Did not have this problem.Havent been to too many islands, but:
Favorite: Caymans. Quiet, relaxing, great beaches and snorkling (SCUBA too if that's your thing)
Worst: Jamaica - Obnoxious/dangerous locals, dirty, crime riddled. If you never leave the resort then Jamaica can be great. But why go somewhere you can't explore a bit IMO
Aruba was awesome. I loved driving around island and exploring.St. Lucia- Beautiful island, nice people, great weather, good food and beer.Worst- Aruba- Dirty, boring, and polluted.
Great Resort.I liked Grand Lido Braco in Jamaica as my 2nd.1A: Excellence Punta Cana in DR. 1B: St Lucia.
I will second St Lucia. We loved it and it was great. We stayed at Sandals and The Ladera which only has 3 walls. The room is open to the pitons and has no fourth wall closing the room in. I loved Aruba though. I didnt find it boring, dirty or polluted. Was one of our best vacationsSt. Lucia- Beautiful island, nice people, great weather, good food and beer.Worst- Aruba- Dirty, boring, and polluted.
How does the Lido Braco compare?Great Resort.I liked Grand Lido Braco in Jamaica as my 2nd.1A: Excellence Punta Cana in DR. 1B: St Lucia.
I don't usually leave the resorts
It's been a long time since I was there and apparently they changed names but when I was there I thought the room at grand lido was better, we walked righout the back door onto the beach. I can't remember the food but I think Excellence was better. I liked the layout a bit better in Excellence, I think. Grand Lido was 12 years ago... omgHow does the Lido Braco compare?Great Resort.I liked Grand Lido Braco in Jamaica as my 2nd.1A: Excellence Punta Cana in DR. 1B: St Lucia.
I don't usually leave the resorts
Where do you stay?I've fallen in love with St. John (and the virgin islands in general). Probably won't venture back to the Bahamas, Jamaica, ect. ever again.
"villas" on the coral bay side of the island.Where do you stay?I've fallen in love with St. John (and the virgin islands in general). Probably won't venture back to the Bahamas, Jamaica, ect. ever again.
staying here next month.Da Raiders is a STJ guru. knows people, ect."villas" on the coral bay side of the island.Where do you stay?I've fallen in love with St. John (and the virgin islands in general). Probably won't venture back to the Bahamas, Jamaica, ect. ever again.
Well, we used frequent flyer miles for the flights which certainly helped. In the jungle we stayed at Caves Branch which was like $400pp for the 3-day package (included lodging, all food, and 2 adventures) and was free for kids (they were just young enough - under 9 I think?)... Caye Caulker is just plain cheap. You take a public transportation ferry from Belize City (cheap and a little scary/fun) to get there. We stayed in the upstairs of a kite-surfing shop ($75/nt) which had a big porch with hammocks, incredible view, and about a 20ft walk to the water. You could get freshly caught lobster (killed, cut, and cooked right in front of you) or snapper kabobs with rice, potato salad, and roll every night on the beach for like $10.Where and how did you stay in Belize cheap?
man, that place looks awesome! was at st john last month for the first time and really liked it. didnt realize there were private places to stay? thought the whole island was a park? only thing i didnt like was pretty expensive (im cheap) and that it seemed like you would need a car to get around (taxis are ridiculous).staying here next month.Da Raiders is a STJ guru. knows people, ect."villas" on the coral bay side of the island.Where do you stay?I've fallen in love with St. John (and the virgin islands in general). Probably won't venture back to the Bahamas, Jamaica, ect. ever again.
We've travelled up and down a lot of the Caribbean and have been to T&C twice- only Provo though. IMO and IME, Grace Bay is a beautiful beach and the water is going to great pretty much wherever you go in the Caribbean, but I found it to have the worst of everything else. Suprised to hear it called out as a favorite.Ive been to Bahamas, St Marten, Aruba, and Antigua, but the nicest imo is Turks and Caicos.
Stunning beaches, crystal clear water, great service everywhere you go. Very tranquil. Although its been about 5 yrs and in that time it has been very built up, so it might be more crowded now.
