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Best island for Christmas vacation with 4 teenage girls

Best island for Christmas vacation with 4 teenage girls

Old Aug 27th, 2014, 07:12 AM
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Best island for Christmas vacation with 4 teenage girls

Would like to rent a house with a pool not in a super touristy area but with some restaurants and some things to do (shopping hiking possibly) near by. Would love a recommendation on which island (we are flying out of the DC area). Thanks!
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Old Aug 27th, 2014, 07:52 AM
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What you describe can be found on just about every island so we need more info to be of help.

When are you traveling?

How long a trip are you planning?

What's your budget for the rental?

How many bedrooms will you need?

What ages are the "teenagers" (generally 13 YO's like different things than 18 or 19 YO's but they are all "teenagers")?

What type of activities besides "shopping hiking possibly" interest them?

How long a flight are are you idling to endure to reach your destination? Does it have to be non-stop or are you willing to take multiple flights and/or ferries to get there?

What exactly do you mean by "restaurants and some things near by"? Define "near by" - 1/4 mile, 1 mile, 2 miles, 5 miles - all can be defined as "near by"?????? Keep in mind that most rental villas are in "residential areas" so you might need transportation.

Will you be renting a car or relying on taxis to get around?
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Old Aug 27th, 2014, 12:34 PM
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We plan on travelling after Christmas until after New Years trying to stay within middle/high school winter break.

Our budget would be hopefully under 10,000 for lodging for the week.

We would need three bedrooms.

Our girls are 13,16,18 and 20.

They are open to most activities mostly want to spend time on the beach/pool, snorkeling... Very low key Just want to relax and spend time as a family

Would prefer a shorter flight not necessarily non-stop and would be willing to take a ferry to get to the destination.

We would be open to renting a car to give us more mobility to explore whatever island we were on so probably would like to be about 15 minutes to town.
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Old Aug 27th, 2014, 03:52 PM
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Look at villas on St. John - island has great beaches, very good snorkeling, plenty of hiking (2/3's of the island is a National Park) and it's easy to get to town from almost anywhere. You fly into St. Thomas then take a short ferry ride to St. john.

A little more difficult to get to but worth checking out is Virgin Gorda. Fly into St. Thomas then take island hopper flight or ferry to island. Or, fly into San Juan then fly island hopper to Virgin Gorda. Wonderful beaches, very good to excellent snorkeling, good hiking and easy to get to town.

Lastly, check out rental villas on Providenciales in the Turks & Caicos. Relatively short flight from DC and you might be able to get there non-stop. Fantastic beaches with some decent snorkeling. The island s flat so not a lot of hiking options but it's a great island for relaxing. Easy to drive around.

One thing to consider, you are planning to travel during the busiest week of the year in the Caribbean and many rental villas may already be booked, limiting tour choices so don't delay in finding and booking a suitable villa.
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Old Aug 27th, 2014, 07:50 PM
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Grand Cayman is very low key nice island with good food and nice resorts. The water is beautiful. They have all the water activities you can imagine with more of a low key beach bar feel for nightlife than some other islands. We felt very safe in GC.
Not sure about villa rentals, but I do believe they have quite a few condo resorts with pools and are oceanfront. We stayed at a hotel when we were there.
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Old Aug 28th, 2014, 07:03 PM
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Do keep in mind that Christmas is pretty much booked up already, it's been a busy peak season!

St. John sounds good for you--I love TCI but it's fairly booked already.

I fly DC area, wish we had direct flights to somewhere! Why don't we?
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Old Aug 28th, 2014, 07:42 PM
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Grand Cayman would be a place that fits your decription. A 3 bedroom condo on Seven Mile Beach would be ideal. There are plenty of restaurants nearby. The further north you go on Seven Mile Beach, the less touristy it becomes. As was mentioned above many places are already booked and it may be hard to get decent airfare for Christmas.
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