Caribbean vacation location
May 23, 2006 7:12 PM Subscribe
[Caribbean Vacation Filter] Suggest me somewhere to go to in the Caribbean for two weeks at the end of August. There is
My girlfriend, her parents and I are planning a trip to somewhere in the Caribbean. The big question is where. Spanish or English speaking preferred (though we can manage French too). A very nice beach is a must, nice people, and other activities, such as mountain biking, hiking, water activities a nice bonus. Resonable pricing (a few hundred a night for 2 bedrooms) would be good, cheap is always nice, more expensive could be considered, depending on options!
My girlfriend, her parents and I are planning a trip to somewhere in the Caribbean. The big question is where. Spanish or English speaking preferred (though we can manage French too). A very nice beach is a must, nice people, and other activities, such as mountain biking, hiking, water activities a nice bonus. Resonable pricing (a few hundred a night for 2 bedrooms) would be good, cheap is always nice, more expensive could be considered, depending on options!
I strongly suggest Turks & Caicos. My husband and I just returned from a week there, and also visited in September 2002. The beaches are unbelievable (some of the highest rated in the world), as is the diving, if you're into that. The locals are quiet and mostly keep to themselves, even those working in a service capacity in the hotels/restaurants -- this is a bit different from other islands I've been to or heard about. Activities include regular island biking (the island is extremely flat), horseback riding, scuba, snorkeling (fantastic), sailing, parasailing, deep sea fishing, spas, etc. The prices are reasonable, I would say -- it just depends on the place. I'd definitely advise a regular hotel/resort or even a rental condo; avoid the overpriced, low-quality all-inclusives. There are a lot of good restaurants on the island, it's easy to get around on foot or by taxi, and prices aren't outrageous.
posted by justonegirl at 8:13 PM on May 23, 2006
posted by justonegirl at 8:13 PM on May 23, 2006
Vieques & Culebra off of the coast of Puerto Rico. Bioluminescent bays for snorkeling, gorgeous amazing fantastic beaches, and I'm sure plenty of other outdoor activities.
posted by anjamu at 8:50 PM on May 23, 2006
posted by anjamu at 8:50 PM on May 23, 2006
We've been 3 times to Cabarete (Dominican Republic), 20 min from Puerto Plata airport. Mostly cos I like to windsurf, but we also found it beautiful, laid back and not very expensive.
There is one all-inclusive in the area, if that's your style, but we were perfectly happy to wing it. We stayed in hotels or rental condos, and just ate at the many neat little places along the beach.
Besides windsurfing, there's great mountain biking, hiking, and other active sports. The only other island we've been to is Antigua - it was OK, but not as much fun as the DR.
More info here.
posted by Artful Codger at 9:05 PM on May 23, 2006
There is one all-inclusive in the area, if that's your style, but we were perfectly happy to wing it. We stayed in hotels or rental condos, and just ate at the many neat little places along the beach.
Besides windsurfing, there's great mountain biking, hiking, and other active sports. The only other island we've been to is Antigua - it was OK, but not as much fun as the DR.
More info here.
posted by Artful Codger at 9:05 PM on May 23, 2006
Response by poster: Great, Thanks! Actually trying to avoid the all-inclusive route this trip.
More suggestions always appreciated of course!
posted by defcom1 at 9:21 PM on May 23, 2006
More suggestions always appreciated of course!
posted by defcom1 at 9:21 PM on May 23, 2006
My wife and I stayed at one of the villas at Oasis Marigot at Marigot Bay in St. Lucia for our honeymoon, and all in all, we had a nice time.
If it looks like something you're interested in, email me (address in profile) and I can give you more info on pros and cons.
Either way, St. Lucia is pretty. It's hot in August, but then, I think all of the Caribbean will be.
posted by JMOZ at 10:12 PM on May 23, 2006
If it looks like something you're interested in, email me (address in profile) and I can give you more info on pros and cons.
Either way, St. Lucia is pretty. It's hot in August, but then, I think all of the Caribbean will be.
posted by JMOZ at 10:12 PM on May 23, 2006
I second the suggestion for Culebra. Flamenco beach is renowned as one of the world's finest, and on many days you can have it practically all to yourself. Snorkeling there is like swimming in someone's salt water aquarium. Mountain biking is exceptional, and the trails are never crowded. It is cheap, but best enjoyed by those who like rustic, quiet environs. However, if you want a little hubbub, you can take the ferry to Farjardo P.R. and chill out in the top-notch El Conquistador Resort. And while you're in eastern Puerto Rico you can hike El Yunque, the island's tropical rain forest.
posted by Crotalus at 11:27 PM on May 23, 2006
posted by Crotalus at 11:27 PM on May 23, 2006
My wife and I took a trip here in March. It was absolutely amazing. Man, we had a fantastic time.
