SAFE tropical honeymoon suggestions?

[Eric P]

I just got engaged and we want to do a tropical honeymoon. We both got really excited about St. Lucia, specifically Anse Chastennette (sp?) but then I read a lot of stuff online about crime there. Burglary, rape, beating. It kinda freaked me out.

I know there are risks ANYplace you go but I don't want to push it. Rape is not the way to start out an otherwise wonderful relationship.

Any suggestions/experiences for places that have blue skys, sandy beaches, warm air, and good stuff to do (we are outdoorsy, hiking, fishing, swimming, etc. would be great...as well as good food)? I won't say money isn't an option but we aren't on a super tight budget.

I just want something reasonably safe. Not where the locals are so hard up and the police so weak that room break-ins are "common".

Thanks!

[red-beard]

If you leave the tourist areas, you might get into trouble. If you stay at the resorts, you will be fine.

[Dueller]

A few years back, my then gf and I took 3 months and island hopped all the way from USVI down to Trinidad. We stayed on 22 different islands avoiding big resorts and moving about in the local cultures. Using common sense, we only experienced 1 criminal incident...my $20 Timex was lifted from a beach towel on St. Vincent. For the most part violent crime is rare. Most crime consists of petty property theft. That being said, the more touristy islands (e.g., Jamaica) or larger islands (Trinidad) are more prone to serious crime.

Give me a little idea of what kind of honeymoon you're looking for; i.e., eco-tourism, adventure, pampering/luxury resort, lots of night life, solitude, etc. and I'll give you my impressions/suggestions.

[Eric P]

A combination of pampering resort and adventure would fit the bill. We don't need or really want "night life".

Although "staying in safe places" sounds good. In the story below the couple was robbed and raped IN their resort room.

http://www.stluciatravel.org/

[kach22i]

There are safe tourist havens/resorts. "Sandals" has one in Jamaica. They take you to the "safe" market in a bus and let you know how to behave and not to stray, safety in numbers.

Link:
http://www.sandals.com/general/resorts-jamaica.cfm?keyword=sandals_jamaica&WT.srch=1&source=google

[tubwreck]

http://www.peterisland.com/

A private island in the BVI. You take a launch from the airport in tortola. My wife and I honeymooned there in 2001 (just pre 9/11) and it was absolutely great.

[Gene Wilkes]

Go to Hawaii! Kawaii (north side) is unbelievable! Maui is excellent too!

[Eric P]

BVI was actually our first thought before St. Lucia. What makes it safer.

Those Sandals resorts look good but are they cheesey?

Hawaii. Good possibility. I don't like the flight/jet lag. I'd rather go North and South but...

[Gene Wilkes]

Personally I LOVE the BVI's! The only way to do them is to charter a sailboat and sail for 5-7 days!

[Dueller]

Tragic story.

I'm familiar with that area on St Lucia and it is somewhat isolated on the south end of the island.

St Lucia really impressed us. It seemed to have more european (particularly german and british) tourists. We stayed there a few days longer than planned because we enjoyed it so much. We traveled the entire island in a rented car by ourselves and had no problems beyond fending off a few men trying halfheartedly to hit on my gf. Seems that a popular escape for younger (primarily german) women to come to experience exotic "schwarzen boys" while on holiday. We stayed on the north side in Castries and attended the local friday night "jump ups" (street party) and had no problems despite being obvious travellers. Despite the story, I would consider it relatively safe. Lots to do there as far as mountain bike guided tours, hiking, nature preserves, etc. Tame night life on the south, less populated end. Beaches on the northj end are white sand; south end dark, volcanic sand. Decent diving on the south end. If you do go, don't miss the "world;s only drive in volcano." Ask a local to show you the place under the bridge where you can sit in the hot volcanic water stream...dig into the silt for the blue black mud pack...grat for the complexion (although plan on pitching your suits as they will smell like sulfur forever).

I'm not a resort type of person (e.g. Sandals, etc). You may also consider Barbados, which though large, is friendly and fun to explore in a rented mini-moke. Lots to do.

