Honeymoon Vacations for Dummies
- Book Reviews,
by Reid Bramblett
Honeymoon Vacations For Dummies FROM THE PUBLISHER Honeymoon Vacations for Dummies has everything you need to plan the perfect honeymoon from special honeymoon hotel deals to the most romantic restaurants. Our expert author has chosen a range of destinations and adventures to suit every taste and budget: relax on the pink sand beaches of Bermuda, dive the seas in Cozumel or linger over dessert at a Paris cafe. Filled with planning tips and worksheets, and brimming with candid, evocative restaurants and accommodation reviews, Honeymoon Vacations for Dummies will make planning your honeymoon a snap!
This guide contains 1-color interior maps, cartoons by Rich Tennant, a 4-color map on the interior cover, color worksheets, and a 4-color tear card.
For more information on your honeymoon destination check out Frommer's Hawaii (ISBN: 0764564064), Frommer's Caribbean Hideaways (ISBN: 0-7645-6469-2) , Frommer's Caribbean (ISBN: 0764564412), Frommer's Caribbean Cruises & Ports of Call (ISBN: 076456417X), Frommer's Mexico (ISBN: 0764564374) and Frommer's Paris (ISBN: 0764564811). EXCERPT: So . . . what destination scored best - and what do the results mean for your honeymoon destiny? Although practically all the places in Honeymoon Vacations For Dummies offer sun, fun, and tons of romance, they contrast as much as diamonds and emeralds. We give complete details in the chapters devoted to each destination, but meanwhile, here's an introduction to the top locales.
Honeymooning in Hawaii
Waterfalls. Black-sand beaches. Red-hot volcanoes that sizzle into the sea. No wonder Hawaii is the most popular honeymoon destination outside the continental United States. Hawaii comprises six main islands: Oahu (the setting for Waikiki Beach and Honolulu), plus the Neighbor Islands: Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kauai, and Hawaii (known as the Big Island to distinguish it from the state). Each island has a unique personality, set of attractions, and appeal.
Oahu
Home to the world-famous Waikiki Beach, with white sands, shocking-blue water, and those killer views of Diamond Head. Oahu also offers some of Hawaii's most interesting cultural experiences (including Iolani Palace and the Bishop Museum), as well as the best restaurants, shopping, and nightlife. When you get beyond the Honolulu-Waikiki metropolis, the natural beauty and genuine Hawaiian spirit rivals any on the Neighbor Islands, especially along the north shore and in Windward Oahu.
Maui
Want gourmet restaurants, flashy clubs, world-class golf courses, and opulent hotels where peacocks preen and golden Buddhas glitter? Maui's got them, not to mention 42 miles of beaches, emerald-green rainforests, and Haleakala, a dormant volcano with a crater big enough to swallow the island of Manhattan whole. Lahaina, a former whaling town, now burgeons with boutiques, restaurants, and art galleries. Maui no ka oi, Hawaiians like to say. "Maui is best."
The Big Island
By far the largest of the Hawaiian islands - twice the size of all the others combined (and still growing!), the Big Island also packs in an amazing variety of experiences including fire-breathing volcanoes and snow-capped summits. In addition to exploring ancient heiaus (shrines), you can loll on beaches colored white or gold, black or green. The west side of the island is hot, arid, and studded with expansive, ultra-deluxe beach resorts. To the east, the topography is lush, wet, and fragrant with tropical flowers - almost primeval.
Kauai
With its razor-sharp peaks, lush vales, and long, golden strands where coconut palms sway like a line of hula dancers, Kauai is imbued with sublime tropical beauty. Beaches along the north shore are favorites of Hollywood filmmakers (scenes from South Pacific and Jurassic Park were shot here). Only 20 percent of the island is accessible by car, which makes for terrific adventure opportunities: hikes along the Na Pali coast, bike rides down from Waimea Canyon, plus snorkel trips and whale-watching voyages. Top aspects of a Hawaiian honeymoon include the following:
* Warm, sunny weather: The climate is consistently good all year. Daytime temperatures average 78 degrees during the winter, 85 degrees in the summer.
