Carribean Vacation Recommendations - No AI or cruises.

[JasoninDenver]

I have noticed a great many members here are big fans of the Caribbean so I am hoping for a little guidance for a low-key beach trip.

I am planning a 10 vacation over Christmas in 2017 and looking for a nice destination to sit on the beach and enjoy a laid back environment. We have never been to this part of the world and everyone we know has done it by cruise ship or mega all-inclusive resort, neither of which are our cup of tea.

Can anybody recommend an island where we can:

Rent a nice condo on or very near a good beach

Have a good array of water and land activities

Away from mega crowds and congestion

We stay away from busy nightlife/casino districts and do not need much in the way of shopping and fancy tourist attractions. Beach chairs and boogie boards are about it for us.

So far I have heard good things about Aruba and Punta Cana.

We usually go to Maui, but December weather can be hit or miss there.

Mexico is a possibility but, for some reason, my two Mexico trips have all been jinxed by "once every 20 year" events. Our trip last year to Cancun was marred by a seagrass bloom that prevented us from even getting into the water. Trip before that was Cabo when a jellyfish infestation did the same. Needless to say, the wife is reluctant to go for the third strike!

Thanks in advance.

[GerardoG]

Aruba or Turks & Caicos. Want to sit and do nothing? Grand Turk

[gregmoeck]

Grand Cayman, the east end is quiet....Sting ray city if you don't scuba.. Cayman BRAC or little cayman island if you really want to escape...

Lots of people go to Belize , ambroise cage

I went to Roatan Honduras twice last year but I scuba, it's a bit rustic of an island..More jungle...

You can go wrong with the cayman islands

[herts9]

Will concur with G on this one. Aruba. They have AI, but the away from resort dining was exquisite.

[bayerische]

Cayman works well. So do the French side of St Martin.

[DJ TT 2002]

Anguilla.

[droptopman]

Not a lot of experience in the region outside of DR. We like Punta Cana. Some good golf and quiet. We have tried both a AI package deal through Costco and doing our own thing. The Costco deal was a "good" deal but a little busy.
The second time we booked a condo on our own and we both seemed to enjoy the trip more. No itinerary, just kind of made it up as we went.

[Sublover2166]

Went to Barbados for honeymoon back in 2001 and loved it. Check it out.

[Tri-Tip]

If I had my choice, I'd stick with the US (Hawaii), but if you're determined to go to the Caribbean, check out Antigua...365 beaches.

[hdrazor251]

Grand Cayman or Turks & Caicos. Check out vrbo.com for condos.

[Headshrinker]

My wife and I love Aruba. It's one of the few places you can walk around late at night and not worry. If you don't stay where most of the hotels are clumped together, it is also very quiet and relaxed island. Just don't expect a lush and tropical island.

[G8RDPM]

Saw this place in a magazine yesterday.
http://www.eldoradosparesorts.com

I think it looks amazing but have not been there!

[Etschell]

Turks and caicos hands down. Lowest crime rate in the eorld and best reef in Caribbean

[Fuselierpa]

Petit St. Vincent. Forget the condo. PSV is all you need.

http://www.petitstvincent.com

[Slippy Chips]

I have been to the Caribbean A LOT and have done both 5 star resorts and Cruises. My best recommendations:

US territories that don't need a passport:

The St Regis in Puerto Rico. Simply one of the best hotels or properties anywhere.

The Ritz Carlton in St. Thomas. Great view overlooking St Johns which has some of the best beaches I've ever seen (and I'm a major beach snob)

If you don't need a 5 star resort go to St John. Simply amazing beaches.

Non-US:

Scrub Island (a Marriott property)

The Four Seasons Nevis.

St Martin and Antigua are gorgious but I've never stayed overnight. I would totally look in to either of those.

If you are still open to Mexico, last year I went to the St Regis Punta Mita. Most of the people there were from the west coast and they all said it was 10 times better than Hawaii. Lots of famous people go there so it is very quiet. I've stayed at some amazing hotels and it is the top 2-3 I have ever seen. Absolutely paradise!

[TommyT53]

Originally Posted by Slippy Chips

I have been to the Caribbean A LOT and have done both 5 star resorts and Cruises. My best recommendations:

US territories that don't need a passport:

The St Regis in Puerto Rico. Simply one of the best hotels or properties anywhere.

The Ritz Carlton in St. Thomas. Great view overlooking St Johns which has some of the best beaches I've ever seen (and I'm a major beach snob)

If you don't need a 5 star resort go to St John. Simply amazing beaches.

Non-US:

Scrub Island (a Marriott property)

The Four Seasons Nevis.

St Martin and Antigua are gorgious but I've never stayed overnight. I would totally look in to either of those.

If you are still open to Mexico, last year I went to the St Regis Punta Mita. Most of the people there were from the west coast and they all said it was 10 times better than Hawaii. Lots of famous people go there so it is very quiet. I've stayed at some amazing hotels and it is the top 2-3 I have ever seen. Absolutely paradise!

Punta de Mita...I was there in 1974. There was no power except generators and we spent our days picking Puka shells on the beach..all the hipsters had a Puka shell necklace in those days 😄 Are there still Puka to be picked?

