Best Carribean destination?

[Tami]

I want to get away for 2 weeks in Feb. I'm 32 and travelling with my bf who is also 32. We are not interested in partying or clubbing - what's the best Carribean destination for us? We have been to Mexico 3 times and to Aruba once - we'd like to go someplace different this time. Beach/pool scene and food are important aspects for us.
Suggestions please? - I need to book this baby soon if I want to get the time off at work.

[The_Professor]

A budget would be helpful since pricing can vary wildly. Where in Mexico have you been......there are some great new hotels in the Mayan Riviera.

[BobW]

you into water stuff (scuba, snorkelling, jet skis..etc)?

you want to be a beach bum?

do you want to speak english? or spanish? or french?

you want lots of people around you? or very few?

you want tourist attractions? or the local scene?


the Caribbean is a big place and there are lots of options....

[ctchang1]

I just came back from Bahamas, Nassau.
Me and my wife spent 4 days and 3 nights in Sandals Royal Bahamian resort, the food was great, people were nice (local and tourist), pool was clean and weather was great (from Dec 10 to Dec 13, not sure about next year Feb).
You might want to check it out.

Have fun!

[GaspeLisa]

Need a bit more info..
how about st. martin? great for shopping...
Barbados is always great..heck, they are all great... :)
Have fun away from the snow!

[lor74]

Like the others have said, it comes down to how you want to spend your time...and your budget.

I have been to a lot of different islands, and they all have something different to offer.

[Tami]

budget=$2000 pp for two weeks.

been to cancun, playa del carmen, and tulum. did pretty much everything you can do in that area.

love to swim and to snorkel and to sit sit on the beach as well as by the pool. english speaking area would be better, as our french and spanish are very limited. we dont like being around alot of people, but at the same time it would be nice to leave the resort and experience the local culture without having to travel a great distance. we are looking to relax most of all, and to enjoy some books, some drinks, and some good food.

barbados all inclusive for 2 weeks is over $4000...eep.

[janbee]

St Martin has beautiful beaches, great shopping and food to die for. Love the french side, if you dont know french its not a problem. Renting a car is a must, getting around the island is easy. traffic can be a problem at times. Take a day trip to St Barths or Anguilla by ferry or plane. I am also 32 and went in Oct with my bf and we loved it. (his first time there and my 4th time)

[jl001]

I don't think upscale island like St. Martin is doable for under $2000pp for 2 weeks.
My suggestion is Cozumel, Mexico and Punta Cana, DR.

[OceanDrop]

I don't think upscale island like St. Martin is doable for under $2000pp for 2 weeks.
My suggestion is Cozumel, Mexico and Punta Cana, DR.

my bf and i did st. maarten last year. it was really nice. and yes, it'd be quite possible to do it for under $2000/pp, it just depends on where you stay. we stayed on the dutch side at the sonesta maho, and it was a great hotel. there's a little strip out front where you can go shopping, dining, etc.

we also did bahamas a couple of years ago, and it was amazing! probably because of the scuba and our hotel. but if you've been to aruba, i'd assume they're quite similar.

this year we went to panama, and if you have the luxury of going for 2 weeks, go there! we went for one week and it definitely wasn't enough time. there's so much to do and see, the beach was huge, and there was about 7 pools...it was crazy. so panama gets my vote! if you don't mind going a little further south of course.

oh, and i've heard belize is beautiful... too many great places to choose from.

[janbee]

I don't think upscale island like St. Martin is doable for under $2000pp for 2 weeks.
My suggestion is Cozumel, Mexico and Punta Cana, DR.

car, hotel, and air worked out to $800 pp for one week (from detroit). so yes it is doable. although we went in the off season. there are many hotels to fit everyones budget on st martin.

[sparkplug]

I visited St. Maarten last week and had a beautiful stay there. I've heard Turks & Caicos is amazing, although I've never been there.

[nano]

Barbados isn't a country that you want to do all in vacations... if you can get a hotel with a kitchen in it you will be set most grocery stores have shuttle services. the island is really safe the food is amazing beaches are awesome and liquor is really cheap...

[mre]

From what you've said, I think Anguilla would fit what you want the best. It will be out of your budget, but you could go to St. Martin and then Anguilla for part of the trip. If you weren't going in Feb. I would recommend Bermuda as well even though it's not in the Caribbean.

[coolspot]

I want to get away for 2 weeks in Feb. I'm 32 and travelling with my bf who is also 32. We are not interested in partying or clubbing - what's the best Carribean destination for us? We have been to Mexico 3 times and to Aruba once - we'd like to go someplace different this time. Beach/pool scene and food are important aspects for us.
Suggestions please? - I need to book this baby soon if I want to get the time off at work.

Can you afford Hawaii? Much nicer/better than the Caribbean.

[mlc2000]

From what you've said, I think Anguilla would fit what you want the best. It will be out of your budget, but you could go to St. Martin and then Anguilla for part of the trip. If you weren't going in Feb. I would recommend Bermuda as well even though it's not in the Caribbean.

Bermuda is the most expensive island I haver ever stayed at.
That said, it is the most beautiful island I've ever been on, including most of the carribean
Hotels are generally $400-500/night, meals are not included.
3 meals on the island is easily over $150 pp / day.
Having an efficiency unit and cooking for yourself is not cheap either.
Groceries are exorbitantly expensive, even for Bermudians.
No rental cars anywhere, only scooters.

Plus Bermuda is only nice in the summer time.

I was there twice, visiting a friend who was working there.

[glaswegian]

Try Bali next time, cheaper and nicer.

