Table of Contents

Introduction. About This Book. Conventions Used in This Book. Foolish Assumptions. How This Book Is Organized. PART I: Starting Your Honeymoon Planning. PART II: Ironing Out the Details. PARTS III through VIII: The Destinations. PART IX: The Part of Tens. Icons Used in This Book. Where to Go from Here. PART I: Starting your Honeymoon Planning. Chapter 1: Choosing Your Honeymoon Destination. Testing Your H.Q. (Honeymoon Quotient). Taking a Look at Our Suggestions. Honeymooning in Hawaii. Honeymooning in the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Bermuda. Honeymooning in Mexico. Honeymooning in Walt Disney World and Orlando. Honeymooning on the High Seas. Honeymooning in Paris. Chapter 2: Focusing on the Practicalities. Scheduling Your Time. Deciding When to Go. Allocating Your Budget. Using a honeymoon registry. Taking advantage of being newlyweds. Chapter 3: Arranging a Destination Wedding. Taking the Plunge. Organizing the Details. Going over the Requirements. PART II: Ironing Out the Details. Chapter 4: Making Your Travel Arrangements. Making a Schedule. Using a Travel Agent. Choosing the right travel agent. Considering a package tour. Evaluating Honeymoon Packages. Getting the Best Airfares. Booking your flight. Cutting costs by using a consolidator. Booking your trip online. Using E-tickets. Finding the fairest of the fares. Reserving a Rental Car. Chapter 5: Choosing Your Honeymoon Accommodations. Determining Your Kind of Place. Having It All at an All-Inclusive. Understanding the all-inclusive. Finding the right resort. Getting the Best Deal. Booking a Great Room. Chapter 6: Money Matters. Calculating the Cost of Your Trip. S-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g Your Budget. Tipping tips. Phoning home. Choosing Credit Cards, ATMs, or Traveler's Checks. Using credit cards. Relying on ATMs. Traveling with traveler's checks. Exchanging Currency. Chapter 7: Taking Care of Details. Opening Doors: The Importance of Passports. Applying for a U.S. passport. Renewing a U.S. passport by mail. Getting your passport in a hurry. Applying for passports from other countries. Saying "I do" - passports and the bride. Dealing with lost passports. Getting through U.S. Customs. Deciding Your Insurance Needs. Packing Like a Pro. Playing It Safe and Staying Healthy. Coping with Honeymoon Stress. Embarking on a Second Honeymoon. PART III: Hawaii. Chapter 8: Honeymooning in Hawaii. The Gathering Place: Oahu. The Valley Isle: Maui. The Big Island: Hawaii. The Garden Isle: Kauai. Chapter 9: Hawaii's Top Accommodations for Honeymooners. Keeping Costs in Mind. Choosing Among Hawaii's Best Accommodations for Honeymooners Oahu. Maui. The Big Island. Kauai. Chapter 10: Enjoying Your Hawaiian Honeymoon. Going Wild On Oahu. Having fun on land and at sea. Dining on Oahu. Wowing It Up On Maui. Having fun on land and at sea. Dining on Maui. Living Large on the Big Island. Having fun on land and at sea. Dining on the Big Island. Kicking Back on Kauai. Having fun on land and at sea. Dining on Kauai. Chapter 11: Making Plans and Settling In. Getting to Hawaii. Flying Between the Islands. Arranging for a Rental Car. Fast Facts: Hawaii. PART IV: The Caribbean, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. Chapter 12: Getting to Know the Islands. Aruba: Guaranteed Sunshine. Bahamas: The Islands with Variety. Barbados: A Tropical English Outpost. Bermuda: A British Gem. Grand Cayman: For the Quiet Set. Jamaica: Rugged Beauty. Puerto Rico: Pleasurable Paradise. St. Lucia: A Little Bit of Hawaii. The U.S. Virgin Islands: Plenty to Love. Flying to the Islands. Investing in a Dining Plan. Chapter 13: Honeymooning in Aruba. Figuring Out Where You Want to Stay. Choosing Among Aruba's Best Accommodations for Honeymooners. Enjoying Your Aruban Honeymoon. Exploring Aruba's beaches. Putting wind in your sails. Dining and dancing on the water. Diving right in. Cruising the depths while staying dry. Swinging a round of golf. Communing with Mother Nature. Having fun in the cunucu. Taking in Aruban