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AG/DC Jul 11 2008 12:00 PM

As I seek where to go for a budget honeymoon, a kind older co-worker offers me a vacation in some time-share thing she's in, given us a choice of about a billion places, hard to distinguish and judge. And do I really want to show up and get a pitch to buy into a vacation time-share situation myself? I just want to get on a slow train to Seatle or something. Maybe I'll go back to the pig farm. One of the better reviews is below. What about the internet makes people feel compelled to share this stuff? (I should talk.) A TripAdvisor Member Knoxville, TnMar 1, 2004 4/16 found this review helpful Picture this: We begin the first night of our honeymoon with thoughts of the jacuzzi tub for two in our room. Sure it isn't the room our travel agent promised, it is on the opposite end of the property, but we can deal with that considering it is our first night of our long awaited romantic getaway. My new bride draws the water and unrobes to get in the tub, stepping in wearing nothing but her natural beauty. She turns on the jets and asks me to join her. As I unrobe I notice a very dark brown liquid coming out of the jets and foaming in the corners. I scream for her to get out and into the shower immediately, fearful of what that brown nastiness could be. Our first experience was a harbinger of the week to come. Everything in the negative reviews is not completely true. IT IS ACTUALLY MUCH WORSE! The food is unedible. It tastes as it has been frozen for 3 years. This is the worst thing of many bad things about this place. Prison food could not be worse! If you do not follow our advice and do go there be prepared to go to puerto aventura where there is some decent food. The alcohol is the CHEAP stuff. All bottom shelf and NO CORONA. The grounds are nice but the lagoon is a joke. The sand is more like a rocky clay. The noise is unbearable. Tile floors everywhere echo the sound of the drunken miserable guests all throughout the night. The cats are everywhere and while I did not see the rampages written in above reviews, I would not be surprised. While the staff is nice and the grounds are pretty....it does not matter. The place is like a prison, and the food is so bad people riot at night in their watered down drunken frenzy. I am very upset that my wife's honeymoon was a nightmare. If America ever takes arms against Mexico, I am in. The 1st place I will go is the Aventura Spa Palace. General Sherman would be proud of what I will do to that place.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 11 2008 12:33 PM

We hunnymooned on a budget in Niagara Falls. Very cliche of us!

AG/DC Jul 11 2008 12:36 PM

I'm OK with cliche, because we bring something nu.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 11 2008 12:57 PM

Yeah, that's how we justified it too.

Benjamin Grimm Jul 11 2008 03:53 PM

Have you thought about Bar Harbor, Maine? It's beautiful up there. And in September (that's when it will be, right?) it will be in the off season (or maybe the shoulder season) so it might be fairly inexpensive.

themetfairy Jul 11 2008 04:05 PM

If you don't want to go that far north, I'm sure that Cape May, NJ would be a nice destination.

Benjamin Grimm Jul 11 2008 04:11 PM

Do many successful marriages begin with a New Jersey honeymoon? I'd think that would be tempting fate. And I don't even believe in fate!

AG/DC Jul 11 2008 05:15 PM

I went to Maine once in August and thought it was the most beautiful place in America. I was traveling with friend, and at night the stars put on a show for free, and then we fell in love. OK, well I did. I still don't know what her problem was.

themetfairy Jul 11 2008 05:39 PM

I wouldn't honeymoon in a locale that reminds you of another woman.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 11 2008 08:19 PM

Nova Scotia is like Maine with less people and more scallops. Try that!

Kong76 Jul 11 2008 08:29 PM

Hoboken, spectacular views of Manhattan!

themetfairy Jul 11 2008 08:33 PM

If you're up for a drive, Savannah is beautiful.

AG/DC Jul 11 2008 08:44 PM

Been there.

Farmer Ted Jul 11 2008 08:44 PM

The Teds are hooked on Pawleys Island, SC. Vacation there and anywhere in Colorado as much as possible. Give it a look. Near Myrtle Beach but a world away.

AG/DC Jul 16 2008 06:49 AM

My friends Carlene and Joseph (nobody knows what she sees in him, but he's a Mets fan and so has that hidden gold inside of him) are going to a Mexican resort. I looked them up and they had this slogan on their website: "Where children are seldom seen, but frequently created." Ewww. Tell me more about 1) Bar Harbor 2) Coastal South Carolina 3) Colorado Rocky Mountain High.

Vince Coleman Firecracker Jul 16 2008 07:08 AM

AG/DC wrote: Tell me more about 1) Bar Harbor 2) Coastal South Carolina 3) Colorado Rocky Mountain High. 1) My family would go camping every August near Bar Harbor, I agree that it's the most beautiful place in America. Acadia is probably the nicest of all the National Parks. I can't speak to the night life, though- last time I was there I was 13. 3) Colorado is also pretty sweet. My sister took a summer job in Boulder after college and never left. There's always tons of things to do, the weather is awesome and the environs are gorgeous. 2) Only time I was in coastal South Carolina was during boot camp, and I found the experience neither relaxing nor romantic.

