storygirl

I need a 3-4 day getaway by myself to lie on a beach (preferably in a hammock), swim, snorkel, and read. Since I'll be traveling solo, I want to feel safe. I'm thinking St. Thomas, Antigua, St. Martin since they're closest. Any comments/suggestions?

memo34

You should look at www.cocodimama.com, it's on Eleuthera. Was just there and would totally go back on my own. FLy into Governors Harbor and it's a 2 minute cab ride away.. owned by an Italian couple. YOu'll feel quite safe and the beach is amazing..

mah1980

You might want to provide a general budget and where you'll be flying from to help narrow down the suggestions.

St. Thomas might be too crowded to have much solitude; it's a major cruise ship destination. You might want to try St. John, which supposedly has good snorkeling. Maybe look at Gallows Point there.

Depending on when you're going, Harbour Island, an out island in the Bahamas, may be a good choice based on what I've read and your specifications. You might want to try Romora Bay Club or Coral Sands. The coral sand beaches of this island allowed it to be on the best beaches of the world list.

Lastly, Turks and Caicos is supposed to be great, especially for the beach factor and good snorkeling at Coral Gardens. We're going for our first time in a couple of weeks and I'm very excited. You can get to T&C easily; we're flying from New Orleans and we only have one stop in Miami. I would suggest the Sands (we're staying there and it gets good marks) or maybe one of the beachfront rooms at a small hotel called the Sibonne.

Cooper

check out wwwbahamabeachclub.com .I stayed next to it last summer.On one of the ten best beaches in the world .

christiegr

stressed mom-can I come too LOL...Im a stressed mom of three boys ages 10,7and 2.

Knowing

Because you are traveling alone, I think you are right in being a little more selective. I loved Jamaica, but wouldn't go there alone. If I was looking for something alone, Antigua has nice beaches,some nice hotels and would make a fine vacation for you. Your hotel will be happy to arrange whatever you need.

virginia

hello storygirl. on st. thomas i suggest you look at www.secretharbourvi.com a mid-size, very comfortable condo resort on an excellent beach for laying and reading with great snorkeling from the beach too.(i saw turtles, rays & variety of fish). has a very good restaurant. this IS a quiet and safe place! i will be there alone in june.
i'm not sure about sibonne on provo. its nice but its quite a walk to snorkeling. the only hotel right by snorkeling is coral gardens. a good resort with excellent restaurant but fairly pricey

cindgail

Hi Stressed Mom - I was feeling the same last year at this time. I left my husband with the kids, for a week, and went to Provodenciales. It was so perfect for me. I'm trying to figure out how I can do it again! I felt extremely comfortable and safe being by myself and I have never traveled alone. I could take long walks on the beach which is something you cannot do in St. Thomas or St. John, both of which I have been in the past year. I never felt uncomfortable going to even the fanciest restaurants alone. The staff always made me feel comfortable. And I really enjoyed the food much more than in St. Thomas or St. John. I had the same taxi driver the entire week although I did walk to so many places - even in the dark on the beach. I met some couples who I did things with and some very friendly local wives whose husbands were away on business. There was enough entertainment to where I didn't get bored but not too much where I was wishing my family could be there. There's enough shopping to get a quick fix but not enough to run up your credit card. I stayed at the Alexandra in a beautiful one bedroom suite overlooking the ocean. I got a lower rate by promising to listed to a 15 minute condo speach. It's a short distance from Coral Gardens if you want to snorkle. If you can, you'll really need more than a 3-4 day trip. It will take you that long just to relax!

Lisa1271

Another suggestion is Sans Souci in Jamaica. Beautiful peaceful setting, regular and C/O beaches. Rooms either beachfront or up into the cliffside (views that never end) and it has a spa which most of the services are included in the all-inclusive price. We hit there in the fall for our "calm before the holidays storm" break.
Lisa S

suanniammsncom

How about cayman islands. Walked the morning every day alone and always felt safe. I didnt go alone, but would have felt very safe on my own. Also has great snorkeling, shopping and restaurants.
Susan

