Caribbean Recommendations

[Isotopes 1]

The wife and I are planning a trip this coming Spring but we are not sure where to go or where to stay. Does anyone have recomendations for locations or resorts that they liked? We mainly want a nice resort on the beach, a room with a patio or balcony and an ocean view, and for it to be on a clean, safe island. So far we are looking at Aruba and Grand Cayman.

[yostevo 0]

clean, safe island.

 

Fantasy Island

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Actually, I just got married in Cancun and I thought it was great. Riu Cancun resort is fantastic. We then honeymooned down in the Riviera Mayan near Tulum and that was the cat's ass. Not quite islands that you requested but definitely Carribbean and well worth the effort.

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

The wife and I are planning a trip this coming Spring but we are not sure where to go or where to stay. Does anyone have recomendations for locations or resorts that they liked? We mainly want a nice resort on the beach, a room with a patio or balcony and an ocean view, and for it to be on a clean, safe island. So far we are looking at Aruba and Grand Cayman.

 

Grand Cayman is ok. Definitely safe, but a little less Caribbean than I would have liked (it is a banking economy, not a tourist economy). You can go to Hell and I think that the big beach there is Seven Mile Beach.

 

Aruba is definitely focused on tourists. I guess it is safe if you are not a high school girl. Beach and casino are the key activities, so if that is all that you want, that is a good place.

 

If you want less traveled, try Nevis. St. Kitts is Nevis' sister island and I went there about 10 years ago. I hear it has changed quite a bit since they started having cruise ships go there.

[tony hardware 0]

Grand Cayman was safe, clean, relatively modern. Shopping isn't bad. Get some cruise traffic, but definitely clean and safe feeling. Forget Jamaica. My brother just got back from Antigua and loved it, but its expensive. Bahamas sux, dirty, overpopulated, street peddlers. St. Martin isn't bad. I wasn't crazy about anywhere in Mexico. Puerto is nice, but more mainstream, big city feel if you're in San Juan, not really Carribean resort feel, but Condado Hotel in San Juan is nice. Considered Key West at all? Good 'ol US of A. Turks and Caikos is supposed to be beautiful. Looking there for honeymoon.

 

Don't go to Aruba. I hear people dissappear there.

[yostevo 0]

Considered Key West at all? Good 'ol US of A.

 

The wife and I got engaged in Miami and then drove the Keys down to Key West. Absolutely fantastic scenery going down to Key West but we felt Key West itself was the suck. Bad beaches, too much stuff crowded into a little area. Not for us.

[Bert 1,091]

So far we are looking at Grand Cayman.

 

 

This is a great idea! You can go to Stingray City and get a barb jammed in your heart as a symbol of your love!

[hoytdwow 202]

No man is an island.

 

HTH

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

No man is an island.

 

HTH

 

 

You are forgetting about Swerski !

[Isotopes 1]

Some good stuff here. We are trying to go somewhere that we have never been before. We have been to Key West, St Martin, St Thomas, Barbados, and Bahamas.

 

I looked up some resorts in Turks and Caicos and it looks nice.

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

Some good stuff here. We are trying to go somewhere that we have never been before. We have been to Key West, St Martin, St Thomas, Barbados, and Bahamas.

 

I looked up some resorts in Turks and Caicos and it looks nice.

 

 

Don't forget Nevis. The hilarity that comes with using your Butthead voice to say "Uhhhh, Nevis" is gold Jerry. Gold, I tell ya

[patweisers44 697]

No man is an island.

But when you piss..urination

[D'ohmer Simpson 0]

Riu Cancun resort is fantastic.

Anything Riu is fantastic

 

I've heard that some of the resorts in the Dominican Republic (Punta Cana I think?) are pretty crappy only because the area is pretty crappy.

[D_House 0]

Go southern hemisphere... Brazil

[bigbadbuff 0]

You didn't mention price range or where you'd be flying out of, the latter being pretty important with the Carribean as many islands have tons of connections and can take LONG hours to get to, a concern if you aren't planning to stay a while.

 

Given what you're asking for though and where you've already been, I would recommend in no particular order:

 

 

Anguilla (small island, low key, tons of amazing beaches, good range of choice between cheap all the way up to 5 star accomodations)

 

Great Exuma (much different than GBI or Paradise Island- in a good way. The Four Seasons here is great)

 

Turks and Caicos (never been but consistently hear very good things)

 

I live in Virginia and so most of these islands are relatively easy to get to, but after going to Hawaii I may never go back to the Caribbean, aside from a very select few.

[Cdub100 3,380]

All I know is DO NOT got to Jamaica.

[mjj 0]

Grenada. Seriously. If you're looking for a romantic getaway without all the touristy crud, it's the place to be. Beautiful beaches, rainforests, secluded hot spring IN the rainforest. The Spice Island. Long flight but we liked it there.

[Toro 1]

No jamaica.

 

I recommend Sandals Grande - St. Lucia.

[brinett9 0]

I recommend Poland.

