Recommend a Caribbean island to me

[NewJeffCT]

I may take my wife to one of the Caribbean islands for our 4th wedding anniversary this November. We're trying to decide which one would be good.

Some qualifications:
1) My wife doesn't swim, though I'll try to teach her.
2) we'd like a nice hotel
3) a place with at least a decent amount of activities outside of swimming, snorkeling & scuba diving.

I'd prefer not to stay at an all-inclusive place, so that likely rules out Jamaica. I had gone to the Turks & Caicos before as well, but that was not so good, as there wasn't much to do outside the water.

My first thought was Aruba, as you really don't have to worry about the weather and there are some nice hotels (Hyatt, Marriott) and I've been there before. However, I'd like to think about a few other places as well - maybe the Cayman Islands, but then I thought I read something about them still recovering from a hurricane? Any other suggestions?

[salib]

1. BVI or Curacao

[Technowitch]

2. I went on a Carribean cruise for my first honeymoon--

And the place I liked best of all was Grand Cayman.

It was clean, affordable, had lots of amenities, and had great duty-free shops.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

10. Grand Cayman got nailed by the hurricanes

my parents were just there in February and it still hasn't recovered.

[jeff30997]

3. Take her to that island where...

There's a little guy always screaming: THE PLAIN!THE PLAIN!

[greatauntoftriplets]

4. St. Lucia...

Incredible scenery, history and resorts with activities.



Edited to add photo.

[In Truth We Trust]

5. Barbados (I haven't been, but hope to and would appreciate some feedback)

I've seen some beautiful photos of the island and there is a hotel high up on a hill overlooking the most scenic harbor. Seems like a very pretty island.

[Cannikin]

11. Barbados is beautiful.

I spent some time there while on a cruise.

[RebelOne]

14. Yes, Barbados is a great place to vacation.

Also,Jamaica is great. Lots of beautiful scenery and things to do. The only thing is that you just have to learn to keep saying "no, no" to all the street vendors.

[NewJeffCT]

17. good idea

my parents went there maybe 12-14 years ago... i wonder how much it's changed?

[ForrestGump]

6. I was going to suggest the TCI, but then I saw the rest of your post

Maybe the Virgins (BVI or St Croix or St John, though St John might be a bit quiet for her) or any of the ABCs...I'd go for Bonaire, but Aruba or Curacao probably has more to keep her happy.

[RebelOne]

15. I've been to St. Thomas.

Wonderful place and the people are really great.

[NewJeffCT]

35. I've been eyeing the Marriott there for years

The Frenchman's Reef marriott (I think that is what it is called) looks like it's at a beautiful location on a cliffside.

However, I checked online and it's already booked in November!

[MuseRider]

7. I see that St. Lucia and Barbados

are already covered. They are wonderful. The nicest people in the world in Barbados and lots to do. St. Lucia is also very nice. My personal favorite of all the islands I have been to is Tortola. I have been there 5 or 6 times, don't remember. We always stay at the same place Prospect Reef Resort http://www.prospectreef.com/index.asp. It is close to Roadtown so you can buy groceries and go out to eat. There is lots of activity, sailing (there is a big sailing school there) diving, snorkeling, lots of night life. The island is friendly, small enough to travel around easily. Sopers Hole is an interesting and very colorful place. Right outside your room are these little tide pools, big enough to snorkel in and there is a ton of little stuff to see and they are shallow so she would feel very comfortable in them. Here is a picture I took from our room the last time I was there. That is one of the tide pools.

[SnowGoose]

8. Not an island

but I enjoyed Belize quite a bit. Beautiful beaches, rainforests, Mayan ruins - low crime rate.

[yvr girl]

9. I've been to Barbados twice

It's nice. The ocean is pretty calm on the Caribbean side. We rented a car and drove all over the place. There's lots to see. The caves are really cool.

[Cannikin]

12. Here's a sweet beach on St. Maarten that I'm dying to go to.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y104/Cannikin/2.bmp

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y104/Cannikin/1.bmp

[Kathy in Cambridge]

13. The Mayan Riviera: not an island, but there are Mayan ruins and

beautiful beaches.

I also second BVI-especially Virgin Gorda.

[MuseRider]

16. The Baths!

Virgin Gorda is lovely but I have never stayed there. We always take a sail over to the Baths from Tortola so I have not seen the rest of the island. Is it nice?

