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    All-Inclusive Honeymoon Ideas

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    All-Inclusive Honeymoon Ideas

    On your post-wedding vacation, you'll want to be whispering sweet nothings to your new husband, not haggling loudly over prices with vendors. Book an all-inclusive trip, and you won't have to deal with such mundane issues as monitoring cash flow, since you'll be shelling out for the whole shebang -- rooms, meals, drinks -- up front. 

    Here, we've identified the best resorts, cruise lines, tour operators, and safari outfitters for every type of personality. But first, a warning: Beware of hidden fees. "At some places, they're part of the business model," says Howard Green, chief executive officer of MoonRings, a travel service specializing in honeymoons. Call to ask what's not included, or consider only mid- to high-end companies; they're more likely to include everything, even gratuities. Once you've decided on the right all-inclusive for you, kick back and enjoy -- after all, it's paid for!

    Safaris 
    They're pricey, but repeat after us: once in a lifetime. Itineraries generally include three or four parks and daily game drives in search of the "big five" -- lions, leopards, buffalo, rhinos, and elephants. Oh, my!

    Budget 
    8 days in Tanzania, $3,598 per couple
    The "Duma" safari by 2Afrika includes four stops in its traditional trek across Tanzania's north. One of the best places in Africa for wildlife viewing, the second stop -- the 5,700-square-foot Serengeti National Park -- plays a major role in the "great migration," when 1.6 million wildebeest trek over from Kenya. Along with the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater (a collapsed volcano) is the longest stop, and for good reason: 30,000 animals live on its floor. On the crater's eastern rim, guests can relax in a lodge that, like most of the trip's hotels, features balconies and sunset-bright colors. The "Duma" package starts at $1,799 per person, plus airfare. (Any safari that costs less than $250 per person per day should be considered only by "people looking for a more rustic and adventurous experience," says Green.) 866-462-2374.

    Moderate 
    8 days in Kenya, $5,370
    Masai Travel's classic safari hits all the high notes of the genre: game drives in two famed parks, sightings of the big five, and overnight stays in thatched lodges overlooking waterholes or rivers. Guests touch down in Nairobi before jetting off to the Samburu National Reserve, incidentally, the backdrop for the 1966 film "Born Free." Spend an exciting afternoon horseback riding near the slopes of Mount Kenya -- the second-tallest mountain in Africa (Kilimanjaro's the highest) -- before crashing at a luxurious colonial-style resort that was once frequented by Winston Churchill. Two days in the Masai Mara reserve, the celebrated home of some of the continent's most captivating predators and prey, constitute the thrilling big-five finale. Masai Travel's "Kenya Royal Safari" starts at $2,685 per person, plus airfare. 800-587-1644.

    Luxury 
    15 days in Botswana, $26,990
    This is honeymooning in grand style, thanks to the leisurely pace (15 days), striking setting (unspoiled Botswana), and pull-out-all-the-stops approach (flying from park to park) -- not to mention the lavish accommodations (private viewing decks, four-poster beds, and one of the world's most romantic bars, as picked by The New York Times). But the best part by far is the expert safari guides, who know exactly where to find elephants, buffalo...anything on four legs -- or two, for that matter. For the dramatic game drives, guests traverse the lagoon-rich Okavango Delta not only in a four-wheel vehicle but also in a mokoro (gondola) and a helicopter -- which is also how travelers get to see the thundering waters of Victoria Falls. Micato Safari's "Botswana's Great Herds" safari starts at $13,495 per person, plus airfare. 800-642-2861.

    FYI: Rather than "high" and "low" seasons, outfitters use the terms "dry" and "rainy." Dry, cool summer is peak season, but some tourists prefer the greener landscapes and thinner crowds of the rainy period. Certain seasons are better for spotting specific animals (birds, migrating wildebeest), so talk to your outfitter about your viewing preferences.

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    Resorts 
    Lukewarm buffets and watered-down drinks? Try top-notch food and high-brow design. Here, three all-inclusive resorts for couples who want their beach honeymoon with a side of sophistication.

    Budget 
    6 nights in Cancun, $2,712
    The Riviera Maya is dotted with sprawling monuments to relaxation, such as the new resort Secrets Maroma Beach, carved from 500 acres of jungle. Towering white buildings house its 412 suites; think neutral backgrounds with orange and blue accents, dark-wood furniture, and four-poster beds draped with honey-hued curtains -- a look that extends to the hotel's seven restaurants, many topped with thatched roofs. The resort cranks the romance factor to "high": Candles blanket many surfaces, Jacuzzis grace every suite, and some patios even have telescopes. It also nails the all-inclusive thing, with its 13 pools, eight bars, entertainment theater, and activity list (sailing, archery, snorkeling). Secrets Maroma Beach's six-night package starts at $226 per person, per night, plus airfare. Spa treatments not included. 866-467-3273.

    Moderate 
    6 nights in Jamaica, $3,600
    If the Swiss Family Robinson had landed in northeastern Jamaica with money and a refined design sense, the result might have been one of Kanopi House's five super-cool "tree houses" -- stand-alone accommodations on stilts offering close-up views of banyan trees. The Jamaica-born owners built the intimate bungalows with sustainably harvested sweetwood and Spanish elm, and decorated them with works (such as wooden crocodile sculptures) by local artisans. The lush six-acre retreat (TV-free, but Bose- and iPod-stocked) curves around a blue lagoon and attracts chic Americans and Brits who prefer to kayak and snorkel the days away, snacking on mangoes, jerk chicken, and banana fritters. Kanopi House's six-night package starts at $600 per couple, per night, plus airfare. Spa treatments not included. 800-790-7971.

    Luxury 
    6 nights in Antigua, $4,500
    The look is rustic, but in a glossy-magazine kind of way. Overlooking a dreamy-blue bay are 25 hillside cottages with dark wood floors, crisp white bedcovers, and in some cases, verandas or private plunge pools for a cooling respite from the Caribbean sun. The Hermitage Bay has turned its natural assets -- 140 acres of tropical gardens -- into a sophisticated paradise by designing spaces with a light, eco-conscious touch (building placement is dictated by the landscape, and water is heated with solar panels). Guests can snorkel or lounge in the pool. At night, diners might order crispy duck in green-curry sauce, flavored with herbs from the resort's garden. The Hermitage Bay's six-night package starts at $750 per cottage, per night, plus airfare. Spa treatments and yoga lessons not included. 268-562-8080.

    FYI: Skip places that advertise "group activities" and "cruise directors," both code for spring-breakers. Also, look for the term "adults only" so that "you won't get splashed by kids cannonballing into the pool," says Howard Green, a honeymoons travel expert. Last, for reasonable rates and still-nice temps, visit in late fall or spring -- in particular, November or late April -- instead of winter.

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