Weddingbee boards

Looking at the honeymoon budgets thread, it seems that all-inclusives/resorts are way more popular than I would have suspected.  FI and I wanted to be totally left alone, so for our honeymoon we're heading to a gorgeous secluded villa with breathtaking views and a private beach (it does come staffed with maid, cook, and pool caretaker, though, but we can schedule them to be there only when we want them to be).  And we're spending a LOT less than those who are staying at all-inclusives with comparably luxurious accommodations.  I'm kind of surprised that no one else is going this route.  When I go to a foreign country, I don't like all-inclusives because they make me feel as if I just traveled to a beach in my own country: everyone is American or British, I see no point in going through the hassle of customs and paying for international air fare if it's going to feel like any other pretty beach in the USA.  That's just how I feel about it.  And when I think of a honeymoon, I think of getting away from it all with just my sweetie.  Anyone share a similar line of thinking and renting a private residence instead of heading to a resort?  If so, what sorts of things are you doing on your honeymoon?

We're probably going this direction, I totally agree--I dislike the idea of people being around me unless I choose for them to be! So we're exploring our options...

Yours sounds great, btw!

I'm glad to hear I'm not alone (and love to hear about all your plans!).

 sarahd07, I was just in Napa/Sonoma (and Yosemite) last summer for vacation and it was BEAUTIFUL and AWESOME.  Have so much fun!!  And I hope you plan to visit Robert Mondavi, if you have never been. We went on several wine tours/tastings, and Mondavi's, aside from being one of the least expensive, also in my mind was the most comprehensive, least pretentious and yet still very elegant, most friendly, and had the most beautiful scenery of all the wineries we went to!

eureka:  We're going to a villa nestled in the mountains of St. Lucia that I bookmarked on the internet when I was 15 years old.  I have held onto the link since then because I love it so much and FI instantly fell in love too when I showed him the link a long time ago now.  It has a really understated luxury to it: everything is well-kept and high-quality, but it avoids ostentation and is very open-air.  It flows so naturally from the indoors to the outdoors and is surrounded by gardens with orchids and wildflowers, fresh fruit, a pond, and big pool with a waterfall.  The master bedroom has floor-to-ceiling windows directly across from the bed that look out directly over the sea and the Pitons.  A stone path leads down the bank to a private beach.

FI and I aren't usually 'beach people' but we're going to have just gotten out of five grueling years at a very rigorous college. We want to relax and be left alone, not sightsee.  We think our lifestyles will lead us to travel a lot, so we don't feel the need to tour the world or anything on our honeymoon.  Just relax like we'll never relax again, haha.

Honestly I don't want to share the link because we haven't booked our stay yet and I don't want to run the risk of someone nabbing it up, but I will once we book it. ;)  The place is awesome and I anticipate that for a week and a half we will spend around $5k.

whitesonnet: vrbo.com is definitely a good place to start!  a lot of private villas come staffed with cooks, etc., so you're in luck.

It's been so long since I've planned a vacation (I used to actually plan our family vacations as a teen, I am like a supreme internet deal-finder) that I don't remember nay of the other sites where you can find villa listings, but honestly, I remember finding the place in St. Lucia that I described by just googling, "St. Lucia villa" or something to that effect.  It was like five pages deep in the search results and quite a find.  VRBO has a lot of stuff though, and often the residence owners will direct you to other websites where their rental is listed, so you can search through those too.  Sorry I don't have more specific advice, FI and I just haven't had the time or money to go on vacation ONCE since we have been together so like I said, I'm kind of out of the loop, haha.  But I do know that I'm still getting a great deal on the place we'll be heading. :)

and BirdtoBe:  I think that Mainee is GORGEOUS is October, so that you are getting a FREE vacation in a beautiful place makes me envious, period.  Who cares about frosty beverages on the beach, it's free!  I would love it if we could take a free trip, haha, since my parents may be paying for the wedding but we're footing the honeymoon bill ourselves.