The island is filled with these type of places varying in size and cost. Last time, we stayed in VERY small little "cottage". I think I got 5 nights for $1000. This time, we are dragging the kids with us so we went bigger.Food is expensive, but manageable. Shipping nonperishable stuff helps.man, that place looks awesome! was at st john last month for the first time and really liked it. didnt realize there were private places to stay? thought the whole island was a park? only thing i didnt like was pretty expensive (im cheap) and that it seemed like you would need a car to get around (taxis are ridiculous).staying here next month.Da Raiders is a STJ guru. knows people, ect."villas" on the coral bay side of the island.Where do you stay?I've fallen in love with St. John (and the virgin islands in general). Probably won't venture back to the Bahamas, Jamaica, ect. ever again.
Great Resort.I liked Grand Lido Braco in Jamaica as my 2nd.1A: Excellence Punta Cana in DR. 1B: St Lucia.
I don't usually leave the resorts
Yeah, we did a day-trip to Trunk Bay (from Water Island). It was an awesome place, but it kinda sucked driving right past 3-4 awesome beaches with no one in sight only to get to a beach filled with the obnoxious herds from the cruise ships. I gotta think with a car, you can find your own secluded beaches pretty easily. The cheap flights to St Thomas can sorta make up for the other high prices. I assume VRBO is the place to look for the rentals?The island is filled with these type of places varying in size and cost. Last time, we stayed in VERY small little "cottage". I think I got 5 nights for $1000. This time, we are dragging the kids with us so we went bigger.Food is expensive, but manageable. Shipping nonperishable stuff helps.man, that place looks awesome! was at st john last month for the first time and really liked it. didnt realize there were private places to stay? thought the whole island was a park? only thing i didnt like was pretty expensive (im cheap) and that it seemed like you would need a car to get around (taxis are ridiculous).staying here next month.Da Raiders is a STJ guru. knows people, ect."villas" on the coral bay side of the island.Where do you stay?I've fallen in love with St. John (and the virgin islands in general). Probably won't venture back to the Bahamas, Jamaica, ect. ever again.
And yes, renting a 4x4 is a must (but completes the adventure bc you can explore the island end to end).
If I were looking for a cheap/nice all inclusive, Id probably check into Punta Cana. Most of the DR is a like a 3rd-world country, but Punta Cana caters to the Americans.Looking to be very lazy and relax. A drink at a swim up pool bar is much more what i am looking for over an adventure. All inclusives look interesting. But if the are is reasonable its not necessary.
I'll also recommend St. Lucia, but I actually liked Aruba more. Sounds like someone had a bad experience there. I stayed in the "low rise" area which was a lot more quiet. We ventured to the "high rise" area a couple of nights and it was a little crowded, but some people might like that. It is not dirty or polluted. There is as much to do there than any other islands that I know of, so I don't get the boring comment either. My favorite caribbean spot is St. Kitts and Nevis. We stayed at the Four Seasons in Nevis and it was by far the best vacation I ever had. It is the samoa to St. Lucia's thin mint.I will second St Lucia. We loved it and it was great. We stayed at Sandals and The Ladera which only has 3 walls. The room is open to the pitons and has no fourth wall closing the room in. I loved Aruba though. I didnt find it boring, dirty or polluted. Was one of our best vacationsSt. Lucia- Beautiful island, nice people, great weather, good food and beer.Worst- Aruba- Dirty, boring, and polluted.
