Yes, it’s been over a year since Mitch and I tied the knot. (Time flies!) But a few days ago, Mitch surprised me with this video of our honeymoon in Culebra and Vieques. (So sweet, right?) So I had to share.
A little background on the trip:
1. I’m pretty sure it was the least expensive honeymoon ever–a bit of an exaggeration, sure–but we’re super proud of that. Weddings are expensive! The last thing we wanted to do was drop a ton of dough on a big trip right after the biggest (and most wonderful) event of our lives. The year before, though, we had volunteered our seats four times in the same day, and had racked up $2,400 in Delta flight vouchers. Which ended up completely covering our honeymoon travel expenses… as well as four other flights!
Have you guys ever “volunteered” to give up your seats? If you don’t have any real rush to get to your destination, I highly recommend it. Typically, you’re simply given a later flight time… as well as hundreds of dollars in vouchers for compensation. All you have to do is go up to the front desk at your gate and ask whether they “need any volunteers.” Easy! (I can’t take credit for this genius idea, though. It was all Mitch.)
Culebra and Vieques–two islands between Puerto Rico’s mainland and Saint Thomas–are also extremely inexpensive destinations to visit. We flew from New York City to San Juan, took a taxi to Fajardo, and then took the ferry to the islands. (If you book in advance, you can find roundtrip flights from NYC to San Juan for about $250, and the ferry is only $2.25!) And maybe this is because we were used to New York City prices, but we felt as though we ate (and drank, haha) like kings for very little.
Even our lodging was a steal! We stayed here in Culebra, in case you’re wondering. It wasn’t exactly luxurious, but there aren’t very many options on the tiny island, and the bungalows we stayed in are on Flamenco Beach–the most beautiful stretch of sand I’ve ever seen. In Vieques, we stayed here, and loved it. (Though goodness… There’s a W Hotel there, too!)
2. I was deathly ill for half of our trip. Yes, it was devastating. But you know what? I wasn’t sick during our wedding, so I’m thankful. The year that we got married, I was fighting off serious sinus infections left and right due to crazy, out-of-control allergies. (Six in one year. Ugh.) I’ve since started allergy shots, which have been a lifesaver! But at the time, things were bad.
Thankfully, I brought along an emergency Z-Pak, which ended up saving our trip. It’s a long story as to how I came into possession of an “emergency Z-Pak,” but that’s a tale for another time. ;) Just please excuse my appearance in most of the video. Illness and humidity? Not a great mix. I felt like Monica.
3. Despite my little episode, we had a fabulous time. Our wedding was undoubtedly the best day of our lives–it was everything we could have hoped and dreamed it would be, and more–but when it was over, we were tired. The last thing we wanted was to fly off to Europe for a sightseeing vacation, or travel to a crowded, touristy location. Culebra and Vieques were perfect. The beaches were largely deserted, and I could have sworn I was in Bali or Tahiti! It was low-key and relaxing, and it really gave us the opportunity to reflect on the wedding as well as all that we’d been blessed with. Oh, to be young and in love. :) (I talk like I’m 80 now, haha.)
My favorite memory is sipping cocktails while floating in the crystal-clear water every night at 7 p.m., and Mitch’s is going snorkeling at Carlos Rosario Beach. (So amazing. I didn’t have a lot of snorkeling experience, though, and I kind of panicked every time I saw something weird, thinking it was going to eat me! #kindofserious)
Anyway, I can’t recommend Culebra and/or Vieques more. If you have questions about the trip, please don’t hesitate to email me at KellySLarkin.com! But for now, you can enjoy Mitch’s adorable video. :)