Other Caribbean Isalnd recommendations?

[cfillio]

Hello

We thoroughly enjoyed our week in Hope Town back in February, and are now planning our next trip. Because I found that the posters on this board had very similar interests, I would value opinions on our next vacation. We are looking at the following (restricted due to my frequent flyer miles):

1) St. Lucia
2) Cayman Islands
3) St. John
4) Jamaica

To recap, we have a 2-yr. old in tow, and would prefer to avoid fast-paced, touristy destinations. Still, with a child we can't be too far from transportation, groceries, etc. I know the Caymans and Jamaica may be a bit touristy, but I've heard there are also quieter nearby locales/islands to them that don't have quite the tourist influx.

Thanks!

[johnmck]

Go Irish!!

[Lime Cooler]

How about Exuma and/or Eleuthera?
Rent a pontoon/houseboat in Exuma.
www.bahamahouseboats.com (http://www.bahamahouseboats.com) (They're closed for the season right now.)
Or Cat Island.

[Henz]

If it aint the Abaco's it aint nothin!

[JJ]

My brother has enjoyed St. John with his 2 yr old and 5 yr old.

I am not that crazy about the Caymans, but they would probably be ok with a 2 yr old.

Never been to Jamaica and no desire to go, however, from what I have heard, I don't think I would want to go there with a toddler. I don't know anything about St. Lucia.

A coworker has recently purchased a house on Roatan and raves about it (don't know if your ff miles can get you there).

[Henz]

Hawaii? GO PENN STATE!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Steve B]

1. Tobago!

2. Grenada

3. St. Vincent & the Grenadines

[Tealwave]

On Grand Cayman - try Turtle Nest Inn very highly rated (see tripadvisor) great owners and in a quiet part of Cayman. Just don't go during hurricane season! *wink*

[Henz]

Bermuda?

[peterodgers]

Bahamas ain't in the Caribbean. Abaco is due east of WPB, FL and on the very southeast edge of the North America continental shelf.

[Alan Brown]

I assume you are limited to your island choices because the airline you've earned frequent flyer miles on only travels to these destinations. If so, St. Lucia is probably your best bet for a quiet getaway. It's a beautiful, crime-free, and laid-back place to visit. It's not the Abacos, but you should have a great time.

If your choices are broader, I'd take Bermuda (April-June) in a heartbeat! It's the most beautiful island I've ever visited.
Good luck!

[Henz]

Like I said, Bermuda!!!

[Agur's Wish]

Hi,
You might check out this site: http://www.maho.org/. We love St. John and have seen the camp from the water several times through the years although we have never visited it. The snorkeling in Maho Bay is fantastic and ditto for Francis Bay right next door and the underwater trail at Trunk Bay. Most of the island is a national park and very laid back but you can easily hitchhike or catch an open air taxi to Cruz bay for great shopping and eating. Visits to the other islands, BVI or USVI are easily made by ferry from Cruz Bay.

[JimG]

So many islands...so little time.

We just got back from St. John in June. It's not the easiest to get to, but that's part of the charm.

Very beautiful island ...prettiest one in the Caribbean IMHO. The north shore beaches are breathtaking in scenery. You'd have to go to the South Pacific to exceed it.

Summer months are reasonable for renting villas for 2 adults/one toddler., but....everything else is pretty expensive compared to Abaco.

Tortola, (just a few miles across) was another pretty island, again...villas are pretty reasonable, and restaraunts are more in line with Abaco. Not as beautiful as STJ.

I've been to Jamaica once before several years ago, and I'd avoid it with a child. My wife and I are going at the end of October, but we're staying in an all-inclusive w/golf course on site so we won't feel like prisoners. We don't intend on sight-seeing.

[Abacoparrott]

Bahamas ain't in the Caribbean. Abaco is due east of WPB, FL and on the very southeast edge of the North America continental shelf.
thanks for the backup Pete. In the past couple of months, I've been trying to explain to some friends that The Bahamas IS NOT in the Caribbean. Apparently, even the airlines need a lesson in geography since they usually include The Bahamas in Caribbean flight info. Quite simply, The Bahamas are in the North Atlantic. This is always a good topic for anyone who wants to win a little side bet......Ken

[dogfish]

Barbados if you want to find the same sort of island spirit and smiling faces. Great people on that island.

[steamboat]

If going to Cayman, be prepared for the cost shock (your money is worth less than you think) and it's a very busy tourist place. If going to the US Virgins, try St. Croix and be sure to go to Buck Island National Park (snorkeling on par with Abacos). If not I'd join the others in recommending St. John's but do stay away from St. Thomas (way too many people). If you can get to St. Marttin on your FF miles, you can take a ferry to Anguilla and it's a lot like the Bahamas, just on a single island. Haven't been to Jamaica for the same reasons a lot of the posters have stayed away.