culture. Living it up in Aruba's nightlife. Dining in Aruba. Creating special memories. Looking for fun. Enjoying spectacular water views. Finding a local favorite. Settling into Aruba. Arriving in Aruba. Traveling from the airport to your hotel. Getting around Aruba. Fast Facts: Aruba. Chapter 14: Honeymooning in the Bahamas. Figuring Out Where You Want to Stay. Choosing Among the Bahamas' Best Accommodations for Honeymooners. Enjoying Your Bahamian Honeymoon. Having fun in New Providence. Dining in New Providence. Having fun in Grand Bahama. Dining in Grand Bahama. Making Plans and Settling In. Getting to the Bahamas. Knowing the Bahamas. Fast Facts: The Bahamas. Chapter 15: Honeymooning in Barbados. Figuring Out Where You Want to Stay. Choosing Among Barbados's Best Accommodations for Honeymooners. Enjoying Your Honeymoon in Barbados. Basking on the beaches. Exploring dive sites. Taking a ride under the sea. Riding the wind. Sailing away. Exercising on-land options. Watching from the sidelines. Touring historic sites. Partying on Barbados. Savoring a Taste of Barbados. Creating special memories. Enjoying spectacular water views. Hanging with the locals. Looking for fun. Watching the sun go down. Settling into Barbados. Arriving in Barbados. Getting to your hotel. Getting around Barbados. Fast Facts: Barbados. Chapter 16: Honeymooning in Bermuda. Figuring Out Where You Want to Stay. Choosing Among Bermuda's Best Accommodations for Honeymooners. Enjoying Your Honeymoon in Bermuda. Exploring the depths. Hitting the links. Walking hand-in-hand. Time travel in St. Georges. Heading to the lighthouse. Indulging at a spa. Dining in Bermuda. Creating special memories. Looking for a local favorite. Settling in to Bermuda. Arriving in Bermuda. Getting to your accommodations. Getting around Bermuda. Fast Fact: Bermuda. Chapter 17: Honeymooning in Grand Cayman. Figuring Out Where to Stay. Choosing Among Grand Cayman's Best Accommodations for Honeymooners. Enjoying Your Honeymoon in Grand Cayman. Heading for the sand and surf. Living it up on dry land. Dining in Grand Cayman. Creating special memories. Enjoying a spectacular sunset. Hanging with the locals. Settling into Grand Cayman. Arriving in Grand Cayman. Getting to your hotel. Getting around Grand Cayman. Fast Facts: Grand Cayman. Chapter 18: Honeymooning in Jamaica. Figuring Out Where to Stay. Choosing Among Jamaica's Best Accommodations for Honeymooners. Enjoying Your Jamaican Honeymoon. Taking the plunge. Enjoying the water without getting wet. Hitting the links. Looking for some nightlife. Dining in Jamaica. Soaking up the best views. Creating special memories. Looking for a local favorite. Hanging at a hotspot. Settling into Jamaica. Arriving in Jamaica. Getting around Jamaica. Fast Facts: Jamaica. Chapter 19: Honeymooning in Puerto Rico. Figuring Out Where to Stay. Choosing Among Puerto Rico's Best Accommodations for Honeymooners. Enjoying Your Honeymoon in Puerto Rico. Spending a day at the beach. Diving in Puerto Rican waters. Sailing away. Heading to the greens. Hiking the island. Exploring Old San Juan. Living la vida loca. Dining in Puerto Rico. Creating special memories. Knowing a hot spot. Discovering unusual cuisine. Looking for a late-night hangout. Finding a local favorite. Settling into Puerto Rico. Arriving in Puerto Rico. Getting around Puerto Rico. Fast Facts: Puerto Rico. Chapter 20: Honeymooning in St. Lucia. Figuring Out Where to Stay. Choosing Among St. Lucia's Best Accommodations for Honeymooners. Enjoying Your St. Lucian Honeymoon. Diving and snorkeling. Sailing away. Teeing off. Taking a hike. Taking a driving tour. Exploring Soufriere. Looking for some nightlife. Dining in St. Lucia. Creating special memories. Soaking up the views. Looking for local color. Settling in to St. Lucia. Arriving in St. Lucia. Getting around St. Lucia. Hailing a taxi. Renting a car. Walking around. Taking a bus. Boarding a boat. Hopping a ferry. Choppering around. Fast Facts: St. Lucia. Chapter 21: Honeymooning in the United States Virgin Islands. Figuring Out Where to Stay. Choosing Among the USVIs' Best Accommodations for Honeymooners. Enjoying the U.S. Virgin Islands. Soaking up some water fun. Enjoying the waves. Hitting the links. Taking a hike. Exploring the USVIs. Living it up in the USVIs. Dining in the USVIs. Settling into the USVIs. Arriving in St. Thomas. Getting around the USVIs. Fast Facts: USVIs. PART V: Mexico. Chapter 22: Honeymooning in Mexico. Cancun. Cozumel. Acapulco. Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo. Puerto Vallarta. Los Cabos. Chapter 23: Mexico's Top Accommodations for Honeymooners. Keeping Costs in Mind. Choosing Among Mexico's Best Accommodations for Honeymooners. Cancun. Cozumel. Acapulco. Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo. Puerto Vallarta. Los Cabos. Chapter 24: Enjoying Your Mexican Honeymoon. Carrying On in Cancun. Having fun on land and at sea. Dining in Cancun. Cozying Up in Cozumel. Having fun on land and at sea. Dining in Cozumel. Acting Up in Acapulco. Having fun on land and at sea. Dining in Acapulco. Playing Around in Puerto Vallarta. Having fun on land and at sea. Dining in Puerto Vallarta. Getting Ixciting in Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo. Having fun on land and at sea. Dining in Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo. Laughing It Up in Los Cabos. Having fun on land and at sea. Dining in Los Cabos. Chapter 25: Making Plans and Settling In. Getting to Mexico. Entering Mexico. Knowing what to bring. Understanding customs regulations. Staying Healthy. Renting a Car in Mexico. Playing It Safe. Fast Facts: Mexico. PART VI: Walt Disney World and Orlando. Chapter 26: Disney World's and Orlando's Top Accommodations. Figuring Out Where You Want to Stay. Walt Disney World: Mickey at your doorstep. Lake Buena Vista: The World within reach. Kissimmee: Canoodle behind the bargains. International Drive: Touristo central. Finding a Honeymoon Hotel in Disney World. Choosing a Honeymoon Hotel in Orlando. Chapter 27: Filling Your Dance Card. Holding Hands at the Disney Theme Parks. The Magic Kingdom. Epcot. The Disney-MGM Studios. Animal Kingdom. Everything else in Disney's world. Finding "The World" Is Not Enough. Universal Studios. Islands of Adventure. SeaWorld. Discovery Cove. Other activities. Living It Up when the Sun Goes Down. Enjoying Disney and the BoardWalk. Discovering something Grand. Exploring Universal's CityWalk. Dining in Disney World and Orlando. Creating special moments. Searching for fabulous food. Dining with a view. Getting the best of all worlds. Chapter 28: Making Plans and Settling In. Getting to Orlando. Arriving by plane. Arriving by train or bus. Arriving by car. Getting Around. Saving Money with a Package Deal. Fast Facts: Disney World and Orlando. PART VII: Cruises. Chapter 29: Honeymooning on the High Seas. Overcoming Cruise Anxiety. Is it too expensive? What if we get seasick? What if we feel stuck? Will we be bored? What's there to see? Will the ship be crowded? Are the ships safe? What will we wear? Finding the Right Ship. Choosing the Perfect Honeymoon Location. Sailing the Caribbean. Adventuring to Alaska. Romancing on the Mexican Riviera. Heading to Hawaii. Cruising in Costa Rica or Belize. Exploring the Greek Islands or Italian and French Rivieras. Voyaging to Tahiti. Going transatlantic. Deciding How Long to Go. Knowing What to Expect On Board. Dining on a cruise. Sitting at the captain's table. Staying in shape. Cruising the nightlife. High rolling at the casino. Going ashore. Chapter 30: Finding the Ideal Honeymoon Cruise. American Hawaii Cruises/United States Lines. Carnival Cruise Lines. Celebrity Cruises. Costa Cruise Lines. Cunard Line. Disney Cruise Line. Princess Cruises. Radisson Seven Seas Cruises. Royal Caribbean International. Star Clippers. Windjammer Barefoot Cruises. Windstar Cruises. Chapter 31: Making Plans and Settling In. Planning Your Honeymoon Cruise. Booking air transport through the cruise line. Staying at a hotel before or after the cruise. Knowing what's not included in the fare. Choosing a cabin. Choosing