The couple: Stephanie Finseth and Erik Tulgren, both of Lakeville, are getting married Oct. 18 and will honeymoon in the first few weeks of January 2009.

What they want: Erik leans toward all-inclusives in tropical locales, because he likes lounging on the beach and dining in good restaurants. Stephanie says, "My idea of a great honeymoon is going to a city with lots of culture and history."

Budget: $3,000.

Agent idea: Unpack once and tour the west Caribbean aboard Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's new "Independence of the Seas." A six-day cruise departs from Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 4, during which the couple can enjoy the spa, mini-golf and myriad other on-board options. Ports of call include Belize City, where beaches are great and possible excursions include horseback riding or taking a river boat into the jungle. The ship also stops at Costa Maya, with nearby Mayan ruins, and Cozumel, a snorkeler's paradise. For just $29 over the $3,000 budget, the couple could get an outside cabin (for sunsets), and private meals (breakfast in bed). An interior room would cost $2,669, including airfare, airport transfers and taxes, but not the cost of excursions, tips or drinks.

The agent: Kathy Mader of Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Chanhassen; 952-934-0151; www.carlsontravel.com/travelagent.

Our option: Puerto Rico and the nearby island of Vieques should bring mutual bliss to the married couple. Old San Juan, with its cobblestone streets, historic sights and world-class restaurants, brims with history and culture. So does the Hotel El Convento, a renovated 17th-century Carmelite convent, with colonial details such as Andalusian tiles, exposed mahogany beams and a courtyard dripping with palms. The nuns, no doubt, would have liked the rooftop pool. The hotel will be a base for sightseeing and citified pampering: Sights like El Morro Fortress are within walking distance, as are shops and the island's best restaurants. After two nights, it's off to Vieques, a small island off of Puerto Rico where beaches are peaceful and a room at the Hacienda Tamarindo offers views of the Caribbean behind. Cost for a full week: about $3,000.