Also, St Martin/Saint Marteen is nice. Two distinct cultures (one half is dutch the other half is french). An easy ferry ride to St Barts for a day trip to hob nob with the rich and famous in the bistros. And also a neat 12 minute plane ride over to Saba...but if you do go to Saba spend a day or two there staying in one of the guest houses up on the side of the mountain. Saba was a real treat...only 5 sq miles in area w/ 1200 Dutch iresidents. Just a dormant volcano rising from sea level to c 3500 ft...spend a day hiking to the top of the mountain for unbelieveable views (and a 25 degree temp drop). Best diving on the planet.

Tobago...home to newly weds and nearly deads. Quiet. Gorgeous...rent a car and travel the island in safety. Small intimate island.

St Vincent seems to have a bit of anti-american sentiment largely because the US comes in and Napalms the huge pot fields every year...but they've reached a compromise as they alternate ends each year. While we were there the North end was being burned...we were safe as we stayed on the south end ( 1/4 mile from the biggest pot field I've ever seen right beside a public road). We did hop over to Bequie from St V and it was very beautiful, very french and very peaceful.

I would not recommend Trinidad or Anguilla.

[island911]

Originally posted by islandmanpa
Go to Hawaii! Kawaii (north side) is unbelievable! Maui is excellent too!

Good choices. I'll add, Kauai has a bit more attitude toward tourists than Maui. Maui is more expensive/gentrified.

I just got back from Kauai, and stayed on Maui a few month prior. --either are great choices.

Regarding jetlag;You didn't say where you would be flying from. That said, it was strange, how many Brit's were there.

[Mr_Wizard]

Check out Couples Swept Away, Couples in Negril Jamaica. My brother did his wedding and honeymoon there.

[kach22i]

Originally posted by Eric P
Those Sandals resorts look good but are they cheesey?

Yes, cheesey in that:

Meals included, no tipping

Pool (with swim up bar) and exercise room.

Several restaurants all excellent, one out in the water like an island.

You can go to all the other Sandals resorts on the island for day/dinner trips.

You are with a hundred other honeymooners, people are so nice when they are all sexed up and in love.

Palm readers and other entertainment by the pool.

The ocean.

Scuba lessons and snorking outings provided several times daily.

A honeymoon is different than other types of travel in that you spend a lot of time together, a lot of time in bed, and you may not want or need any stress/adventure to distract from your main pleasures.

15 years ago I spent my honeymoon there, it was cheesey and it was good.

[Tishabet]

I would second Saba.... gorgeous, and extremely safe on the entire island, not just on some resort compound.

[Eric P]

Kach,

That is the kind of "cheesey" I want. I just don't want a bunch of facades. Disneyland/Epcot (which is nice, don't get me wrong)-like vacation won't get it.

Good suggestions.

E

[Dueller]

Originally posted by kach22i
Yes, cheesey in that:

......

You are with a hundred other honeymooners, people are so nice when they are all sexed up and in love.

Palm readers and other entertainment by the pool.

The ocean.

Scuba lessons and snorking outings provided several times daily.

A honeymoon is different than other types of travel in that you spend a lot of time together, a lot of time in bed, and you may not want or need any stress/adventure to distract from your main pleasures.

15 years ago I spent my honeymoon there, it was cheesey and it was good.

OK...despite my total disdain for chain resorts, I can see where some honeymooners might like this type of resort.

OTOH...my wife and I went on our honeymoon last summer to Belize. We rented a private villa with a staff and stayed on Ambergris Cay for two weeks. Rarely saw another soul unless we wanted to. Not everybody's cup of tea, but then again I could care less about palm readers by the pool and standing in buffet lines.

To each his own....most important thing is that your bride loves it. You on the other hand merely have to tolerate it without being totally miserable.

Ley us know what you decide.

[stomachmonkey]

Consider a cruise. You'll get to hit a bunch of Islands and get some exposure to which ones you want to revisit.

Royal Caribbean at minimum, Norwegian better, Carnival has too many college kids.

[nostatic]

My ex g/f says she's going to honeymoon in the Maldives (and she's been almost everywhere). It is a little bit of a trip though...

http://www.visitmaldives.com/

[jriera]

Give Costa Rica a try ...

If you want wild, cheap nature try to go to Los Roques in Venezuela, probably the last secret in the Caribbean.

[charlesbahn]

one word....Anegeda. A place almost no one knows about.... great for a honeymoon.

http://www.b-v-i.com/Anegada/