[coolspot]

Try Bali next time, cheaper and nicer.


And occasional bombings too j/k :)

[rc51]

Can you afford Hawaii? Much nicer/better than the Caribbean.

Can you qualify that??

I've been to both but couldn't say one is 'better' than the other..they are different.

My favorite is Barbados...but Aruba, St. Maarten, St. Thomas are all very nice.

[coolspot]

Can you qualify that??

I've been to both but couldn't say one is 'better' than the other..they are different.

My favorite is Barbados...but Aruba, St. Maarten, St. Thomas are all very nice.

Hawaii has great beaches and resorts like the Caribbean but offers much more including volcanoes, shopping, resturants, tourist attractions, and things to do in general. You can get all the fun of a big city (Honolulu) with beauty of an island paradise :)

I like the refined atmosphere of Hawaii more - but I sure won't turn down a trip to the Caribbean (in fact I'm going in a couple months).

[originalnutta]

Can we please keep this thread ON Topic.

[glaswegian]

Alright nutta....keeps your knickers on mate:!:



Can we please keep this thread ON Topic.

[Tami]

Hawaii is great, but I have already been there when I was 16 on a school trip. I'm looking for advice on the best Carribean destinations - something besides Mexico or Aruba. I have not heard anything good about Cuba or Dominican (especially the food) but it seems to be the only thing available in my budget...

[coolspot]

Hawaii is great, but I have already been there when I was 16 on a school trip. I'm looking for advice on the best Carribean destinations - something besides Mexico or Aruba. I have not heard anything good about Cuba or Dominican (especially the food) but it seems to be the only thing available in my budget...

How about a Cruise? You get to see several islands ... and the food is (usually) decent.

[KevC]

I loved Turks and Caicos when I was there.

[originalnutta]

Anyone been to multiple Cuba resorts?

Which one would you say is best in terms of beaches, hotel, and a family type environment?

I don't want to be surrounded by drunken school kids on my vacation.

[iahluwalia]

Anyone been to multiple Cuba resorts?

Which one would you say is best in terms of beaches, hotel, and a family type environment?

I don't want to be surrounded by drunken school kids on my vacation.

Cuba is great if you like friendly local people and long quite beach walks. But the food is universally bad.

My advice is to book a 4+ or 5 star

My order of preference

1 Cayo Largo - the most beautiful beach (check if the beach has not been washed away by the last hurricane)

2 Cayo Coco

3 Cayo Santa Maria

4 Holguin

5 Santiago de Cuba

6 Varadero (very touristy)

[3weddings]

I am a Bahamian at heart and miss it terribly. The people, the water, and the off resort activities are wonderful.

If you want to enjoy it, but not pay Atlantis prices, try the Comfort Suites on Paradise Island. You will get access to all of Atlantis by staying there!

http://www.comfortsuites.com/ires/en-US/html/HotelInfo?hotel=BS003

[knapper]

Barbados isn't a country that you want to do all in vacations... if you can get a hotel with a kitchen in it you will be set most grocery stores have shuttle services. the island is really safe the food is amazing beaches are awesome and liquor is really cheap...

Why not AI? I just booked Aeroplan reward flights and found a resort (Barbados Beach Club) that was cheap for all-in. Just wondering if I made a mistake...

[patriot]

+1 Turks & Caicos

Go Club Med to keep the cost down though.

[originalnutta]

Cuba is great if you like friendly local people and long quite beach walks. But the food is universally bad.

My advice is to book a 4+ or 5 star

My order of preference

1 Cayo Largo - the most beautiful beach (check if the beach has not been washed away by the last hurricane)

2 Cayo Coco

3 Cayo Santa Maria

4 Holguin

5 Santiago de Cuba

6 Varadero (very touristy)

Thanks for the great 1st post. :)

And are any of these beaches actually used to swim in? I see picstures of people just walking around or using the pool. I want to go to the Caribbean so i can swim in the ocean.

[nano]

Why not AI? I just booked Aeroplan reward flights and found a resort (Barbados Beach Club) that was cheap for all-in. Just wondering if I made a mistake...

it wasnt a mistake but AI's in barbados are $3000 or more. you will have a great vacation

[knapper]

it wasnt a mistake but AI's in barbados are $3000 or more. you will have a great vacation

Without the flight I am paying about $1,500 for 6 nights for both myself and wife, with our 3 year old staying for free. I could not believe the price and had to confirm that it included all meals and drinks (not top shelf stuff). I'll see how the place turns out, but the reviews were fairly good. Only negatives were some comments on food, but at that price I plan to check out some of the local restuarants.

[rc51]

Go check out some beaches and resorts in Fiji....just as good as any other destination if not better and it's not commercialized at other tourist places.

[originalnutta]

Go check out some beaches and resorts in Fiji....just as good as any other destination if not better and it's not commercialized at other tourist places.

Where in the Caribbean is it?

[Tami]

...probably way over budget as well...

[89fan]

February is a VERY expensive time to travel.

The only places I am seeing under $2,000 per person all inclusive taxes incl 4* or higher are:

Cuba, DR, El Salvador, Hobduras, Mexico, Panama, Margarita Island, Jamaica has a couple resorts, not the best though.

Unfortunately Mexico is your best bet, Why don't you try out a new part of the country such as Cabo, Huatulco, Ixtapa, Manzanillo, Mazatlan, or PV

[Tami]

I went with Jamaica, Riu Ocho Rios - AI Oceanview $1427 pp for one week. Two weeks was just not do-able on my budget.