Suggestions for best bahamas option family w/ 2 small children
Jan 26th, 2011, 06:53 AM
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Suggestions for best bahamas option family w/ 2 small children
Hello all,
Our one and only Carib. experience has been during last July at The Sands @ Grace Bay (TCI) and we all loved it. We would like to experience similar crystal clear waters/sandy beaches, safe environment, a little bit more 'cosmopolitan' but NOT TOO crowded island and thought of the Bahamas. We are looking to book for a week sometime in July, my wife and I along with our 5 year and 1 1/2 year old, at on-the-beach hotel/resort where you can cook your own meals in a 'full' kitchen. Desireable: Near 'downtown' or a relatively substantial selection of restaurants/shops/etc. Cleanliness/friendliness are absolutely necessary, as well as service. Also, we are OK with temps in the 90s (F). Will it be hotter in July?
Thank you for your responses and please note, I may be asking more questions, so please forgive me for the possible reposting/asking again.
Thank you,
Yannis
Our one and only Carib. experience has been during last July at The Sands @ Grace Bay (TCI) and we all loved it. We would like to experience similar crystal clear waters/sandy beaches, safe environment, a little bit more 'cosmopolitan' but NOT TOO crowded island and thought of the Bahamas. We are looking to book for a week sometime in July, my wife and I along with our 5 year and 1 1/2 year old, at on-the-beach hotel/resort where you can cook your own meals in a 'full' kitchen. Desireable: Near 'downtown' or a relatively substantial selection of restaurants/shops/etc. Cleanliness/friendliness are absolutely necessary, as well as service. Also, we are OK with temps in the 90s (F). Will it be hotter in July?
Thank you for your responses and please note, I may be asking more questions, so please forgive me for the possible reposting/asking again.
Thank you,
Yannis
Jan 26th, 2011, 04:47 PM
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Check out Fernandez Bay or Pigeon Cay on Cat Island. Both would be ideal for you. Cat Island is a very special place - the water in July is like a bathtub - there usually is a breeze. We have a home there - we dislike ac so didn't install it and have not found it unbearable. Both of the resorts mentioned have ac if you wish. Another property not as geared to children but still nice would be Sammy T's.
Jan 26th, 2011, 04:51 PM
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oops - just fully ready your post - Cat Island is not at all "cosmopolitan". There is very little shopping and the restaurants are either part of the half dozen resorts or local. The beaches are incredible.
You may find Harbor Island more to your taste - there are quite a few nice properties there - I'm not personally familiar with them however.
Temperature wise - daytime will be in the low 90's - but the ocean is there to cool off in.
You may find Harbor Island more to your taste - there are quite a few nice properties there - I'm not personally familiar with them however.
Temperature wise - daytime will be in the low 90's - but the ocean is there to cool off in.
Jan 27th, 2011, 04:28 AM
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www.runawayhill.com
my fav location BEAUTIFUL pink sand beach...
Pink Sands is nice there too...
www.atlantis.com more action with kids
or The Ocean Club Paradise Island
for more cosmopolitan experience at greater expense.
Happy Hunting,
my fav location BEAUTIFUL pink sand beach...
Pink Sands is nice there too...
www.atlantis.com more action with kids
or The Ocean Club Paradise Island
for more cosmopolitan experience at greater expense.
Happy Hunting,
Jan 27th, 2011, 06:26 AM
#5
I love Harbour Island, it's very laid back but chic, and it's fun going around in golf carts. Probably the most "cosmopolitan" of the Out Islands-but that's not saying much, Out Islands in general are totally sleepy destinations. You won't find any condos at HI like you did in T&C, you'll have to get a villa for that. Pink Sands Beach is stunning. (usually wavy, a little different than Grace Bay, but gorgeous in its own way)
Out Islands in general have very little shopping, have tiny little settlements (barely call them towns) and few restaurants. They make Provo look like a city compared to them!
T&C is one of my favorites, as is most of the Out Islands in Bahamas and Anguilla, followed by completely different St. John, BVI's and the Grenadines. These are the ones that consistently for me have the prettiest water.
