Caribbean Vacation

[fuse]

No, not a new Chevy Chase/ Beverly D'Angelo movie.

If you could go to the Caribbean in the July timeframe to celebrate a milestone anniversary, where would you go? Where would you stay, and why?

[Indoor66]

No, not a new Chevy Chase/ Beverly D'Angelo movie.

If you could go to the Caribbean in the July timeframe to celebrate a milestone anniversary, where would you go? Where would you stay, and why?

I find the Caribbean very, very hot in July. You might consider another area.

[-jk]

Bigger worry than heat might be hurricanes - they wait until after vacation plans are set in stone. July's early in the season, but plan for hurricane-inclusive travel insurance.

If I remember my geography correctly, most islands have average July highs in the upper 80s - albeit with lots of humidity. Wherever you go in the tropics, the east side gets the trade winds - and the rain; the west side is hotter but drier. Pick your poison. The smaller the island, the better the sea breeze covers it. (Look at the difference between Dominican Republic and Haiti. Same island, very different climate.)

A former colleague was from the island of Dominica (not Dominican Republic). She absolutely hated DC summers - so much hotter than home. It was the breeze she missed.

I'm guessing Miami doesn't count? And there's always Bermuda. (I had a student teacher once who had been studying some crustacean that apparently has two natural habitats: SC and Bermuda. Guess where he spent a year burning through a grant?)

But get that insurance that includes hurricanes...

-jk

[fuse]

I find the Caribbean very, very hot in July. You might consider another area.

Thanks- I'd be open to alternate international beach vacations if you have other suggestions.

[fuse]

Bigger worry than heat might be hurricanes - they wait until after vacation plans are set in stone. July's early in the season, but plan for hurricane-inclusive travel insurance.

If I remember my geography correctly, most islands have average July highs in the upper 80s - albeit with lots of humidity. Wherever you go in the tropics, the east side gets the trade winds - and the rain; the west side is hotter but drier. Pick your poison. The smaller the island, the better the sea breeze covers it. (Look at the difference between Dominican Republic and Haiti. Same island, very different climate.)

A former colleague was from the island of Dominica (not Dominican Republic). She absolutely hated DC summers - so much hotter than home. It was the breeze she missed.

I'm guessing Miami doesn't count? And there's always Bermuda. (I had a student teacher once who had been studying some crustacean that apparently has two natural habitats: SC and Bermuda. Guess where he spent a year burning through a grant?)

But get that insurance that includes hurricanes...

-jk

If we go, we'll get travel insurance- thanks for the reminder.

[JBDuke]

Timely thread for me!

I'm taking my family on a Disney cruise to the Caribbean this June. We've got stops in St. Maarten and St. Thomas. Any recommendations on things to do? Any must-sees? Disney offers excursions in each port, but they're a bit expensive, and I'm thinking we might do better on our own.

Would love to hear the thoughts of folks around here with experience on these islands.

[rthomas]

I would go to St. John. There is great ecotourism there.

[OldPhiKap]

Bermuda is not the Caribbean, but is my favorite of the dozen or so islands off the southeast coast that I have visited over the years. Really liked Aruba and Curaçao as well.

Part depends on whether you plan to ever leave the resort. A lot of islands are really sketchy. Nassau and Grand Bahamas are rough, and some like Grand Cayman or Turk and Caicos there is not much there.

Check to see if you will need shots as well.

[blazindw]

No, not a new Chevy Chase/ Beverly D'Angelo movie.

If you could go to the Caribbean in the July timeframe to celebrate a milestone anniversary, where would you go? Where would you stay, and why?


One island that doesn't get a lot of publicity but that I love is Antigua. Such a peaceful island and the people there are so warm and friendly. Great beaches and sights to see and I had a wonderful time. I was even there during a huge tropical storm but that still didn't affect the trip (though I would echo -jk's suggestion to get hurricane travel insurance). We rented a villa in English Harbour, which is about 20 minutes from St. John's on the other side of the island.

It's very hot and muggy in the Caribbean during the summer months, no matter where you are. But, it's still a wonderful time and it can't be beat! I also hear Anguilla is the most beautiful island in the Caribbean (haven't been yet) and would be well worth the day trip from Antigua. I tried to go to Montserrat while I was there, but the ferry was out of service so I didn't make it.


Timely thread for me!

I'm taking my family on a Disney cruise to the Caribbean this June. We've got stops in St. Maarten and St. Thomas. Any recommendations on things to do? Any must-sees? Disney offers excursions in each port, but they're a bit expensive, and I'm thinking we might do better on our own.

Would love to hear the thoughts of folks around here with experience on these islands.

St. Maarten and St. Thomas both have great city centers. If you're doing the tourist-trap shopping, they actually got some of the best around. St. Maarten has great deals on watches. My entire family walked off the island with brand new top-of-the-line watches for a steal of a price. St. Maarten has a lot more of the island to see than St. Thomas does. Travel to the French side of St. Maarten if you can as well. In Charlotte Amalie (St. Thomas), a lot of people go to Blackbeard's Castle, but I haven't heard any recommendations one way or the other. We were on a cruise as well when we visited and focused on the shopping and the fact we could use our cell phones since we were on U.S. territory. :)

[Deslok]

I've been going down to St John USVI for about 35 years now, and still don't tire of it. But that may be because I don't go down looking for something to do, I go there to not do anything(aside from sitting on a beach, reading a few books, and if I'm feeling industrious, doing a little sailing). As others have noted, St. Thomas is where you go if you want to go shopping. St John is where you go when you want to relax. I'd recommend renting a home on St. John - as others have noted, for that time of year, make sure its a home with a breeze, if you are down on the wrong side of the hill, it can get a bit too much on the warm side for many tastes. If you do that, rent a car at the airport and take the car ferry over, rather than paying for the taxi+regular ferry and then higher car rental prices on St. John. And July isn't really much in the way of hurricane season... it officially starts then, but its later August and September in particular that are the times to worry(since my parents lost a home to Hurricane Marilyn in September 1995).

