tmemedia

Every summer in July my daughter and I go on a Caribbean vacation together, and this year I'm stumped! Last year we went to Grace Bay in Turks and Caicos and this year I can't seem to be able to top it, but we'd rather try something new.

The requirements are these:
no more than one stop flight from WAshington DC (so Raffles in Canouan Island, and Mustique are out)
High luxury factor, gorgeous rooms
beautiful beach, turquoise water
oceanfront rooms

We've been to Bermuda, Barbados, and the Bahamas many times, so those are out. Also been to the Ritz in Cancun, which was wonderful if a bit too built up for us. Bee to Curtain Bluff in Antigua, but the beach is just okay there.

Here are some further questions:

If we choose Anguilla, should we choose CuisinArt or Cap Juluca?
Is Jumby Bay off Antigua still good, the reviews seem to say it's gone downhill quite a bit.
Has anyone been to Carlisle Bay in Antigua? Some reviews suggest the beach is not that great, though the rooms look amazing online.
I was thinking of hitting the Ritz in the Cayman Islands, but it looks VERY built up. Can one find some seclusion on the beach there?
What about the Four Seasons in Costa Rica? The pictures online do NOT show a very nice beach, and I figure they're trying to make it look its best online.

Finally: what about Cabo? (I know this isn't the right forum) -- or is it WAY too hot in Cabo in July??

I'm open to any other suggestions you may have, you guys are such experts!
Thank you so much!
Teresa

virginia

in cabo there are few swimming beaches. the deep sea fishing is very good.
how about sandy lane on barbados? (delta thru atl, aa thru mia) gorgeous hotel! beautiful beach.

tmemedia

Thanks Virginia. I have stayed in Barbados before, down the beach from Sandy Lane at The House, which was wonderful. Sandly Lane, at $1200 per day in summer for the cheapest room, is way out of my price range, unfortunately. And while Sandy Lane is indeed gorgeous, I thought The House was actually more my style -- much smaller and ultra modern -- and 1/3 the price!!

Since you've been to Cabo -- would it just be too unbearably hot in July?

Thanks!
Teresa

virginia

hi teresa, i have not been to cabo yet (or antigua). friends have a villa there. the beaches themselves look ok but bad currents &undertow. they go to golf, fish and party...
it will be hot,humid and not to windy: http://www.wunderground.com/history/...atename=Mexico
had no idea of your price range, but when you said lux rooms it was my first thought. it's one of my fantasy destinations unlike several others in that price range - amanyara on provo for example.
ok so how about st. thomas ritz? it does have a nice beach and lovely infinity pool area, with view of st. john and ass't smaller islands. good shopping, easy access to st. john.

south of cancun are some very nice resorts - prices approx
maroma beach: 900
secrets maroma: 450 & up
fairmont mayakoba: 205-500
royal hideaway: 560-900
zoetry:700-1200
tides: 400

tmemedia

Thanks Virginia -- I thought of the Ritz on St. Thomas -- so easy to get to -- but someone said the beach was not that great. I'll look more closely -- I'm feeling like an easy getaway this time around, I've been spending alot of time in airplanes lately for work.

Thanks for tipping me off on that!
PS -- I would LOVE to stay at Amanyara in Provo... but I have college tuition to get through first!

Teresa

virginia

did a quick search for pics on flickr.
good shot of pool http://www.flickr.com/photos/no1lyq/2387535909/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/no1lyq/2388364960/
beach-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/no1lyq/2387519759/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/no1lyq/2388358730/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/no1lyq/2387521637/

blamona

I've been to all the above mentioned (lucky me!)
I think Anguilla is your next choice--

I loved Cabos, but it's not really a good swimming beach. It's completely different from Caribbean. Is it hot? I went in December-it's desert like, but I like things hot! ;-)

Jumby Bay, I was there about 8 years ago--it's nice, but doesn't rank in my favorites. Beach is nice, but doesn't come close to the beaches of T&C and Anguilla.

Raffles in Canuan, again, nice, but doesn't rank with T&C and Anguilla. (You weren't considering it anyway)

Caymans is a more built up version of T&C, but I still think the beach in T&C is nicer.

Costa Rica, my opinion, beaches are just okay. I'm spoiled though, I lean towards bright white sand and neon turquoise waters. CR is more adventurious type trip-zip line, water rafting, looking for monkeys kind of trip. The only resort that is luxurious there is Four Seasons--rest are "rustic" (when compared to for ex., T&C resorts and Ritz type resorts.)

To compare Cap with Cusiart: can't go wrong with either. I find Cap a little more romantic, Cusiart a little more kid friendly. Cusiart is more like the Regent Palms in T&C, Cap more like the Somerset. The restaurants in Anguilla are the best in the Caribbean, and the beaches are gorgeous. You can also easily day trip to St. Martin for excellent shopping, and a completely different atmosphere. (A 20 minute ferry seperates them.)

caribtraveler

You can take Jumby Bay off your list. I was just looking at it recently and saw that it was still closed for renovations.

We didn't stay at the Ritz in Grand Cayman but we walked its beach and I remember thinking "really nice big stretch of beach but lots of chairs and lots of people".

We've stayed at Grace Bay in T&C and really loved it. I also agree that Anguilla is your next best. We did not stay at Cap Juluca or Cuisinart so I can't advise you on that.

What about Parrot Cay in T&C, Caneel Bay on St. John, Peter Island, Spice Island Beach resort in Grenada, Tortuga Bay in Punta Cana? Lots of reviews and candid photos on Trip Advisor.

tmemedia

Thanks so much for all your replies. Blamona -- you are INDEED lucky to have been to so many places. I figured that the beach at Grace Bay T&C had spoiled me for many places, I've been there twice already and keep dreaming about it. Anguilla does sound like our next best bet... I guess I was wishing it was easier to get to. I hear bad things about the American flight from San Juan, though it seems easy enough... and the ferry crossing from St. Martin sounds a bit of a hassle too from the reviews I've read. Paradise is not easy to get to, I guess!

Caribtraveler, I did think of Caneel Bay but think it's TOO quiet for my daughter, what with no TV's. But it's on my list as a great place for my husband and I at some point.