A lot of the “Real Honeymoon” contributors on the blog so far live on the west coast, so that’s my guess as to why there have been so few posts about Caribbean honeymoons.  (Based on proximity alone, it seems like west coasters are more apt to book honeymoons in Hawaii while east coasters prefer the Caribbean.)  But fear not, because Shirine and Dave shared the following about their fun yet relaxing honeymoon in Curacao and Aruba:

When and where did you honeymoon?

July 2011: Hyatt Regency, Curacao* & Westin, Aruba.


How long was your trip?

2 weeks (1 week in Curacao, 1 week in Aruba).


How did you decide on your honeymoon destination(s)?

We were looking for somewhere tropical that we both haven’t been before. We didn’t know anyone who had been to Curacao and Aruba, so we thought it would be a fun adventure and something new to experience.


The best part about our honeymoon was…

Getting pampered and relaxing on the beautiful beaches!

If I knew then what I know now, I’d change…

We would have stayed longer in Curacao (The Hyatt was amazing – great service, beautiful hotel and privacy), and we would have either skipped Aruba altogether or stayed at the Hyatt in Aruba (not the Westin, if we go back we will stay at the Hyatt).


How much planning did you do in advance?

We didn’t do too much planning in advance, although we booked the flights/hotels a good 6-8 months before our trip to get better rates. We didn’t want the honeymoon to be planned in advance so we pretty much waited until we arrived in both locations and went with the flow which worked out perfectly for us.


What was your biggest honeymoon splurge?

Probably the First Class flights and suites in both hotels, which were totally worth it!


Where do you want to go on your next big trip?

We are planning a trip to France and Italy in 2014.

_____________________

* According to the Hyatt’s website, it is no longer affiliated with the hotel that Shirine and Dave stayed in during their honeymoon.  You can read more information about that in the Wall Street Journal, but the resort has been renamed Santa Barbara Beach & Golf Resort.

Below are some additional notes from Shirine about what she liked best on both islands:

• Curacao: Shor restaurant was our favorite at the Hyatt; and Bistro Le Clochard was our favorite spot for food/drinks in Willemstad (the downtown area).

• Aruba: We enjoyed the snorkeling/scuba diving tour with Unique Sports of Aruba; Ruinas del Mar was our favorite restaurant and Alfresco Bar was our favorite spot for drinks (both at the Hyatt).