Benjamin Grimm Jul 16 2008 07:13 AM

We were in Bar Harbor in 1998. It's a nice little town right near Acadia National Park, which, I think, has the most beautiful natural scenery you'll see on the East Coast. Since it's been ten years, I did a little Googling. I don't remember the name of the place we stayed at, and I didn't see anything that rang a bell. It was a non-chain establishment that was about a block outside of town, quiet but convenient. One site I saw says that some see the town as a tacky tourist trap. It didn't strike me that way in 1998. I don't know if it's changed, or if tackiness is in the eye of the beholder. (To me, Gatlinburg, Tennessee may be the tackiest place I've been to in the last few years.) I don't recall much about the town. We were there when my son was not quite two, and we pushed the stroller around, he ran around on the piers and we bought him a stuffed killer whale. The real charm of Bar Harbor to me was the water and the boats and Acadia. For promotional info on the area, you can visit http://www.barharborinfo.com/ And, of course, if you poke around on the Internet you can find commentary from people who have been there more recently than I have.

Farmer Ted Jul 16 2008 07:13 AM

Here's the juke joint we stay at in Pawley's Island, SC. Basically, this is what there is to do. Absolute quiet. A few local southern bars and restaurants nearby, but you go here for the seclusion and the low country livin'. http://www.seaviewinn.net/ Colorado is a mix of city and country for the Teds. Sure we hit Denver, hang out in Boulder to watch the Deadheads panhandle for some spare change, even trek up to Vail or other mountain resorts, but we always make a point of hitting Rocky Mountain National Park. The scenery is unmatched, especially if you take a drive up one of the trails. You can camp out, rent a cabin, or stay nearby in an inn or motel. Estes Park, home of The Shining! http://www.nps.gov/romo/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm http://www.estes-park.com/

AG/DC Jul 16 2008 07:20 AM

Brilliant responses, folks. Thanks.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 16 2008 07:35 AM

Camped at Bar Harbor/Acadia a few summers back and agree with the others as to the scenery. Great place to hike and hike and hike. You may absorb more coastal village charm by staying down in Rockport or Camden, then driving up to Acadia. You might also look into places like Monhegan.

themetfairy Jul 16 2008 07:56 AM

Friends and I stayed [url=http://www.wilddunes.com/]at this resort[/url] in Charleston in 2005, and it was lovely.

AG/DC Jul 16 2008 07:58 AM

Thanks, we've been to Charleston and enjoyed it a lot, but we've learned our lesson on going there in warm weather months. Goodness gracious.

soupcan Jul 16 2008 08:05 AM

Not to confuse you further by giving you more choices, but Rockport, Massachusetts is beautiful and little known. Small, New England fishing town. Beautiful beaches, fishing, boating, a thriving art colony, great seafood including world famous fried Ipswich clams. Plenty of affordable places to stay with incredible views of the open ocean. 40 minute drive or commuter train right into Boston. This statue is in the neighboring town of Gloucester and yes, it is the statue from the opening credits of 'The Ghost and Mrs. Muir'.

A Boy Named Seo Jul 16 2008 08:37 AM

Just got back from 4 days in Telluride a few weeks back. Beautiful, serene, (rich), quiet mountain town. Maybe the prettiest place I've ever been. We were there for the bluegrass festival and made it there before sundown everyday, but during the day, me and the chick would explore the town, check out little clothing and book stores, hit the farmer's market, all kinds of low-key, fun, neat stuff. There's tons of outdoors stuff if you're into it. Great hiking and biking and the like. Here's Telluride in June from the gondola. It's a free, enclosed ski-lift that acts like a city bus, but takes you over the peaks to the different parts of town. You can see marmets scurrying around from the lift. I'd never seen a marmet before.

AG/DC Jul 26 2008 10:15 AM

Looks like we're heading for Santa Fe.

A Boy Named Seo Jul 28 2008 12:26 AM

City of my birth. Some great food and some cool stuff to see in old town, around the plaza including the Loretto Chapel and the Georgia O'Keefe Museum (small, but pretty cool just the same). If you wanna sneak away for a day, my friends my NJ just went [url=http://ojocalientesprings.com/index.php]here[/url] and loved it. 50 mi north of Santa Fe. Have fun and congrats again.

AG/DC Jul 28 2008 05:58 AM

Wow. The birthplace of ABN Seo. Is there a shrine? Any guidance you can give us is welcome. We're actually staying in the mountains near Cerrillos, south of the city.