* Easy to reach from the U.S. west coast: Less than a five-hour flight from Los Angeles or San Francisco.
* Still in the U.S.A.: Since Hawaii is the 50th U.S. state, you don't need a passport and the currency is the U.S. dollar.
But also consider the following:
* Prices can be high. Not only are hotels expensive, so are rates for most sightseeing activities.
* Main resort areas can get crowded. Especially during winter high season and school breaks, traffic jams at the malls and the difficulty getting restaurant reservations can be frustrating.
* You face a long flight from the U.S. east coast. Count on ten hours of flight time and five hours of time difference - not practical if you only have a week for your honeymoon.
Honeymooning in the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Bermuda
That sweep of blue-on-blue sea called the Caribbean stretches nearly 2, miles from Miami to the coast of South America. The region encompasses about 30 different nations - an estimated 7, islands - all as varied as the colors in a tropical sunset.
Nonetheless, the islands in the Caribbean region share certain characteristics. Balmy weather, for one - temperatures average about 80 degrees year round. The beaches are spectacular; from long arcs of pearl-white sands to tiny coves where - it may be rumored - pirates stashed their treasure three centuries ago. Here's a preview of the most popular Caribbean destinations.
Aruba
Sugar-white beaches. Splashy casinos. A stark, cactus-strewn interior known as the cunucu, where divi-divi (watapana) trees have been folded at 45-degree angles by the constant trade winds. These are the contrasts of Aruba, an independent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The island is justly famous for its seven-mile stretch of white-sand beach, where most major hotels are located. Aruba lies outside the usual hurricane belt, and it gets only 17 inches of rainfall annually.
The Bahamas
Strictly speaking, the 700 Bahamian Islands (part of the British Commonwealth) are not located in the Caribbean Sea at all, but instead are completely surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. And what a body of water - so clear that underwater scenes for many films have been shot here, including several James Bond flicks. Top honeymoon destinations include Nassau, Paradise Island, and Freeport, where you can lounge on exquisite beaches by day, and woo Lady Luck in the casinos at night.
Bermuda
Yes, the sands are pink, tinged by flecks of coral. Both prim cottages and sprawling mansions are painted gumdrop shades of peach, lemon, and mint. Horse-drawn carriages clip-clop down Front Street, and British traditions prevail, such as serving a proper afternoon tea. Like the Bahamas, Bermuda lies in the Atlantic Ocean (about 600 miles east of North Carolina) and has a subtropical climate. Expect top-notch sports facilities: the island has eight challenging golf courses and over 100 tennis courts.
Cayman Islands
Legendary among scuba divers, the trio of islands know as the Caymans is known for its awesome walls (coral-inlaid cliffs that hurtle into deep blue). Grand Cayman, with its Seven Mile Beach, forms the main tourist center, complete with snazzy hotels, duty-free shopping, plus sporting diversions like tennis and golf. For underwater pursuits, one of the best-loved sites is Sting Ray City, where the friendly fish hover like aquatic Frisbees. Meanwhile, the low-key sister islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman offer world-class dives such as Bloody Bay Wall.
Jamaica
Here, tropical fun sways to a reggae beat, whether you're rafting down a diamond-clear river or racing each other to the top of a bridal-veil-like waterfall. Landscapes start with 200 miles of beaches, then soar to the 7,400-foot summits of the Blue Mountains. The island owes part of its romantic success to the prevalence of all-inclusive resorts, which were first popularized here. The four main honeymoon destinations are Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios, and Port Antonio.
Puerto Rico
La vida loca rules in Puerto Rico, with its high-rise luxury hotels and high-action casinos (not to mention favorite son Ricky Martin). But the island also lures couples to hidden beaches, romantic paradores (country inns), El Yunque rainforest, and the Old City of San Juan, where the hulking El Morro Castle has guarded the waterfront for 400 years. Since Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States, Americans don't need a passport or to clear Customs after a visit.
St. Lucia
St. Lucia has some of the most heart-stopping vistas this side of the South Pacific. Jagged mountains claw the sky, while palm trees ripple along 100 beaches, including some with dusky black sands. The scenery crescendos at the Pitons (double summits that rise from the sea and are actually the tops of a collapsed volcano). Recently, the island has enhanced its honeymoon appeal with the introduction of several all-inclusive resorts.
