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My husband and I are trying to plan a vacation sometime in January '09 for 5 days. We are flying from Boston and since we have limited time we can't spend an entire day traveling. We are looking for a place directly on the beach, would love some sort of included dinners or meals or a restaurant or two but not an AI. We really don't want to do anything but relax and sit on the beach. No outings, sight seeing or decision making. We're looking for something up to $400 a night not including airfare. We love nice things and are open to simple but clean and lovely. Prefer smaller properties over big high rise hotel/resorts.
Does anyone have any suggestions? I've done some research but can't seem to narrow anything down.
Thanks so much!
Just want to relax....
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Maybe get a condo on the northern end of 7 Mile Beach in Grand Cayman. The flights aren't bad, the northern end of 7MB is quiet, and there are some fantastic restaurants to pick from. The condo will allow you to maybe just get a few staples for breakfast & lunch, and maybe go out for your dinners. Each time I've gone to GC from Boston, I take an early flight, and usually I'm snorkeling by 3pm that afternoon. January weather should be awesome there.
We're returning to our favorite Grace Bay, Turks & Caicos in March. After travelling to most of the islands, this suits us the best. Why?
1. Gorgeous Beach
2. Ocean Club West(just 1 of many top, low rise properties on the beach)
3. Ability to walk to many restaurants in a variety of prices.
4. Quiet beach with more than enough chairs so no race to snare 1 at 6am.
5. Great golf for MDH just a short shuttle ride away.
6. Condo units, so we can have breakfast on our balcony.
7. Ease of getting there, we fly direct from Charlotte. Maybe Boston has direct flights. So many great islands take way too long and too many flights to get there.
8. Nothing to do but sit on the beach(no real shopping, just a bit across the street)
9. Snorkelling if we want at Coral Reef.
10. Again the restaurants-wonderful.
Maybe this could be your place. Check out the beautiful hotels on Grace Bay.
Check out the Reef Resort on the east end of Grand Cayman. Just what you're looking for. Quiet, great beach, nice restaurant and beach bar, smaller resort, etc. They also have a new type of plan which includes some or all meals.
I would like to Suggest Kure Beach or Carolina Beach in North Carolina. It's beautiful, quiet and one of my favorite places. I'll do the 10 hour drive from my place in PA just to go there. A place on the beach is inexpensive and you're about a half hour from Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach and Cape Fear. For a point of reference, it's where they shot Dawson's Creek and Matlock. I love it.
Thank you so much for the reponses. I hadn't thought about Grand Cayman. I figured it was too long of a trip but you're right I found flights that would have you there by 1:30pm!
The Reef looks great and very much what we are looking for I will continue to look into it.
North Carolina sounds lovely as well - and much closer. What is the weather in January?
I think that Turks & Caicos might be a tad chilly in January. Grand Cayman will be warm for sure.
I'm sure that spot mentioned in NC is nice but in January, I can't imagine you will be wearing a bathing suit and swimming.
Also check out the Grand Resort on the east end of Grand Cayman. It's next to the Morritt's Resort and the Reef Resort. It is similar to the Reef Resort, and much nicer than Morritt's.
You might want to take a look at Culebra. More specifics here: http://culebrablog.com .Depending what you are looking for, you can fly direct into San Juan & then over to Culebra by the afternoon. Culebra is very slow paced & laid back. It's not at all fancy, & has beautiful white sand beaches & turquoise waters.
)
Terrie
Palmetto Guesthouse, Culebra (originally from Boston
Weather Weather Weather
Perfect all year. Where???
Aruba. Most rainfree island in the caribbean. 3.5 hrs from Boston. Have spent 15 Xmas' there and love it. Great restaurants and beaches. Raddison,Hyatt and Marriott are the best.86 degrees every day.
If you really want quiet -- I suggest St. John. I went there with my husband two years ago and just loved it. We stayed at the Westin, St. John. You arrive by boat from St. Thomas, because they don't have an airport, and are greeted with a cocktail and you never see yourluggage it is brought directly to your room. The rooms are really nice too. Once there it is pure bliss. The beach is quiet, it has good restaurants and if you choose to go into town it is a hop and skip away. Not really a shopping area to speak of but you can browse the few they have. The people are really friendly and laid back if that is what you are looking for. I am sure the January's weather is perfect for northeners.
If you look at Aruba, which I agree with above that it is hot and sunny most of the time all year round. I found it a great place to relax and have good dining. Not much to sightsee, it is a desert in the middle of the ocean with lush resorts plopped on it. I would recommend the Bucuti. It is an adults only hotel or children are discouraged at least. We stayed at the Marriott which had lots of families.
Caymans are very nice and it is lower key than an Aruba. It is really a nice island with friendly people and also good food. The Ritz looked the nicest. We were again at the Marriott (we save our points). The beach is small at the Marriott, but the hotel is also not too large. There are some other resorts that are smaller like the Reef Resort which I did not see, but tomcayman who posts here regularly manages or owns the place. Many here seem to like it.