[Kathy in Cambridge]

18. It's gorgeous. I highly recommend the Baths

and just the scenic beauty. It's incredible.

[MuseRider]

19. I see one of your

posts above about Grand Cayman not being recovered from the hurricane. Did your parents hear anything about Little Cayman or Cayman Brac? We are wanting to go diving again this summer and one of my sons wants to go back to Little Cayman. Just wondering.

[NewJeffCT]

20. kick for the morning crowd

i posted last night...

[MrScorpio]

21. Dutch Saint Martin

Stay away from the French side

[LostinVA]

25. You can say that again...

[NewJeffCT]

29. what's wrong with the French side?

Or, is that anti-French sarcasm?

[MrScorpio]

37. The Dutch side is much nicer

The French side is not very tourist friendly

[Heidi]

22. Tortola, BVI.

I've been there and it's one of my favorite places in the world.



http://tortola-british-virgin-islands.visit-the-virgin-islands.com/

[LostinVA]

23. Anguilla

Although it's a bit more pricey than some of the islands, it's also not as touristy. And St. Martin's is a quick boat ride away. Nice people there. Read "A Trip to the Beach."

[LostinVA]

24. I', insane! Grenada is perfect, if the hurricane damage has been fixed som

Lots to do outside of the water. Rain forests, hiking, nutmeg and rum plantations, historical stuff. Plus water stuff.

[NewJeffCT]

30. and, if there are problems...

We can be sure that Bush will invade in order to follow in St. Ronnie's footsteps.

[LostinVA]

33. I was in college when that happened

All I cared about was sex and pot then, but even then I thought it was insane....

[mtnsnake]

26. If you're looking for something to do outside of water activities

THEN WHY THE CARIBBEAN?? :wtf:

Why not Montreal? Have a great time wherever you decide, though! ;)

[NewJeffCT]

31. too cold in November

my wife wants to go some place warm... and, I think I can at least get her out to try snorkeling. We might also go to Canada later this year - possibly around US Labor Day.

[mtnsnake]

36. Yes, convince her to try the snorkeling!

From what I've read, lots of people who can't swim have no problems snorkeling. On any of the snorkeling tours, they put you in a life jacket anyway. My wife can swim, but she's a little claustrophobic and she didn't think she'd be able to snorkel, but once she tried it, she loved it. Both of us are hooked on it now. Make sure you put the sunscreen on when you're snorkeling. Even though there's a thin film of water over you all the time, it acts like a sunray intensifier and will give you a heck of a burn on the back of your neck, back, or legs if you're not protected. Have fun!

[LynneSin]

27. Skip the islands and go to Costa Rica

Because you not only still have some amazing beaches BUT you also have plenty of non-beach things to do such as visiting the various rain forests and active volcanos through the country.

When we went a few years ago we went to a town in Northwestern Costa Rica called Tamorindo. However, if you want a little bit of Carribean flavor, you might want to consider the Caribean side of Costa Rica (I've not been there) or also Belize is another beautiful country that you can visit.

[Catchawave]

28. Take a cruise !

All the ports of call include at least one non-water activity :)

My favorite was St. Marteen. That's where Yoda Guy has his studio, he created the Star Wars' Yoda ! So that was a thrill. Otherwise, I think Carribean, I think water, drinking, shopping, sleeping and gambling. I'd rather go to NYC :)

Have fun whatever you decide !

[Squeech]

32. Brazil

Everybody should experience Rio at some point, it's engineered for pleasure and relaxation (at a price, of course). And get off the beaten path some, too. The churches and general architecture of Ouro Preto, the almost Alpine grandeur of Teresopolis, the antiquity and spirit of Salvador (capital of the state of Bahia), all are lovely. And the beaches! :loveya:

Mrs. Squeech thinks well of Haiti, and certainly they need tourist money. (They need any kind of money.)

[LostinVA]

34. Or parts of Belize

[Rockholm]

38. Try the BVI by SAILING!

I went last April for 10 days. Granted, we are all sailors, but you can have a captained sailboat. We had a catamaran. AWESOME. That way, you get to see many different islands and experience a lot more than you would sitting at one resort.
My Carribean experiences have all been "good." Not great, but good. Depending on the island, or islands, that you go to, you will pretty much find nice beaches and nice people. I like islands where you caqn explore the history, not just the sand. Antigua was cool in that regard.
I have thought about Curacao. The issue with Curacao and Aruba is that they are very hot and very windy, from what I have heard.