Trip Ideas
Change Forum
Hey,
I'm planning to spend a week in the caribbean and I'm considering one of this islands. What do I like? Quiet beaches with a quiet town, strolling, hiking... I definitely don't like red-carpet-Las Vegas-like islands filled with casinos, people wanting to see and be seen and/or nightclubs.
Any recommendations?
Thanks!
Book Your Next Trip
Check hotel rates and airfares around the world.
Find a great deal?
Tell us about it.
Hotels
Flights
Packages
Cars
Cruises
Each website you select will open a new window in your browser.
Aruba, Curazao or Bonaire
9 Replies | Jump to last reply
|9 Replies |Back to top
|Sign in to comment.
Recent Activity
View all Caribbean Islands activity »
- 1 Thinking about Sandals Ocho Rios Jamaica
- 2
Caneel Bay Trip Report: I guess I don't get it.
- 3
Bahamas Out Islands Trip Report -- Exumas (Staniel Cay) and Andros
- 4 Bahamas/Paradise Island
- 5 Hotel in Barbados
- 6 Sky Auction/On-Sale... Experience anyone?
- 7 Grenada booked - its been so long - help?
- 8 Helping Homeless Pets in St. Lucia
- 9 Bahamas or T&C for GREAT snorkelling??
- 10 WOW!! Snorkelling??
- 11 25 anniversary - where in the Caribbean for $3000?
- 12 Driving in Barbados
- 13 Copamarina hotel
- 14 Experience with cheapcaribbean.com
- 15 St. Martin/St. Maarten NYE 2009
- 16 Ideas on Cheap, clean safe small hotels in San Juan.
- 17 Best room request or Couples Swept Away
- 18 St. Lucia: Decision on Accomodations
- 19 Where to stay with infant & toddler on Anguilla, St. Maarten or Antigua?
- 20 Turks & Caicos - "Beaches" - Anyone been there recently?
- 21 st.barths
- 22 PR Itinerary and Loding questions
- 23 Help with November PR destination
- 24 One week in Puerto Rico - need advice
- 25 St Barts
eliminate aruba. too busy. considering the other traveling you've done i'd like to suggest tobago, st. lucia or especially grenada. there are several recent trip reports for grenada you might read through.
We've been to Aruba and Curacao. I agree if you want a quite town with no casinos, I would skip Aruba. Curacao was much quiter and laid back. We enjoyed the downtown area as the shops were like nice department stores with no one harrasing us to look or buy things. There are a few resturants on the water front. We like the beaches better on Aruba and the shopping area. There are more abundant restuarants in Aruba and they are easier to get to.
We have stayed on all three islands. The quietest, laidback island is Bonaire. There is one tiny little town with a few restaurants. We strolled around at night, had a few drinks in places along the beach and then found a place for dinner. During the day, Bonnaire is all about snorkeling and diving. The people were very helpful and friendly. We rented a car because we like the convenience of coming and going as we please.
If you decide to go to aruba on this link
http:www.welcomearuba.com/aruba-beaches.html
http:www.welcomearuba.com/aruba-island.html
you can see some pictures of the beaches.
On the island you have many things to do. If you want you can go very quiet. There are also crowded places
Hope this help you
Regards
Alan
Thanks everybody for your opinions points of view! Bonaire seems to be the island!
Bonaire is awesome for nature. It's peaceful, not built up, and has great snorkeling. The beaches, albeit small, are beautiful.
We've been to all three of the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao. They are very different from one another. Bonaire is the most quiet and laid back, but other than the beaches and snorkeling (which is awesome), there is not much to do. Curacao is charming, and has a beautiful town with lots of interesting sites to visit. Aruba can be very busy and crowded, BUT if you pick a quiet resort in the low-rise area like the highly rated Bucuti Beach Club, it is very, very nice. The beach at Bucuti is possibly the best in the Caribbean. Also, Aruba has by far the best restaurants. Like they say, "You pays your money, you takes your choice."
I agree with the above, Aruba is like tropical disneyworld, wouldnt go back there again. I loved Curacao & its sounds like it will suit you well.Very quaint, quiet, charming but not much of the beach anywhere, just man made beaches here & there very rocky.If you can spend definitely stay at the Kura Hulanda, you will get the true flavor of Curacao & its sister property has a man made beach.Bonaire I havent been to but I know its much more laid back & have heard if you dont snorkel or fish you wouldnt have much to do but I could be wrong about Bonaire, havent been there.Dont stay at the Hilton in Curacao its run down, Marriott is very nice as well.
Enjoy !
Thanks again, guys!
However, I've decided to go to Tobago. I've already bought my plane ticket and I'm plannig my itinerary!
I live in Venezuela, though, and it seems that Curazao (this is the Spanish spelling) and Aruba are other options that I'll keep in mind for future trips (they're just half an hour away by plane). I've heard so many mixed opinions about Aruba. Many Venezuelans visit it, though, but it doesn't seem to be a laid-back place.
Thanks again!