Belize is a cool, unique place in general-- very central american with a british flavor and lots of local pride.
The resort is awesome-- friendly, posh and good food and drink. It's near a beautiful, relaxing little town called Placencia on a sand spit on the carribean. It's easy to go into town and see how the locals live, or just hang out at Robert's Grove.
Email me if you're interested in knowing more-- I think it was one of the best experiences I've ever had.
posted by Mayor Curley at 11:40 PM on May 23, 2006
Belize is a cool, unique place in general-- very central american with a british flavor and lots of local pride.
The resort is awesome-- friendly, posh and good food and drink. It's near a beautiful, relaxing little town called Placencia on a sand spit on the carribean. It's easy to go into town and see how the locals live, or just hang out at Robert's Grove.
Email me if you're interested in knowing more-- I think it was one of the best experiences I've ever had.
posted by Mayor Curley at 11:40 PM on May 23, 2006
I'll second the Mayor's recommendation for Belize, though I've never been to Placencia. Me, I'd head for the islands, especially Caye Caulker. Belize tends to be a bit less polished than what you'll find in a lot of the Caribbean, but the people are friendly and it's very laid back.
Another suggestion is Bermuda. Easy to get to and almost the polar opposite to Belize when it comes to polish.
Keep in mind that August in the Caribbean puts you in smack dab in the middle of hurricane season, but you probably knew that.
posted by SteveInMaine at 3:09 AM on May 24, 2006
Another suggestion is Bermuda. Easy to get to and almost the polar opposite to Belize when it comes to polish.
Keep in mind that August in the Caribbean puts you in smack dab in the middle of hurricane season, but you probably knew that.
posted by SteveInMaine at 3:09 AM on May 24, 2006
St. John Villa Rentals.
you can fly into St. Thomas and hop on the ferry.
Check Mclaughlin Anderson or VI Vacations
August is off season(ish), and is pretty cheap.
posted by Lord_Pall at 7:57 AM on May 24, 2006
you can fly into St. Thomas and hop on the ferry.
Check Mclaughlin Anderson or VI Vacations
August is off season(ish), and is pretty cheap.
posted by Lord_Pall at 7:57 AM on May 24, 2006
Grand Cayman. We had a fantastic family vacation staying on Seven Mile Beach. White sand beaches and you can swim with the sea turtles. We stayed at the London House, nice rooms with kitchens and the patios open right on to the beach.
posted by banshee at 8:05 AM on May 24, 2006
posted by banshee at 8:05 AM on May 24, 2006
If you want to avoid the cruise ship tourists, check out St. Croix. My wife and I got married there in January and then spent a week in St Thomas, at this great little guesthouse called The Green Iguana.
posted by camworld at 8:25 AM on May 24, 2006
posted by camworld at 8:25 AM on May 24, 2006
Cuba. End of discussion, go there right now.
As a Canadian you can do it legally. The island itself is heartbreakingly beautiful. The culture is very rich, with Cuban jazz, baseball and a lot of history. Havana has the greatest collection of Spanish colonial architecture in the world. And nearly 50 years of communism and a U.S. embargo has kept Cuba largely outside the currents of globalization.
I don't want to romanticize too much, Cuba is poor and the government oppressive. And it is not cheap. But it is a place like no other, and will change in the blink of an eye when El Jefe dies and Disney buys the whole island. Go.
posted by LarryC at 10:35 AM on May 24, 2006
As a Canadian you can do it legally. The island itself is heartbreakingly beautiful. The culture is very rich, with Cuban jazz, baseball and a lot of history. Havana has the greatest collection of Spanish colonial architecture in the world. And nearly 50 years of communism and a U.S. embargo has kept Cuba largely outside the currents of globalization.
I don't want to romanticize too much, Cuba is poor and the government oppressive. And it is not cheap. But it is a place like no other, and will change in the blink of an eye when El Jefe dies and Disney buys the whole island. Go.
posted by LarryC at 10:35 AM on May 24, 2006
I second St. John. It's American territory, not for the all-inclusive set, and has incredible snorkling. It's also got a variety of terrain (jungle, beach) and the locals are very laid back. Not a ton of night life but some nice bars and restaraunts. And Vie's Snack Shack on the Southeast beach (can't remember the name now, but it's at the far SE tip of the island) has the best conch fritters I've ever had.
posted by skechada at 2:01 AM on May 25, 2006
posted by skechada at 2:01 AM on May 25, 2006
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posted by autojack at 7:55 PM on May 23, 2006