Trying to figure out where to go for our honeymoon. (cruise ship, best)

[grmngrl8203]

We are trying where to go on our honeymoon. We are getting married in August and want a place that you dont need a passport for and our options so far is San Diego, CA - Key West, Fl and the US Virgin Islands. Anyone been to any of them, any recommendations, thoughts, etc?

[VegasGrace]

Want to be really adventurous and go some place really exotic?

American Samo- bout as far away from mainland USA as you can get and it's still American soil- no passport needed. From Hawaii it's still hours and hours away by plane- costs alot to visit, but there is no place more beautiful than this chain of islands.

[firebll31]

Give us an idea what you like to do. Party? Lay on the beach? Sight-see? Snorkel? Eat upscale? Get away from everyone or be in the middle of the crowd? More info please! I have been to Key West twice. Impressions:
1. Expensive, since it is an island
2. Great for fishing, drinking, shopping, people watching
3. Not great if you want privacy-almost every inch of the island is developed.
4. Awesome sunsets- everyone gathers on Mallory Square just before sunset to see the street performers, then stays to watch the sun go down. Afterward they start down Duvall street to hit the bars- the "Duvall Crawl"
5. Wanted to catch the drag show, but didn't have time
6. Gets very crowded when the cruise ships are in town
7. Couple good beaches, but pretty small.
8. Some very good places to get conch and seafood.
9. Margaritaville had overpriced sub-par margaritas and terrible key lime pie
10. Lots of sightseeing-recommend Hemingway's house, Mel Fisher museum, ferry to Fort Jefferson, Ghost tour
11. Gay friendly-You will see same-sex couples holding hands, but we never saw any outrageous behavior

[the3Ds]

Originally Posted by grmngrl8203

We are trying where to go on our honeymoon. We are getting married in August and want a place that you dont need a passport for and our options so far is San Diego, CA - Key West, Fl and the US Virgin Islands. Anyone been to any of them, any recommendations, thoughts, etc?

Been to all three. Love every single one of them. Just a few things to consider. Key West and the VIs are in prime territory for hurricanes. Hurricane season is right during the time you will be honeymooning. Could make things pretty miserable. Also consider the humidity. There is nothing, and I mean nothing that prepares you for August humidity in Florida. I lived there for 3 years and even the locals hide during August.

If you are not worried about humidity, I would head to the Keys. The VIs were fun but after being in the Keys, I can vouch that the views are the same, the water just as beautiful and blue and the beaches just as pristine as the VIs and it doesn't take as long to get there.

Another consideration (and my favorite place in all the USA...I hate to give away a secret) is Sanibel Island in Florida. If I could go back and plan my honeymoon again, I would head there in a heartbeat. It's remote, it's pristine, it's easy to get to, it's a perfect, laid-back place made for honeymooning. No chain restaurants (unless you count the Dairy Queen), the whole island is bicycle friendly, the beaches are absolutely PACKED with shells, the water is still and warm (it's on the Gulf Side), you can take boat tours, snorkeling, etc. We went there every chance we got and didn't have one single regret.

[grmngrl8203]

Cost wise-Samoa would be out just from what you are saying. We are wanting to stay at about $1,000 a person tops for the whole trip. But as far as what we like to do: golf, swimming, want to try snorkeling, relaxing, shopping, horseback riding, sightseeing, food , dolphin swimming would be cool. Stuff like that. Pretty open for anything.

[MAK802]

I live in San Diego, and it would be perfect for what you're looking to do. We have plenty of golf courses, you can swim in the ocean at that time of year (our water tends to be warmest late August-October), La Jolla Cove for snorkeling-some of the best in the world, tons of good places to shop (Gaslamp district, Hillcrest, Fashion Valley mall, downtown La Jolla), I know a place where you can go horesback riding on the beach, and you can swim with dolphins but only at Sea World. Though you are likely to see dolphins at the beach, particularly Coronado. Balboa Park is wonderful and a must see while here and the zoo (which is in Balboa park) is also really nice.

If you need specific recs regarding San Diego, I'll be more than happy to provide them.

I've been to Key West and though I loved it, I wouldn't recommend it for a honeymoon. There are really no beaches there, despite what many think, and definitely not a place to lay out by the beach. It's a very small city, and I personally don't think there is enough to do and 3 days is more than enough there.

[BlueWillowPlate]

I've been to all of them too, and I guess it depends what you are looking for.

San Diego probably does have the most to do, but I have never been all that impressed with either the Pacific (too cold!) or the beaches there. However, the area has much to offer and the weather will probably be perfect.

IMHO, the most beautiful beaches are at the *British* Virgin Islands, but I agree that certain spots, if you know where to go, are lovely down at the Keys.
You could stay in Key West, do the touristy stuff there, and explore the other Keys for the nicest beach spots--and there are definitely some nice beaches.
But I agree about August in Florida. It can be brutal!

American Samoa looks stunning. The only thing I'd worry about is how things are after that tsunami in September, but I would think that they are in the process of rebuilding and are hopeful for tourists.

[stillkit]

Why San Diego? It's just another large city on the ocean, though it does have Tijuana right next door, though I'm not sure I'd recommend that.

Consider, if you will, Laguna Beach, which is just up the coast. It would seem the perfect place for a honeymoon to me. Quiet, discrete, not very crowded; it's a small town which sits on a beautiful horseshoe bay surrounded and shielded by mountains. It's just a few minutes drive from high-end shopping in Newport Beach and most anything else you might need in the rest of Orange County.

Check it out.

[grmngrl8203]

Originally Posted by stillkit

Why San Diego? It's just another large city on the ocean, though it does have Tijuana right next door, though I'm not sure I'd recommend that.

Consider, if you will, Laguna Beach, which is just up the coast. It would seem the perfect place for a honeymoon to me. Quiet, discrete, not very crowded; it's a small town which sits on a beautiful horseshoe bay surrounded and shielded by mountains. It's just a few minutes drive from high-end shopping in Newport Beach and most anything else you might need in the rest of Orange County.

Check it out.

Laguna Beach is very pretty from how the website looks. And the b&b's there are really cute. But we are wanting more activities also. So we basically want the pretty beach and stuff but also more activities close by. How far is it from Laguna Beach to other places?

[MAK802]

Laguna Beach is 45 minutes from the city of San Diego. We love it, but there really is not enough to do for an extended time. Take a day trip there, but I would stay in San Diego for the majority of the time. There is more to SD than just city. Those that don't know it, stereotype, but you are very likely to find what you're looking for here.

Check out La Jolla and its beaches (La Jolla Cove, Windansea). Beautiful and smilar to Laguna.