U.S. Virgin Islands
Blessed with transparent waters like molten gemstones, the U.S.V.I. encompasses three main islands. St. Thomas is the most cosmopolitan of the trio, as celebrated for its duty-free shopping and gourmet restaurants as for its lovely beaches. Nature reigns supreme on St. John, where two-thirds of the land is a National Park. St. Croix embodies contrasts, with white-sand beaches, cactus-thorned plains, and the old Danish capital of Christiansted. Since the islands are an American territory, English is spoken, the currency is the dollar, and U.S. citizens don't need a passport. Top aspects of a Caribbean honeymoon include the following:
* The variety. The activities to choose from are seemingly endless. Many of the beaches earn best-in-the-world status, with soft coral sands and turquoise water.
* Easy to get to from the U.S. east coast. Most of the islands are served by nonstop air service. The Bahamas lie just 50 miles off the coast of Florida, and even Aruba (the most distant island) is just a four-and-a-half-hour flight from New York.
* Warm weather. Temperature fluctuations in the Caribbean are surprisingly slight, averaging between 75 degrees and 85 degrees in both winter and summer. But beware of hurricane season (read on).
But also consider the following:
* It's expensive. Especially during the winter season, hotel rates can be stratospheric. Ditto for prices in restaurants, since most food is imported from the U.S., South America, or Europe.
* The crowds. Unless you're heading off the beaten path, the beaches and bar stools are packed.
* Beware hurricane season. June 1 to November 30 is officially classified as hurricane season. During those months, even if you don't get walloped by a category-five storm, you can encounter days of rain at a time (although you can luck into beautiful weather, too).
Honeymooning in Mexico
Imagine a vast and varied country that stretches 1,200 miles from north to south, bordering on four different seas and three nations. Add in landscapes that range from sun-parched desert to sultry jungle plus wave-sculpted promontories and limpid blue bays where 40-ton whales are so friendly, they may even swim right up to be stroked by your hand. All these juxtapositions come together in Mexico, where the old world of Mayan pyramids and Spanish conquistadors rubs up against the tomorrowland of laser-zapped dance clubs and swank hotels.
Over 6, miles of sun-kissed beaches frame Mexico's coastlines. Each resort destination is unique. Here are some of the best for honeymooners.
Cancun
A gilt-edged sandbox, Cancun is actually a Caribbean island, located just off Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. Known for its electric-blue water, the region offers 12 miles of soft, white beaches, perfect for pastimes from windsurfing to kayaking. Sophisticated hotels, air-conditioned malls, and pulsating dance clubs contrast with the impressive monuments of the Mayan civilization: Tulum, Chichén Itzá, and Uxmal are just a short drive away. In addition, the region offers practically goof-proof weather, with temperatures averaging in the 80s and about 240 sunny days a year.
Cozumel
If Cancun is high heels, late-night clubs, and piña coladas by the pool, Cozumel means flip-flops, hammocks at sunset, and Jacques Cousteau-like underwater adventures. Although increased cruise ship calls (Cozumel is Mexico's largest passenger port) have brought more glittery trinkets to the duty-free shops in San Miguel, Cozumel is still largely unspoiled. Most of all, the island is known for its superb scuba diving on Palancar Reef, part of the second-longest coral reef system in the world. Hotel prices tend to be reasonable.
Acapulco
The setting is awesome: 20 miles of golden sands surround a broad, blue bay, all cupped by the jungle-clad Sierra Madre Mountains. A 24-7 vacation paradise, Acapulco is as famed for its nonstop dance clubs as its beachside fun. Action centers on the Costera Miguel Alemán (also called the Costera or "Strip") where the high-rise hotels, boutiques, and restaurants are located. The city basks in an average of 360 days of sunshine a year.
Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo
Enjoy two unique resort towns for the price of one. A luxury resort developed by the Mexican government, Ixtapa (eeks-tah-pah) lolls beside the two-mile-long Palmar Beach. The sports facilities are first rate, with choices such as horseback riding, tennis, deep-sea fishing, as well as golf on a championship 18-hole Robert Trent Jones course. Just four miles away, Zihuatanejo (see-whah-tah-neh-hoe or see-wah for short), is a former fishing village, which now offers sophisticated restaurants, boutiques, and small hotels.
