Need Caribbean Island Resort Recommendations
Mar 7th, 2016, 09:36 AM
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Need Caribbean Island Resort Recommendations
My husband and I are doing a 10 year anniversary trip. Would like to go to a Caribbean Island resort. Criteria is as follows. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!
-Clear, beautiful, turquoise water and white sand on the beach at the resort
-preferably an all-inclusive with excellent food, not mediocre like a lot of AI's.
-preferably somewhat small resort with no children and not crowded
-want to lounge mostly, but snorkeling, kayaking, fishing, zip-lining would be good
-We are from Oklahoma and don't want to go somewhere with more than a 6-7 hour flight, so that narrows us down to Belize, Anguilla, Turks and Caicos, Cayman, Bahamas, Jamaica...
Thank you!!
-Clear, beautiful, turquoise water and white sand on the beach at the resort
-preferably an all-inclusive with excellent food, not mediocre like a lot of AI's.
-preferably somewhat small resort with no children and not crowded
-want to lounge mostly, but snorkeling, kayaking, fishing, zip-lining would be good
-We are from Oklahoma and don't want to go somewhere with more than a 6-7 hour flight, so that narrows us down to Belize, Anguilla, Turks and Caicos, Cayman, Bahamas, Jamaica...
Thank you!!
Mar 7th, 2016, 11:00 AM
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What I'd suggest is the following. Just shuck the idea of an AI. The truly luxurious places that are small and well-run cost far more than a really great non-AI resort. Unless you are huge drinkers and eaters you'll almost always do better with a non-AI property anyway.
The atmosphere you want can be found in a variety of islands (though I don't think there are any ziplines in Anguilla, Turks & Caicos, Grand Cayman, or Ambergris Cay in Belize). If you can live without that, then I think you'll be happiest in Grand Cayman or Providenciales in the TCI. Most resorts in Provo are condo-style properties; if you want something more traditionally like a hotel, then Anguilla or Grand Cayman would be a better choice.
You don't say when you're going or how much you want to spend. That will surely dictate where you go and what recommendations people make. Get back with a few more details, and I'm sure you'll have several recommendations shortly.
The atmosphere you want can be found in a variety of islands (though I don't think there are any ziplines in Anguilla, Turks & Caicos, Grand Cayman, or Ambergris Cay in Belize). If you can live without that, then I think you'll be happiest in Grand Cayman or Providenciales in the TCI. Most resorts in Provo are condo-style properties; if you want something more traditionally like a hotel, then Anguilla or Grand Cayman would be a better choice.
You don't say when you're going or how much you want to spend. That will surely dictate where you go and what recommendations people make. Get back with a few more details, and I'm sure you'll have several recommendations shortly.
Mar 7th, 2016, 12:26 PM
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I used to be from OK and know all to well the difficulties in getting to the islands.
If you can do this it helps a lot: Fly the afternoon/evening before your first vacation day and be in the city with the connection to the island you are visiting. For us it was usually Ft. Lauderdale or Miami. Most of the flights to the islands left before we could arrive the same day which limited our choices a great deal. So if you are flying to T&C and your connection is through Ft Lauderdale get to Ft. Lauderdale the night before so you can get to your island destination earlier and enjoy the beach instead of spending most of your time in an airport.
If you can do this it helps a lot: Fly the afternoon/evening before your first vacation day and be in the city with the connection to the island you are visiting. For us it was usually Ft. Lauderdale or Miami. Most of the flights to the islands left before we could arrive the same day which limited our choices a great deal. So if you are flying to T&C and your connection is through Ft Lauderdale get to Ft. Lauderdale the night before so you can get to your island destination earlier and enjoy the beach instead of spending most of your time in an airport.
Mar 7th, 2016, 12:52 PM
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I should add that sometimes this required I fly a different airline in/out of Ft Lauderdale and then to islands sometimes. SWA would get me to FLL and in the morning I may take an American, United or Bahamas Air, etc r/t from the island.
I just saw you have just 3 nights to spend so you might look at non-stops from DFW or Houston to assist in the efficiency of travel time and find where that would take you.
Also, Barbados came to mind. It's a beautiful island that has more than sitting on a beautiful beach to offer.
If you haven't checked it out look at Harbour Island, Eleuthera, Bahamas. Luxurious but not stuffy and the beach is one of the most beautiful in the world. You putt around the 3 1/2 x 1/2 mile island on a golf cart, snorkel, have a drink and lobster salad at the colorful SipSip, have an early evening cocktail at Valentine's watching the fishing yachts coming in and showing off their deep sea catches. It's a magical place. Fly in/out of ELH. Fly through Ft Lauderdale (MIA, too, but it's much larger to deal with). So, if you can snag a flight through FLL and overnight on the way down you can get back to OK your last day. If you can snag one more day it would help on traveling home.
