Guatemala Honeymoon

                Are you looking for a honeymoon destination that is adventurous and affordable as well as romantic? Well, look no further, because Guatemala may be the place for you.

For the adventurer, we recommend Panajachel, on Lake Atitlan.

Things to do:

Hike this volcano

                Don’t worry, it’s dormant.

Zip lining

                The zip line at Panajachel crosses a small valley between two mountains. You start by climbing the mountain, then zip line back and forth across the valley until you reach the bottom. The great thing about this is that it isn’t just one ride, but you get to take many rides as you zig zag to the bottom. You’ll have an excellent view of the lake and volcano. You should also take a look down while on the zip line, as you may see a few playful monkeys in the trees below.

Watersports

                Most of the hotels and a few villages rent out equipment, so you can go canoeing and boating almost anytime.

Explore the surrounding Villages

                Take a boat across the lake to check out the surrounding villages. There are hidden treasures everywhere.

                If you happen to be going the week before Easter, you should definitely check out the amazing street art. Locals use flowers, leaves, nuts, and dyed sawdust to create incredible works of art. On Easter, they hold a parade, which will destroy art, so there’s only a small window in which to glimpse this beauty.

Tips for Panajachel:

1. Consider staying in the Hotel San Buenaventure De-Atitlan. This hotel is really a collection of guest houses, so you’ll have a full kitchen and living room. They sit right near the lake, with views of the volcano, excellent gardens, and amenities such as pools & a spa. The best part of all, double rooms start at $83 a night. These are truly nice rooms, and you will not beat these prices! They also keep peacocks!

2. Go the week before Easter. Seriously, I know I said it earlier, but the artwork is just that amazing.

Next on the itinerary is Antigua.

Things to do

1. Explore the City on Foot

Antigua is great for those of you who prefer big cities and tourist attractions. You’ll love the colorful buildings and amazing architecture.

2. Check out a Show

A lot of local restaurants offer authentic dancing and shows along with dinner. You can watch the show, then join in on the fun. Everyone comes together for the fun and it is quite a party.

Tips for Antigua:

1. It can get dicey at night. Travel in groups after dark, and don’t stay out too late.

2. Consider staying in the Hotel Posada de Don Rodrigo. It is entirely gated, so safety isn’t an issue. You can wander around the gardens at night without trouble. They offer plenty of entertainment options, as well. My secret tip, go up on the roof for some amazing views of the city and surrounding scenery. It’s also the best seat in the house if you want to crash one of the many weddings that the hotel hosts each year. This will have you and your new hubby feeling extra romantic, reminiscing about your wedding…. from a week ago….

Double room rates range from $90-150 a night.

General tips for Guatemala

1. Tourists Should Beware in Guatemala City

You will likely fly into Guatemala City and obtain transport to your final destinations. Be careful in the city. Poverty is high and danger is real.

2. Don’t Drink the Water (or use the ice!)

Water is not safe to drink in Guatemala. Your hotel will tell you if they have a special filtration system that allows you to drink it. Even if they have these systems, they are usually only for sink water, so don’t let water in your mouth when you shower. I just prefer to stick with bottled water, even if they have the filtration system. And for goodness sake, if the water isn’t safe to drink, neither is the ice! I had a friend who drank only bottled water for the whole trip, but then had ice in his soda. He was vomiting for days. Just don’t do it. 

3. Enjoy!

You're going to love Guatemala. Seriously! There is all kinds of variety in the flora and fauna. Take loads of pictures, and then comment below to tell us how much you loved your trip. 

Honeymoon in Portugal

Lisbon, Portugal is an excellent honeymoon destination for those of us who do not want to spend a week sitting on the beach. (If you do love the beach, then check out our reviews of Jamaica and St. Lucia .) Lisbon doesn't have sand, but it's right on the water, and the cliff-side views are amazing! We've listed a few of our favorite spots, and some tourist traps of which to beware.

  

Castles

There are castles everywhere! These Castle of Moors ruins (below) will give you a great workout. In fact, all of Lisbon is a great leg workout. You saw the hills in the photo above. Well, to get to the best sites, you have to climb all of those hills.

Castle of Moors

But not all castles are the same. It’s pretty rare to find a castle that isn’t just made of stone. This colorful castle at Sintra is truly unique (below), and was so huge that we couldn’t even get a proper picture of it. And, you guessed it, the castle sits on top of another massive hill.

