Kat

Planning a 10-day Caribbean trip in May. We're Cap vets and love it there but want to try something different. <BR><BR>Want a room/suite on swimmable beach; want to hear the ocean; want to see the beach from the room; want to be able walk right out of the room onto the beach; superior food (don't care if there are lots of restaurants); superior service; snorkling & beach furniture; beach service; hammocks.<BR><BR>We enjoy paddling around in the ocean, snorkling, lazing in a hammock or on a patio reading. Prefer luxe room/suite.<BR><BR>Which is better for us: Jumby Bay on Antigua, Sandy Lane in Barbados or Peter Island Resort in the BVIs?

penny

Hi Kat, I can help you with Jumby and I think you will like it. We have been there at the tail end 2-4 nights post Anguilla, and then last January for one week. The rooms are in clusters-I like the luxury junior suites, 1 story, overlooking the beach and a very short 2 minute walk. Non of the rooms are directly on the beach, but it is fine!<BR> The service is outstanding, very very nice. Beach service, hammocks, nice calm beach, walking paths, roamning sheep and lots of birds. The food can be excellent, not sure about the chef as they are undergoining a spruce up and new mangement! It is all inclusive, and I thought I might get bored, but no! The breakfast pavillion is one of my faorite spots. I love the old estate house, lovely murals on the wall, outdoor dining, and low key music. Top service, excellent spirits, ok house wine and champagne, wonderful massage, Su,also reflexology. Honest Kat, it makes Anguilla seem busy. The beach is very quiet, lots of readers! We spoke to an <BR>English couple last spring who love Jumby checked out of CJ as they thought it was too noisy and came back to JB! Now they were next to Georges, not the palce to be!<BR>The rooms have 4 poster beds, louvered<BR>shutter doors, very nice West Indian feel! No double tubs! Large showers, with doors that open to the outside. Please feel free to ask me anything!<BR>The Enabler!!

Karen

Hi Kat,<BR><BR>Sandy Lane I heard was recently renovated and was very nice before the renovation. We didn't stay there but checked it out while we were staying at Sam Lord's Castle. Don't even consider Sam's.<BR><BR>Peter Island is very nice but to tell you the truth, it seemed very stuffy. Bring your yacht and jewels to that one. Also, you are pretty well stuck eating at the hotel. Not like you can run down the road to try something else. Also, Peter Island resort is high up on a hill, so it's not beachfront like some of the others.<BR><BR>Just to muddy up the waters, for Barbados, other than Sandy Lane, I would suggest the Royal Pavillion. It is next to Glitter Bay. The Royal Pavillion common areas were outstanding. It had such great atmosphere. Below is a website about it:<BR><BR>http://www.escapetoeden.com/Jamaica/jamaica.htm<BR><BR>If you do go to Barbados, make sure you go to Fathoms restaurant. It's in one of the hotels before you get to Sandy Lane. I can't remember the name of the hotel but your hotel will probably know. The food was outstanding with seating at the water's edge. At night with the spotlights on the water it was so romantic.<BR><BR>Another idea for the most beautiful beach I've ever seen is Harbor Island in Eleuthra, Bahamas. There's a resort there that is just wonderful called Pink Sands. It's very expensive but they have individual cottages with some near the water. The style of the property you would think you are in Bali or Thailand. The island is very low key, people drive around in golf carts, no cars allowed. It may be too quiet for some people. Don't know about the food there, have read some mixed reviews. Apparently the best food is at Runnaway Hill, which is another less luxurious property on the island. If you decide to pursue Harbor Island, fly into Nassau and take the ferry. I hear that the N. Eleuthra airport is closed to fix the landing strip. At any rate, if you want more info on that, let the board know. Lots of people can help.<BR><BR>http://www.islandoutpost.com/PinkSands/<BR><BR>Can't help you with Jumby Bay, never been to that island.<BR><BR>Good luck with your choice and hope you have a wonderful time. You are giving me the travel bug now.<BR><BR>

travelpro

so sorry to hear that they've moved Peter Island to hillside. the oceanview rooms adjacent to the pool and marina aren't beachfront but overlook Drake's Passage and Tortola but the rooms on Deadman's Bay are just footsteps from the water and are much more luxe especially since the redo. Actually the yachties scorn it because of the dress code generally (they don't like putting on long pants)and jewels are not a prerequisite by anyone's criteria. At Jumby the closest rooms to the beachfront are appoximately a hundred yards from the water in the Pond Bay area.

