For destination wedding couple Carla and Tad, it was all the little romantic touches at the Bucuti Beach Resort in Aruba that made their trip so memorable. Carla says, “Breakfast was included in our package and was excellent way to start the morning. Upon arrival we had a champagne toast. In our room was a welcome/congratulation basket, including chocolates, champagne, cheese and other various gifts.” Their ground room floor was just a few feet from the ocean, with a spectacular view. 

They thought the beach front location was perfect and found the staff friendly and helpful. Carla says it was “well worth the money.”

She adds, “We would recommend this honeymoon to others because, the food was excellent, the sunsets gorgeous, the beach was very peaceful. The Bucuti staff goes above and beyond to make your stay the best it can be.” 

A huge thank you to Carla and Tad for sharing their story and photos. They’re a stunning couple who look like they had a perfect intimate wedding in the Caribbean. Carla says, “It was to date the best vacation experience we have had. We can’t wait to go back.” I hope for them that they make an anniversary trip soon!

While on the Moroccan leg of their honeymoon (Spain was on the list too!) newlyweds Jaime and David traveled to Marrakesh. Their hotel stay at Riad Altair was a stand-out of the trip.

Jamie says, “We loved this hotel and can’t say enough wonderful things about the location, décor and staff!” They thought the accommodations and common areas were beautiful and loved the excellent breakfasts and fabulous roof deck. They especially appreciated the “knowledgeable and friendly staff.”

She adds, “Yassin at Riad Altair was phenomenal. From recommendations for dinner to sights to see to teaching us Arabic and Moroccan card games, Yassin went above and beyond to extend Moroccan hospitality to us.”

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!

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!

The first stop on Kristen and Dane’s honeymoon to Ireland was Dublin, it’s most famous city. The friendly city is rich with literary culture, political history, good pubs and great people. They especially loved the first person they met, the cab driver at the airport. Kristen says, “Our cabbie was funny, chatty, and gave us all the insider info on where to visit and what to do.”

Kristen says one of the most romantic moments of their trip was “walking through the St. Stephens Green. It’s a beautiful, green park in the middle of Dublin. How could it not be romantic?”

For the past 400 years, this park has stood in the heart of Dublin. Once a restricted area for only the residents living along the park’s edges, the grounds were opened up to the public in the late 1800’s with help from Sir Arthur Guinness (the man behind the beer.) Features include a manicured central garden and statues of famous Irish writers Yeats and Joyce.

The honeymooners also took a stroll down nearby Grafton Street, Dublin’s major shopping areas. The pedestrian mall is lined with shops and cafés. Every day there are mines, musicians and buskers of every variety. Anyone who loved the movie Once as much as me will recognize it as the spot where Glen Hansard’s never-named character meets his never-named girl.

Kristen and Dane spent a lot of time wandering Dublin on foot since it’s a very walkable city… just be sure to watch when crossing the street. Kristen says, “Even weirder than driving on the wrong side of the road, was having to look at the wrong side of the road when we crossed the street! Those nice Dubliners made it easier for us by putting instructions right on the street.”

You might also consider the three day pass for a Dublin Bus Tour. The hop-on, hop-off tickets let you spent as much time as you like at a location. The buses take you by all the must-see spots, including the Guinness Brewery and Jameson Distillery, which we’ll visit with Kristen and Dane tomorrow.

Carly and Tony chose Tranquility Bay Resort in Belize for their wedding and honeymoon. It’s located on Ambergis Caye – an island east of the mainland.

But they didn’t just pick any old place for their trip. With a destination wedding, you obviously want things to be amazing. Carly – with a self-described Type A personality – admits to feeling slightly overwhelmed to come up with the PERFECT spot to say “I do”. She said even nailing down the right country was a big task, “We looked absolutely everywhere! We googled like mad!”

The couple started with a map of the Caribbean and Latin America. Carly says, “We chose Tranquility after a long long search. We wanted the inland adventure that you might find in Costa Rica along with the beautiful Carribean ocean.”

“Belize was our answer, but where? There are a lot of resorts to stay at,” she says. In the end, it was the video on Tranquility Bay’s website that sold them.

Carly remembers thinking the minute they got off the plane, “This is Heaven!” And when they arrived at Tranquility Bay she said to Tony, “We did so good!!”

“Tranquility was small and friendly. It had great amenities (like air conditioning) and had something fun to do every day. Everything was laid back and relaxed.”

