Hawaii or the Caribbean?

I would think price wise, you would get more bang for your buck in the caribbean. plus it's always fun going outside of the US and exploring other cultures and trying new food! so I say caribbean would be the way to go !

If money is no object, Hawaii would be great, but if you are trying to stick to a budget, the Caribbean is a better idea.

Depending on where you live, the airfare to Hawaii is expensive. It can range anywhere from $800 with a bargain price to $2000 per person just to fly there. And because of the distance, you lose a day in travel and you are usually tired for a day with jet lag. Then you add the actual honeymoon part and you are looking at around $5,000 for the honeymoon, minimum.

Airfare to the Caribbean is more reasonable. Depending on where you go, and if you use a fare watcher like kayak.com, you can get tickets for $300-$500 per person. You can also get lots of resort deals, all inclusive resorts, and package deals if you go to the Caribbean. My sister and her hubby went to Jamaica for a week for $2500 total, including airfare and stay at an all inclusive resort.

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FH and I are part of a travel time-share, and I have a travel rewards credit card, so with the discounts from that, including tax and airfare, it cost us about $1200 out of pocket. We are staying at Treasure Cay Resort on Grand Abaco Island in the Bahamas for a week in a condo on the beach (which has been voted one of the 10 best in the world). It's not all inclusive, but we have a kitchenette in our condo so we will make breakfast and lunch most days, and only have dinner out - which saves us a good deal. With excursions and food, I'm expecting to pay between $2,000-$2,500 total.

I know you can stay places in the Caribbean for less, and for more, so it really depends on what you are looking for and what your budget is.

If you share more of your questions and concerns I'd be happy to help you try bounce ideas back and forth.

We have time-shares for our condo's so that part of the trip will be paid for whichever place we go. I have noticed that it seems more expensive to go to Hawaii, airfare wise. To go to the Caribbean do you have to have a passport? Also, can you use American money there? Sorry I have never been anywhere outside of the US.

If you're looking to go on your honeymoon immediately after your wedding, I'd steer clear of the Caribbean. It's the peak of hurricane season.

Who is your time-share through?

You do need your passports to go to the Caribbean, but they don't take too long to get and they aren't all that expensive. I think FH and I payed $150 for ours two years ago and it took a month and a half to come in.

In the Caribbean, it depends on where you go if you can use American money or not. You can in the Bahamas, and I think in Jamaica too. They do give you change in Bahamian currency - in the Bahamas - though the exchange is $1US1B). Bahamian is not good in the US and the banks wont take it back, so it's best to take plenty of small bills if you go to the Bahamas so you don't get a lot of change.

We are going to an "off the beaten path" island, so they don't accept credit cards as much as in Freeport or Nassau; but, in those touristy areas, you can use a credit card more often and not worry about the change and exchange issues. The credit card companies usually charge a 3% service fee for changing from US$ to other currencies.

Also Andrea makes a good point, you should choose carefully based on the seasons. We are going at the beginning of June, so hopefully we won't hit too much rough weather, but in September, it could be more of an issue.

You must have a passport to go to any other country, but there are US territories in the Caribbean - US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, for starters.

It's much cheaper to go there, but if you can make an affordable Hawaiian trip, it's worth every penny. I've never loved a place so much, and I've been to all 50 states, lots of Canada, and the Caribbean.

Agreed...We decided not to do the Caribbean because we wanted to leave for the honeymoon a couple days after the wedding and it is prime time for hurricanes down there August/September. So we decided Hawaii for peace of mind sake...but if you waited to go on your honeymoon until December, I hear the Caribbean is beautiful!

If you can afford Hawaii it is the best. I've been to several islands in the Caribbean and love it but nothing is better than Hawaii - but it will be more expensive.

I'm biased, never been to the Caribbean, but we went to Hawaii for our honeymoon. We went in November 2009 and stayed for a week and spent $6,000 for EVERYTHING. We also did at least one touristy/fun thing each day. Some days we did 2 or 3 things. It was amazing!

Hawaii all the way. I have been to both and Hawaii was the best by far!!!

Hawaii is definitely more fun!!!

We've traveled all over the caribbean and the Mexican Riviera by far gives you the biggest bang for your buck! I love the Playa del Carmen area. Fifth Avenue rocks!

Princess Resort right outside of Playa offers great cheap package deals and the resort is 4 star. Last May we went there airfare and all-inclusive deluxe swim up room for $1,280 for the week for both of us!! One of our best vacations.

Bookit.com is a great web site for travel deals! We've used them many times.

I live in Hawaii. You won't need a passport if you have U.S. identification, such as a driver's license. It is expensive here, but I love it. I'm sure you'll have fun at either place.