Weddingbee boards

Well, we're back from the Royal Belize. Oh my gosh was it ever complete paradise!!!! We had 10 days of sitting on hammocks, snorkelling, jetskiing (well, DH jet skiied, I stayed in the hammock), eating eating eating, reading, sleeping, playing cribbage and enjoying being totally disconnected from everyone in the world. The staff on the island was amazing, I can't speak highly of them enough. Anything we could have wanted or needed was at our fingertips. The food was amazing. The weather was perfect. We had Tropical Storm Matthew blow through on our second last day, but it wasn't so awful. Just wind and big waves in the morning, the afternoon was sunny blue skies and swimming again! We loved every single second of it and I can hardly wait to go back!!!

The island

My favourite hammock.

DH says this is a photo of all his favourite things: Me, jetski, and our favourite swimming spot.

Our spa day in nearby Hopkins. We had 90 minute massages out on the dock overlooking the ocean. Heaven anyone?!

Our house

We had a fancy dinner night, and for dessert we were lead over to a little floating dock for champagne and fireworks! It was amazing!!!

The dining palapa at night.

Enjoying a sunny afternoon swimming, reading, relaxing.

The view from our favourite post breakfast chairs in the main palapa every day. So beautiful.

Huge breakfast!

Tropical Storm Matthew blowing through

On a boatride down the Sittee River

I'll just note to anyone who's thinking of doing the same, that DH and I loved every second of our honeymoon, but a private island experience may not be for everyone. We were the only ones on the island other than the staff, so it was very quiet, very isolated, very relaxing. If you're high stimulus kind of people, this is likely not the right trip for you. We went snorkelling and kayaking a couple times, but mostly just stayed on/around the island. If you get bored easily you'd likely be better picking a larger resort with more activities, day trips, etc. This is definitely a low activity, totally veg out type of honeymoon, which happened to be exactly what we were looking for and needed!!

@dance: Thanks! We're having a hard time facing reality today, hence my time on WB ;) It's hard to believe you can be exhausted after 10 days of doing nothing, LOL! It was absolute heaven on that island and we were both SO sad to leave yesterday morning. Sigh.

@Ms.Teddy: The important thing about our house: No kitchen, but a hidden fridge well stocked with beer for DH, old school glass bottled Coke for me, and chocolate chip cookies :)  There's also a little outdoor bed, but unfortunately we didn't get to sleep out there because it typically rained really briefly but heavily at night. We tried to do some stargazing out there though.

@hergreenapples: Seriously, it's so bad my neighbour called to invite me over for tea and I said no because I didn't want to get out of my pajamas and go across the street. Maybe tomorrow....

jealous much = me!!! it lucks gorgeous girlie!! and you are looking haute in your white bikini!!!!

@crebre80: LOL! Thanks! That's the Victoria's Secret "Newlywed" bikini! I'll have to find a picture of the "newlywed" on the bum (but cut out my bum, LOL!).

@bakerella: girl I have never been able to wear a bikini.. I'm sure if we are able to afford a honeymoon I will be rocking a moo-moo (spelling) with fierce shoes of course lmao!!!!!!!

@littlemissmoo: That's exactly it. If you need stimulus, a private island is not for you. DH and I were listing off which of our friends would lose their minds on the island, it was quite amusing. It was perfect for us, we really wanted to remove ourselves from the world after the madness leading up to the wedding. And really, we're happiest when we're alone, so 10 days together was heaven for us!

@jackie-o: Deal! Do it for an anniversary!!!

@jackie-o: I should say though, the beach is more bits of coral and seashells, less "sandy-sand" if you know what I mean. You'd be more comfortable in a hammock than stretched out on a towel. I didn't really miss the "sand" though, I was only disappointed our "Just married" flip flops didn't work because the sand was so dense rather than a loose kind like you'd find on a Carribean beach.

@JamaicaBride: I think I read four books in ten days. I literally brought a STACK with me. I'm surprised I didn't get through a couple more, but I think my naps got in the way, LOL!

@ktisthatbees: I drive DH crazy with all my picture taking! I swear he's seen the camera pushed up against my face more than he's seen my eyes, LOL! Every time I grab the camera he looks at me and says "Document!" because it's such a big joke between us now. My name is Bakerella and I'm a camera addict.

I'm going to get our underwater camera developed today, so I'll have some more photos to post tonight hopefully!

The underwater camera was 50/50. Next time we go I'll bring two since it seems like for every 27 shots you get 1 good one! LOL!

@MsBrooklynA: There's a private island in Twilight? I missed a lot by not reading those books I think.... LOL! We stayed at the Royal Belize. It's a 7.5 acre island just off the coast of Belize, closest to the port town of Dangriga. I think the island itself used to be called Ragged Caye before they renamed it. I wish we could afford to go every year for our anniversary, the place is paradise. The photos totally don't do it justice. Sigh.

@MsBrooklynA: We stayed in La Cabana. We looked at the honeymoon suite (Casa Valentina) which they just finished renovating, but I liked the bit of extra space and the HUGE window (with one way glass) in the shower of La Cabana overlooking the beach. It was gorgeous. The villas are air conditioned which I was a bit loathe to use, but it was a nice respite on days that there wasn't much of a breeze :)

@Miss Baker: See link in my reply above.

@EleanorRigby: I booked it directly with the island. I tried booking with a travel agency, but it would have cost more and we still wouldn't have been covered by their insurance. The gentleman who runs the island is very honestly and truly a gentleman which is hard to find these days, very professional, no problems whatsoever in any of the planning. He even booked our little puddle jumper flight from Belize City to Dangriga for us since I didn't know anything about Belizean airlines, etc. He was wonderful to work with.

@CorgiTales: Ummm I'm having such a hard time dealing with real life we're going to Disney next weekend for my birthday. I booked it today. Dear god I'm spoiled this year! Plus I have an awesome husband who understands my Disney addiction.

@rycrafty: You can go off island of course, but you have to pay for the gas for the boat, etc. If you build that into the price of whatever it is you want to do, it's not so bad. What I would likely recommend though is spending some time on the island, and then leaving to do things inland for a few more days. There's not a lot of sense in spending $XXX/day on the island and then leaving for a day trip or two. We had one afternoon inland doing our spa treatments, and then an hour or so snorkeling on the barrier reef nearby, but otherwise we wanted to get the bang for our buck and stayed on the island! Plus we really really really loved it there and had zero desire to do anything other than lounge 24/7 ;)

@Chartreuse: Belize was gorgeous! We didn't get to see too much of the mainland, but flying over the orange groves, etc was just so beautiful. The people we met were really lovely as well.