moosh4

Hi Storygirl...my husband and I went to Jumby Bay last year for 4 nights (first time we left the kids and got away alone in 12 years!) It's a little island off of Antigua and very easy to get to. It has one of the most gorgeous beaches I've ever seen (been to quite a few in the carribean and Hawaii) and it is a place where you can just "shut down" The rooms are very "West Indies", the beds are so beautiful and comy you just get lost in them. It is quiet and peaceful and the staff is soooo accomodating yet elusive. The food was excellent. There are plenty of those hammocks you're looking for and no TVs in the room. Turndown service with incense burning and the stereo is playing "white" sounds. It is amazing. I cried when it was time to go home and I was "good to go" to deal with everyday stresses for about 7 months!!!!! They have great 3, 4 day packages. Check it out under Rosewoodresorts.com. The pictures are EXACTLY what you will find when you step off the boat! I've never traveled alone and I threaten my family every day that I'm leaving to go there ALONE. I just may! I have four boys 3, 6, 9 and 12 and believe me, as much as I love them..I feel your pain!

waterwoman

Hi - I hear you! I am a 58 year old mom of two college kids, and haven't gone away without husband, friend or kids probably ever (not to a place out of the country that I've never been to ). I'm off pretty soon to Hollywood Beach Suites in North Caicos.

All I want to do is swim, snorkel and read, too. I'll try to post a trip report when I get back.

Hollywood Beach Suites has a very informative website (hope it's as good as it sounds). Takes a whole day to get there though. I'm going for a week, but I don't have young children anymore.

Wherever you go, have a wonderful time, and try to take as many days as you can.

cmcfong

I go to Bermuda for a week on my own every year. I have never felt uncomfortable or unsafe there. If you are looking for a hotel check out www.bermudatourism.com which lists most of the properties and cost.

CurtHF

If you want total peace, quiet, miles of empty beach, and friendly safety, the best place we have found, from the Virgins to Bermuda, is a Bahama Out Island, called Long Island, and stay at a place called www.chezpierrebahmas.com When you get to much sun on the beach, you can walk up the steps of your cottage which is on top of the beach, and enjoy setting on the screened porch. At least that is what my wife does while I drive around the island in a rental car to explore other beaches, beautiful churches, villages, etc. Curt

albee622

storygirl, please let us know what you decide to do, i know there are countless stressed out moms who would love to do the same, i am one of them! sounds too good to be true, but i am curious where you decide to go, sounds as if it would be a dream come true.

girlonthego

All of the stressed out moms should meet on an island and vacation together!! There would be a lot of pina coladas/strawberry daquaris flowing!!!LOL

threehearts

It's not the Caribbean but I left my husband with my 8 ad 9 year olds and went to the JW Marriott in Cancun in January for 4 days. I laid on the beach, swam in the pool, had a few umbrella drinks and read my book. Paradise! I also had some spa treatments which were wonderful. Great weather and not a bad trip from DC. Have fun. I sure did. Threehearts

moosh4

girlonthego

It's no joke, let's go!!!!

Boonie

storygirl: what a great idea! I keep telling my husband that I need some time alone
(even though we have been married almost 23 years and I love him dearly) and my most
favorite place is the caribbean. I used to travel alone (in my youth!) and actually relish the idea of a private vacation. I typically have to take care of every "problem" in our home life and work (e.g. everything from broken pipes to hubby's dr. appts. to bookkeeping issues at his business) and frankly just want to go somewhere by myself. Bottom line - I was delighted to hear from other female posters
that they need an escape, too! To answer your specific question about suggestions, I think that either Nevis or Grenada would be
great for a woman alone (have visited both).
Small, traditional islands with interesting histories, and the plantation inns available would make you feel at home and part of the culture. Additional comments on mom's escaping, please!

girlonthego

I think all women dream secretly of a relaxing get-away. Being a stay at home mom, you sometimes feel very under-valued. (or should I just say maid-like?) My kids are getting bigger, but I think we all need to feel appreciated. Our husbands assume that "doing it all" is not that big of a deal especially if you are home and have nothing else to do anyway?
I think it is even harder for the mom that works outside the home than comes home to cook, clean and do kid's homework. Now, she is the ultimate worker and maid all in one!!LOL..It is funny because spring fever must be striking all of us in some strange way. I just had this whole conversation with my family about the fact that I was not put on this planet to serve them. So everyone has been assigned jobs in the family. We will see how long this lasts. If it doesn't, I might be meeting storygirl for a margarita!LOL!!