Where to say in the carribean?

[purbeast0]

i created another thread earlier about where in the bahamas to stay, but now i've decided to check out the entire caribbean area.

i am going to book a place for my gf and I for the summer. we want to go somewhere beautiful beaches and breathtaking scenery. we would also like the place to not be dead at night, and have atleast something to do in the evening aside from staying in our room. it would be cool to find a place where you can go on tours through the mountains or jungles in the area, to see some nice natural beauty in the wild.

i am looking on trip advisor and see many places in the caribbean, however I don't really know where to look to start. i am checking out the grand cayman islands right now, but where else in the carribean would you guys recommend to take a trip to?

post some pics of places you've been if you have any as well, thanks!

 

[iamwiz82]

Th emost beautiful islands I have been to have the British Virgin Islands. Also very nice is St. Maarten. Many of the more mainstream islands are so touristy that it's useless to "get away."

Pics are in my sig. The 2005 cruise was to the Bahamas, St. Maarten, and BVI. There is also a gallery of our 2004 cruise to the bahamas, St. Maarten, and the USVI.

 

[Feldenak]

I'm headed to Aruba in March. I'll let you know how it was after I get back.

 

[purbeast0]

no one else has been on a vacation there?!?

 

[bernse]

Second St. Maartan.

 

[Lola]

Originally posted by: bernse
Second St. Maartan.

if you are into it... st martin has a nice nude beach that is always fun and busy.. Orient Bay!

 

[jst0ney]

I've been to Jamacia. I wouldn't go there. There are better places in the Carib.

 

[Boogak]

I went to St. Thomas and Aruba last year and of the 2, I liked Aruba more. The resort I stayed at (Manchebo had the most gorgeous beach I've ever been to, a wide swath of powder sugar sand and clear topaz water. Aruba also has casinoes if you're into gambling, but no jungles or nice scenery though since it is more of an arid desert island. The food service is also pretty bad, it would take 2 hours to finish a meal since the servers are soooo slow, this was at every restaurant we went to (both at resorts and downtown).

 

[imported_Tomato]

Go to Martinique!

 

[Colt45]

Cuba

 

[dderidex]

I liked Grand Cayman.

Wife is very fond of Bonaire, though - she keeps...errr....'nicely suggesting' we should go there some time. She went quite often before we were married.

 

[yukichigai]

It's "Caribbean". Looks odd, but that's how it is. See?

/end spellcheck whoring

 

[MustISO]

We're thinking of going to Aruba in March. I've been to the Bahamas 3 times, Jamaica once and St. Lucia once. We stayed at the Sandles resorts in each place. Bahamas and St. Lucia were the best of the three.

 

[Reckoner]

St. John's off of St. Thomas was an amazing place. One of the best beaches I've ever seen. St. Maarten was also nice. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that one of the ocean areas in St. Maarten is where Disney filmed a portion of Pirates of the Caribbean. I've also been to Barbados, which is where I saw the largest amount of tourists. St. Lucia was also nice.

I would recommend either St. Thomas or St. Maarten. Can't go wrong with either one. St. Maarten has a volcano that you can take a hike and look at.


EDIT: Oh yeah, almost forgot the Virgin Islands. Some cool stuff there on both the Dutch and French sides. I took a tour of the whole island and we visited the French Fort, a nude beach, a butterfly field, and some other cool stuff.

 

[neonerd]

everyone tells me aruba is nice...i've never been to the caribbean though

 

[jadinolf]

Haiti.

Caribbean Paradise.

 

[Rogue]

I prefer Puerto Rico, but that's because my wife is Puerto Rican I think. San Juan was nice.

 

[Squisher]

Grand Caymans ~ 7 mile beach, no crime, I want to live there.

Aruba and St. Marteen were cool, St. Thomas was beutiful too.

 

[Amused]

Most of the Caribbean is made up of third world countres with varying problems.

If a tropical vacation is what you want, I would suggest Hawaii.

 

[AStar617]

Originally posted by: Rogue
I prefer Puerto Rico, but that's because my wife is Puerto Rican I think. San Juan was nice.

Already tied the knot, and you're still unsure of her ethnicity?

Oh, my vote is for Trinidad & Tobago.

 

[AStar617]

Originally posted by: Amused
Most of the Caribbean is made up of third world countres with varying problems.

Gotta say, that's top 3 on the "most ignorant statements I've heard all week" list.

 

[vi edit]

The only way you'd get me on the Bahama's or Jamaica was if I was on an all inclusive resort that didn't require me leaving the place. Stumble off the resort and you could be in some seriously bad places.

Like Amused said, most of the islands there are in financial shambles.

If I wanted to get out and about and see scenery I'd probably go elsewhere. But if you want to hit a resort and drink yourself to oblivion, get some excellent sun and snorkeling/scuba diving in the Carribean is tough to beat. Just don't venture off the resort.

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: Squisher
Grand Caymans ~ 7 mile beach, no crime, I want to live there.

Aruba and St. Marteen were cool, St. Thomas was beutiful too.

Grand Cayman

I was there twice. Loved it.

 

[myusername]

Aruba is gorgeous and friendly, I don't really remember Grand Cayman, and Antigua is very third world. Diving in Aruba is quite good and definitely has the most interesting hiking terrain of the 3 if you like outings (with the exception of Hell, GC, which is interesting to see, but basically a 5 minute stop), though Cayman is more exotic and has more features (if you like shark or wall diving). Basically if you don't like the open sewers and locals who seem just a little too thuggish, stick to the Dutch West Indies and leave the British West Indies alone.

 

[myusername]

Oh crap you said summer. Never been in the summer, but have heard trade winds die down and big ass mosquitos in July in aruba. I didn't mention it, but the constant wind is one of the awesome things about Aruba. I'd still say go, but triple check with your agent and/or tourism there to make sure you aren't going during one of those calm spells.