Couples opting for honeymoons at luxurious Caribbean resorts with all the amenities attached

By Bob Young, Special Advertising Sections Writer

When Yvette Perez-Harriot and her husband, Jason, chose to honeymoon in Jamaica last July, they followed a growing number of newlyweds to the Caribbean. And, she said, they could not have been more pleased.

“There was not one minute that we were bored,” Perez-Harriot said. “There were so many activities, and we took advantage of them all. We learned how to scuba dive and we went snorkeling one or two times a day. There was a Benihana-type restaurant that served five-course meals and a white-glove restaurant we went to, but we ate at the buffet most of the time. The entertainment was different every night. It had everything we wanted. We are definitely planning to go back.”

Best of all, she said, they never had to pay a penny out of their pocket once they arrived at the Beaches Negril all-inclusive resort — a key reason why they chose the destination.

“With the cost of weddings so high, no one wants to go on a honeymoon and worry about paying for dinner every night,” Perez-Harriot said.

“We were married on the beach, just like I dreamed,” Perez-Harriot said. “Our travel agent explained that the resort included everything from child care for our two children to drinks to water sports and great food.”

More couples are discovering the beauty and value of honeymooning at posh, all-inclusive beach resorts, where everything is included in one package, said Barry Posner, owner of Ultra Honeymoons travel agency in Redondo Beach. He said the Caribbean seems to be a particularly popular destination now.

Hawaii also continues to be a favorite spot, especially with California couples, said Jill Hawkins of Miller-Hawkins Productions, a full-service wedding consultant business in Van Nuys.

Some of the most frequented Hawaiian resorts — such as the Ritz-Carlton in Maui and Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa in Kauai — are all-inclusive. With airfare, accommodations, unlimited food and drinks, entertainment and all manner of outdoor activities included in one pre-paid package, all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean, Hawaii and Mexico let honeymooners celebrate as lavishly as they want, with no worries about any additional expense.

Even tipping is forbidden, Posner said.

“The Caribbean is the hottest honeymoon destination right now, and all-inclusive resorts there are extremely popular,” he said. “It’s a great combination for honeymooners because the Caribbean is beautiful, romantic, and couples can [have] steak and champagne every night if they want. They can enjoy any type of water sport on consecutive days without worrying about the cost. These days, it seems most honeymooners want a combination of outdoor activity and fine dining and entertainment options — a more active honeymoon. They want it all.”

“Many resorts, like Sandals, are adults-only, but family-friendly resorts such as Beaches are great for family parties because they encourage socializing,” Posner said.

The packages average of about $3,700 per person for a weeklong honeymoon, depending on the level of amenities chosen, Posner said.

Special incentives often are tossed in, including his-and-hers massages and even commemorative engraved pieces of china, said Hawkins.

The Beaches resorts, for example, offer honeymooners a choice of a free 16-piece set of Marquis by Waterford china or a 20-piece set of basic china from Johnson Brothers by Wedgwood. Beaches, Sandals and other resorts also offer free weddings.

“The hot honeymoon trend is definitely the all-inclusive resorts,” she said. “There are hot spots other than the Caribbean, but that is where most of the most popular honeymoon packages are, especially Jamaica. Some of the other hot spots include Cabo San Lucas and Cancun, which can be a good choice for lower-end budgets (under $2,000 a week).”

Varying levels of accommodations are available, from budget packages to the most lavish, with in-room spas and the ocean practically at your door.

Posner said he’s noticed that more newlyweds today are opting for the most extravagant honeymoons possible.

“It has to do with a number of factors beyond the simply romantic,” he said. “Couples are marrying later in life these days, meaning they are more financially secure and willing to splurge. Honeymooners simply have more money to spend.”

Many of those who opt for ultra high-end packages are choosing to honeymoon in Fiji or Tahiti, especially Bora Bora, for its combination of water sports and unspoiled beauty, said Iris Messina, manager of Storybook Honeymoons in Los Angeles, which has many clients in Beverly Hills.

“Most of our clients love the idea of Tahiti’s desert island paradise, and they spare no expense,” she said. “There seems to be a move away from the big, overdeveloped destinations like Honolulu. And, we’ve seen an increase in the amount [couples] want to spend.”

Honeymooners are spending a record $8 billion a year, according to the most recent statistics from the Travel Industry Assn. of America, a national organization that represents all components of the travel industry in the U.S. Couples are spending an average of nearly $4,000 per person — three times as much as an average vacation.

A growing number of online honeymoon registries have helped fuel the high-end trend. They make it easy for far-flung family and friends to help give the gift of a dream honeymoon with the click of a mouse.

And, honeymoon gifts are what many newlyweds want, Posner said.

“More couples have lived together or have been married before, so they already have all the toasters and china they need,” he said. “They can pick a package and set up a honeymoon registry through agencies. People can contribute to specific things if they want, like spa massages or water sports, airfare or accommodations.”

Ultra Honeymoons, Storybook Honeymoons and Miller-Hawkins Productions are among the growing number of agencies and consultants that help couples set up registries.

Perez-Harriot said her honeymoon was exactly what she had imagined and she and her husband definitely plan to return to Jamaica. “It was a blast,” she said.

Bob Young is a freelance writer based in Glendale.

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