Fly Me to the ‘Moon: Part II

Fly Me to the ‘Moon: Part II

June 21st, 2011 @ 8:16 am by Miss Sweet Cream
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As I had previously mentioned, an October wedding had us connecting to TripAdvisor, Frommer’s, and The Travel Channel a heck of a lot more than normal to do digging about where we’d enjoy each other’s company and frolic in the surf on our honeymoon…during hurricane season.

We crossed off options due to cost, travel time, and the desire for something uber “tropical.”

After Cabo was nixed, I plead my case to Mr. Sweet Cream for a location that I just knew he would love. Thanks to some handy research, pictures of beautiful water (and fishing!), and some fellow bees on the message boards, we picked our ’moon locale.

For those bees out there who like a little bit of guessing, here are some clues for you: Dutch is the official language, the currency is the florin, and the average temperature is 81 degrees…

Image via Quality Travel Services

After Mr. Sweets and I become Mr. & Mrs., we are heading off to the gorgeous island of Curacao!

For those bees who aren’t familiar with the island, as I previously had not been, it’s near Aruba and Bonaire and is known for its scuba diving and underwater paradise. (It’s also known for that blue liquor that is found in bars across the county—and in this Blue Hawaiian. Yum-O!)

For whatever reason, Mr. Sweets was sure we could book everything ourselves without going through a travel agent. I know that this can be risky, but we were willing to take the risk. And hopefully it’s worth it.

Trip Advisor led me to this adorable little B&B in the capital of the country, The Scuba Lodge, where reviews poured in saying all kinds of nice things about this yellow 14-bedroom historic building owned by a Dutch couple. After even more research, we booked it!

I emailed Caroline and Annelies, the crew at the Lodge, after booking our room that overlooks the water, and I immediately got a response recommending a variety of sunset sails when I said my search didn’t find much. They also let me know that the cooking class we wanted to do no longer exists, but they would be happy to teach us how to make the best poffertjes. I seriously cannot wait to go. I know that it isn’t an all-inclusive honeymoon kingdom…but I think we might have a more memorable experience that is more “us” here…Besides the beaches, the restaurants, fishing, chillin’ with dolphins, safaris, a floating market, sipping drinks at sunset, and scuba diving—and obviously being a new Mr. & Mrs. and enjoying each other’s company—what else are we looking forward to?

Welzijn Fish Spa, where “doctor fish” exfoliate your skin (I honestly don’t know if I will be able to do this! Have any bees out there done it?!) / Image via Flickr

The Ostrich Farm allows you to take a guided tour and hang with the big birds. My favorite: Zambezi Restaurant, where you can sip liqueur by a cozy campfire at night! / Image via Ants & Grasshoppers Blog

There are petroglyphs estimated to be 1500 years old left from the Amerindian Arawaks in the Hato Caves. / Image via Fun in Curacao

We are planning on mixing a little culture, pampering, and history (and really big birds!) in with lounging on a powdery beach and sipping drinks. We can do both.

I know that some family members are sad because they had their hearts set on getting us a gift certificate to a travel agent this past holiday as a present. And I know that we could wind up hating this fish-doctor spa. But Mr. Sweet Cream and I have always enjoyed a good adventure—even if it doesn’t turn out just right. And we have Caroline and Annalise at the Scuba Lodge who seem like they know a thing or two.

Did you go through a travel agent or do the digging yourself? Where are you going on your honeymoon? Is there one thing that might seem a little crazy that you absolutely cannot wait for (besides being on your honeymoon with your honey, that is)?

Have any bees been to Curacao and have a great tip (or three?) for me?

Tags: honeymoon, philadelphia |

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19 Responses to “Fly Me to the ‘Moon: Part II”

Member

bRooklynRocks (message) 3,767 posts, Honey bee

Wow, that looks like it’s going to be one fantastic honeymoon

6/21/11 @ 8:24 am (reply)

Guest

Nicole

If the ostrich farm allows you to ride the birds - DO IT! Its so much fun! My fiance and I rode ostriches in South Africa, and the photos are priceless.

6/21/11 @ 8:24 am (reply)

Member

weddingstars2012 (message) 430 posts, Helper bee

That looks beyond AWESOME!!!

6/21/11 @ 8:45 am (reply)

Bee

Miss Pony (message) 4,171 posts, Honey bee

What a great choice!! I can’t wait to see ostrich pictures!

6/21/11 @ 9:09 am (reply)

Bee

Mrs. Elephant (message) 6,182 posts, Bee Keeper

Sounds like such a fun honeymoon location! I’m sure you two will have an awesome time!

6/21/11 @ 9:10 am (reply)

Member

miss.qwerty (message) 895 posts, Busy bee

This looks like a great honeymoon!

