Ok, friends. We are planning a honeymoon for the end of May of this year, and I am seriously overwhelmed by the options and would love some help.
Here’s what I have so far: * We want nice beaches and snorkeling but also want other activities (hiking, horseback riding - just something active) * I do kind of want some of the “luxuries” (maybe they aren’t really, but they feel like luxuries to me) like a swim up bar (I guess those are fairly common now?) * We like the all inclusive idea but aren’t married to it (just each other as of May 15th...I know, I’m hilarious) * We are flying out of Dallas-Fort Worth and are pretty flexible on the exact dates * Budget is approximately $7k * We do know the stray hurricane can brew in May and will get insurance accordingly * Fiancé has ruled out Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and maybe Jamaica - he scares easily and is worried about safety (I know - take precautions, don’t be an idiot, etc. etc. but it’s a battle I didn’t feel the need to fight this time, especially as it sorta helped me narrow stuff down, and we have the budget to go elsewhere)
So...Aruba? St. Lucia? One of the less popular islands in the Bahamas? (Though honestly I want to go to the Atlantis water park that has the water slide past sharks one day...) Anguilla? The Caymans? Virgin Islands?
submitted by When I was trying to decide if/where/when to go on a babymoon with the husband, I tried searching here and didn't have much luck in finding answers or reviews. I'm sharing this experience in the hope that it helps others!
**First things first** - Zika! Bahamas have been cleared from the Zika risk by the CDC since February or so of 2018. This means there hadn't been a Zika case reported in the Bahamas since February of 2017. And, FWIW, neither of us even got a bug bite during our time there. Can also confirm that the Bahamas are crawling with pregnant ladies! I think we saw at least 8 others at our resort alone.
**Timing** - We went the first week of September - I was 28/29 weeks. Definitely hurricane season, but that also means it's the *least* busiest month. We were there 6 days/5 nights. I could've stayed forever ;)
**Flights** - We live in the midwest, for reference. On the way there we had three flights - 3 hours - 1 hour - "1" hour (more like.. 30 mins). On the way back it was a little more direct with only two flights - "1" hour - 3+ hour. Definitely try to see if you can board early due to pregnancy, drink lots of water, wear compression socks, and try to get up and use the bathroom hourly if you can. The last flight back was the worst, mainly because the flight attendants weren't able to get up until nearly an hour into the flight (for possible turbulence that we never hit!) for drink service, and then they were stingy with the water! I probably could have asked for more, though. I will say that I am lucky in that it's been a fairly unicorn pregnancy for me and have had few aches/pains/problems overall, so YMMV on flying on the later side of pregnancy.
**Precautions Taken** - We did get travel insurance in case I suddenly became high risk and had to cancel. We shopped around using
squaremouth.com and got the "cancel for any reason" package as cancelling for pregnancy medical-related reasons can be tricky (also were covered in case of hurricane or other medical emergencies). I also made sure my health insurance would work there, found out about the hospitals on island and that they had level 2 NICUs (we stayed on the main island for this reason, though from what I read any pregnancy complications tend to be sent to the US). Also got my medical records at the last OB appointment before we left.
**Resort** - Breezes! I was really nervous about this because the reviews were pretty extreme! Some love it, some hate it. It worked out perfect for us, though. I think some of that has to do with the timing (slow month), and we don't have super high/expensive expectations. Don't go during spring break/end of school year - it will be overrun with high school/college kids coming to get drunk (they even warn you of this when booking). This resort is all-inclusive, but more of the "budget" variety. Apparently the biggest complaint is that they don't have shrimp/lobster out every night like some of the all-inclusives in Mexico (or other resorts?) do - so if you're used to that, keep it in mind. They had nightly entertainment, and also activities going on every day. We really enjoyed most of the night shows. Didn't go for the daytime stuff, but I wasn't there to be active - I just wanted to sit on the beach, read and relax!
**Food/Drink** - No top shelf liquors or anything (not that I cared about those!). We liked their main daily buffet - had that for breakfast and dinner almost every day and got a snack from the beach/pool hut for a small lunch. The food wasn't fancy, but it had good flavor and spice and good variety. They also have restaurants that are first come, first served (no reservations). We tried it once and weren't super impressed, but YMMV. They had your basic virgin drinks - daiquiris, pina coladas, fruit juices and pops. I will say the daiquiris were DELISH. I'm not a huge fan of them usually, but they were made with real strawberries, which I think made all the difference compared to what I'm used to.
**Babymoon Package** - So right now, it seems they've discontinued this. :( We told someone else at the resort about this deal, and the front desk told them it's no longer available and that they are "revamping" it. So, keep an eye out, or call and inquire. Worst they can tell you is no. BUT it was pretty awesome - free upgrade to the "ocean front" room from the "ocean view" room (this is only when an ocean front is available - there's a HUGE difference in price between these rooms!), cabana included every day (normally $50/day), extra pillows, breakfast in bed one day, and a couples facial. All for $200. Oh, and if we were out late enough, room service left us little goodies at night (luggage tags, power bank, ear buds, etc). Worth every penny!
