Hands up all travel agents who have ever had a request for a wedding or honeymoon in the Caribbean? Keep them up if the client follows the request by saying they’ve got no idea which island they want to go to.
With so many options – each one offering something different – how do you help a couple decide what’s best for them? Travel Weekly turned to the tour operators for their suggestions.
Best for: Luxury
Where: Sandy Lane, Barbados.
Why: Quite simply, it’s the most luxurious hotel in the Caribbean, according to Caribtours general manager Paul Cleary. All rooms and suites are beautifully decorated and Sandy Lane has a world-class spa, good golfing facilities and is situated on a beautiful stretch of beach.
Sample price: Seven nights’ bed and breakfast costs from £2,198 per person, with Caribtours. This includes flights, private VIP transfers and use of the executive lounge at Gatwick. The wedding package is an extra £1,165.
See also: Four Seasons Resort, Nevis. Set in 350 acres of tropical vegetation bordering Pinney’s beach, the resort’s deluxe rooms and suites are set in two-storey cottages. Room-only starts at £1,430 per person for seven nights in a deluxe mountain-side room with ITC Classics. The wedding package, which includes a petal-covered walkway, costs £715 per couple.
Best for: Privacy
Where: Biras Creek, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands.
Why: Accessible only by boat, Biras Creek is the ideal getaway, hidden amid Virgin Gorda’s unspoilt bays, isolated beaches and nature trails. The cottage-style suites are close to the water’s edge and have separate sitting rooms and outdoor showers.
Sample price: Seven nights in a garden suite costs from £1,790 per person, including all meals, flights and boat transfer, with Carrier. The wedding package starts at £655 per couple.
See also: Palm Island Resort in the Grenadines. This intimate resort has 40 rooms that are set in one and two-bedroom cottages scattered on a tiny island about a mile from Union Island. The emphasis is on service, the stunning surroundings and relaxation, although if you are feeling active, it’s possible to go fishing, sailing or take a day trip to nearby Tobago Cays and other islands. Prices start at £1,780 per person for seven nights including flights, transport and full board, with Caribbean Expressions. A free wedding package is available for stays of 13 nights or more (the usual wedding package cost is $630).
Best for: Budget
Where: Hawksbill Beach Resort, Antigua.
Why: If you’re on a budget, it makes sense to go all-inclusive. In December 2003, Hawksbill went fully all-inclusive and it recently added an Italian restaurant. Hawksbill Beach Resort is a good choice for a wedding because it offers a basic wedding package included in the price and then a menu of extras that you can build in if you want. Guests also get an oil painting of the hotel as a wedding gift. Antigua itself is quieter and calmer than Jamaica and Barbados, with 365 beaches to choose from. Hawksbill is set around four virtually private bays with white sand beaches.
Sample price: One week all-inclusive costs £879 per person, including return flights and transfers, with Kuoni. The wedding package costs from £398 per couple.
See also: The Dominican Republic is a well-known budget option and the three-star, all-inclusive Casa Marina Reef in Sosua is a good choice because its wedding package is excellent value for money. Thomas Cook Tropical Shores has 14 nights from £929 per person. The wedding package costs £419 per couple, including room upgrade, cake, wine, dinner for two, breakfast in bed, cocktails and a gift.
Best for: Gourmet Lovers
Where: Calabash Hotel, Grenada.
Why: Grenada has a reputation for having first-class cuisine. Some say the Calabash Hotel has the best food and wine in Grenada, while others say it’s the best in the Caribbean. Last year, Gary Rhodes opened the Rhodes Restaurant here. There’s also a beach restaurant, but there are so many fine places to eat in Grenada that venturing out of the hotel is also recommended. Accommodation is in 30 suites set in two-storey cottages among beautiful gardens.
Sample price: Seven nights costs from £1,258 per person in a Whirl Pool suite, with Caribtours. The wedding package is free between June 1 and September 30, otherwise it costs £465 per couple, and includes a massage each.
See also: Montpelier Plantation Inn, Nevis. The family-owned property is a 30-acre former sugar plantation, with 17 beautifully- furnished guest rooms in cottages spread throughout the gardens. The Great House is a lively meeting place for pre-dinner drinks and dinner is served on the terrace or in The Mill, an intimate restaurant that was voted one of Conde Nast Traveller’s top restaurants in 2003. Prices start at £1,215 per person with Carrier for seven nights’ bed and breakfast, including flights and private transfers. Wedding packages are tailor-made and start at £445 per person.
Best for: Nightlife
Where: Sandals or SuperClubs, Jamaica.
Why: Jamaica is one of the liveliest Caribbean islands and a good choice for couples who want to party the night away.
Sample price: All-inclusive operators SuperClubs and Sandals both include weddings in their package price (although there is a government tax which varies from island to island). Thomson has seven nights at Sandals Negril from £1,259 per person, and seven nights at SuperClubs’ Breezes Runaway Bay from £869 per person.
See also: Turtle Beach Barbados. Barbados, like Jamaica, is a lively Caribbean island and the hotel is within walking distance of St Lawrence Gap, the nightlife centre. The all-suite, all-inclusive property is on a stunning beach. Prices start at £1,179 per person for seven nights in a junior suite with Caribtours. The wedding package costs £439 and includes a session at the hairdressers and candlelit dinner for two.
Best for: Couple with children
Where: Club St Lucia.
Why: A real family-oriented resort with plenty to keep the kids amused and lots of other youngsters around for them to play with. At certain times of the year, the wedding package is included in the price.
Sample price: Seven nights start at £893 per person, with Kuoni. This includes return flights, all-inclusive accommodation and the wedding package. Child prices start at £255 per child.
See also: Half Moon, Jamaica. Set in 400 acres of white-sand beach, it makes an ideal choice for a wedding and offers extensive children’s facilities. Options include swimming with dolphins. ITC Classics has seven-night packages starting at £1,189 per adult and £464 per child, room-only. The wedding package starts at £715.