Honeymoon in Jamaica or Hawaii??

I went to Hawaii on my honeymoon and I thought it was everything it was cracked up to be. We were not disappointed. When we chose Hawaii, the thought was it would be a good mixture of "stuff to do" and "nothing to do". But, if you want, there is TONS to do in Hawaii. Obviously you can lay around the pool or the beach but you can also:

1. Go snorkeling (easily half a day; I recommend Kealakekua Bay )
2. Visit Volcanoes National Park (easily a whole day; wear good shoes!)
3. Helicopter ride to see the volcano (easily half a day; very cool but very expensive but it's your Honeymoon)
4. Hike on the TONS of trails they have (as much or as little as you want)
5. Go to a Luau (all evening)
6. Visit one of the many botanical gardens on the island (easily half a day)
7. I think you can snow ski on the Big Island
8. Take a boat cruise to see whales (in season)
9. Visit Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial (half a day)
10. Visit the Polynesian Cultural Center
11. Learn to surf
12. Charter a fishing boat

Now these things are not necessarily in the same place but we visited three islands over 12 days and didn't feel rushed. Of the three islands we visited (Kauai, Oahu and the Big Island), I felt the Big Island and Kauai were the best. Oahu (where Honolulu is) was the most developed but that's where Pearl Harbor is and, I think, that beach with the HUGE waves where those guys surf (which might be worth checking out). BTW, Pearl Harbor (when I went) was FREE. If you pay for a tour you are really paying for a ride. Also, right next to Pearl Harbor is a WWII submarine museum (that's not free) that you can check out as well. You can walk through a WWII sub which was kind of cool

We were there about 11 years ago so you may want to re-verify stuff for accuracy.

Here are some things to do on the Big Island of Hawaii

 

I'm pretty much going to echo what most posters have said. I've never been to Hawaii, but I've been to Jamaica, and I gotta say, I felt pretty unsafe when I was there. I went on a cruise during my honeymoon, and one of the stops was in Montego Bay, but we couldn't even walk in peace.

The people were overly aggressive in their selling methods, and they LITERALLY pulled my wife into one of their tents, which pissed me off.

My experience was not a pleasant one, but our stops at the Cayman Islands was worth the trip. It was an awesome place to chill and do other things that recently married people do.

I will never return to Jamaica for any type of leisure activity.

 

Jamaica, I guess you can smoke some freaking blunts.

 

Hawaii by a landslide. I've been on many cruises that stopped in Montego Bay. Terrible, terrible, waste of time. You will get harassed by the shop keepers and offered smoke every 10 minutes. It gets really, really old. The country is beautiful but the people make it terrible.

Like another poster stated, the Cayman Islands are wonderful.

 

I enjoyed both Hawaii and Jamaica, but would probably recommend Hawaii. Hawaii was amazing. If you can, make sure you spend the majority of your time on the island of Kauai. The beaches are incredible, the scenery is gorgeous, and it's not as touristy as the main island or Maui (even though I'd recommend a few days in Maui too). I had tons more fun there than on Waikiki Beach. We went snorkeling in Kauai and saw tons of waterfalls - it was all unreal. So my vote is for Hawaii. and more specifically, Kauai.

 

Four years ago we honeymooned in Maui, and we spent last Christmas in Jamaica.

No matter the options, you'll never loose with Hawaii. One of the things I loved about Maui was flying down Mt. Haleakala on a bike.

Jamaica. True, the dealers are everywhere (you should try going down there with long hair!) and the little shop owners are just as bad. They can be easily ignored or brushed off.

BUT, we still had a grand time. 8 of us rented a villa for a couple of weeks, far away from the hussle of every day life atop a very large hill/small mountain. Our pool overlooked the entire Runaway Bay (east of Montego Bay...closer to Ocho Rios). We did the touristy stuff periodically but always enjoyed going back to the comforts of the villa. At the bottom of the hill was our own little beach with Flavours (bar & resturaunt).

I'm just saying that a very good time can be found in Jamaica. It's not ALL uncomfortable.

But still, I'd go back to Hawaii first before going back to Jamaica.

 

Hawaii gets my vote but it is more expensive.

I only passed through Montego Bay on a cruise but I wouldn't want to deal with all the hustlers and shop folk in Jamaica on my honeymoon.