Puerto Vallarta
Located on the Pacific coast, Puerto Vallarta is tucked along Banderas Bay, Mexico's largest natural harbor. Over 100 miles of coastline surrounds the vast inlet, all surrounded by the Sierra Madre mountains. Despite the arrival of big-name hotels and hard-rocking discos, Puerto Vallarta remains largely unsullied by all the touristy hullabaloo. Cobblestone streets zigzag around whitewashed houses with red-tile roofs, and burros jostle past taxicabs on the Malecón (seaside promenade). The art galleries and restaurants are among the best in Mexico.
Los Cabos
Here, where desert meets the deep-blue sea at the tip of Baja California, the twinned towns of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo - collectively known as Los Cabos (The Capes) - have become Mexico's boom resort destination for the 21st century. Long celebrated for número uno sport fishing (especially for blue and striped marlin) the region has recently added golf to its repertoire, with the debut of several sensational courses. The region averages 360 sunny days every year, with temperatures hovering around 75 degrees.
Top aspects of a Mexican honeymoon include the following:
* Foreign - yet close. Two-thousand-year-old pyramids, gilt-trimmed cathedrals built by the conquistadors - Mexico's got them. At the same time, its modern airports are easy to reach from cities throughout the United States. You don't need a passport to enter Mexico, and most people speak English in the tourist areas.
* The price is right. A strong U.S. dollar means affordable luxury. Rates tend to be lower than in other honeymoon destinations.
* Easy to reach. Cancun and Cozumel are short flights from the U.S. east coast, while Puerto Vallarta, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Acapulco, and Los Cabos are convenient to west coast cities. But consider the following:
* Mexico is a foreign country. A different language, shops that close from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the afternoon, tortillas served at breakfast . . . you encounter novel customs and unfamiliar foods.
* Hard-sell time-share pitches. In some resort areas (especially Cancun and Puerto Vallarta), persistent sales people may pester you on the streets or even the beach to get you to attend time-share spiels.
* The "slower" pace. Service can be leisurely; sightseeing tours or dive trips may not leave on time.
Honeymooning in Walt Disney World and Orlando
Sure, you may be adults heading off on life's biggest adventure - but why shouldn't marriage start with nonstop fun? Walt Disney World and the other top attractions of Central Florida pack in enough different experiences to give you memories for a lifetime.
Heading the wish list for most couples is the chance to meet "The Big Cheese" himself - Mickey Mouse, along with Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and other friends at Walt Disney World. The Disney entertainment extravaganza enfolds four different theme parks: The Magic Kingdom (everything from the excruciatingly cute - It's a Small World - to exceedingly scary - ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter); Epcot (cutting-edge technology and the World Showcase); Disney-MGM Studios (don't miss the Backlot Tour and Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular); and Disney's Animal Kingdom (home to both rhinos and dinos - the latter are computerized but toothsome, nonetheless). Increasingly, Walt Disney World is gearing activities to honeymooners. For example, Pleasure Island features some of the area's best nightlife, with Mannequins Dance Palace, a high-energy club. Disney even offers Fairy Tale Wedding packages, complete with Cinderella's glass coach and personal appearances by Disney characters.
Dynamic as Disney is, the parks are just part of the Orlando playground. Couples can also take in Universal Studios - both a working film studio and a theme park with adrenaline-surging rides like Earthquake and Twister. Other area attractions range from killer whale acrobatics at SeaWorld to space shuttle launches at Kennedy Space Center, or even one of the world's most comprehensive collections of Tiffany glass at the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum.
Top aspects of a Disney honeymoon include the following:
* The price is relatively inexpensive. With over 100, hotel rooms, finding something in your price range shouldn't be difficult. Convenient flights link Orlando with practically everywhere on the planet Earth.
* Fun is all around. Cavorting with Disney characters, scaring yourselves silly on gravity-defying rides, watching parades - it all adds up to a good time.
