Looking at: St. Maarten, Anguilla, St. Lucia, Barbados. Want nice beaches, good eating and good shopping. Not overly crowded. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you in advance!
2006-07-23 03:24:46 · 14 answers · asked by ASM 1 in Travel ➔ Caribbean ➔ Other - Caribbean
We went to St. Maarten last year and loved it, the only thing is we had a hard time finding airfare into the first three you have listed, as we were on a cruise, we used the whole day to look at Hotels and All-Inclusive Resorts, all those islands you have listed are great, I my self just don't like being hounded by the Time-share people, thats why we go to Jamacia, as of the last time we were there they had not arrived. just island people trying to make a living. as we do the All-Inclusive thing, and the people of jamacia are so nice and friendly. I my self do not think you can go wrong with any of the islands you have mentioned, you may want to check out www.tripadvisor.com here you will find tons of reviews and pitcures of people who have visited these islands and many more. plus they also have a question and answer forum. good luck and have a grat Anniversary, we celebrate our third next month in Ochos Rios
2006-07-23 04:50:43 · answer #1 · answered by we/be/jammin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Congratulations on your milestone! Look into Little Cayman even though not on your list this serene little island has the best beaches, diving, snorkeling, quietness and beauty of the Caribbean. There are two other islands to visit, Grand Cayman, for shopping if you want to take a 45 minute inexpensive plane ride to a sister island for the nightlife.
You could get lost in Little Cayman's charm and rediscover what you love about your spouse!
Good luck and congrats again!
2006-07-25 03:07:24 · answer #2 · answered by violetoviolet 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hello, I've been to many of the Caribbean islands, Costa Rica, and, parts of Mexico. Out of the places you are considering, I've only been to St. Lucia. St. Lucia definitely is a pretty island and seems to cater strongly to honeymooners- so it may be an excellent choice for an anniversary as well. Some other responses have mentioned Costa Rica and Jamaica and they do both have much to offer as well- kind of depends on exactly what you are looking for and exactly what part of each country you are in. To complicate things for you, I'd like to suggest a couple more Caribbean islands for you to consider. First, Antigua is also very nice, has plenty of beaches (365- one for every day of the year), also is a popular honeymoon destination, and probably has a bit more dining/shopping to offer than St. Lucia (Antigua also seems to be a bit busier than St. Lucia). The other island(s)/nation I think you should consider is St. Kitts/Nevis. St. Kitts was the first "island" I visited and I actually think they try to limit tourism/commercial development because I haven't seen tours offered there in @ a decade; however the island is also pretty (they all are unique in their own way) and probably has enough dining, shopping, activity, and beach to fit your needs. Usually, I try to push Cozumel on people as my personal favorite vacation spot but it sounds like you want something a bit quieter and more tropical. Feel free to message me if you wish.
ps- if you chose Negril, Jamaica, I strongly suggest a cliff resort vs a beach resort for "quietness."
2006-07-23 05:00:18 · answer #3 · answered by porthuronbilliam 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
St. Lucia is the sort of island that travellers to the Caribbean dream about--a small, lush tropical gem that is still relatively unknown. One of the Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, it is located midway down the Eastern Caribbean chain, between Martinique and St. Vincent, and north of Barbados. St. Lucia is only 27 miles long and 14 miles wide, with a shape that is said to resemble either a mango or an avocado (depending on your taste). The Atlantic Ocean kisses its eastern shore, while the beaches of the west coast owe their beauty to the calm Caribbean Sea.
In natural beauty, St. Lucia seems like an island plucked from the South Pacific and set down in the Caribbean. Its dramatic twin coastal peaks, the Pitons, soar 2,000 feet up from the sea, sheltering magnificent rain forests where wild orchids, giant ferns, and birds of paradise flourish. Brilliantly-plumed tropical birds abound, including endangered species like the indigenous St. Lucia parrot. The rainforest is broken only by verdant fields and orchards of banana, coconut, mango, and papaya trees.
St. Lucia has been inhabited since long before colonial times, and its cultural treasures are a fascinating melange of its rich past and its many different traditions. The island's people have earned a well-deserved reputation for their warmth and charm, and the island itself is dotted with aged fortresses, small villages, and open-air markets.
There is a broad array of exciting and exotic activities available on St. Lucia. The island's steep coastlines and lovely reefs offer excellent snorkeling and scuba diving. The rainforest preserves of St. Lucia's mountainous interior are one of the Caribbean's finest locales for hiking and birdwatching. Of course, the island also possesses excellent facilities for golf, tennis, sailing, and a host of other leisure pursuits. Not to be missed is St. Lucia's Soufriere volcano, the world's only drive-in volcanic crater.
2006-07-23 03:38:23 · answer #4 · answered by Cute Is What I Aim For 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
St Marteen has great shopping, and is a busy island, Barbados is less crowded and has a lot to do and see, St Lucia has 366 beaches From the islands I have visited I would recommend Barbados, The food is very good there, I dont remember the food elsewhere.
2006-07-30 08:50:21 · answer #5 · answered by Ask the Chef 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I will choose Anguilla. Nice beaches if you wants to dive, quite country, good food. Depend what you wants to buy. If you go to Anguilla you can visit St, Maarten, the french side by boat. It's nice in the evening. A lot of restaurants near the beach. Hmmmmmmmmmmm. Enjoy your holidays and happy anniversary.
2006-07-23 17:41:12 · answer #6 · answered by dorotheasosial 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
St Vincent & the Grenadines. Big island is St Vincent, Bequia is nice small hotels and villas. European tourists only North Americans are Canadians, still uncrowded, clean and beautiful.
visit www.svgtourism.com or
www.vincy.com
2006-07-26 02:44:32 · answer #7 · answered by moglie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I recommend Galley Bay Resort in Antigua. This time of the year it is not fully booked, and because it is such a small place to begin with, it feels like you have the whole beach to yourself.
2006-07-26 23:43:19 · answer #8 · answered by dostallion 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not on your list but Costa Rica gets RAVE reviews from everyone who goes there.
Congratulations!
2006-07-23 03:29:58 · answer #9 · answered by love2travel 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you considered Aruba ? A great island !
2006-07-25 07:43:09 · answer #10 · answered by jarhed 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