Aruba, Jamaica, ooh I wanna take ya!

G

Georgia Peach Fit

Cathlete
Bermuda, Bahama...

HELP, Help, help!!!!!!! My SO has given me a belated Xmas present of a trip to the Carribean in the Spring. The problem is...neither of us have been, I have been checking the internet, but the choices are OVERWHELMING! So, I thought who better to turn to than YOU GUYS!

Just to give you an idea of what we are looking for...we are not necessarily into the whole "touristy" thing, but at the same time don't want to be somewhere remote where there is nothing to do. We do like to beach it, maybe do some boating/diving, shopping, dining and we also would like some place that has some decent nightlife.

SO...anyone out there with some recommendations? Places you have been that you really liked, places you have been that I should totally stay away from? I have heard that Jamaica has become so bad with locals accosting tourists for money, etc. that I am thinking I might stay away from that area, I don't know!

I know Robin will chime in with St. John's (isn't that where you and your hubby go?) ;-)

TIA for any recommendations, advice, etc. you can give me!!!!!!!!!
 
Now THAT'S a cool present!! :)

I haven't been to any of the Caribbean islands, but DH and I had a great time in Costa Rica a few years ago. We're not into the all-inclusive touristy type of stuff either and we found it pretty easy to do our own thing in CR. We were both very comfortable there.

We had a travel agent book our rental car and hotels in the locations we wanted, and then DH and I just kinda "winged it" (wung it?). It was easy to find different tours/activities when we wanted, without a lot of pre-planning. It was also really, really nice to have our own vehicle to get around and explore.

Have fun wherever you decide to go!

ETA: Lonely Planet web site might have some good info in helping you make a decision. http://www.lonelyplanet.com/
 
Gayle, THANKS so much! I had forgotten about checking out Costa Rica I am glad you mentioned it! I had heard that would be a great place to go. I like the idea of getting a rental car so we could come and go as we please. We, like you, don't like to have a stringent plan. We like to be spontaneous! My SO went to Italy this past summer and everything was so pre-planned that it absolutely drove him to the point of not enjoying the trip AT ALL, being totally exhausted the whole time and just flat out wanting to come home x(

Also, THANKS for the website! I am checking it out as we speak! It's really cool and much more user friendly than a lot of the others I looked at! See...this is why I came here for advice! You rock!

I am really excited about going (where ever we end up), it's just so hard to find the "perfect" place! I know that where ever it is we go we WILL have a blast!!!!!!
 
Amy, how well you know me! Yes, DH and I love St John, but if you are looking for nightlife, I don't think you'll find a lot there. Maybe you should look into St Thomas. There is more shopping and nightlife there, plus you can take the ferry over to St John for a quiet day on the beach. The nice thing about the US Virgin Islands is there is no language or money barrier. You don't have the warnings to stay in the resort area. The bad thing about the USVIs is that things are kind of expensive, compared to other Caribbean islands. I had a co-worker go to St Marteen and he loved it. My doctor swears by Puerto Rico, but he stays on a small island that, again, is rather quiet. Good luck and have a wonderful trip.
 
Thanks for the info Robin, I knew I could count on you too. Maybe I could look into staying on St John and we could take the ferry to St Thomas if we want to go out, etc. I would much rather stay somewhere quiet and take the ferry if we wanna get "crazy"! I like the idea of the no language/money barrier, not to mention I kinda value my safety too! I have been having a blast on the website that Gayle provided and am going to go back now and look into St John! If you love it how could anyone go wrong :)

ETA: I just realized that I totally misspelled Caribbean in my original post...I'm such a dork!
 
Atlantis, Paradise Island Bahamas. It's the closest to the states, and sounds like just what you are looking for... check out there websight... it's fabulous! So much to do... nightlife...etc... they have some specials for certain times of year... and apples vacations go there. If you want a more quiet place to stay check out the one and only ocean club right next to atlantis (pricey-gorgeous)... but I love staying at atlantis! There are endless things to do, and it is absolutely beautiful.

If you go, you must get a reservation for the restaurant in nassau called The Greycliff! wins #1 in carribien for years! Such a neat restaurant- you'll drop some $$$ around $200 for dinner for 2 with drinks (and you must get the champagne cocktail they offer you when you walk in the parlor) ask for the wine tour in the basement, make sure to go after 7pm for the piano singer... but it's my favorite restaurant ever! And also go to Dunes restaurant at the one and only ocean club... ask for the back room... and go out to the ocean bar for drinks before dinner, the moheto is first rate! (the new James Bond was filmed here). You will not need to rent a car... shuttles are quick and plenty. Everything at atlantis is walking distance. Check it out! We have been there like 4 times in 3 years! If you have kids... bring them, they will love it! If you don't have kids... you will have all the enjoyment to yourselves:)
 
WOW Linda that sounds FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for everything in your post! With your description I seriously felt like I was there! I really appreciate all the inside info you have given me here...wanna be be my travel agent :p Seriously, that is some valuable information!