I think you're asking for a repeat similar to T&C, only with what you deem would make it "perfect." (ex. if there was a walkable town, if it had more but was not overbuilt, etc.) Really not going to happen. You won't find all your preferences in 1 place. If you go expecting different, then you'll be better off.
More "cosmopolitan" means there will be more people, you're not going to find not too crowded with more amenities, it's really about supply and demand.
Having said that, there are many gorgeous places to go. Harbour Island may be the closest. Caymans is like T&C but offers a lot more (including the people to go with it) For something completely different you might want to consider Virgin Gorda. You might want to try a place like Turtle's Nest in Anguilla, but you'll need a car to get to all the stunning beaches and excellent restaurants.
There are many stunning places in the Caribbean, but most of them will have trade-offs.
Out Islands in general have very little shopping, have tiny little settlements (barely call them towns) and few restaurants. They make Provo look like a city compared to them!
T&C is one of my favorites, as is most of the Out Islands in Bahamas and Anguilla, followed by completely different St. John, BVI's and the Grenadines. These are the ones that consistently for me have the prettiest water.
I think you're asking for a repeat similar to T&C, only with what you deem would make it "perfect." (ex. if there was a walkable town, if it had more but was not overbuilt, etc.) Really not going to happen. You won't find all your preferences in 1 place. If you go expecting different, then you'll be better off.
More "cosmopolitan" means there will be more people, you're not going to find not too crowded with more amenities, it's really about supply and demand.
Having said that, there are many gorgeous places to go. Harbour Island may be the closest. Caymans is like T&C but offers a lot more (including the people to go with it) For something completely different you might want to consider Virgin Gorda. You might want to try a place like Turtle's Nest in Anguilla, but you'll need a car to get to all the stunning beaches and excellent restaurants.
There are many stunning places in the Caribbean, but most of them will have trade-offs.
Jan 27th, 2011, 10:09 AM
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hi yannis, i think you should look at grand cayman. seven mile beach is almost as nice as grace bay. gc has similiar topography with outstanding snorkeling & diving.
lots of condo's available on the beach, although the only ones in a resort, that i know of, are at the reef resort & that is on the east/quiet end of the island so would defeat your purpose.
gc is more 'cosmopolitan' i think, with a more defined, much busier town & tons of dining options. also one of the safer islands due to their very healthy economy.
we stayed in a villa near rum point (quiet part of island) so no specific condo suggestions, but have read on here that the north end of the beach is the best. from the very north end of seven mile you're only 15-20 mins to the busiest/most southern part of the beach, with all the restaurants & shopping in between.
lots of condo's available on the beach, although the only ones in a resort, that i know of, are at the reef resort & that is on the east/quiet end of the island so would defeat your purpose.
gc is more 'cosmopolitan' i think, with a more defined, much busier town & tons of dining options. also one of the safer islands due to their very healthy economy.
we stayed in a villa near rum point (quiet part of island) so no specific condo suggestions, but have read on here that the north end of the beach is the best. from the very north end of seven mile you're only 15-20 mins to the busiest/most southern part of the beach, with all the restaurants & shopping in between.
Jan 27th, 2011, 04:14 PM
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I vote for Virgin Gorda, since our family is in love with this island. Maybe Little Dix bay, or one of the smaller villas? Although while Virgin Gorda is many wonderful things, I wouldn't say "cosmopolitan" is one of them. Savannah beach was crystal clear, warm, and the beach was sandy and pristine.
Jan 27th, 2011, 05:15 PM
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I love Virgin Gorda as well as the out islands of the Bahamas but I think for what you are describing you should definitely take a look at St. John. I have not been to the Caymans in a very long time so I don't know for sure but it seems like that might be another choice. There are some newer condos right in Cruz Bay- the name escapes me but I am thinking something like Grande Bay- someone help me out- or Gallows Point and you could have your kitchen, easy access to town and restaurants- I would still rent a car to explore the island and visit beaches. If I remember correctly, Francis Bay might be a great place for the little ones. There are many choices there- happy travels!
Jan 28th, 2011, 05:07 AM
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Hello all again,
Thank you for your kind suggestions. I wanted to gather more information about Virgin Gorda and HOW to get there (from Boston)...I am either doing something wrong in my search(es) as I use travel.yahoo.com or something else is wrong, but I cannot seem to find a...way to get there! Again, flying out from Boston...
