Belize or Cabo (or any other suggestions?)

We havent met w/ a travel agent yet but are trying to figure out where we want to go for our honeymoon. We found a great deal at the Royal Hideaway in Mexico but wanted to spend a week or so elsewhere to change it up. Anyway, has anyone been to or plans to go to Belize or Cobo? What do you think? What kind of stuff did you/do you plan to do there? Otherwise, does anyone suggest another place we can go that would make sense logistically if we do go to Mexico?

Message edited 3/1/2005 8:21:57 PM.

Re: Belize or Cobo (or any other suggestions?)

I did not care for Belize, but I heard great things about Cabo, I love Mexico!!

Re: Belize or Cobo (or any other suggestions?)

Cabo
Belize

Re: Belize or Cobo (or any other suggestions?)

interesting....what kind of bad stuff did you hear about Belize? I had heard it was the up and coming honeymoon place.

Re: Belize or Cobo (or any other suggestions?)

i have been to Belize...

it was UNBELIZABLE!!!

eta: We went on this incredible trail through the rainforest to a hidden cave where we swam into the cave and went climbing all inside... apparently this is the only cave that looters never found... up inside was an ancient sacrifical place where they used to leave sacrafices and stuff.... it was absolutely amazing experience... i wasnt near the water, but my friends who went said it was beautiful... great suba diving and surfing... i spent the week with a mayan medicine man!!

Message edited 3/1/2005 1:23:49 PM.

Re: Belize or Cobo (or any other suggestions?)

we were suppose to go cave diving and tubing, but couldn't because of the gorilla warfare taking place. Then we went to the city, it was very poor, and boring. We went canoeing, that was all right, but the water was murky..we did see monkeys in trees, that was the best part. Where would you be staying? In the city there are no beaches due to the fact that they build on water.

on the other hand I heard cabo is one great party with so much to do. I love cozemel and costa maya and cancun..

Re: Belize or Cobo (or any other suggestions?)

is cozemel and costa maya in mexico? what can you do there?

do you/does anyone have details on Cabo?

Re: Belize or Cobo (or any other suggestions?)

I dont know if this will help you or not... but i went to Belize for an international journalism class in college with other journalism and photojournalism students

here is the website we made. It tell all about the country... not really the touristy side, but might give you some added info.

http://www.internationaljournalism.com/indexbelize.html

Re: Belize or Cobo (or any other suggestions?)

does anyone else have any input?

Re: Belize or Cabo (or any other suggestions?)

Sure - haven't been to Cabo, but I don't understand anyone turning their nose up at Belize. Sure Belize City is pretty much a dump and the jungle probably doesn't compare to Costa Rica, if that's what you are looking for, but the offshore atolls are great. Just be aware that a lot of the places are scuba-diving or fishing oriented. Look into either Cayo Espanto or one of Francis Ford Coppola's places for a great overall honeymoon experience. If you are really into diving or fishing, you can also look into some places on Turneffe. If you are more interested in nightlife look into some places on Ambergris Caye.

Cozumel is in Mexico (off the coast of Playa del Carmen and not too far from Cancun) and is also a scuba diving haven. Amazing if you are a diver, but I wouldn't recommend for a honeymoon unless you are. Enjoy.

Message edited 3/2/2005 2:35:48 PM.

Re: Belize or Cabo (or any other suggestions?)

I have heard not so great things about Belize, poverty, dirty, and I went to Cabo and LOVED it!!!!!

Re: Belize or Cabo (or any other suggestions?)

funny - thats what the general concensus is - glad i asked because we were considering belize! what did you do in Cabo?

Re: Belize or Cabo (or any other suggestions?)

We went to Belize on our Honeymoon and had an AMAZING time. I would DEFINITELY recommend it.

We went for a week and split our time 4 days on the beach and 3 days in the jungle. Belize City isn't much, but once you get outside there are great things to see.

At the beach, we stayed on Ambergris Caye (San Pedro) and we stayed at the Victoria House . It's built to look like an old plantation and it's right on the ocean.

Then we stayed at Maruba Jungle Resort and Spa . This was THE most amazing place that I have EVER stayed. It's a tiny resort in the middle of the jungle but it is incredible! It's perfect for a honeymoon- they really know how to make your experience there romantic and for lack of a better term, sensual. There are candles and flowers EVERYWHERE. It's also a spa so we got treatments everyday.

I would highly, highly recommend staying where we did. We had a great honeymoon and managed to do it all for under $4500 total- that included flights, all meals, all drinks, all excursions/day trips, tips, etc.