* Fantasy weddings. No need to wish on a star - the Disney folks can arrange your dream wedding, complete with enchanted castles (and fireworks if you'd like)! But also consider the following:
* Krowds of kids. Constantly being surrounded by whiney small fry - "Mommy, buy me a Little Mermaid doll" - sorta squelches the passion of the moment. During school vacations (summer, Christmas vacation, and spring break), hotel prices rise and lines at the parks seem to stretch halfway to Miami.
* Summer is hot. Not only do July and August bring endless lines: temperatures soar into the 90s, with sweltering humidity.
Honeymooning on the High Seas
So much romance sets sail on the open seas - think of The Love Boat or Titanic (wait - hold the iceberg!). There's something eternal about watching blue waves ripple to a limitless horizon, and seeing the sun rise unbounded by land or earthly desires.
In addition, there's a seductively practical reason to choose a honeymoon at sea: good value. Your cabin, food, plus on-board activities and entertainment are all included in the price.
When you're aboard, life is hassle-free - you just have to choose how you want to enjoy yourselves. Instead of having to pack and unpack at different hotels, your ship becomes your floating palace, bringing you to different islands, beaches, and cities. A medley of restaurants serves up fine food—and lots of it, from early-riser buffets to midnight snacks. Top aspects of a honeymoon cruise include the following:
* Good value. The price of your cruise generally covers not just your cabin, but also food, on-board activities and entertainment, making budget-planning easy. In addition, good deals (for example, two-for-one offers, early-bird discounts, and add-on airfares) make cruising an affordable dream - see later chapters for complete details about how to get the most for your money.
* The variety. With so many different ships afloat, you're sure to find one that suits your lifestyle and budget. Itineraries span the world, with the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Mexico ruling the waves as honeymoon hot spots. But also consider the following:
* You give up individual freedom. Your itinerary is tightly scheduled, so there's no chance to linger in a destination that appeals to you.
* There are too many people. Some mega-ships carry over 3, passengers, making it difficult for you to feel like you're escaping the world . Not all cruise ships offer tables for two in the restaurant, so a quiet dinner together can be difficult to arrange.
* Limited departure dates. Although Sunday departures are becoming more popular, some cruise ships sail on Saturday - not practical if your wedding is on Saturday.
Honeymooning in Paris
Think April in Paris... Bogie and Bergman... L'amour. Okay, put a gun to our heads and make us 'fess up - of all the honeymoon destinations in the world, Paris radiates the most romantic sophistication. Steeped in over 2,000 years of history, it presents a past-meets-present synthesis of cathedrals and dance clubs, monuments and multiplexes. Nicknamed "The City of Light," Paris can just as easily be called "the city of love." Romance seems to be everywhere - echoed in cobblestone alleys on the Ile de Saint-Louis, reflected in the passionate embraces of statues at the Rodin Museum, conjured in the rhapsodic heights of the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral. Above all, Paris is a city for people who want haute (highest quality) in their lives, from cuisine to couture. To find the essence of Paris, lose yourself in the city's rhythms, browsing at a quay-side bookseller's stall, strolling the gravel paths of the Tuileries gardens, or sitting for hours in a cafe.
Top aspects of a Parisian honeymoon include the following:
* The sheer romance. In a world beset by cell phones and pagers, a magical feeling comes over you as you marvel the medieval abbeys and royal palaces.
* Luxurious accommodations. The hotels rank among the best in the world for furnishings and service.
* Top restaurants. Paris is synonymous with great food, served up in cozy neighborhood bistros as well as Michelin-starred showplaces But also consider the following:
* The cost is expensive. Paris ranks as one of the priciest travel destinations in the world.
* Long travel time and jet lag. The transatlantic flight takes about six hours from the U.S. east coast, ten hours from the west coast. When you also consider the time difference (six hours between New York and Paris, nine hours between Los Angeles and Paris), a honeymoon in France is not realistic unless you can spend at least ten days abroad.
* Winter weather. Unless you're a fan of slush and grey drizzle, forget about a Parisian honeymoon if your trip is any time December through March. Temperatures in January, for example, average about 40 degrees.
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