Kevin and Melody didn’t have a single regret in choosing Belize as the destination for their trip. She says, “We really wanted a honeymoon that was equal parts adventure and relaxation. We both love hiking and physical activity, but enjoy lazy cocktails on the beach just as much. We got exactly enough of everything we wanted!” And a day in the city of San Pedro was lovely for them both.

One of their favorite discoveries was Pages Bookstore on Tarpon Street, which they happened to stumble across. Melody says visiting this shop is “a must.”

Another highlight was driving their rented golf cart through downtown San Pedro. Bikes, carts and scooters are the best way to get around the tiny streets. Some of our other featured couples have opted for bicycles and golf carts too.

Melody says the people they met really made the honeymoon amazing for them. “Belizeans are some of the friendliest people I’ve met. Everyone was very warm and helpful – from our tour guides to our Victoria House bartender to a guy on the street in San Pedro who, as he saw us leaving a corner store with a case of Belikin, advised us that we could get it for much cheaper at a different store down the street. He turned out to be right!”

A million thank-yous to Melody and Kevin for sharing their stories and beautiful photos. They’re just one more couple who’ve convinced us that Belize offers a bit of everything to honeymooners looking for a memorable trip. Cheers!

Melody and Kevin knew that when you visit Belize, you can’t leave without seeing at least one Mayan temple.

She says, “We loved Lamanai, which has some of the highest and most fascinating structures.”

These honeymooners offered some great advice to other visitors, “If you go, brave the steep steps and climb all the way to the top of High Temple. It is terrifying, but you won’t regret it.”

One a honeymoon, you can find romance just about anywhere. For Melody and Kevin, while in Belize, that sweet moment was in the dark of an ancient cave. She says, “I know it probably sounds crazy, but the most romantic moment for me may have been trudging through waist-high, freezing cold water in the cave at Actun Tunichil Muknal and feeling Kevin’s hand reach for mine as he helped lead the way in the dark. There was something so spooky and cool about knowing how old those cave walls were and how many sacred rituals had taken place there – and there we were, quietly being a part of it. Even though we obviously saw other tour groups down there, at times it felt like we were the only two people in the whole cave.”

These two also had great company on their trek. Melody says, “The best tour guide ever – we would recommend him to ANYONE – was Ben Cruz. He led us through the above-mentioned Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) cave system. It was just us and one other couple in our group, and Ben was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable – not to mention a really warm and fascinating person. By the end of the day, he felt like family. We were heartbroken to leave him!”

And here’s Kevin, doing his very best Indian Jones impersonation.

Melody and Kevin spent their time in Belize at the Victoria House resort in Ambergris Caye, which she describes as, “luxurious, clean, friendly, with excellent service.” This just so happens to be the very same resort that another one of our couples, Melody and Dave chose. These pairs don’t know each other, but were all equally impressed with the luxury accommodations.

Victoria House has it’s own dock, which not only provides for some great sunset viewing, but is also the launching spot for many of the area’s best attractions. From here, you can board a boat to go snorkeling, scuba, fishing and more. Boats dock here nightly to pick guests up to head to nearby resorts for dinner.

All those activities are fun, but Melody and Kevin took plenty of time to do some chilling on the beach as well. Victoria House has plenty of chairs – and hammocks – for guests to relax in.

When they tired of the beach, they also spent time getting sun poolside.

It was the little touches that really made the resort a stand-out for Melody and Kevin. She notes the “lush manicured lawns and gardens, amazing high thread-count sheets and a gorgeous canopy over our bed” among the memorable details.

For these two, it was the warm hospitality that they loved most. Melody says, “From the moment we were greeted at the front door to the moment we checked out, we felt very welcomed and taken care of.” Love this shot of Mel looking serene and relaxed, just like a honeymooner should!

Melody and Kevin absolutely loved their meal at Rojo Lounge at the Azul Resort in Belize. Melody says, “The atmosphere managed to be both incredibly hip and completely accessible, the service was laid-back and friendly, the food and cocktails were delicious and creatively presented. We could have lounged under that thatched roof for hours, just chatting with fellow diners and listening to the ocean.”

Getting there was a bit of an adventure. She says, “we had to take a 40-minute choppy, windy water-taxi ride up the Ambergris coast in the pitch dark to get to this restaurant, but WOW, was it worth it!”

Stick with us this week as Melody and Kevin share more highlights from their romantic honeymoon in Belize. Discover the cave tours, ancient ruins and perfect beaches that make this a winning destination for any newlyweds.

After Brooklynites Melody and Kevin Aberg tied the knot in Middletown, CT, they couldn’t wait to board their flight down to Belize for a romantic honeymoon. Melody, who works in marketing for a book publisher and Kevin, who does credit and risk management for a trading firm, wanted a trip that offered them a little adventure and a whole lotta relaxation. Melody says that Belize is a destination that, “felt like a few different honeymoons in one.”

Costa Rica, the South of France and Tahiti were all incredible destinations these two also considered. But in the end it was the wide range of activities combined with the great deal on flights that sealed the deal for Belize. Melody says, “It seemed like a place where we could really get a lot for our money and time – and that proved to be true. Flights were inexpensive (less than $300 each, round-trip from New York) and only took a few hours.”