**Other random stuff** - We didn't do any special packages or outings, but there was a sea turtle that liked to hang out near the west side of their roped off swim area, which was really neat! S/he hung out with us one day and got fairly close :) There was also a baby shark that swam through one afternoon- s/he kept his distance! We also caught the bus into town a couple days just to get out and get souvenirs, check out the straw market. Wasn't too bad, but not amazing. The new Baha Mar is also next door and a bus runs between the nearby resorts and there. It's like a Vegas casino/hotel.
All in all, so glad we went for it. It was beautiful and relaxing. Our first experience at an all-inclusive resort, and we were pretty happy with it. We would probably go back ( I say probably *only* because I like to travel and see new places - if we we had unlimited vacation days, I'd definitely be back), but maybe fake me being pregnant for the babymoon deal, if available. :)) We're really glad we chose it over Baha Mar or Atlantis - more expensive for less, and the larger complexes mean it takes longer to get to the beach!
A couple pictures! Feel free to ask me any questions - be it in here or PM! :)
Edit: to fix link formatting
Caribbean Islands - Is the meal plan at the Atlantis worth it? - I don't mind to walk to nearby places to save a dollar or two. Have NOT been to the Atlantis, and want to go. The $75 for two meals Book your stay at Atlantis Bahamas in Paradise Island and take advantage of exclusive specials and deals. Get the best rates for your trip to the Bahamas from Atlantis. How to plan a family vacation to Atlantis, a family-friendly resort in The Bahamas, from where it is, how much it costs, what's included in your stay, what to pack, plus info on The Cove, The Palm Included in a stay at the Atlantis is admission to their massive Aquaventure waterpark, which covers 141-acres with Atlantean-themed towers, water slides, a mile-long rapid river ride, 20 swimming areas, a kids water-play fort and 11 swimming pools.There is so much to do that you can stay busy all day. You can float down the less-than lazy river, shoot through tubes underwater surrounded by Also for us the all-inclusive is not worth it because we are pretty picky about our food and not big drinkers. If you split the weeks, stay at the Riu first and finish off with Atlantis. I was genuinely really sad to leave Atlantis, I almost cried that morning. As for food, it really depends on how much you plan to eat or drink. We usually ate lunch at the pool, most of the time each getting a The Reef at Atlantis: The Reef offers the conveniences of home and the amenities of a luxury residential community. Adjacent to The Cove, The Reef rests upon the white sand beaches of Paradise Island with the gracious relaxation of the Bahamian culture. The Reef welcomes guests to unplug completely or plug in to all Atlantis has to offer It is a great deal for $2400. It is absolutely NOT worth spending more than that unless you have kids who will murder you if you don't take them to Atlantis. 3) Food - of course it's expensive. I bought all-inclusive value-dining plan and boy, did I pull a wrong string. There are two buffets that you can go to that are included - Seagrapes and Is Atlantis all inclusive? Atlantis is a full-service resort, but sometimes it offers all-inclusive packages, which include accommodations, activities, and dining. What airport do you fly into for Atlantis? Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) offers the closest terminals, which are located 13 miles southwest of the resort. How do you get to Paradise Island from the airport? Taxi Yes, all inclusive. Everything you can think of, they more than likely have it. Usually the pools are pretty much where you would see kids, but they have pools exclusively for adults and there are a lot of places where you won't see one child. Staying at the Atlantis Bahamas was a huge disappointment for our family. So I wanted to give an honest review of Atlantis so you can decide if it’s worth it for your family. It’s not often that I have to write about a hotel that I DIDN’T like. When I plan a vacation, I am very thorough. I go through every review I can, I read Pinterest, YouTube… all to make sure I am spending my money
This video is about Atlantis Hotel on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. [Be sure to check out the snorkelling nearer the end of the video. There's video of lot... http://www.TravelBroker.us - 800.671.9007 : Study how a Travel Broker can get you a guaranteed better deal in regards to: "All Inclusive Resorts Atlantis Bah... 💳 Learn more about Brian’s Top Picks👉 http://bit.ly/JungyBestOffers 💳 Top No Annual Fee Cards👉http://bit.ly/2K9vvGu Click "Show More" to see Ad ... OFF GRID with DOUG and STACY are in the BAHAMAS at the ATLANTIS resort. We had a great time and put this video together to show you what to expect if you tra... http://www.TravelBroker.us - 800.671.9007 : Study exactly how a Travel Broker will get you the guaranteed best price with regards to: "Atlantis All Inclusive... ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORT VACATION TIPS & HACKS 2019! 🏝️ - Duration: 6:51. Laura Hoyda 140,230 views. 6:51. Solo Travel to the Bahamas! Atlantis Bahamas on Paradise Island #TravelwithRuby Ep ... Click here: http://vipcashsavings.com Is Atlantis All Inclusive Atlantis Reviews Looking for some Atlantis reviews to find out, is Atlantis all inclusive? ...