I am RUNNING to check it out right now! You have me even more excited about going now! I especially like the fact that it's closest to the US...less flight time. Yep, I am a big ole chicken when it comes to flying. I will do it, but I don't like it :p Kind of like the fact that we wouldn't have to rent a car too!

You guys are really helping me narrow down our destination!

Thanks a million guys!
 
oh yeah, I can't figure anyone that wouldn't like Atlantis... ok, maybe there is someone:) And I'm not sure what your budget is, but they just put up The Cove hotel at Atlantis! It is absolutely beautiful!! You walk and the bell people say, welcome Mrs. Smith... LOL Check out the cove... and don't book over the internet... call, you may get a better rate. All the hotel towers there are nice. Everything you want to do is right there on site... and we usually get our rooms for free at the end of our stay because we play at the casino at night. MAKE SURE if you play at the casino you get a players card before you play, this is how they take $ off your bill at the end of your stay.... charge all meals to your room. If you play enough they may pick up some meals if they can't comp your room. Atlantis is spectacular! I remember meeting 2 couples down there that live in California and go to Hawaii a lot and they like Atlantis better... they all said there is more to do on site. better nightlife.

make sure to get a spa treatment either at the new Mandarin spa at Atlantis... or if you really want to splurge... go to the one and only ocean club and book a private outdoor villa massage for you and SO. Although, the new Atlanis spa might have those now too.... but you must walk around the one and only ocean club... WOW! We lucked out and ran into a grounds keeper that snuck us in to see the private villa that James Bond stayed in at the ocean club OMG!!! WOW!!!

The Cove catters more to adults, they have bands by the pool all day, swim up bar and casino... it's beautiful... but if you stay at one of the other towers you can walk to everywhere... but I think you have to stay at the cove to get access to their adult pool. But there are 11 other pools on property so you'll have enough to see. We ahve stayed at Royal towers and Coral. Check out the dig... so cool! If you like jewlry, buy some- there is no middle man... you get good jewlry deals. The straw market in nassau has some good deals. but I never get there because there is way too much to do at Atlantis... and if your trying to save $ don't get the meal plan... #1 you can't go to the greycliff on the mealplan and you must go!!! And Anthony's diner is right across the street, and subway... reasonable food prices there. And if you are taking a private cab from the airport.. ask for them to stop at the grocery store and stock up on bottled water this will save $ from buying it at Atlantis... we get cereals and fruit too. then ask for a little refridge for our room. But we travel with kids... and we always pack one small suitcase just filled with healthy snacks.

Now I want to go! I think our next trip will be soon:) Let us know where you decide. No matter where you go, it is always nice to get away... and I don't like flying either, don't know where your from, but from orlando it is only like 45 min flight! We usually connect through Charlotte NC 2 hours from there.
 
My vote is for Aruba, of course, I haven't been anywhere else. I went in 2004 with my mom and sister and we had a great time. They have snorkling, boating, parasailing, etc. and Snuba diving. That is a mix of snorkling and scuba diving. I didn't get to do it, but it look interesting. The food was excellent. We did not to the all inclusive so that we could experience the island flavor. They do have all inclusive resorts though. We stayed at the Marriott's Aruba Surf Club. The room was beautiful. It was like a small apartment. It had a one bedroom with full kitchen, washer, dryer, etc. We also got the room that attaches to it and made it into a two bedroom. One plus is that you can drink the water there. It is very good. The beaches are beautiful, plenty of activity, etc. Where ever you go, I hope you have a good time. It is very hard deciding since there are so many beautiful places to visit.
 
Wow guys...thanks soooooooo much! Atlantis looks awesome! Linda, I really appreciate the inside scoop! And thanks for the info on Aruba as well! You guys rock.

OK...so, funny thing. All the research that I have been doing on this and my SO pulls up his MSN home page yesterday...low and behold right there in his face is the top 5 Caribbean "must sees". He clicked here and fell in love...

www.ku-anguilla.com

I am still gonna do a little more research on it, and he is meeting with his travel agent today. But, we just decided this was exactly what we are looking for. He said as soon as he saw the pics and read about it, that this destination was what he had envisioned our vacation to be like.

We are going to do the 7 night package deal, if all checks out ok...I can't wait!

I REALLY do want to thank everyone for all the advice and suggestions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Wow! That looks just beautiful! I hope you both have a wonderful time relaxing and taking in all that beauty:)
 
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