6/21/11 @ 9:35 am (reply)

Member

mak418 (message) 693 posts, Busy bee

We went to Curacao! We went last July for our honeymoon. We stayed at the Lodge Kura Hulanda (out in Westpunt, about 45 minutes from Willemstad), and it was absolutely amazing. One of our favorite side trips we made was a jeep tour of the caves and such on the north shore of the island. I think we went through Curacao Acteif, but I’ll look it up later to make sure. It was amazing - we saw bats (ew!), but also some amazing sights - like a naturally formed ‘jacuzzi’. PM me if you would like more details, pics, etc. I love Curacao. Have fun!

6/21/11 @ 9:43 am (reply)

Guest

Hilary

We are heading to Curacao in September for our honeymoon and decided to split our time between the Avila in Willemstad and the Kura Hulanda! If anyone else has some suggestions that would be great!

6/21/11 @ 10:03 am (reply)

Guest

Emma

That looks wonderful!

I’ve done the fish spa thing but only on my feet - fish pedicures are becoming quite common over here. It’s really tickly but good fun!

6/21/11 @ 10:17 am (reply)

10.

Member

jrw0088 (message) 109 posts, Blushing bee

I love the fish spa, it tickles so much but you feel quite clean afterward!
Curacao looks gorgeous, so jealous!

6/21/11 @ 10:50 am (reply)

11.

Bee

Miss Seal (message) 1,179 posts, Bumble bee

Ooooh, Curacao looks like paradise! You’re going to have a blast, Sweet Cream. Can’t wait to hear all about the doctor fish and cute ostriches!

6/21/11 @ 12:43 pm (reply)

12.

Member

cadesigner (message) 42 posts, Newbee

Poffertjes - yum! We made them for our rehearsal dinner and often at home (husband is Dutch). Pile the poffertjes up into a pyramid shape on your plate with butter inside the stack; it’ll melt over all of them.

6/21/11 @ 1:05 pm (reply)

13.

Member

centralcoastbride (message) 67 posts, Worker bee

That sounds like it will be an amazing honeymoon! I don’t know if I could do the fish doctor thing!

6/21/11 @ 1:36 pm (reply)

14.

Bee

Miss Sweet Cream (message) 216 posts, Helper bee

@Nicole - Thanks for the tip! I will def. make sure to do it if given the opportunity…without you saying that - I might have stepped back slightly.

@mak418 - I PMed you! Yes please!

@Hilary - You PM me after yours and let me know any good tips!! I’d be happy to PM you my findings so far!

@Emma & @JRW0088 - You are brave! I hope that I am just as adventurous about the whole thing as you!!

@Miss Seal - I can’t wait to go & then share! (in that order)

@cadesigner - Good tip! That’s so cool that you incorporated that into your rehearsal dinner.

@centralcoastbride - I don’t know if I can either! But I am going to try to force myself! You heard what @Emma & @JRW0088 said!

6/21/11 @ 2:17 pm (reply)

15.

Member

oatmealpie (message) 152 posts, Blushing bee

Looks like fun! But please think twice before going to the fish spa. The procedure has been banned in 14 states, and the U.K.’s Health Protection Agency has warned people against it because of possible infection.

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2011/02/28/experts-shocking-warning-dont-let-fish-chew-on-your-feet/

6/21/11 @ 2:44 pm (reply)

16.

Bee

Mrs. Tartlet (message) 3,207 posts, Sugar bee

Ooooo–this looks like tons of fun! I was so tempted to try a fish spa on our honeymoon (for some reason they were all over the place in Prague), but couldn’t bring myself to do it because I’m so ticklish. Looking forward to hearing what it’s like!

6/21/11 @ 4:24 pm (reply)

17.

Bee

Miss Snow Cone (message) 1,026 posts, Bumble bee

any place with crystal water and white sand is OK with me

6/21/11 @ 6:11 pm (reply)

18.

Bee

Mrs. Pain au Chocolat (message) 1,698 posts, Bumble bee

This looks like so much fun! After getting nibbled on by a wrasse on our honeymoon, I don’t think I could do the fish spa thing.

6/21/11 @ 7:15 pm (reply)

19.

Member

NowDontLetsBeSilly (message) 230 posts, Helper bee

I’ve been to Curacao twice! It’s gorgeous there, a bit humid, but breezy enough that it is pleasant. Definitely snorkle, there are lots of beautiful fish, but avoid the beaches where they make you pay to go and then pay more to get a chair. Those are silly. And I wish I could remember the name of a restaurant we went to there, it was like right on the beach, but to get there it looked super sketch and was off a dark road. Love it!

7/5/11 @ 3:29 pm (reply)