Our criteria:
- under $4,000 for 6 nights
- all-inclusive (we really like to eat and drink)
- tropical (duh)
- fun things to do (excursions, etc)
Jamaica - It seemed too built up and commercialized. We're looking for something with a more secluded feeling.
Dominican Republic - I had been here before. We really preferred to choose a place that neither of us had ever been.
St. Lucia - Too secluded. The #1 resort on the island didn't even had air conditioning or TVs in the rooms! We like our modern comforts.
Aruba - Again, with it being too built up. I was surprised at this one, but it just didn't feel "right".
Costa Rica - Can we say bugs?! I hate bugs. I've heard Costa Rica is beautiful, but it's a little exotic for our tastes, and I couldn't find any all-inclusive resorts that didn't get terrible reviews.
Belize - I had a hard time finding all-inclusive resorts in Belize. It's a pretty small country.
So that left us with Mexico. A country that had originally started at the very bottom of my list had quickly shot up due to ideal climates, stellar reviews, and pristine beaches.
Our list of possible resorts in Mexico...
Royal Playa del Carmen: $3,053 for a Royal Oceanfront suite with indoor jacuzzi. The resort has a 91% rating on TripAdvisor. Negative reviews: heavy on the party scene, rocky beach.
Excellence Riviera Cancun: $3,141 for an Excellence Junior Oceanfront suite with indoor/outdoor jacuzzi. The resort has a 92% rating on TripAdvisor. Negative reviews: I had a hard time finding any.
Excellence Playa Mujeres: $3,258 for an Excellence Junior Oceanfront suite with indoor/outdoor jacuzzi. The resort has a 92% rating on TripAdvisor. Negative reviews: Crowded pools (which might not be an issue since we're going in the off-season).
El Dorado Maroma: $3,906 for a Beachfront suite with indoor jacuzzi. The resort has a 90% rating on TripAdvisor. Negative reviews: Boring, low on entertainment.
Well, it was obvious to us that the Excellence resorts just stood out above the rest (at this point, I don't even remember what drew me to the other 2 in the first place!).
But the idea of having 2 resorts owned by the same company in the same city confused us. They both have between 400-500 rooms. They both have 8 restaurants. They both have roughly the same number of pools and bars. And they're practically the same price.
Oh, how will we ever decide?!
So we discussed them both to death, flipped back and forth on a daily basis, and finally made a decision last night.
Which resort will we be spending our honeymoon at? Stay tuned for the reveal, along with tons of drool-worthy details!
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