[Eva H.]

If you can get to St. John (via St. Thomas), you can just as easily get to Tortola and the British Virgin Islands -- catch a ferry in Charlotte Amalie or Red Hook. It's only a 45 minute ride, and it helps ease you down into island time. Just make sure your flight arrives before 3 or 4 to STT, or else you'll have to overnight there.

Of the four places you list, St. John is the least touristy and most laid-back; the BVI are just a notch less touristy and more laid back.

While we've always sailed in the BVI, we've spent a good bit of time on land. There are many charming hotels and inns (no chains, and nothing big) and lots of villas available. The north shore beaches on Tortola are fantastic; just avoid Cane Garden Bay on cruise ship day. But Smuggler's Cove and Brewer's Bay are almost always empty; Beef Island's Long Bay (across a bridge from Tortola) it completely undeveloped and is stunning to boot.

Like the Abacos, you can island hop. A day trip to the Baths on Virgin Gorda is a must. I'm also partial to Jost Van Dyke, but that is because I'm a connisseur (sp?) of beach bars, and the ones on JVD are the best on the planet. You may not care about this, since you'll have a two-year-old in tow.... However, you could easily take your little one with you to the Soggy Dollar Bar (on White Bay, JVD) and let him or her play on the beautiful beach while you enjoy -- responsibly, of course -- an adult beverage. The islanders love kids.

The BVI and the Abacos are neck-and-neck in my most-visited island sweepstakes. Though there are many differences, you'll be happy in the BVI if you love the Abacos.

86 days to go for my next Abaco adventure...

Cheers,
Eva

[Lime Cooler]

.......I guess I should have added the phrase "NOT IN THE CARIBBEAN BUT WHY DON'T YOU TRY THESE OTHER BAHAMAS LOCATIONS"......I DO have a master's degree in social studies which includes geography, by the way.
Gotta love ya!

[LeeR]

If you like the Bahamas take a look at www.getawaybahamas.com (http://www.getawaybahamas.com)
It covers all the Bahama islands. There are hundreds of places that you could vacation at.

[Baltimore Bob]

St. John would be an excellent choice of the islands mentioned. It's a very lush island with fantastic beaches and because of it's elevation, great views to other islands such as the BVI chain. A villa on St. John in the off season is very comparable to Abaco rental costs. If you steer towards the Coral Bay side of the island or Ajax Peak you'll find it about as touristy as the Abacos.

If decide to go there, and the villa route, ask about road access. Some of the driveways can be a challenge.

Rent a 4WD and enjoy.

[Abacoparrott]

.......I guess I should have added the phrase "NOT IN THE CARIBBEAN BUT WHY DON'T YOU TRY THESE OTHER BAHAMAS LOCATIONS"......I DO have a master's degree in social studies which includes geography, by the way.
Gotta love ya!
You gave them excellent advice.......regardless of the hemisphere or ocean. I have a friend who LOVES Georgetown, Exumas. Ken

[xcalaker]

You may want to try Vieques. It is an island off the east coast of Puerto Rico.
No imigration/customs hassles.
Absolutlely some of the best beaches around. (The entire east end and west ends used to belong to the US Navy. All of these beaches are undeveloped. No houses, no power lines but they did built little picnic huts evrywhere. We have been there threetimes and still have not been to all the beaches on this island.
Good restaurants and prices are MUCH cheaper than Abacos (love my Abacos though!)
You have to fly to San Juan, PR and take a hopper over to Vieques (20 min.)

I don't have kids so can't help you on that front.

[Merlin]

We have been to the Abacos many many times and we went to St. Lucia last year-with a two year old, there is no contest-the Abacos is the clear choice. Actually without a two year old, Abaco is the clear choice.

[nolecountry]

My wife and I went to St. Vincent and the Grenadines for our honeymoon in May and it was amazing. I have been going to the Abacos since I was a child and St. Vincent was the closest thing I have seen. Very beautiful with wonderful people and great watersports. Cool bars everywhere as well. We stayed on Mustique which was stunning. Have fun wherever you go.

[Kimberly]

Bequia's lovely for families, and far off of the beaten path.

[momshell]

If it is not Abaco, then I say St. John. That is my second favorite destination. You will fly into St.Thomas and then take a 20 minute ferry ride over to St. John. There are no big tourist places on St. John( no airport or cruise docking on this island) as all of that stays over on St. Thomas. Most of St. John is a protected national park, so lots of wildlife and very clean beaches. There are plenty of places to get anything that you could need, from food to clothes, baby needs, etc. in the small settlement/dock towns, but once you leave town for your villa, etc., it will be nice and quiet. Breathtaking beaches, too. Transporatation is very easy as open air shuttles run all over, wherever and when ever you need them.