The Honeymoon Thread: 2001-2010
Sep 29, 2010, 3:18 pm
#256
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Benicia, California, USA
Programs: AA PLT,AS,UA PP,J6,FB,EY,LH,SQ,HH Dmd,Hyatt Glbl,Marriott Plat,IHG Plat,Accor Gold
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Sorry to rain on the parade but...Ireland in November? On your honeymoon? It's a wonderful country with some of the friendliest folks on the planet, but be prepared for lots of cold, gray and rain. If you head to Europe at all, the southern Europe recommendation makes sense, though certainly don't expect beach weather.
Having said that, Paris and Venice (once you get off the beaten track in the latter) are the two most romantic cities my wife and I have ever been. Not ideal weather in November, certainly, but wonderful places to explore, regardless. Barcelona is also supposed to be a great town.
And if weather is a priority on your honeymoon, within your travel parameters Los Cabos does seem to make a lot of sense.
Having said that, Paris and Venice (once you get off the beaten track in the latter) are the two most romantic cities my wife and I have ever been. Not ideal weather in November, certainly, but wonderful places to explore, regardless. Barcelona is also supposed to be a great town.
And if weather is a priority on your honeymoon, within your travel parameters Los Cabos does seem to make a lot of sense.
Sep 29, 2010, 9:36 pm
#257
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 4
Well the research concurs with your comment. Although it would have been an interesting trip, we are going to bank it for another time.
We've decided to attend Hilton Papagayo Costa Rica Resort & Spa. It seemed to get really good marks from a lot of different websites. I also seems to have a little bit of everything we were looking for. Although it might not be the greatest resort of all times, I really thing we are going have a good time and the resort will fit our needs well. Particularly Costa Rica, it seems to offer the sun, adventure (safety) and fishing that we are wanting to partake in...all in a weeks time.
Any suggestions on charter boats/captains out of Papagayo? The Wifey is going to do a spa day or two and I'll do some offshore fishing. Some of the going rates for 8 hours offshore trips are $600 - $800. Seems comparable to other services I have used. Does this sound about right for the area? Again, any suggestions on charters/captains to use? I want to go offshore.
We've decided to attend Hilton Papagayo Costa Rica Resort & Spa. It seemed to get really good marks from a lot of different websites. I also seems to have a little bit of everything we were looking for. Although it might not be the greatest resort of all times, I really thing we are going have a good time and the resort will fit our needs well. Particularly Costa Rica, it seems to offer the sun, adventure (safety) and fishing that we are wanting to partake in...all in a weeks time.
Any suggestions on charter boats/captains out of Papagayo? The Wifey is going to do a spa day or two and I'll do some offshore fishing. Some of the going rates for 8 hours offshore trips are $600 - $800. Seems comparable to other services I have used. Does this sound about right for the area? Again, any suggestions on charters/captains to use? I want to go offshore.
Sep 29, 2010, 10:18 pm
#258
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Benicia, California, USA
Programs: AA PLT,AS,UA PP,J6,FB,EY,LH,SQ,HH Dmd,Hyatt Glbl,Marriott Plat,IHG Plat,Accor Gold
Posts: 10,820
Sounds like a nice honeymoon in store. Can't really answer your fishing questions, but if you don't get replies in this thread you might also try asking in the appropriate forum in the Travel and Dining section here at FT, as well as fishing around (sorry, couldn't resist) in Tripadvisor.com
Have a wonderful trip!
Have a wonderful trip!
Jun 15, 2012, 7:47 pm
#259
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: 10^7 mm from Ȱ
Programs: Hyatt D/HHonors D/ SPG P/ Marriott P/ IHG P/ UA 1K/ AA EXP/ DL D
Posts: 1,976
Nope, this is the upgrade offer sent directly from hotel reservation staff.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18750745-post500.html
Hey txny, would you mind sharing when your staying is booked for? i was quoted at the following rate for a late October stay. I wanted to see if season had anything to do with the rates...though thought Oct would be low season.
Deluxe Garden bungalow Complimentary*
Lagoon Bungalow 11398 XPF
Overwater Bungalow 15958 XPF
Panoramic Overwater 23939 XPF
Garden pool suite 23939 XPF
Deluxe Garden bungalow Complimentary*
Lagoon Bungalow 11398 XPF
Overwater Bungalow 15958 XPF
Panoramic Overwater 23939 XPF
Garden pool suite 23939 XPF
Jun 21, 2012, 11:00 am
#260
Join Date: May 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 27
Good for you! Hope you get the best rooms possible, though of course expect them not to come through...then it will be a pleasant surprise if they do and not a disappointment if they don't.
As I might have mentioned in my long post upthread, awardnexus.com is a very good site for finding award availability and for signing up for email alerts that you'll get if specific flights or routes open up. As with any award flights, make sure that you have not just a confirmation from the airline whose miles you're using (AA?), but also a confirmation number from the partner airline(s) you're flying on and a ticket number for your flights(s).
As I might have mentioned in my long post upthread, awardnexus.com is a very good site for finding award availability and for signing up for email alerts that you'll get if specific flights or routes open up. As with any award flights, make sure that you have not just a confirmation from the airline whose miles you're using (AA?), but also a confirmation number from the partner airline(s) you're flying on and a ticket number for your flights(s).
Jul 12, 2012, 5:44 pm
#261
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
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Sorry, didn't mean to sound ungrateful. It's just that the plan all along was to use these points and miles on a splurge honeymoon. And now that it's here, it's just disappointing it's not all falling into place. We're a young couple and the fiance is in grad school, so it's not like we have a lot of money to spend on it otherwise.
I think I did a lot of due diligence on the various HH properties and the Hilton Moorea came out the clear winner based on exotic locale, accommodations, reasonable nearby food options, and points per night. To come to that decision only to find that UA basically can't get us there is disappointing, although I see your point that I can't really blame United for not getting me to a remote destination. What does rub a little salt in the wound is that United will let you book the ticket with cash.
Furthermore, I have some personal regret because I made the decision early on the try to fly UA as much as possible and collect UA miles. I'm not sure of the exact reason, I think they had a little better availability for the places I was going at the time. I very easily could have flown AA instead and collected the same amount of AA miles. Those AA miles are exactly what I need now.
I think I did a lot of due diligence on the various HH properties and the Hilton Moorea came out the clear winner based on exotic locale, accommodations, reasonable nearby food options, and points per night. To come to that decision only to find that UA basically can't get us there is disappointing, although I see your point that I can't really blame United for not getting me to a remote destination. What does rub a little salt in the wound is that United will let you book the ticket with cash.
Furthermore, I have some personal regret because I made the decision early on the try to fly UA as much as possible and collect UA miles. I'm not sure of the exact reason, I think they had a little better availability for the places I was going at the time. I very easily could have flown AA instead and collected the same amount of AA miles. Those AA miles are exactly what I need now.
Personally, if this is a splurge and certainly because it's your honeymoon, I'd say blow the miles on a C or better yet F ticket to go to some distant destination. As opposed to Y, that means the honeymoon will start as soon as you step on the plane and the trip home will extend the bliss. But you don't seem to want to follow my advice on how you should live your life.
And Hilton has fantastic options in both places.