Jamaica/Aruba/Nassau-Paradise Island
Jan 27th, 2011, 06:36 PM
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Jamaica/Aruba/Nassau-Paradise Island
My college age daughter and I would like to take a spring break trip to Jamaica, Aruba, or Nassau-Paradise Island in March of 2011. We are looking for some sun and relaxation. We welcome your experiences and suggestions on these islands. Thanks!
Jan 27th, 2011, 08:12 PM
#2
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Hello, Skittles & Daughter:
We love Aruba &, in a few weeks, we are are going back for the 3rd time!
Reasons:
1.It's easy to get to Aruba (where do you live?)
2. Aruba is always "guaranteed warm" ( Nassau can be very chilly in March so I wld not pick Nassau.) Aruba is only about 14 degrees from the equator!
3. Gorgeous white sand beach where you can walk for miles
4. Amazing ocean/sea
5. Great hotels (Marriott, Radisson, etc)
6. Great restaurants. You can walk or take a cab. Very safe area.
7. Spectacular sunsets on Palm Beach which is where Marriott, Rad, etc are located.
Any questions?
Ocean
We love Aruba &, in a few weeks, we are are going back for the 3rd time!
Reasons:
1.It's easy to get to Aruba (where do you live?)
2. Aruba is always "guaranteed warm" ( Nassau can be very chilly in March so I wld not pick Nassau.) Aruba is only about 14 degrees from the equator!
3. Gorgeous white sand beach where you can walk for miles
4. Amazing ocean/sea
5. Great hotels (Marriott, Radisson, etc)
6. Great restaurants. You can walk or take a cab. Very safe area.
7. Spectacular sunsets on Palm Beach which is where Marriott, Rad, etc are located.
Any questions?
Ocean
Jan 28th, 2011, 04:30 AM
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Aruba best warmest short beachy vacay for me
Not a lot of there there except for that party casino snorkel.
Will be warmest though best to head there.
www.visitjamaica.com for more action natural variety
like Dunns River Falls fun to climb although a bit dodgier.
Bahamas www.atlantis.com www.runawayhill.com nice will be
a bit chillier pretty beaches though.
www.cheapcaribbean.com for good deals.
Happy Hunting..
Not a lot of there there except for that party casino snorkel.
Will be warmest though best to head there.
www.visitjamaica.com for more action natural variety
like Dunns River Falls fun to climb although a bit dodgier.
Bahamas www.atlantis.com www.runawayhill.com nice will be
a bit chillier pretty beaches though.
www.cheapcaribbean.com for good deals.
Happy Hunting..
Jan 28th, 2011, 05:02 AM
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Have been to all 3. I would rule out Nassau. Yes, it will be too cool in March and not much to do except sail and snorkel.
Aruba is a great choice. The Palm Beach area has hotels line up side by side and then across the street are tons of restuarants, bars, shopping and entertainment. Aruba is safe and easy to get around. The bus sytems is inexpensive and easy to use. Take a full Island tour, a beach hopping tour and a snorkel tour. The dinner cruises are fun and if you like bar hopping try the KUKOO KUNUKU party bus.
Jamaica has lots of flora and fauna. The draw there (at least to us) was sightseeing. Waterfalls, jungle tours, Black river, Appleton Rum factory. Snorkeling is good also.
Aruba is a great choice. The Palm Beach area has hotels line up side by side and then across the street are tons of restuarants, bars, shopping and entertainment. Aruba is safe and easy to get around. The bus sytems is inexpensive and easy to use. Take a full Island tour, a beach hopping tour and a snorkel tour. The dinner cruises are fun and if you like bar hopping try the KUKOO KUNUKU party bus.
Jamaica has lots of flora and fauna. The draw there (at least to us) was sightseeing. Waterfalls, jungle tours, Black river, Appleton Rum factory. Snorkeling is good also.
Jan 28th, 2011, 09:28 AM
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Nassau - beautiful beaches and water but run down town. Food was expensive and not very good. We used the buses to get around and was very easy and cheap way to travel. Best thing we did there was snorkel trip we even swam with sharks!!!
Aruba - beautiful but water not as clear as Nassau. Felt safer and better food options. Used the bus system here as well with no problems. Best thing - rented jeeps and traveled to back side of island GORGEOUS !!! Dont bother going with a group we went on our own with no problems and got to stop when we wanted.
Would go back to either one but given a choice would go to Aruba again. My first thought when we got to Nassau was "What have we done? This will be the worst vacation ever" but ended up being the best... until we went to Aruba.
Aruba - beautiful but water not as clear as Nassau. Felt safer and better food options. Used the bus system here as well with no problems. Best thing - rented jeeps and traveled to back side of island GORGEOUS !!! Dont bother going with a group we went on our own with no problems and got to stop when we wanted.
Would go back to either one but given a choice would go to Aruba again. My first thought when we got to Nassau was "What have we done? This will be the worst vacation ever" but ended up being the best... until we went to Aruba.
Jan 28th, 2011, 10:45 AM
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I'm a big fan of Negril, too, and weatherwise, March/April is a perfect time to visit. However, the entire month of March is spring break time, as you mentioned. So before you get excited about a destination, I would quickly research hotels and see which ones have availability. Good luck!
Jan 29th, 2011, 11:35 AM
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I was going to start a thread, but will piggyback on this if I may. Some friends are going to Nassau in May, and I have timeshare I can use & go along with them. But....I've been hearing a lot of negative comments about it not being a safe place any more. What are your thoughts? I'm staying away from Mexico & don't want to go to Nassau if it is resembling the dangers of Mexico. I'm a young 60 & just want to relax in the sun, maybe do a little shopping, but am now worried that I won't feel secure.