penny

Kat I just wanted to add, the walk is less than a minute, and the rooms are spread over the area near the beach. I love sitting on my patio, playing my Trattoria CD as I sip my read wine.The website does not reflect the new rates or room catagory, add $100. Jumby is wonderful, not good snorkeling, but you should see all the star fish! The beach is lined with palm trees, and the twinkling lights of Antigua remind me of the view of ST. Martin. Lots of hammocks, and great huge patios! <BR> Tried to combine Cj-and Jumby for our fall trip but it is closed for renovation. I can only imagine it will be better! It was excellent as it was, but the island owners have now purchased the resort and want to bring it back to the outstanding 5 star plus when it first opened. The staff is the best! Rosewood can do a great job, although Caneel is lacking the personal touch, and their public dining area gets way too busy!<BR>We went to Barbados in 92, and really had a good time. Large island with lots to see and do. The most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen! Sandy Lane has one of the best beach spots! Most of the hotels are along the St. James, Gold Coast, so you will have alot of walkers from up and down the shore. Might have some vendors too! Lots of jet skis, and in 92, Sandy Lane had a guard posted at each end with M 16 rifles. Now I am not sure what was going on at the time, and this may no longer be true. I never felt unsafe, and we did rent a mini-moke! The island has excellent restaurants, Carombola, The Cliff, Raffles and others! I would like to try Sandy Lane, and Peter Island too! If I can drag myself away from my other favorites. Our goal was to try a new place each fall, but we keep going back to CJ, Jumby, and Caneel. We have now dropped Caneel, although they have the best snorkeling, plus I love funky Cruz Bay!<BR>Enough of my rambling!

ttt

ttt

Gratn

Hi Kat<BR><BR>I haven't stayed at Jumby but stopped just off its beach a couple of weeks ago - Penny is right that it is quiet, as there was LITERALLY no one on the beach. The beach looked good, but the island didn't overly impress me (from the sea - I bow to Penny's personal experience). I had wondered about Jumby before choosing Cap for my honeymoon, but was put off by the isolation (ie being an island off an island). If that concerns you but you still want to try Antigua, you may like to think about Galley Bay - the deluxe beachfront suites were excellent (comparable to a Cap junior suite) and the beach very good (although not as good as Cap). My only concern was the food - but you will face the same issue of limited choices at Jumby too.<BR><BR>My vote is for Sandy Lane - I haven't been but have investigated a lot and it looks fantastic.

Kat

<BR><BR>Thank you, Karen, Penny, Gratn, O.T. -- most helpful.<BR><BR>Karen, I'm intrigued by Pink Sands and am leaning in that direction.

penny

Kat-me too! Do a search on this forum as Tweedy is a wonderful source of information on Harbour Island! Isn't it referred to as "The Nantucket" of the "caribbean"! Its on my list too!<BR>

tweedy

Kat,<BR><BR>If you have any questions on the island, please let me know. The resort is on the small side, but very beautifully laid out and everything overlooks the most beautiful stretch of beach I think you will ever find. And yes the sand is really pink, lol.<BR><BR>There are several good places to eat on island, Pink Sands is one of them, and last I heard they were offering a "dine around" plan so you could have dinner out at one of the other resorts on island. <BR><BR>Pink Sands is the place for celeb watching, it is so laid back, that everyone feels very welcome. I sad next to one of the anchors from 60 minutes one night for dinner and got to chatting.<BR><BR>Our favorite place to stay is Runaway Hill which is much smaller, only 10 rooms but also very nice. It is a bit more intimate and the food we think is best. Breakfast the the best treat, as you sit on the porch overlooking the pool/deck/beach. The website is www.runawayhill.com.<BR><BR>The N. Eleuthera airport is being rennovated and the runway stretched from 3,500 to 6,000 feet and lights are being put in for night landings. The airport is supposed to be open by the end of September.<BR><BR>You can fly into Nassau (which is what we do) and take the Bahamas Air flight over or take the Fast Ferry which is getting rave reviews.<BR><BR>IF you have any other questions about the island, please let me know.

dawn

penny -- we are planning to get married in December at Jumby Bay. Just the two of us, on the beach. If you can give any pointers, please post! Also, can you tell me if excursions cost more? For example, I heard the trip to Barbuda (??) is great. Would like to know more details about activities available -- fiance is quite fidgety and will need to be entertained! Thanks for any guidance you can give!

penny

Hi Dawn,<BR> Jumby is very quiet! As far as day trips they will cost more. Have not seen Barbuda, but have flown by it, and the beaches look devine. Adventure Antigua, has some boat trips and the hotel has a snorkeling trip. Also a trip to Monserat. Lots of water activities, windsailing, kyacks,<BR>bikes,tennis, etc. No TV in the rooms!<BR>Wonderful service, and it should be great after the "spruce" up! Nice choice!

SteveL

FYI, Peter Island has 3 types of accomodations. There are 2-4 houses, depending on whether or not the owners are on site that are for groups. Those are on the hills. The normal accomodations are in two groups. Around the pool are the original A-frame units, with 2 rooms up and 2 down for a total of about 40-50 rooms. On the beach are another 40 or so rooms in more modern and a bit larger units. Both pool units and beach units are nice and both have advantages. Beach units are bit more expensive, but pool units are more sheltered from boaters and are closer to the main dining building.

TedTurner

Kat's vacation was last year, but thanks for the clarification.