We went to Hawaii for our honeymoon and it was great. It was just about all we thought it would be. We went back a couple years later for my buddies wedding and again were not let down. We did more the resort touristy stuff the first time, and more do it ourselves the 2nd time. Beautiful place and hope we go back soon.

 

never been to hawaii but jamaica was great... surely impoverished, but a beautiful country nonetheless.

still, who doesn't eat breakfast?

 

I've been to Hawaii and man its beautiful, I think you should go there. I don't know about Jamaica, but there are plenty of things you can do in Hawaii. Went to Maui Beach, Black Sand beach, you can even try the local macadamia nuts, and gone to see the volcano also, which was just an awesome experience. I've also been to the U.S.S Missouri / Arizona. Dude, Hawaii.. is like the definition of paradise, its so beautiful and relaxing over there.

 

How much is a honeymoon in Hawaii? Flights are around a grand....hotels about 250.00 a night? I dont really know...just curious. Those of you who have gone, how much was it?

 

We took a FunJet Vacation to Runaway Bay for an anni and had a blast. As long you have an all-inclusive spot & plan your excursions thru them, you should be ok. We took a bike ride down Blue Mountain Peak just outside Kingston & ended up at a waterfalls(I forget the name) that was beautiful. We could have swam in the pool at the bottom of the falls, but didn't. We also brought home a pound of Blue Mountain coffee beans(don't forget to declare them as ag products) & that started us grinding our own coffee.

We also spent an anniversary in Kuaui(Princeville). I agree with finalsbound. Kuaui is the Garden Isle and it's very popular for weddings, honeymoons and anniversaries. Why??? Flowers and scenery!! Kuaui has more colors than Crayola!! Many movies are filmed on Kuaui for the scenery...Jurassic Park and South Pacific for example. I mention those 2 because the view off our condo balcony was the scene from South Pacific of the bay off the ocean with the mountain range behind it. We took a 20 minute helocopter ride into the tall waterfalls that was an opening scene from Jurassic Park.

Recomendation: Kuaui is beautiful and quiet - the most untouristy tourist spot in the world. I would honeymoon in Kauai and then spend my 5th anniversary in Jamaica.

 

I honeymooned in Hawaii 10 years ago. I went to Jamaica (just for a day) as part of a cruise last year. I had fun in Jamaica but still think of Hawaii fondly until this day.
My vote goes to Hawaii.

 

i did jamaica for our honeymoon and stayed at the Caves near the west coast. we loved the place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! check out their resort online. 10 rooms, 2 acres, it was all to ourselves, cliff jumping (no beach), excellent food and very casual.

 

If you buy now, Continental has direct flights to Honolulu for $530. I'm sure the all inclusive resort in Jamacia is a blast, but if your wife doesn't drink I can't see it being a huge deal. Go the safe route and hit up Hawaii. I think the way to go is to try to rent a townhome or a house for about the same price as a hotel. We did it last year on Kailua and the ocean was literally our back yard...it was awesome!

 

I've never been to Jamaica. In the Caribbean, St. Thomas is a good bet.

But, you can't lose with Hawai'i. As others have mentioned, you should seriously consider Kauai. It was fantasy island beautiful and so relaxing. It was much less populated with residents and tourists than the other islands.

Maui was a pretty close second. It's a bigger and more active island. When I go back, I want to split time between the two.

Oahu has lots to do, but this is your honeymoon, so you should think about getting away from busy stuff. That's why Kauai might be your best bet. More time to just be with your honey.

Oh, and I don't eat breakfast either.

 

Hawaii is the best choice. No doubt.

I went there almost three years ago. I fell in love with Hawaii even though I only stayed in Oahu. The weather is just GORGEOUS. It's warm during the day but cool at night. I went there late in May.

It's just beautiful, man. I think about it if I'm stressed out or afraid.

Go there.

 

I have not been to Hawaii, but I have been to Jamaica. It is the only place I have ever visited that I would absolutly not return to. The island is beautiful, but the people were very aggressive and hateful. They are poor and pissed off about it.

 

My brother and sister in law went to the newest Sandals in Jamaica. They stayed on resort the whole week so did not have the issues that people are running into.

 

Jamaica is a good vacation spot, but nothing could beat Maui for a honeymoon, and it is incredible. If you don't drink, then all inclusive doesn't really matter to you. Meals will be expensive, but worth it.