[Slippy Chips]

Originally Posted by TommyT53

Punta de Mita...I was there in 1974. There was no power except generators and we spent our days picking Puka shells on the beach..all the hipsters had a Puka shell necklace in those days �� Are there still Puka to be picked?

I don't remember anything called a Puka. But I do remember taking a boat to an island with this hidden beach:

[IMG][/IMG]

It's changed a lot in the last 5-10 years. A developer basically purchased the entire peninsula. It's all $10-30million mansions and secluded 5 star resorts. You may be able to tell I can't wait to go back.

[JasoninDenver]

Originally Posted by Fuselierpa

Petit St. Vincent. Forget the condo. PSV is all you need.

http://www.petitstvincent.com

Dang, that is stunning. Too bad it is 2.5 times my budget. It is going on the 20th anniversary list though.

[JasoninDenver]

Originally Posted by Slippy Chips

I have been to the Caribbean A LOT and have done both 5 star resorts and Cruises. My best recommendations:

US territories that don't need a passport:

The St Regis in Puerto Rico. Simply one of the best hotels or properties anywhere.

The Ritz Carlton in St. Thomas. Great view overlooking St Johns which has some of the best beaches I've ever seen (and I'm a major beach snob)

If you don't need a 5 star resort go to St John. Simply amazing beaches.

Non-US:

Scrub Island (a Marriott property)

The Four Seasons Nevis.

St Martin and Antigua are gorgious but I've never stayed overnight. I would totally look in to either of those.

If you are still open to Mexico, last year I went to the St Regis Punta Mita. Most of the people there were from the west coast and they all said it was 10 times better than Hawaii. Lots of famous people go there so it is very quiet. I've stayed at some amazing hotels and it is the top 2-3 I have ever seen. Absolutely paradise!

Thanks for the detailed advice.

[JasoninDenver]

Originally Posted by G8RDPM

Saw this place in a magazine yesterday.
http://www.eldoradosparesorts.com

I think it looks amazing but have not been there!

Wow, the kids can stay home for Christmas.

[JasoninDenver]

Thanks Everyone.

Definitely have some places that were not on the radar.

So far the new contenders are Antigua, Anguilla, St. john and Grand Turk.

How are travel connections to these islands. i assume most will require a small plane or ferry connection, with the exception of St. john.

[Fuselierpa]

Originally Posted by JasoninDenver

Thanks Everyone.

Definitely have some places that were not on the radar.

So far the new contenders are Antigua, Anguilla, St. john and Grand Turk.

How are travel connections to these islands. i assume most will require a small plane or ferry connection, with the exception of St. john.

St John and Anguilla you take a ferry from a next door island where commercial flights land. Grand Turk has commercial flights. I think Antigua does too.

[G8RDPM]

Originally Posted by JasoninDenver

Wow, the kids can stay home for Christmas.

Check the website. There are over water bungalows(they call them Palafitos)look great on the web!

Lots of great choices!

[breitlings]

I would go right to the virgin islands. Forget aruba and bahamas. Bareboat charter a 40 foot cat.

[Flywheel]

Originally Posted by breitlings

I would go right to the virgin islands. Forget aruba and bahamas. Bareboat charter a 40 foot cat.

I second that. Nothing like it. The British Virgin Islands in particular. Here's a shot from our 40 foot cat.

[droptopman]

Originally Posted by Slippy Chips

I have been to the Caribbean A LOT and have done both 5 star resorts and Cruises. My best recommendations:



US territories that don't need a passport:



The St Regis in Puerto Rico. Simply one of the best hotels or properties anywhere.



The Ritz Carlton in St. Thomas. Great view overlooking St Johns which has some of the best beaches I've ever seen (and I'm a major beach snob)



If you don't need a 5 star resort go to St John. Simply amazing beaches.



Non-US:



Scrub Island (a Marriott property)



The Four Seasons Nevis.



St Martin and Antigua are gorgious but I've never stayed overnight. I would totally look in to either of those.



If you are still open to Mexico, last year I went to the St Regis Punta Mita. Most of the people there were from the west coast and they all said it was 10 times better than Hawaii. Lots of famous people go there so it is very quiet. I've stayed at some amazing hotels and it is the top 2-3 I have ever seen. Absolutely paradise!

Great informative post. Thank you

[James K]

http://www.stanielcay.com/


You can thank me later.

[JasoninDenver]

Originally Posted by James K

http://www.stanielcay.com/


You can thank me later.

In think I'll thank you now. Exactly what we were looking for.

No tvs - huge plus. My daughters saw the swimming pigs and were sold.

[James K]

Glad to see you like it. To make the trip easier try to stay somewhere on the east coast before heading out to the island. You have to take a puddle jumper to the island, there's two airlines that fly there unless you want to take your own charter. Silver airways is one and they only fly out of Ft. Lauderdale. Flamingo Air has regularly scheduled routes to and from Nassau to Staniel Cay.

[breitlings]

Originally Posted by Flywheel

I second that. Nothing like it. The British Virgin Islands in particular. Here's a shot from our 40 foot cat.

Beautiful shot