (You might make a separate list of things you can do with baby, in case you decide on more than three days.)

As for package vs. booking separately: I find that if you want to do anything off the beaten path--ie, not the same as all the other tourists, you're better off booking separately. Often you can get similar deals directly from the hotel as you might get from an online package, and you can get exactly the place you want. But you can at least browse the packagers for ideas. Also browse the internet for more ideas. I Googled "September getaways" and found this article (http://honeymoons.about.com/od/vacationweather/qt/Sept_October.htm) at About.com.

It might help us narrow things down for you if we knew your starting location. If you only have three days, you don't want to spend half of the day flying.

[Space Tycoon]

Then I don't think the Gulf Coast in September is the best idea. That also rules out the Caribbean.:ohwell:

Aaah, that's no fun.

Oh, I know! For something out of the way, exotic...how about Waziristan!

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040318/w2.jpg

[kah]

The Puerto Rico destination sounds wonderful to me, but George is also not a camper and hates fish- and I don't mean eating, I mean touching. I know, I tell everyone I know, and some people I don't. He knows he's a girl when it comes to that. I was thinking really hard, and from all I've seen and read about New Orleans, it would've been the perfect spot, pre-Katrina, of course. Cafe au lait and beignets in the morning. Warm/hot weather. Architecture and cemetaries for me. Jazz and blues. Cajun food. Wrong time of year and about a year too late.

Does that help at all? Plus, Neg, we're coming from Wisconsin, but we could always drive to Chicago's airport (about 1 1/2 hrs)to get a shorter flight/non-stop).

[fastcar]

My wedding was in November and we went to Niagara. I know it sounds rather 1950's but it was really fun. You can get a decent deal on a room.

The weather was cold, but it wasn't too bad. I highly suggest staying at the Embassy Suites. We showed up and mentioned that this was our honeymoon. They weren't really filled so they bumped us to a Prime two room suite with a fireplace and jacuzzi as well as free valet service.

You get an awesome breakfast buffet and a two drink chips and nuts reception in the evening. You can walk to the newest Casino and there's a shuttle that will take you to the other as well as the Hard Rock and other attractions.

And best of all......Duty Free baby, Duty free.

http://www.embassysuitesniagara.com/images/hp_bigpic3.jpg (http://www.embassysuitesniagara.com/)

[Trazalca]

Since you've never been anywhere,
and your set to go in September,
you have to ask yourself what you and yours would like to enjoy:
a location with fall foliage at its peak?
Or sun and surf?

And just to let you know, if you go anywhere around Florida,
for those recovered areas from Katrina,
the sand is WHITE surrounding most of the Gulf of Mex.
If you go to any beach facing the Atlantic ocean,
the sand is ashy and not so pretty to look at.

Check out Bed & Breakfast Inns in your state
or even in states further South.
They can offer a lot of ideas for your consideration.

Here's a good starting point- Bed & Breakfast Inns (http://www.bedandbreakfastinns.org/resource-links.htm)

[American]

Haiti looks like fun.

http://www.mckinley.net/haiti.jpg

I think they would rather have fun then dodging out-of-control pro-Aristide gangs and UN peacekeepers

Try Australia....just be careful at the beach :ohwell:

[Bokchoi Cowboy]

The Puerto Rico destination sounds wonderful to me, but George is also not a camper and hates fish- ...


...Does that help at all? Plus, Neg, we're coming from Wisconsin, but we could always drive to Chicago's airport (about 1 1/2 hrs)to get a shorter flight/non-stop).

I second the idea of going to Australia. Beautiful time of year to go, as it will be springtime there. Can be a bit pricey, but if you are willing to go, you can find good deals right now on airfare. My wife and I just booked a trip on Air New Zealand. We will get a roundtrip international flight, plus local flights from Fiji to New Zealand and New Zealand to Australia, for $1100.

Cruising is a really cool way to go since your signifigant other does not like to "rough it". Cruising allows for alot of "alone" time for the two of you (great for honeymoons, nudge, nudge, wink, wink), plus the chance to be pampered as much as you will allow for. With the amount of cruises available out there you can find something that fits your choices of destinations and available time without too much trouble. Shopping around can get you some pretty good deals. My suggestion for cruise line would be Celebrity. Since you are from the northern reaches of the country, another option would be Princess Cruises, who will be innaugurating a new ship that will be sailing out of New York for Carribean tours this summer. The ship is the Crown Princess, and is supposed to be quite the thing.

If you want to try Mediteranean or Caribean cruising on a budget, I suggest checking out http://www.easycruise.com/ . The focus of this cruise line is to pretty much be a floating, moving hotel, without all the pomp and ammenities of a traditional cruise line. You travel destination to destination at night, with most of your focus on the port cities you stop at for your entertainment. Supposed to be pretty cheap.

[Jakester]

I think you should come visit me. Without your groom.

[kah]

Maybe you should ask your wife if she'd like to swap for my honeymoon? Really spice things up. Right- and I can look at your avatar without gagging/giggling. Every time I look at that thing I think Ron Jeremy- fat, naked, and eating a sin-stick. (According to Jim: Butter rolled in sugar on a stick)

[DarkJedi]

Boki.....bring back pictures.....and tales of the horrible flight.

Lewis Black did a fuckin hilarious skit not too long ago that aired on HBO....Flight to New Zealand for him was 23 hours.

Bring the pics anyway. Long flight or not, I've never taken a real vacation before...I'd like to include Australia and New Zealand as places to go to besides Europe.

[Jakester]

Naked pictures, ODJ. Kahlan is cute.

[Jakester]

Oh, you were talking about Boki...nevermind. He brings back pictures, but I don' wanna see him naked.

[DarkJedi]

Pfffft. You are focused, just on a different subject.

[Bokchoi Cowboy]

Hey, it may not be that big around, but man is it short!

[kah]

We're seriously considering Hawaii. Any info would be great as it looks kind of expensive. Opinions on Oahu Power Pass? Where's Bill? He spent a lot of time there, right?

Also, Boki- it's a lot cheaper for you to fly than it is for us.

[Queen Mae]

I was thinking really hard, and from all I've seen and read about New Orleans, it would've been the perfect spot, pre-Katrina, of course. Cafe au lait and beignets in the morning. Warm/hot weather. Architecture and cemetaries for me. Jazz and blues. Cajun food. Wrong time of year and about a year too late.


:hugs:

Have you been there before?

[kah]

No. I had always meant to go, but I was in debt. Now I am out of debt and have a small child.

[Queen Mae]

And I would have realized that if I would have carefully read your post!

Go next year - in April or May. It's so beautiful that time of year and it's "off season" for tourists.

[kah]

Do you think it will be in better shape by then? Also, I had always heard crime was very bad there, and it seems to be worse now. That may only be because NO is in the spotlight, and every crime is on the news, but I don't want to walk into a dangerous situation if it can be avoided.