Sintra

History

The one frustrating thing about Lisbon, Portugal, (for us history buffs, that is), is that the earthquake of 1755 destroyed a lot of the records. So much of the time you’ll be standing in front of some fantastic site and there is almost no information about where it came from or the people who lived there. The best you get is the history of royals who married out into royal families from other countries whose records survived.

Tourist Spots

Belem Tower

Finally, there are the obligatory touristy spots, the famous Belem Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries. My advice is to admire from the outside, but don’t pay to go in the tower. The lines are long and it isn’t worth your money. Instead, spend your $5 on a couple of hot dogs and fresh lemonade from the nearby food carts and have a picnic in the sun. Maybe I was just starving, but those Portuguese hot dogs were seriously the best I’ve ever had.

Monument to the Discoveries

Travel Tips

Some practical tips:

1. Skip the Lisbon aquarium. It’s advertised everywhere in Lisbon, so you’ll start to think it must be something special. But those of us from Tennessee are used to the fabulousness of the Chattanooga aquarium and Ripley’s in Gatlinburg. The Lisbon aquarium doesn’t compare, so don’t waste your money.

2. Consider staying in a hostel. Lisbon hostels are so nice! We got a private room with a double bed (shared bathroom) for 40 USD a night.

3.  Use the Lisbon metro. If you’ve never lived in a big city, study the rail map before your trip. I find the metro in the city and trains to the outer areas is the easiest and cheapest way to get around. You can put money on a card and just swipe it every time you take a bus or metro ride.

Share your tips for traveling in Portugal in the comment section below!

All Inclusive Honeymoon Cruise

Are you considering a Carnival Cruise for your honeymoon? We’ve put together some tips to help with your decision.

Is this your first cruise?

Lesson #1, beware the cruise honeymoon if you have never been on a cruise or large boat. Your honeymoon is NOT the time you want to discover that you are prone to extreme seasickness. If you choose to ignore this advice, then for goodness’ sake take lots of Dramamine and seasickness patches with you just in case.

Unlimited Food

Yes, it is true that the food aboard is unlimited. But, please, be smart about what you eat. Cruises are notorious for food poisoning. Try to eat from the mini-restaurants that cook the food to order rather than from the buffet. Every morning the buffet milk was warm, so instead of cereal, choose fruit or fresh cooked bacon.

Activities on Board

Carnival cruises are family-friendly, so you’re going to see a lot of kids on board. Don’t even try to get in the arcade room. Most adults are going to be in the casinos during the day and watching the shows at night. These shows are hit or miss, so I wouldn’t count on that being your sole source of entertainment. Other activities include various classes, an expensive, not-included spa, and a gym. Please check with your fiance before you book a cruise. These kinds of activities are not for everyone. Personally, I quickly grew stir-crazy on the ship.

Activities at Stops

I took the Carnival Cruise to the Bahamas and Turks & Caicos. Each stop consisted of tourist shopping and crowded beaches. I will NEVER do something like this again. Each city seems especially designed for what they think tourists want, not for seeing the true country. For that, you’ll need to pay an independent tour guide, which can be risky. But you might find a local gem, like this pretty little church:

                                      

As for beaches, the sandy beaches are man-made and very crowded. The natural beaches are beautiful, but rocky. On the plus side, you’ll be the only one around these rocky beaches, so it’s great for photos.

If I were to go on a Carnival Cruise again, I would pick one with more activities that reflect the nature of the countries visiting, such as ancient ruin sites. That’s just me, though.

Overall, a Carnival Cruise is one of the cheapest honeymoon options around. Excluding costs of getting to the port, you can take a cruise for just a few hundred dollars per person. And if you get bored on the ship, at least there are other honeymoon-specific activities that could keep you occupied. ;)

The Honeymoon Destination You Never Considered

By Kelsey

You’ve just used most of your budget on the wedding day. Hey, it’s understandable, it’s the biggest party of your life! But now you need to book a honeymoon. You want something cheaper than an all-inclusive resort, but a bit nicer than a trip to Gatlinburg. Well, I have a recommendation that I bet you didn’t consider: Canada!

Okay, so Canada doesn’t sound like the most exciting place in the world. It’s definitely not sunny Jamaica. However, spare a minute for me to argue the pros of this awesome honeymoon destination. Specifically, we’re talking about the Niagara Falls and Toronto area of Canada.

1.       Niagara Falls isn’t the only waterfall – Yes, of course you need to go to Niagara Falls if you’re visiting this part of Canada. But this area actually has tons of smaller waterfalls. Especially in the early summer, it’s great for romantic hiking with your new husband. 