Yea, Trunk is the place to avoid on cruise ship days. Laid back is the key to that place and crowds kill that buzz.Flights suck nowadays it seems. Lots of airlines trimmed their flights back.Yeah, we did a day-trip to Trunk Bay (from Water Island). It was an awesome place, but it kinda sucked driving right past 3-4 awesome beaches with no one in sight only to get to a beach filled with the obnoxious herds from the cruise ships. I gotta think with a car, you can find your own secluded beaches pretty easily. The cheap flights to St Thomas can sorta make up for the other high prices. I assume VRBO is the place to look for the rentals?The island is filled with these type of places varying in size and cost. Last time, we stayed in VERY small little "cottage". I think I got 5 nights for $1000. This time, we are dragging the kids with us so we went bigger.Food is expensive, but manageable. Shipping nonperishable stuff helps.man, that place looks awesome! was at st john last month for the first time and really liked it. didnt realize there were private places to stay? thought the whole island was a park? only thing i didnt like was pretty expensive (im cheap) and that it seemed like you would need a car to get around (taxis are ridiculous).staying here next month.Da Raiders is a STJ guru. knows people, ect."villas" on the coral bay side of the island.Where do you stay?I've fallen in love with St. John (and the virgin islands in general). Probably won't venture back to the Bahamas, Jamaica, ect. ever again.
And yes, renting a 4x4 is a must (but completes the adventure bc you can explore the island end to end).
Usually on my vacations to the Caribbean I want to be very lazy. Relaxation is number one priority and T&C seems to be the most relaxing/tranquil/least crowded of the others Ive been to. And Provo does have 6-7 very good upscale restaurants and a few solid casual spots and that seemed like enough for us.We've travelled up and down a lot of the Caribbean and have been to T&C twice- only Provo though. IMO and IME, Grace Bay is a beautiful beach and the water is going to great pretty much wherever you go in the Caribbean, but I found it to have the worst of everything else. Suprised to hear it called out as a favorite.Ive been to Bahamas, St Marten, Aruba, and Antigua, but the nicest imo is Turks and Caicos.
Stunning beaches, crystal clear water, great service everywhere you go. Very tranquil. Although its been about 5 yrs and in that time it has been very built up, so it might be more crowded now.
We stayed in Grand Case and it was fantastic. Short ten minute walk to a very non-touristy strip with a lot of excellent bars/restaurants. Beach bar for drinks while sunning/swimming. Very safe area where we didn't feel threatened walking around.My favorite is the French Side of St. Martin/Saint Marteen. We stayed at the Alamanda and loved it.
avoid anything not totally awesome.I am going to St Johns in a couple of weeks. Any recommendations while we are there?
Add The Willy T to the last line. Check that out if this is an adult trip imo.####, just deleted a long reply. Here is a list (I had links and everything).
- Hike to Salt Pond Bay and Rams Head
- Rent a dinghy and hit all the north shore beaches (can drive them all too)
- Check out Joe's BBQ in Cruz Bay
- Check out Larry's Landing in Cruz Bay (a "pour your own" establishment)
- Check out the Tourist Trap on the Coral Bay end
- Charter a boat and hit Jost Van Dyke, the Baths, the Caves, Sandy Spit and the rest of the world class drink and dive places.
da raiders knows stuffgave you your propers abovehttp://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=497563St John threadI love st John because it's small, 2/3rds of it are national park and there are many many fantastic places to visit on other islands as well as on st John
Let me know if you want a baby sitter. I might be able to get my sisters sitter for you.da raiders knows stuffgave you your propers abovehttp://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=497563St John threadI love st John because it's small, 2/3rds of it are national park and there are many many fantastic places to visit on other islands as well as on st John
Going there in June, glad to hear thisIve been to Bahamas, St Marten, Aruba, and Antigua, but the nicest imo is Turks and Caicos.
Stunning beaches, crystal clear water, great service everywhere you go. Very tranquil. Although its been about 5 yrs and in that time it has been very built up, so it might be more crowded now.
thanks mang. That would be awesome but I doubt I can convince the Mrs. to leave him with someone, but def appreciate it and will let you know.Will have more questions as we get closer. will PM or post in the STJ thread.Let me know if you want a baby sitter. I might be able to get my sisters sitter for you.da raiders knows stuffgave you your propers abovehttp://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=497563St John threadI love st John because it's small, 2/3rds of it are national park and there are many many fantastic places to visit on other islands as well as on st John
Pm me for specifics if you want. Lotta good stuff in the st John threadThanks for those replies above...