While your honeymoon will be an exciting experience, preparing for your trip can often bring as much stress as planning the wedding. The potential destination is often the first thing couples consider and millions of newlyweds have found the perfect combination of luxury, relaxation, activities and impeccable weather in the Caribbean. If you are in search of an exotic honeymoon destination like so many couples are, look no further than the accessible and affordable Caribbean. As you begin making preparations for your Caribbean honeymoon, follow the timeline presented here as you organize for your once-in-a-lifetime voyage.

At Least Six Months Before Your Caribbean Honeymoon

* Establish the budget for your Caribbean vacation.

* Begin researching Caribbean destinations by talking to family and friends, searching the internet, reading travel literature or consulting a travel agent.

* After deciding on your destination, start booking your flight and reserving accommodations.

* If you are also planning a destination wedding in the Caribbean, check the marriage requirements of your destination. In the earlier stages of planning, you can also begin necessary paperwork or contact a wedding planner at your Caribbean resort.

* If necessary, prepare all of the rentals for your honeymoon. This may include a car, off-road equipment, water sports toys or scuba and snorkeling gear.

Three Months Before Your Caribbean Honeymoon

* Secure your visas or passports, if necessary for travel to your Caribbean destination.

* If you are visiting the Caribbean during peak travel season (November-April), begin making reservations for popular restaurants, shows and recreation tours.

* If you anticipate needing several reservations or additional assistance for your Caribbean honeymoon, contact the concierge at your resort and explain your desired itinerary. Don’t forget to tip your concierge when you arrive.

* Consider pursuing a scuba certification at home and potentially practicing the sport before visiting the Caribbean. By gaining some experience, you will be able to participate in more challenging, which often means more captivating, dives.

One Month before Your Caribbean Honeymoon

* Develop a packing list, accounting for all the unique items you might need in the Caribbean.

* If you are planning a bridal shower, fill your want list with items you can use for your Caribbean honeymoon.

* Create a shopping list for the items you don’t already have and don’t anticipate receiving as gifts.

* Confirm that all of your reservations are correct by checking with your resort, airline and any tour operators or rental companies.

One Week before Your Caribbean Honeymoon

* Print your airline tickets or pick them up from your travel agent. Keep the tickets and your travel information in a safe, but easily accessible location until travel day.

* If you plan on using travelers’ checks in the Caribbean, purchase some through your bank. You may also want to consider exchanging a small amount of cash for your destination’s currency to help cover immediate expenses upon arrival.

* Rather than packing your bulky guidebooks, copy the pages you need and organize a folder to match your itinerary.

* If you have prescriptions, make sure you have enough for your honeymoon.

* Make copies of your passports, credit cards and insurance information. In the event that your wallet or purse is lost, the copies saved in your luggage or with a friend or relative could alleviate plenty of headaches.

Three Days before Your Caribbean Honeymoon

* Begin preparing your bags and shop for the items on your list.

* Make arrangements for airport transportation, both at home and at your honeymoon destination.

* Talk to your concierge about any needs you might have for your hotel room, such as champagne or other romantic touches.

* Check the weather forecast for your Caribbean destination and pack your bags accordingly.

One Day before Your Caribbean Honeymoon

* Check for updated information regarding your flight.

* Label your bags and ensure that you have everything you need.

* Lastly, and most importantly, relax and prepare yourself for the trip of a lifetime.



Thanks to Justin Burch for contributing this article to our Caribbean blog:

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Can you answer Random Knowledge’s question about Caribbean?:

I am trying to plan a vacation for 6 adults. Trying to get 6 adults to warm weather in december for 7 nights. Trying to do it for under 7 thousand.

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Can you answer Sara’s question about Caribbean?:

I looking into going to the Caribbean as a family vacation this summer, I have 2 boys 8 and 12 years old, this is our first time planning but we need some help, can anyone tell me where in the Caribbean would be a fun full of activities and safe to go. If you can help I greatly appreciate it.

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Caribbean islands consist of the Caribbean Sea, its islands and the surrounding coasts. It is located southeast of North America, east of Central America and to the North West of South America. That was the geographical location of the Caribbean islands.

The area of Caribbean Sea consists of over 7000 islands with numerous reefs, and islets. It is mostly located on the Caribbean Plate. What we call West Indies is actually a collection of islands. It consists of Antilles which is itself differentiated into three parts-the Greater Antilles on the north, the Lesser Antilles on the south and the east and the Leeward Antilles. Other islands are the Bahamas to the northeast and Bermuda further north in the Atlantic Ocean.

In geo-political terms, West Indies is the “sub region” of North America and consists of 28 territories. These territories include sovereign states, overseas departments, and dependencies. In the past, it was a county named the Federation of the West Indies with about ten English speaking Caribbean nations.

And when it comes to Caribbean vacation, well there are very few other places in the world that could compete with it. The best thing about Caribbean vacation is that it has something for everyone’s taste. So, if you are a water sport enthusiast or like hiking, swimming or diving or other such water sports, you would find Caribbean islands a never ending joy ride.

It is not for nothing that Caribbean islands are considered paradise on earth for tourists. Actually Caribbean islands offer you a whole lot of choices. Whether you seek fun and adventure or you seek seclusion and privacy, you can find some islands fitting the bill.

For example, take a flight from St. Maarten or take a motor boat from there and get to Cap Juluca. It is truly a fabulous place to visit. Its beautiful white sand beaches and truly picturesque surrounding is enough to bewitch anyone.

And when you get to Caribbean islands, you would be pleasantly surprised with Caribbean hotels here. You would find that all kinds of Caribbean hotels are here. It all depends on your tastes and your budget. So, you can opt for large Moorish villas or five star restaurants. And it is not that you would be living in concrete jungles. When you live in Caribbean hotels, you would be living amidst tropical gardens and lush greenery.

Caribbean villas offer you highly trained professionals taking care of all your needs. You can spend your holidays here with great comfort and extravagance. When you reach Cap Juluca, you would find a lot of leisure services here like a fitness center, a private golf course, aqua golf driving range, bunker and putting green, croquet lawn, a great swimming pool, a tennis court with a full-time resident pro and host of water sports facilities like snorkeling, wind surfing, water skiing and sailing.

So, pack your bags now and come to this paradise which is the Caribbean islands!



Thanks to James Penn for contributing this article to our Caribbean blog:

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Can you answer arahant’s question about Caribbean?:

I know big companies send their top performers to caribbean vacations and I bet those are expensed before taxes. Can’t I do the same?

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