FM me if you want more details.

Re: Belize or Cabo (or any other suggestions?)

I just say that I can't understand why anyone would bad-mouth Belize and not two minutes later there's a post doing so. Odds are, anyone who bad mouths this place either a) hasn't been or b) has just been to Belize City and nearby vicinity and not the atolls. Belize is all about the atolls!

Re: Belize or Cabo (or any other suggestions?)

Please keep posting suggestions...I am still looking for a honeymoon!

Re: Belize or Cabo (or any other suggestions?)

what are the atolls?

Re: Belize or Cabo (or any other suggestions?)

karenk - what are you looking for? what's your price range? what do you like doing?

Re: Belize or Cabo (or any other suggestions?)

The atolls are rings of coral which have developed over millions of years into islands. Turneffe Atoll, Lighthouse Reef, and Glovers Reef are all off the coast of Belize and were formed this way. It's unusual in the Caribbean and is usually only seen in the Pacific (Tahiti, etc). These three atolls along with Ambergris Caye and some of the other nearby islands of Belize all present some great honeymoon lodges/resorts, beaches and some of the best diving and fishing in the Caribbean, if not the world. Jacques Cousteau made this area famous years ago by discovering and diving the Great Blue Hole - which were caves that sunk into the ocean forming a blue hole that can be seen from space. The caves and stalagtites/mites can be seen and swam through at about 130 feet underwater (if you scuba, of course). While I haven't been to the jungles in Belize, the southern areas are supposed to be great as well (near Placencia).

Re: Belize or Cabo (or any other suggestions?)

babydoc-
We have already been to:

Jamaica
Bahamas (Carnival cruise)
Ibiza (my favorite)
Croatia
London

So we don't really want to repeat those.
I don't want to go to Hawaii just because I really don't want spend that much time on a plane.
Anything else I'm up for! As long as it is under $5000!!

Re: Belize or Cabo (or any other suggestions?)

went to Belize last year Hated it.... Nothing to do nothing to see....its a very poor island..

Re: Belize or Cabo (or any other suggestions?)

We went to the Royal Hideaway for our HM and loved it! We went for 12 days and it was amazing! To break it up, we took a few excursions - mayan ruins, xel-ha (a natural inlet and ecological park), snorkeling...if you want more info let me know and I'll find my review and bump it. 12 days was great (I wish it had been longer!)

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Re: Belize or Cabo (or any other suggestions?)

Just wanted to add that this was the off of our balcony at our hotel on Ambergris. Please excuse the feet.

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Message edited 3/2/2005 3:29:33 PM.

Re: Belize or Cabo (or any other suggestions?)

I am a firm believer in that vacation is what you make of it, havent been disappointed yet...

Re: Belize or Cabo (or any other suggestions?)

Karenk - okay - that's a start. Sounds like you like warm weather locales and fun (since you loved Ibiza). Of the places I've been to, I'd recommend the following:

1) Costa Rica: It's got it all and you can do it in your budget. Jungle (Monteverde), Volcano (Arenal), white-water rafting (outside San Jose), wildlife (Manuel Antonio), and gorgeous pacific-cliffs and beaches (Guanacaste).

2) Turks and Caicos: It's a quick flight, has great beaches, great diving, and, from what I hear, a wonderful honeymoon resort, that you may be able to do in your budget (it's close), in Parrot Cay .

3) Belize - places noted above.

4) St. Lucia. It can be a little corny, but the Sandals on St. Lucia are nice and made for honeymooners. The island has lots to do topside (hike the Piton Mtns, visit sulpher springs, Friday night carnivals) and has pretty decent snorkling and diving. We stayed at the Halcyon, but you have the ability to use the facilities, beaches, restaurants at all the 3 Sandals on St. Lucia if you stay at one. The food isn't on par with the other resorts on this list, but there is definitely something to be said about the comfort of an all-inclusive.

5) ONLY IF YOU LOVE SCUBA - Grand Cayman and/or Cozumel. Grand Cayman is pretty much the cleanest of all the Caribbean islands (I've been to my fair share) there is absolutely no poverty and the island has the nicest beach of any Caribbean island I've visited in Seven Mile Beach (like walking in baby powder). The Hyatt (where they filmed part of "The Firm") was really nice. Beware, it is also the most expensive island, though. Coz is much cheaper but not nearly as luxurious in terms of quality of resorts/restaurants but has the benefit of being near Playa del Carmen (nice beaches) and some great Mayan ruins (always fun for a day trip).