Honeymoon help! We can't decide, St. Lucia or Maui.

IrishCro Posted: Oct 16, 2009 09:45 AM

Honeymoon help! We can't decide, St. Lucia or Maui.

Which would you pick? We wanted to find somewhere that we can lounge and relax and do nothing, but also that has activities and things to do.

St. Lucia Pros:
- 5 hr flight (compared to 13 hrs to Maui)
- 2 nights in a very unique, cool hotel (Ladera)
- 7 nights at Sandals, which seems like summer camp for adults. Everything is at your fingertips
- All-inclusive, so once we book, no worries about overspending

Cons:
- Worried we'll get sick of Sandals and feel confined
- Beaches don't look nearly as nice as those in Maui

Maui Pros:
- It's MAUI! It looks amazingly beautiful and lush. Beaches look better
- 2 nights at an amazing hotel! (the 7 at an average hotel or a condo)
- Seems like we'd be better able to explore the island and do whatever we want, whenever we want

Cons:
- 13 hr flight time (or 6 & 6). OMG
- Very expensive, we'd have to really watch our budget and can't splurge as much

geegee827 Posted: Oct 16, 2009 10:03 AM

Re: Honeymoon help! We can't decide, St. Lucia or Maui.

Hawaii is one of those places that can be very expensive or can be done more reasonably. I've gone out for dinners that were a couple of hundred dollars but then the next night, we ate pizza or maui fish tacos (sounds gross but they are sooooo good!).

The flight is long - but once you're there you'll forget about it. My tip is usually to not sleep at all the night before you leave. Take an early morning flight and sleep on the plane. You'll get to Hawaii mid-afternoon. In a day, you'll be over the jet lag. Coming home, the fligths leave late at night, so you'll sleep on the way home.

LadyDuda81509 Posted: Oct 16, 2009 10:09 AM

Re: Honeymoon help! We can't decide, St. Lucia or Maui.

i would go to Maui...
only cuz i wanted to do hawaii for mine, but couldnt afford it! if you have the money go for it!
and have a drink for me while you are there!

JenBill61210 Posted: Oct 16, 2009 10:10 AM

Re: Honeymoon help! We can't decide, St. Lucia or Maui.

i would do maui... when else are you ever going to get to go? well that was our mentality anyway.

FutureCap Posted: Oct 16, 2009 10:10 AM

Re: Honeymoon help! We can't decide, St. Lucia or Maui.

hi date twin!
i think your post sounds like you would prefer maui! if you can swing it by cutting back before you should go for it.. its you honeymoon and it should the best vaca of your life and you only do it once!

Even tho we did not have the budget for a crazy HM, I told FH if he really wanted to do hawaaii i was in and we would find a way cause we may not get to do it for a very long time ( i have been so it was not that important to me). Turns out, he said he would rather not travel so much and relax on one carribbean island instead so we are not going. we are doing antigua and are super excited about going and there and in love with the hotel! good luck!

Margarita Posted: Oct 16, 2009 10:16 AM

Re: Honeymoon help! We can't decide, St. Lucia or Maui.

I've actually been to both St. Lucia and Maui and I would vote for St.Lucia just because it feels less touristy and more romantic, more tropical, more culture.

debzy Posted: Oct 16, 2009 01:59 PM

Re: Honeymoon help! We can't decide, St. Lucia or Maui.

GO TO MAUI! DH and I went to Hawaii on our honeymoon and we LOVED it. It was beautiful and relaxing. Yes, it's expensive but it's worth it for your honeymoon. Out of the 3 islands we visited, Maui was by far our favorite.

ellie424 Posted: Oct 16, 2009 02:02 PM

Re: Honeymoon help! We can't decide, St. Lucia or Maui.

If I were you I would choose Maui!!!

Future Mrs H Posted: Oct 16, 2009 02:19 PM

Re: Honeymoon help! We can't decide, St. Lucia or Maui.

Hawaii is usually once in a lifetime. If you think you will nevre get a chance to go there again, I would pick Maui

laurendaqt Posted: Oct 16, 2009 03:46 PM

Re: Honeymoon help! We can't decide, St. Lucia or Maui.

We are in between the same two.. All-inclusive is def. less worrisome because you don't have to worry as much about spending money on food and drink because it is all included, but it is HAWAII and that is def. something i heard is beautiful!

MrsCastanedain09 Posted: Oct 16, 2009 04:03 PM

Re: Honeymoon help! We can't decide, St. Lucia or Maui.

How long are you going for?

For some place like Hawaii going for 2 weeks would make the most sense- the travel time and exploring a few islands and relaxing.

If you're thinking 7 days then DEFINITELY St. Lucia. That's my opinion.

We took a 16 day honeymoon, 8 of those days were in Tahiti.....it's SO, SO expensive. I know that Hawaii is comparable. Factor in at least $1200 for meals per week, seriously....and that's without a bottle of wine at dinner. Then there's the cost of excursions- some at $200 pp.

IrishCro Posted: Oct 16, 2009 04:35 PM

Re: Honeymoon help! We can't decide, St. Lucia or Maui.

So, we ended up deciding on Maui! Turns out that with our frequent flier miles we'll save a good chunk of money, enough to make Maui more comfortable financially for us. Booked the tickets this afternoon, WHEEEE!

MrsDR2010 Posted: Oct 16, 2009 05:59 PM

Re: Honeymoon help! We can't decide, St. Lucia or Maui.

awwww....congrat!!! I was just gonna say St. Lucia. That's where we are going. Yay for my date twin

deeva007 Posted: Oct 16, 2009 06:04 PM

Re: Honeymoon help! We can't decide, St. Lucia or Maui.

Maui was my least favorite of all the island in hawaii we visited.. Kauia, Maui and Big Island. It was touristy and not very tropical, reminded me of south beach. BUt i havent been to St Lucia.

geegee827 Posted: Oct 16, 2009 08:47 PM

Re: Honeymoon help! We can't decide, St. Lucia or Maui.

Posted by IrishCro

So, we ended up deciding on Maui! Turns out that with our frequent flier miles we'll save a good chunk of money, enough to make Maui more comfortable financially for us. Booked the tickets this afternoon, WHEEEE!

Congratulations!!! I love Maui. I didn't find the food as expensive as everyone says it is. FH and I ate very well while we were there 2 years ago and didn't spend a huge chunk of money. Like I said, it's just like everywhere else. You can go and spend a couple of hundred dollars on dinner or you can go out and eat more reasonably.

Cassie15 Posted: Oct 17, 2009 02:17 AM

Re: Honeymoon help! We can't decide, St. Lucia or Maui.

I've been to Waikiki, HI and it's amazing! U'll have an incredibly good time there. Never been to Maui but it looks beautiful! I fell in love with the place the very first time I went there. It's so peaceful and relaxing. The culture is so different, people are more laid back and enjoy life. It's not so fast--paced like New York where everything is time and money. I would love to move there when I retire! Save St. Lucia for another trip. Def go to Maui for your HM. U'll have the time of your life!

SummerBride10 Posted: Oct 17, 2009 09:50 AM

Re: Honeymoon help! We can't decide, St. Lucia or Maui.

I'm going to St. Lucia for my HM. We didn't really consider much else other than St. Lucia. I love the idea of all-inclusive and have heard nothing but fabulous things about their Sandals resorts.