2.       It’s inexpensive and close to home, but you still need a passport. You can drive there from Tennessee in a single day, yet you’re still getting out of the country.

Dundurn Castle

3.       Canada has castles! That’s right. You never would have thought that this gorgeous castle is right near Toronto. 

Casa Loma - Toronto, Canada

4.       Wineries – No, Canada isn’t exactly known for its wine. But there are lots of cute little wineries just waiting to give your tours and tastings.

5.       Actually, the Chinese food in Toronto is pretty decent. 

6.       Finally, in Canada, milk comes in bags instead of cartons. Seriously, you need to see this at least once in your lifetime. 

St Lucia, Coconut Bay Resort: A Honeymoon Destination Review

By Kayla

For our honeymoon, my husband and I decided on a 5 day trip to St. Lucia in the Caribbean.  We stayed at the Coconut Bay Resort, which is located very close to the airport and on the Atlantic Ocean side of the Island.  My husband did not like the traveling process; however, upon reaching the resort he was literally in paradise.  The first thing after opening the car door, someone from the resort hands you a cold towel and an alcoholic beverage.  By the way, all alcoholic beverages and food are completely free.

Our experiences at the resort and on the Island were amazing.  The resort offered a lot of activities compared to some other resorts on the island, probably because this particular resort is not just for couples, although they have one side of the resort which is strictly for adults, the side that we had our room.  We did venture onto the family side on occasion, however, due to their being a couple of extremely fun water slides and different types of pools.  The resort offers free canoeing and snorkeling among other water activities.  Of course there were different sorts of shows and other events going on around the resort, but we really didn’t participate in any of these activities just because we wanted our honeymoon time.  I like that the resort is located on the Atlantic Ocean side of the island mainly because the waters are more wild, which in my opinion, makes going to the beach more fun.

The rooms were nice, but I have to admit, I have stayed in nicer rooms before, but then again, I’m sure the rooms were nicer dependent on how much one is willing to pay.  It was clean, all tile floors, good view of the ocean, the service was wonderful, and everything worked well.

We bought a tour of St. Lucia from a guy randomly standing on the beach who was offering prices less than half of what the resort was offering for the same tour.  My husband asked the security at the resort about him and they vouched that he worked for a licensed tour company outside of the resort.  We are glad we went on this tour.  It lasted nearly 8 hours and we got to go to the volcano where the sulfur springs are, take a mud bath there, eat at a local restaurant, shopped in some of the local shops, stopped at and go into the waterfall at Soufriere, and took a boat ride to the Jalousie beach on the Caribbean sea side of the island where there are white sands and beautiful coral reefs.

I would recommend St. Lucia and Coconut Bay Resort to any couple going on a honeymoon or even any family searching for a Caribbean vacation spot.  Honestly, thinking back, I really can’t think of much to complain about regarding the honeymoon.

Sandals Montego Bay, Jamaica: A honeymoon destination

By Kelsey

Everyone has heard of Sandals, right? They advertise all-inclusive luxury and endless white sandy beaches.

Well, it’s true, Sandals Jamaica is gorgeous. The beaches aren’t endless; they’re actually a bit limited for crowded seasons. However, the rooms are some of the nicest that I’ve ever stayed in. For one, they have all tile floors, so you know they’re cleaner than the nasty carpet in most hotel rooms. They also have nice bathrooms with a spacious tub.

Sandals advertises unlimited meals included in your package. While this is definitely true, what you need to know is that most rooms don’t have room service included. So, you will have to eat each meal in a restaurant. That means choosing between one of the nine restaurants, waiting to be seated, ordering, and waiting on food. Every. Single. Meal. Three times a day. We ended up spending half of each day just on the dining process.

Now let’s talk about how you’ll spend the rest of your time on the resort. Many of us ladies are content to spend a week on the beach with a book. But the men (and some of the more restless women), they get a little stir-crazy without some activity. I hope you enjoy water sports. That’s pretty much your only option.

I will say one thing that I love about Sandals is the peacocks. They're all over the place!

And the tropical flowers! So gorgeous!

All-inclusive resorts are great for relaxing. We spent our days going from meal to beach to pool to meal to beach, etc. I enjoyed it for about 2 days, as I’m more of the restless type. For many of you, this kind of trip will sound like paradise; for others, not so much. Our job is to show you the true experience, so you can make your own decision about what will suit your honeymoon needs.