Honeymoon help! Where would YOU go??

[Touchdown Portis!]

I'm trying to decide between Couples Negril in Negril, Jamaica or RIU Palace Las Americas All Inclusive in Cancun, Mexico for my honeymoon in September. Both look like amazing resorts, but I can't decide!!!
If any of you have been to one of these resorts or countries and have an opinion, let me hear it!! Thanks!

And another thing, neither of us have a passport, we're going to fill out the paperwork on Monday. It seems like as long as you are at least 2 weeks out, they will get the passport out to you. We would leave in about 6 weeks. Any knowledge on this matter would be greatly appreciated as well!!

Oh, and the Cowboys suck!!

[Cyber Pimp]

Hurry up and get that passport. They are so backed up its crazy. I took me four months to get mine. I think you should go to Punta Conda, Dominican Republic.

[twa]

I liked Aruba and Maui and passports was not a issue.

I would hurry on that,it's a mess.

[Skinsfan1311]

Negril kicks ass!

I've been to Negril, and Cancun. We loved them both, but prefer Negril.

The water is gorgeous in both places, but the surf always seems rough in Cancun. I'm not knocking Cancun, it's a blast!

Negril is just flat out prettier than Cancun, and much less crowded and laid back. It's much more romantic, then Cancun.

I can't vouch for Couples, as we've never stayed at one. We stayed at a Sandals resort, in Negril. It was awesome.

I typically do all of our travel arrangements, on my own, with the exception of All-Inclusives, and cruises, as I'm not privvy to group rates. For those types of vacations, I have an agent, that I've dealt with for years. She has great service and the best prices. Please feel free to shoot me a PM, if you want her contact info. (I think it's against board rules to post that kind of info)

[Cyber Pimp]

I liked Aruba and Maui and passports was not a issue.

I would hurry on that,it's a mess.

You need one now to go to Aruba.

[DiscoBob]

Technically they have suspended the WHTI (Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative) until Sept 30, 2007. So you should be able to travel to Mexico and the Caribbean without a passport (you will need a drivers license, and you should probably bring a birth certificate too).

Check out this page:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_3254.html

You should apply for your passport, but not expect to get it in time. However, if you print off proof that you have applied, that is satisfactory for right now....

I've never been to Jamaica or Cancun, but of the places I've been the highest marks go to: Kauaii, St. John USVI, Cook Islands (particularly Aituitaki)

[TheMalcolmConnection]

I just came back from Puerto Vallarta and have been to Cancun staying at the Riu in the past and I have to say I'd go for a cruise.

I did that for my honeymoon this past May and it was amazing. You spend the whole day in a beautiful tropical location and then come back on the ship to inclusive gourmet dining and then the next day you wake up in another country. It couldn't be better.

I love Mexico but here's my beef with it. The Mexicans expect a tip for EVERYTHING. Last week when we were in Puerto Vallarta, they would get pissy if I didn't get them extra money for taxi rides, holding doors, room cleaning. Now mind you, I give the standard tips, but they want extravagant amounts of cash to make them happy. I found that to be the case, but to a lesser extent in Cancun. If you do end up picking Mexico, make sure that whatever you plan on bringing in cash to at least double or triple it because you won't believe how much you spend in tips. I probably spent at least two-hundred in tips alone for four days.

[USS Redskins]

My wife and I stayed at the RIU Palace.... it was awesome!
The all inclusive is incredible.... so much food, so much booze, you can swim in it.
There are like 4 restaurants - a bar every few feet and lots of activities. The in room bar is restocked every day! They def. lost money on me, believe it....
Well worth the money and they keep the riff-raff out!
The only complaint was that the drinks (beers and soda) were never cold enough for me - so I moved to daquri's.

[Skinsfan1311]

I love Mexico but here's my beef with it. The Mexicans expect a tip for EVERYTHING. Last week when we were in Puerto Vallarta, they would get pissy if I didn't get them extra money for taxi rides, holding doors, room cleaning.

LOL! I had forgotten about that.

No tips allowed at Sandals. If someone solicits a tip, they will get fired. Not sure about RIU.

[chomerics]

I would suggest spending the extra money and go to Sandals, it is definitely worth it.

[Yusuf06]

I'm not a big fan of the sterile atmosphere at most resorts. We tend to prefer places where we can get out and experience local flavor, i.e. real life.

St. Lucia is incredibly beautiful and somewhat quiet. Mrs. '06 and I stayed here for our honeymoon and absolutely loved it.

[PleaseBlitz]

Jamaica is great, except for the Jamaicans.

[Leonard Washington]

I'm not a big fan of the sterile atmosphere at most resorts. We tend to prefer places where we can get out and experience local flavor, i.e. real life.

St. Lucia is incredibly beautiful and somewhat quiet. Mrs. '06 and I stayed here for our honeymoon and absolutely loved it.

that looks amazing.

i like local flavor as well. did you get the bubble guts?

[Chief skin]

we took a carnival cruise through carribeanan

[Yusuf06]

No, no problems with bubble guts. We ate at relatively crowded restaurants figuring the locals must know something and also had some nice dinners at upscale places where that shouldn't be a problem. We also had a lot of fun stopping off at a roadside joint and downing a few Piton Shandys.