Carly and Tony were blown away by the beauty of the beaches at Tranquility Bay. Carly says, “The island itself and the resort were idyllic.”

The resort’s managers Carlos and Isabelle make everyone feel at home. The 11 individual cabanas are cute and homey. Carly says, “We got some free drinks and personal attention at all times. It’s a small resort, so everyone including the other guests celebrated our wedding us on our trip. We were THE ‘honeymoon couple!’”

Carly also realizes Tranquility Bay is best for laid back travelers. “If you want to get all dolled up and go out for dinner and dancing, this isn’t the place,” she says. “If you want to kick back in shorts and a T-shirt, and be completely immersed in good vibes and Mother Nature’s beauty, Tranquility Bay resort on Ambergris Caye in Belize is it.”

She adds, “I had to get used to wearing shoes again when I got back home!” Sounds like everyone who spends time at Tranquility Bay – even the turtle – learns to take life at a slower pace.

The Gran Caribe Real Resort & Spa where Kay and Eijiro stayed wasn’t the newest or nicest in all of Cancun, but the super-attentive staff made up for that. Their stay was all-inclusive – though there were obviously no bar visits for momma-to-be. The food was pretty good they say, though it got repetitive after a few days of the same options. On one of the days they’d rented a car, they drove over to the partner resort Real Playa del Carmen Hotel & Beach Club where they could also dine.

The Gran Caribe report offers lots of daytime activities like mini-golf, water aerobics and salsa dance classes. They were welcomed to the hotel with this “authentic” mariache band. Like many resorts in Cancun, there’s nightly entertainment in the ballroom like theme parties, magic shows and dance exhibitions.

Eijiro “embarrased the crap” out of his wife by entering a Latin dance competition one evening. And though he may not have come close to winning, it made for some hilarious memories.

After the first few days and nights at the resort, Kay and Eijiro were were starting to feel a little stir-crazy. Renting a car was a great option, though pricey to arrange through the hotel. Kay told me she wished she’d set up the arrangements before they left home because she could have saved a ton of money.

The staff’s devotion to its guests was captured on film when Eijiro had to receive some very minor first aid. The resort may have soft white sand on shore, but the rocky fill in the shallow water – used to repair the beaches after hurricane damage – wasn’t so kind to his knees while boogie boarding.

And yes, having to sign a medical release for a few band aids may have been overkill, but these babymooners were happy with the service and attention they received.

Mark and Christi started their mini-moon in NY’s Finger Lakes with no real plans other than booking a place to stay. That turned out to be the best plan… they fell in love with the affordableBristol Views Bed & Breakfast in Naples, NY. The recently renovated farmhouse has four guest rooms, a wood-burning stove and a fantastic view of Canandaigua Lake.

The honeymoners rated it a “five star” stay. Not only did this B&B offer excellent accommodations, but it was also pet-friendly since they were traveling with their two pups.

They had the added benefit of a private stay. Mark adds, “We lucked out and were the only people in the B&B at a time.”

The owners of Bristol Views made Mark and Christi feel right at home. He says, “They were so nice and friendly to talk with.”

They also stayed at the Bout Time B&B in Montour Falls, NY and the Ithaca University Best Western, both dog-friendly locations.

But Bristol Views won them over with hospitality and charm. Who wouldn’t love showing up to a hand-written welcome message on a front-porch full of rocking chairs?

Check back tomorrow to learn about wine-tasting in the Finger Lakes.

Kim and Chris couldn’t be happier with their choice of Sandals Grande St. Lucian. Kim says, “It was a gorgeous hotel. The staff was wonderful and very helpful. There are three Sandals on the island. We visited all three to take advantage of their restaurant choices, but we felt that Sandals Grande St. Lucia was the best of the three. It had the best beaches and the best pool. It was all-inclusive and you could travel between the other hotels for more variety in food and activities. It also included snorkeling and scuba diving, which can be a large added expense on vacation.”

Breakfast was awesome everyday, “We enjoyed room service every morning while overlooking the Caribbean Sea and on clear days we could see Martinique. It was just so beautiful and we were able to share it together.”

Chris and Kim think the Concierge Staff went above and beyond to make sure we were taken care of at all times. Kim adds, “I recommend to anyone staying here to get a Concierge level room.”

Having the resort staff organize all the activities (and costs, and transportation, and directions…) left them free to do what they craved most: relax!

Hear more about the staff this afternoon.