The incredible waters of Belize are what draws visitors to this spot. Melody and Kevin were amazed by the nurse sharks and stingrays they saw while snorkeling. When asked what they’d do if they went back, this was at the top of their list. Melody says, “There are so many world-class snorkeling spots right off Ambergris Caye, and we only took one snorkel trip during our time there. If we went back, we’d check out some of the other snorkel spots – especially around Lighthouse Reef.

These two absolutely loved Victoria House, the resort where they stayed. Our faithful readers will remember another Melody +1 couple who coincidentally stayed at the very same resort. Mel and Kevin say it, “was a fantastic value for the experience.”

What’s not to love about a country with friendly locals, gorgeous beaches and fun in the jungle?! Melody list some of their trip highlights: hiking, lazy cocktails on the beach, zip-lining, reading on their balcony and cave-tubing. And the weather wasn’t bad either. She says, “It was perfect! Sunny and clear but not too hot; only rained one day we were there.”

Sounds like absolute perfection to me!

What a sweet weekend we had, starting with this strawberry tart on Friday night. The rest of the weekend was filled with friends, a bit of work on the site, and some ice skating in Brooklyn. We’re on the couch tonight, with the Oscars in the background, gearing up for a big week.

The first exciting event happens this Friday on the Destination I Do blog, where my first guest post will be running. They’ll be featuring a honeymoon post of mine every other week. If you don’t know Destination I Do magazine and are considering an out-of-town wedding, be sure to pick up a copy.

Then coming up this weekend, I’ll be at the Romance Travel Expo in Burlington, MA, where we’ve been invited to be media partners. I can’t wait to meet the fabulous couples in attendance and talk with the reps from all of the Tourism Bureaus and resorts. If you live in the area, come stop by the show, admission if free. Can’t wait!

But before then, we’ll be traveling back down to Belize with cutie couple Melody and Kevin. Check in all week to see their adorable photos.

What better way to end a gorgeous destination wedding/honeymoon than with a stunning shot of the moon itself? Carly told me that her New Year’s Eve wedding just by chance feel on the same day as, “a full moon, a blue moon, a lunar eclipse and the last day of the decade.” Call it kismet, call it karma, call it coincidence… I call it a great start to a new life together. Not to mention beautiful Belize as a backdrop.

Many, many happy congrats to Tony and Carly. And a big thanks for letting us “tag along” on their beautiful Belize honeymoon and destination wedding.

Carly and Tony’s destination wedding at Tranquility Bay Resort in Belize was obviously filled with fun, romance and love. And color! I was completely wowed by the photos Carly sent… they were bright, vivid and bold. I absolutely love this shot of them above.

The couple’s trip 12 miles south to the town of San Pedro provided Carly – a fantastic photographer – with tons of opportunities to capture the beauty of the chilled-out daily life on the island of Ambergris Caye.

Carly said that the getting into town from the resort was never a problem. “Everyday there were people going to town, so it was easy to just bum a ride for free.”

Carly clearly has a great eye for portraits. Everyone they met was warm and friendly. She said she absolutely loved “laid back island atmosphere” of San Pedro. The tiny town of 4,000 people has sandy unpaved streets, brightly colored buildings and palm trees. It’s a great spot to pick up souvenirs or have a meal at one of the many restaurants.

There are very few cars in San Pedro. Another one of our honeymoon couples, Dave and Melody, rented bikes to get around.

Carly and Tony opted for a golf cart, and lucked out, renting the last one available that day. Carly may have felt a bit like Tony was playing Mario Kart through the streets, but it was a great way to gets around.

The couple says they always felt safe in San Pedro – just as they do walking around their own hometown. Thanks to Carly for sharing the gorgeous images with us.

While in Belize, Carly and Tony were ready to celebrate their marriage with some serious adventure. They hadn’t arranged anything ahead of time, but that was fine. Everyday their resort, Tranquility Bay, would organize outings and activities based on the guests’ interests.

Carly and Tony went on a ziplining adventure through a local outfitter called Seaduced by Belize. The guides took them out to Jaguar Paw, where they traveled through the jungle canopy along eight different elevated platforms. The trip lasts all day and a light breakfast and lunch are included.

They thought the cave tubing portion of the trip – included with the ziplining – was skippable. But soaring through the jungle was worth every penny. They highly recommend it to other honeymooning couples.

Carly and Tony knew they had to take advantage of Belize’s incredible ocean as well. Tranquility Bay Resort is located within Bacalar Chico National Park. She says, “They don’t advertise it, but Tranquility Bay Resort is the ONLY resort where you can swim right out to the Barrier Reef. All the other resorts brought their guests out to our reef in boats. We thought our location was really cool!” They took advantage of the great location to snorkel a ton.

Carly adds that anyone heading to Belize “MUST scuba at Hol Chan Marine Reserve.” She’s most grateful to “Max, our dive master, who held my hand the whole time during my first scuba dive ever.”