I'm wondering if I should pass on this trip & use my time in a more appealing place. The only close place to there that I've been is Grand Cayman, but it was about 4 years ago....and I went alone & felt quite safe. Advice, please.....and thank you.
I'm wondering if I should pass on this trip & use my time in a more appealing place. The only close place to there that I've been is Grand Cayman, but it was about 4 years ago....and I went alone & felt quite safe. Advice, please.....and thank you.
Jan 29th, 2011, 04:19 PM
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I'm going to Aruba again in a month. This will be my fourth stay at the Radisson, which I think has the best hotel rooms and beachfront. Highly recommend it!
Where do you want to go in Jamaica? My family goes to Negril often, and we always stay at a small family-owned/operated hotel called COCO LA PALM, on what I think is the best part of the beach. Others to look at on the beach are: IDLE AWHILE, CHARELA INN, and RONDEL VILLAGE. You can also look at some of the properties on the cliffs, but I can't help with those.
If you do decide on Jamaica, you should be aware that the smaller places may lack some of the amenities/standards you're used to getting at the bigger hotel chains.
Where do you want to go in Jamaica? My family goes to Negril often, and we always stay at a small family-owned/operated hotel called COCO LA PALM, on what I think is the best part of the beach. Others to look at on the beach are: IDLE AWHILE, CHARELA INN, and RONDEL VILLAGE. You can also look at some of the properties on the cliffs, but I can't help with those.
If you do decide on Jamaica, you should be aware that the smaller places may lack some of the amenities/standards you're used to getting at the bigger hotel chains.
Jan 29th, 2011, 04:24 PM
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The Radisson in Aruba on Palm Beach gets great reviews. The Westin and Hyatt also. We stayed at the Holiday Inn and found it to be a good lower budget hotel and family friendly. The Marriot is a good choice, but it's a little farther down and not as easy to walk to things, but the bus is convenient. It's is very family friendly. Check out this site for more info: http://www.visitaruba.com
I'm not as famaliar with hotels in Jamaica, but in Montego Bay look at the Iberostar, Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa, and Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton Rst & Spa.
In Negril look at Grand Pineapple Beach. The are some non AI's like the Caves, Rockhouse and Idle Awhile that get good reviews. Check out this site for more info: http://www.negril.com
I'm not as famaliar with hotels in Jamaica, but in Montego Bay look at the Iberostar, Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa, and Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton Rst & Spa.
In Negril look at Grand Pineapple Beach. The are some non AI's like the Caves, Rockhouse and Idle Awhile that get good reviews. Check out this site for more info: http://www.negril.com
Jan 29th, 2011, 04:24 PM
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The Radisson in Aruba on Palm Beach gets great reviews. The Westin and Hyatt also. We stayed at the Holiday Inn and found it to be a good lower budget hotel and family friendly. The Marriot is a good choice, but it's a little farther down and not as easy to walk to things, but the bus is convenient. It's is very family friendly. Check out this site for more info: http://www.visitaruba.com
I'm not as famaliar with hotels in Jamaica, but in Montego Bay look at the Iberostar, Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa, and Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton Rst & Spa.
In Negril look at Grand Pineapple Beach. The are some non AI's like the Caves, Rockhouse and Idle Awhile that get good reviews. Check out this site for more info: http://www.negril.com
I'm not as famaliar with hotels in Jamaica, but in Montego Bay look at the Iberostar, Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa, and Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton Rst & Spa.
In Negril look at Grand Pineapple Beach. The are some non AI's like the Caves, Rockhouse and Idle Awhile that get good reviews. Check out this site for more info: http://www.negril.com
Jan 29th, 2011, 04:32 PM
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skittles, For Aruba Palm Beach, try:
Marriott Hotel
Radisson
You shd also take a look @
www.tug2.net
www.redweek.com
You may get lucky & find a nice timeshare that you & your DD cld rent for the week. Look for Marriott Ocean Club or Marriott Surf Club.
Also look on Last Minute rentals in TUG. "Last Minute" is 40 days. The max they can charge for "Last Minute" is $700 which wld be amazing if you found a 1BR or 2BR condo!
What are your dates. I cld take a look for you, if you like.
Ocean
Marriott Hotel
Radisson
You shd also take a look @
www.tug2.net
www.redweek.com
You may get lucky & find a nice timeshare that you & your DD cld rent for the week. Look for Marriott Ocean Club or Marriott Surf Club.
Also look on Last Minute rentals in TUG. "Last Minute" is 40 days. The max they can charge for "Last Minute" is $700 which wld be amazing if you found a 1BR or 2BR condo!
What are your dates. I cld take a look for you, if you like.
Ocean
Jan 30th, 2011, 04:09 PM
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dear luvtogotoo,
my family went to nassau summer before last with small children we felt very safe there. We was all over that place on the local bus and never had a problem but we also were not out late late at night.
my family went to nassau summer before last with small children we felt very safe there. We was all over that place on the local bus and never had a problem but we also were not out late late at night.
Jan 30th, 2011, 05:35 PM
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thanks, surratts4......i'm feeling pretty confident now & appreciate your reply. i think the reports were based on an incident that happened at the end of 2009 where some people from a couple of cruise ships were held up and robbed while on a segway tour off the beaten path. not something i'll be doing!
thanks again,
thanks again,