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

I live in Virginia and so most of these islands are relatively easy to get to, but after going to Hawaii I may never go back to the Caribbean, aside from a very select few.

 

I would go to Hawaii all of the time if I did not have to go half way around the world. That is by far the most beautiful place I have ever been to. I was married in Maui and had my honeymoon in Maui, Kauai and Oahu.

 

However, I am not too keen on the full day or travel to get there and back

[Eagles Green 34]

No jamaica.

 

I recommend Sandals Grande - St. Lucia.

Been there. Very nice.

 

 

Have you considered Costa Rica? I love it there.

 

I go to Costa or Puerto Rico every year and they are paradise.

 

 

Bermuda is pretty greta as well.

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

Been there. Very nice.

Have you considered Costa Rica? I love it there.

 

I go to Costa or Puerto Rico every year and they are paradise.

Bermuda is pretty greta as well.

 

Bermuda is not the Caribbean. South Carolina weather and different culture. Definitely a nice place, but I laugh every time I go there (I go there quite a bit for business) with people in shorts only to have them get off the plane in 60 degree weather with fog

[Uh-huh 0]

Anything Riu is fantastic

 

I've heard that some of the resorts in the Dominican Republic (Punta Cana I think?) are pretty crappy only because the area is pretty crappy.

You obviously haven't been there.

 

The wife and I have enjoyed many a long weekend in Bavaro and Punta Cana. Excellent beaches, superb service, 5-star resots that are a lot less expensive than comparable places in Cancun, Jamaica or the Bahamas.

[Q.T. 5]

Turks and Caicos is great for beaches and snorkeling ... but thin on nightlife, other than what you bring with you.

[Isotopes 1]

You didn't mention price range or where you'd be flying out of, the latter being pretty important with the Carribean as many islands have tons of connections and can take LONG hours to get to, a concern if you aren't planning to stay a while.

 

Given what you're asking for though and where you've already been, I would recommend in no particular order:

Anguilla (small island, low key, tons of amazing beaches, good range of choice between cheap all the way up to 5 star accomodations)

 

Great Exuma (much different than GBI or Paradise Island- in a good way. The Four Seasons here is great)

 

Turks and Caicos (never been but consistently hear very good things)

 

I live in Virginia and so most of these islands are relatively easy to get to, but after going to Hawaii I may never go back to the Caribbean, aside from a very select few.

 

We will be leaving from Columbus Ohio. Price range is negotiable. We are willing to spend money if the place is worth it but we would obviously like to get a good deal.

 

 

No jamaica.

 

I recommend Sandals Grande - St. Lucia.

 

We went to Sandals in the Bahamas and liked it. We are considering Sandals this time. If we do Sandals again it will either be St Lucia or Antigua

[JMaximus12 0]

We will be leaving from Columbus Ohio. Price range is negotiable. We are willing to spend money if the place is worth it but we would obviously like to get a good deal.

We went to Sandals in the Bahamas and liked it. We are considering Sandals this time. If we do Sandals again it will either be St Lucia or Antigua

 

i don't know everyone's aversion to Jamaica. been there twice, loved every minute of it, can't wait to go back. Loved Negril, Loved Ocho Rios. oh well.

 

Sandals is the best way to go. if you have to pick, go with Antigua over St. Lucia. I hear the "3rd world syndrome" in St. Lucia is awful, worse than in Jamaica. Antigua is their most private resort. and from what i hear, their nicest. enjoy!

[resser2 0]

Nothing can beat the US Virgin Islands - St. Thomas

 

 

We stayed there last year for 12 days on our honeymoon. (one year anniv 10/15)

 

We did everything that you can imagine - snokeling, island tours, shopping, horseback riding, amazing food, very inexpensive jewelery shopping.

 

It is in the USA, but you drive on the leftside of the car on the leftside of the road. Very Cool!

 

We also did day tours to St. John (10 min ferry ride) and the British Virgin Islands (45 min ferry) A MUST SEE FOR THE BATH"S

 

Bath's

You need a passport to go to the BVI (or maybe just a 2 picture id's and SS card you will have to check)

 

We stayed at Pool and Pavillions - it was amazing! We had our own pool! (great for honeymooners )

Pools & Pav

 

We bought food at the local market and did our own breakfast and lunch then ate at out every night

 

IF YOU GO THERE TELL THEM THE STRANDS FROM MICHIGAN Refered you, I think you get 10% off!

 

[sheadtoo 1]

I say try here

 

PR has all kinds of stuf to do they have nightlife, history, beaches, this resort has one of the best golf courses I have ever played...and there is plenty of shoppping while you play your round of golf

[D'ohmer Simpson 0]

You obviously haven't been there.

When I said "I've heard" it implied I've never been. Glad you've had good times, but others I know have not. The Dominican people were rude, didn't speak (or didn't want to speak) English, the area outside the resort was crappy and they didn't feel safe. Kind of sucks when you can't leave your resort and explore or do other things.