Re: Cruising - the usual St. John trip from a St. Thomas cruise stop is to head to Trunk Bay and do the snorkel trail there, fun to do, but not sure worth the 1 day visit costs, if you will.

[theAlaskanBear]

No, not a new Chevy Chase/ Beverly D'Angelo movie.

If you could go to the Caribbean in the July timeframe to celebrate a milestone anniversary, where would you go? Where would you stay, and why?

Travel to Mexico and fly into Cuba ("please dont stamp my passport!"). Nothing is more exciting and romantic than doing something you are not supposed to do with someone you love...all the while over-indulging in salsa dancing, rum, coffee roasted pork, and long strolls through Habana.

[weezie]

Nevis: The Four Seasons.

Ta-da!!!!!

[fuse]

Starting to hone in on Aruba- outside the hurricane belt, trade winds to offset the heat, supposed to be very friendly and romantic.

Anyone been that has recommendations to share?

[fisheyes]

We once stayed at the Marriott on Aruba (long time ago) and I wouldn't recommend it. Too big. Crowded with too many New Yorkers. I can say that as that's where I grew up ;)

Most of the hotels are on one side of the island and the water can be a bit rough. Often windy there.

Take an ATV tour of the other side of the island. That was fun.

[weezie]

Starting to hone in on Aruba- outside the hurricane belt, trade winds to offset the heat, supposed to be very friendly and romantic.


Hey fuse! Come on, spill it: which milestone anniversary? :)

[OldPhiKap]

Starting to hone in on Aruba- outside the hurricane belt, trade winds to offset the heat, supposed to be very friendly and romantic.

Anyone been that has recommendations to share?

I like the ABC islands. If I recall, sand is generally brought in for the beaches because the islands are volcanic in origin without much in the way of real beaches. Big Dutch influence, obviously. Lots of blondes on the beaches, as an observation.

Still will throw in a plug for Bermuda -- great beaches, good diving, British influence, more First World than many islands.

[fuse]

Hey fuse! Come on, spill it: which milestone anniversary? :)

Too funny! My marriage is almost old enough to be served in a bar. Perhaps a poor but appropriate riddle, easily solved :-)

[Indoor66]

Too funny! My marriage is almost old enough to be served in a bar. Perhaps a poor but appropriate riddle, easily solved :-)

Based on when I was growing up, I'd make it about 15 years.

[rthomas]

Too funny! My marriage is almost old enough to be served in a bar. Perhaps a poor but appropriate riddle, easily solved :-)

3958

[Turk]

I owe Mrs. Turk a trip as well. We're thinking April thru May sometime; looking at a long weekend, so maybe Bahamas for shorter travel time and longer beach time...

We rented a condo in St. Thomas for the honeymoon and loved it - we just made sure we were over on the other side of the island from Charlotte Amalie when the big cruise ships unloaded.

[JohnGalt]

Travel to Mexico and fly into Cuba ("please dont stamp my passport!"). Nothing is more exciting and romantic than doing something you are not supposed to do with someone you love...all the while over-indulging in salsa dancing, rum, coffee roasted pork, and long strolls through Habana.

This. Definitely this. Everyone should see Cuba before it finally opens up. The music and food are fantastic and the general atmosphere is fascinating. And you don't have to worry about the passport stamps...they don't stamp anyone's passports.

I've done a couple of the bareboat sailing trips through the BVIs and I thought Anegada was lovely (but very rustic and pretty isolated). And I remember thinking that Virgin Gorda would be a wonderful location to rent a cabana/house/condo. It's where The Baths are.

[fuse]

Travel to Mexico and fly into Cuba ("please dont stamp my passport!"). Nothing is more exciting and romantic than doing something you are not supposed to do with someone you love...all the while over-indulging in salsa dancing, rum, coffee roasted pork, and long strolls through Habana.

I'll naively ask if this is really a thing- "don't stamp my passport"?

The idea of Cuba is certainly a cool one- would be able to enjoy some nice cigars for sure.

I am impressed with your risk management/bravado if you do something like this.
I'd be concerned to be the one getting flagged somehow and having to sort out the consequences.

[JohnGalt]

I'll naively ask if this is really a thing- "don't stamp my passport"?

The idea of Cuba is certainly a cool one- would be able to enjoy some nice cigars for sure.

I am impressed with your risk management/bravado if you do something like this.
I'd be concerned to be the one getting flagged somehow and having to sort out the consequences.

They don't stamp anyone's passports...regardless of where you're from. They give you a little immigration card that they stamp, you keep with your passport, and then return when you exit the country. The days of having to request that they don't stamp your passport are gone. I will admit that the process is a little eery: you have to walk into the immigration booth alone to be scrutinized solo.

My girlfriend's cousin recently had her passport stolen in Havana and she had to go over to the Swiss embassy [I believe] to get it sorted out. It's technically not illegal to travel to Cuba though. The embargo states U.S. citizens aren't allowed to make transactions in Cuba...i.e., buy anything or receive gifts. But since you have to pay a departure tax to get out, it's essentially impossible to travel there without violating the law...and that obviously assumes you were able to eat and move about in Cuba without spending any money or receiving services in order to do it.

[weezie]

I owe Mrs. Turk a trip as well.


Tack on a spa visit for her! Surely you owe her far more than you can ever put into words!
I'll bet she's a super catch for a guy like you.....
I kid, I kid :p