I just saw you have just 3 nights to spend so you might look at non-stops from DFW or Houston to assist in the efficiency of travel time and find where that would take you.
Also, Barbados came to mind. It's a beautiful island that has more than sitting on a beautiful beach to offer.
If you haven't checked it out look at Harbour Island, Eleuthera, Bahamas. Luxurious but not stuffy and the beach is one of the most beautiful in the world. You putt around the 3 1/2 x 1/2 mile island on a golf cart, snorkel, have a drink and lobster salad at the colorful SipSip, have an early evening cocktail at Valentine's watching the fishing yachts coming in and showing off their deep sea catches. It's a magical place. Fly in/out of ELH. Fly through Ft Lauderdale (MIA, too, but it's much larger to deal with). So, if you can snag a flight through FLL and overnight on the way down you can get back to OK your last day. If you can snag one more day it would help on traveling home.
Mar 8th, 2016, 05:12 AM
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Your flight is going to cost over $500 each, and your accommodations will probably be at least $300 per night. That should leave you a sufficient budget for meals and activities. But I'm more concerned with the brevity of your trip
Are you flying from OKC or TUL (or perhaps DFW if you are in the southern part of the state)? I don't guess it matters. Travel is going to require a connection, likely in Florida to get to Providenciales, and will take at least 6 or 7 hours. It's a long trip, and you lose most of a day traveling. It would be easier and faster to get to Mexico. Would you consider Cancun? There are some lovely hotels there within your budget. I realize it's a different kind of experience than a quieter Caribbean island, but not all hotels are nonstop party places, and there are myriad dining choices there.
You can get to a variety of Mexican destinations nonstop from DFW. There are also some nonstops from DFW to the Caribbean, but they tend to be to the largest, busiest islands, and they tend to leave very early in the morning or late in the afternoon. You could fly to DFW the night before, of course.
Are you flying from OKC or TUL (or perhaps DFW if you are in the southern part of the state)? I don't guess it matters. Travel is going to require a connection, likely in Florida to get to Providenciales, and will take at least 6 or 7 hours. It's a long trip, and you lose most of a day traveling. It would be easier and faster to get to Mexico. Would you consider Cancun? There are some lovely hotels there within your budget. I realize it's a different kind of experience than a quieter Caribbean island, but not all hotels are nonstop party places, and there are myriad dining choices there.
You can get to a variety of Mexican destinations nonstop from DFW. There are also some nonstops from DFW to the Caribbean, but they tend to be to the largest, busiest islands, and they tend to leave very early in the morning or late in the afternoon. You could fly to DFW the night before, of course.
Mar 8th, 2016, 07:30 AM
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Doug, yes I would consider Cancun if you think it would a good option given the criteria. I'd really like to do the Caribbean at some point, but given the time we have, maybe I should reconsider. Do you have any good recommendations for Cancun as far as where to stay or if we could do some of the activities I mentioned like boating, snorkeling, just something other than sitting around (even though we will def. sit around a lot). Thank you again for helping me!
Mar 8th, 2016, 09:04 AM
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We loved Secrets Maroma. Less than an hour outside of Cancun. Adults only. Situated on a gorgeous beach with great restaurants. We are foodies and the restaurants at this resort are completely unlike the typical AI. The service excellent. Several activities like yoga, snorkeling tours etc offered. We took a trip to Akumal ruins which we enjoyed. Its reasonably priced and in my view its hard to go wrong with this resort.
Mar 8th, 2016, 09:38 AM
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Another vote for Maroma. Cancun is so easy to get to from Oklahoma and may again suggest overnighting in Houston or DFW to get a very early flight nonstop to Cancun so you could be on the beach at Maroma by noon easily. Some of the flights will arrive in Houston or Dallas too late for the same-day connection so you don't have to book separately. I like that as it gives me more time on the beach for a very short getaway.
Also, check Funjet to see if you can buy the charter flight only without the hotel package. We used to fly that years ago for $89 to Cancun. Those days are over but you can still snag a good fare.
Cabo side has very nice resorts, too, but the beach and water quality in Tulum is more in line with what you were wanting for your vacation. However, I would not turn down a trip to Las Ventanas!
Also, check Funjet to see if you can buy the charter flight only without the hotel package. We used to fly that years ago for $89 to Cancun. Those days are over but you can still snag a good fare.
Cabo side has very nice resorts, too, but the beach and water quality in Tulum is more in line with what you were wanting for your vacation. However, I would not turn down a trip to Las Ventanas!
Mar 19th, 2016, 04:38 AM
#13
If you want a great adults only all inclusive on a great beach look into Royal Hideaway in Playacar (south of Cancun). The service is fantastic and the food is good as well. It is a smaller resort as well.
