Too Many Options!

While most of the decisions relating to wedding planning have presented more options than I really needed (especially photographers - there are SO MANY and most of them appear to be very talented!  So glad we made that decision easily!), there has been one aspect in particular that seems to top them all.  Once we started searching for options, it's like we fell down the rabbit hole and through a never-ending series of web pages...

The honeymoon.

Ahhhh, paradise, somewhere to leave all the wedding stresses behind...  via WorldForTravel.com

Yes, a honeymoon on a beach in a tropical paradise.  Sounds lovely, and I can't wait until we are there.  But the planning is not as relaxing as the imagining.

We decided early on that we would love to go somewhere tropical.  I'd prefer not to go to Mexico since I've been to several popular areas there already.  We'll be going to Hawaii a few months after the honeymoon (rough life, eh?), and we were there about a month ago, so we're leaning away from that.  And I don't really want to spend much time travelling if possible.  So we're likely looking at somewhere in the Caribbean.  Also it would be nice to go somewhere we haven't been, and somewhere that was all inclusive.

Caribbean Map, via WorldAtlas.com

But do you see how many islands there are in the Caribbean?!?  I don't particularly want to go on a cruise, although cruises are lovely, simply because I feel obligated to actually DO things, like get off the boat and explore on a cruise.  We have also been on a cruise to the south Caribbean together, and Dino has gone on another Caribbean cruise before, but that really doesn't limit the options of "places we haven't been" much.

Other limiting factors for us include kids (it would be awesome to go to an adults only resort!), easy and quick flights to the island, have the resort right on the beach, have the option to get a couples massage at some point, and Dino also kind of has an image of staying in a hut over the water (though this significantly limits the options while upping the price typically, unless we want to travel for a long time to get to Bali or somewhere awesome like that... but that would be too much travel and too costly of travel for me...).

Cost is also another factor.  It would be amazing to go to a super high class resort and spend a week being pampered and not caring about a thing, but those places cost a lot.  So that helps narrow down the search as well.  But now our amazing generous parents have struck again!  His wonderful parents have offered to help with the cost of the honeymoon, which expands our search once again.

I'm leaving this decision mostly in Dino's hands, simply because it is easier for me that way!  Plus I think he loves researching and imagining us on a beach somewhere, so more power to him.  I'm not sure which resorts are the front-runners in his mind right now, but I do know I liked several of the Couples and Sandals resorts the best!  I'll let you know when we've come to a decision!

What were the limiting factors in your honeymoon search?  Did it feel like there were so many options without a good way to narrow it down for you too?