a meal time. Using a Travel Agent. Preparing for Your Honeymoon Cruise. Managing your money. Packing practically. Remembering your passports. Arriving at the Port. Embarking. Going onboard. Participating in the lifeboat/safety drill. Setting sail. Departing for Home. Tipping tips. Packing up. Exiting the ship. Getting through Customs. Planning a Wedding at Sea. PART VIII: Paris. Chapter 32: Top Accommodations for Honeymooners in Paris. Figuring Out Where to Stay. Choosing Among Paris's Best Accommodations for Honeymooners. Chapter 33: Enjoying Your Parisian Honeymoon. Appreciating Fine Art. Visiting the Best Attractions. Taking a Romantic Garden Stroll. Exploring Montmartre. Picturing the Perfect Parisian Panorama. Cruising the Seine. Living the Cafe Life. Dining in Paris. Sparing no expense. Relaxing at a baby bistro. Breaking bread at a bourgeoisie bistro. Finding a bargain. Discovering a local favorite. Savoring regional cuisine. Creating magic by moonlight. Chapter 34: Making Plans and Settling In. Getting to Paris. Getting Around Paris. Getting around by Metro. Getting around by bus. Getting around by taxi. Getting around by car. Getting around by bicycle. Getting around on foot. Fast Facts: Paris. PART IX: The Part of Tens. Chapter 35: Top Ten Mistakes Honeymooners Make. Leaving too Soon after the Wedding. Booking the Bride's Airline Tickets under Her Married Name. Not Booking an Oceanview-or-Better Room. Not Booking a King-Size Bed. Packing Contraceptives in Check-In Luggage. Not Telling Everyone You're Honeymooners. Counting on Renting a Car If You're under 25. Not Budgeting Beforehand. Trying to Do Too Much. Not Making Sure that Your New Rings Fit. Chapter 36: The Caribbean's Top Ten Over-the-Moon Honeymoons. Bitter End Yacht Club, Virgin Gorda. Cap Juluca, Anguilla. The Carenage, Canouan Island. The Cotton House, Mustique. Four Seasons Resort, Nevis. Golden Eye, Jamaica. Jumby Bay, Antigua. Little Dix Bay, Virgin Gorda. Necker Island, British Virgin Islands. Peter Island Resort, British Virgin Islands. Index. Book Registration Information.

About the Author

About the Authors Reid Bramblett (Paris) Reid Bramblett has lived in Europe on and off since he was 11. Reid splits his time between his native Philadelphia and Rome, Italy while researching and writing such guides as Frommer's Italy from USD70 A Day, Europe For Dummies, and Frommer's Tuscany Umbria. Rachel Christmas Derrick (Bahamas) When it comes to islands in the Bahamas - from the best known to the barely known - Rachel Christmas Derrick has spent years poking around virtually all of them. She is the author of Bahamas For Dummies. Her travel articles have been published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The Miami Herald, Los Angeles Times, Islands, Travel Leisure, Essence, Caribbean Travel Life, Modern Bride, and Newsweek, among many others. In addition to the Bahamas, assignments have sent her off to Bora Bora, Moorea, Australia, Hawaii, England, Wales, Brazil, Costa Rica, Mexico, Bermuda, the Turks and Caicos, and throughout the Caribbean. Echo Kevin Garrett (Bermuda, Caribbean, Mexico, Part of Tens) Since Echo and Kevin Garrett, authors of Caribbean For Dummies, are frequently in the tropics as part of their jobs, all their friends ask their advice on where to go for their honeymoons and anniversaries. The Garretts also cover the Caribbean for Expedia.com. The Garretts, who kicked off their wedded bliss honeymooning in the Bahamas and who reside in Marietta, Georgia, still haven't decided where to celebrate their upcoming twentieth anniversary. But they agree it will be some place warm. Kevin is author of Fielding's Caribbean. His articles have appeared in Affordable Caribbean, Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Biztravel.com, Bridal Guide, Chicago Magazine, Coastal Living, Elegant Bride, Executive Getaways, Fantastic Flyer, Great Outdoor Recreational Pages, Investor's Business Daily, Islands, Modern Bride, Second Home, and The Self-Employed Professional. He and Echo updated/wrote chapters on Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao for Rum Reggae's Caribbean 2000. An international award-winning photographer and member of the American Society of Media Photographers, Kevin's images (www kevingarrett.com) have run in several of the above publications as well as Voyages: The Romance of Cruising (Tehabi Books), Hemispheres, Los Angeles, Management Review, Sky, Smart Money, Southern Accents, Travel Holiday, Travel Leisure, Weight Watchers, and World Trade. Echo worked as an editor at McCall's, then Venture, before going freelance in 1988, racking up credits in more than 50 national publications from The New York Times to Money, where she became a contributing writer covering travel. She was a founding editor for an award-winning Web site, BizTravel.com, responsible for Executive Getaways; a contributing writer for "News For You," the best-read, front-page column in Investor's Business Daily; and a contributing writer covering hospitality and restaurants for The Atlanta Business Chronicle. Fran Wenograd Golden (Cruises) Fran Wenograd Golden writes about cruises and travel for the Boston Herald, Conceirge.com, cruiesmates.com, and Consumer Reports Travel Letter. She is also the author of Cruise Vacations For Dummies, Frommer's European Cruises and Ports of Call, and Tvacations: A Fun Guide to Sites, the Stars and the Inside Stories Behind Your Favorite TV Shows (Pocket Books, 1996) and coauthor of Frommer's Alaska Cruises Ports of Call and Frommer's Greece. She lives north of Boston with her husband Ed, and two kids, Erin and Eli. Cheryl Farr Leas (Hawaii) Cheryl Farr Leas may live on the mainland, but she's a Hawaii girl at heart. She fell in love with Diamond Head, aloha wear, and mai tais in 1994, and has had trouble staying away ever since. Whenever she's not in the islands - and until she can figure a way to trade in her Brooklyn co-op for a Lanikai beach house - she and her husband Rob call New York City home. Before embarking on a writing career, Cheryl served as a senior editor at Macmillan Travel (now Hungry Minds, Inc.), where she edited the Frommer's Hawaii travel guides for the better part of the '90's. Now happy to be a globetrotting freelancer, Cheryl also authors Hawaii For Dummies, California For Dummies, and Frommer's New York City travel guides. David Swanson (Walt Disney World Orlando) Although David Swanson's first travels were in the back of a Volkswagen bus as part of annual cross-country treks with his parents, he has been hoofing the globe enthusiastically since a trip to Europe in 1982. Born and raised in San Diego (where he resides today), Swanson spends his down time bicycling, hiking, or enjoying obscure movies, and occasionally he ponders his former career in film marketing and publicity. Swanson's writing and photography has appeared in more than 50 North American newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, San Francisco Chronicle, Chicago Sun-Times, Dallas Morning News, and Toronto's Globe and Mail, Among magazines, his stories and photos appear in National Geographic Traveler, American Way, Bride's, and Travelocity, and he is a monthly columnist for Caribbean Travel Life. Swanson is also the author of Fielding's Caribbean (1996, 1997, and 1998 editions) and Fielding's Walt Disney World and Orlando (1996 and 1998) guidebooks, and a contributing editor to the Rum Reggae Caribbean (2000, 2002). R. Weinreb (Introduction, Part I, Part II, Part of Tens) A romantic at heart, Risa R. Weinreb is the former travel editor of Modern Bride magazine. She still writes for that publication, as well as for several other leading national magazines. Nicknamed "The Honeymoon Queen," she has been interviewed by The New York Times and Travel Weekly, and has appeared on CNN and Live With Regis Philbin. The editor of Specialty Travel Index magazine and its Web site (www specialtytravel.com), she also frequently covers adventure travel, with exploits ranging from tracking rhinos in the African moon-light to sharing cough drops with former (hopefully) headhunters in Irian Jaya.