Any suggestions how to get to Virgin Gorda?
Thank you,
Yannis
Thank you for your kind suggestions. I wanted to gather more information about Virgin Gorda and HOW to get there (from Boston)...I am either doing something wrong in my search(es) as I use travel.yahoo.com or something else is wrong, but I cannot seem to find a...way to get there! Again, flying out from Boston...
Any suggestions how to get to Virgin Gorda?
Thank you,
Yannis
Jan 28th, 2011, 02:09 PM
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to virgin gorda - you have to fly to st. thomas (stt) or preferably beef island tortola (eis) then take a ferry to virgin gorda or way expensive small plane.
however if you thought provo was too quiet i don't think you'll like virgin gorda. no town, not that many restaurants.
however if you thought provo was too quiet i don't think you'll like virgin gorda. no town, not that many restaurants.
Jan 28th, 2011, 05:09 PM
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I agree with Virginia- we loved VG because it did not have much in the way of "town" or shopping- it was quiet and laid back- I would not (remotely) use the word "cosmopolitan" to describe it - if it had been we would not have chosen it.
For St. John, where you are more likely to find what you are looking for, fly into St. Thomas- many direct flights from the east coast- then take a short ferry ride. Since you are not leaving the US like when you travel to VG, it is pretty easy.
For St. John, where you are more likely to find what you are looking for, fly into St. Thomas- many direct flights from the east coast- then take a short ferry ride. Since you are not leaving the US like when you travel to VG, it is pretty easy.
Jan 29th, 2011, 04:01 AM
#13
I agree with everyone else, if you thought T&C was quiet, you're even getting quieter with your choices.
Harbour Island might come close to what you're seeking (but be warned, it's only 3 square miles!) but it has a gorgeous town, a chic vibe, a stunning beach, and you get around walking or golf cart. Nice restaurants to eat, shops are few but very "Caribbean."
The next step up for what you're looking for might be too crowded for you--Caymans. I was going to suggest Anguilla, but no real town to explore, not many shops (unless you consider resort boutiques) and need a car to get around, but the trade off is gorgeous beaches like T&C, and better restaurants.
Harbour Island might come close to what you're seeking (but be warned, it's only 3 square miles!) but it has a gorgeous town, a chic vibe, a stunning beach, and you get around walking or golf cart. Nice restaurants to eat, shops are few but very "Caribbean."
The next step up for what you're looking for might be too crowded for you--Caymans. I was going to suggest Anguilla, but no real town to explore, not many shops (unless you consider resort boutiques) and need a car to get around, but the trade off is gorgeous beaches like T&C, and better restaurants.
Jan 30th, 2011, 05:10 AM
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Hello all again,
Thank you for your insights. Everything you share is very informative and I suspect that either Grand Cayman, or Virgin Gorda, or the 'smaller' options Harbour Islands and Anguilla are definitive destinations for us. I have a feeling that my question was not clear and the word 'cosmopolitan' was kind of misleading... What I mean is, for those who have traveled to the greek islands..picture naxos, or parts of Crete, where there are more people, more shops, etc but with the crystal clear waters of the TCIs for example. And having taken your point blamona, I realize that the 'perfect' destination as I sought it does not exist, however your suggestions are actually very good (as well as those of virginia and the rest of you guys). The next question I have (and I hope I am not throwing off with this one) is which of the above mentioned destinations would be, weather wise, better to go lets say from late February to late April BUT for 3 nights-4 days....And what kind of temperatures/conditions etc would I be met with once there during those months? Is the weather drastically different in those places than that of the July's 90s in TCI?
Thank you again
yannis
Thank you for your insights. Everything you share is very informative and I suspect that either Grand Cayman, or Virgin Gorda, or the 'smaller' options Harbour Islands and Anguilla are definitive destinations for us. I have a feeling that my question was not clear and the word 'cosmopolitan' was kind of misleading... What I mean is, for those who have traveled to the greek islands..picture naxos, or parts of Crete, where there are more people, more shops, etc but with the crystal clear waters of the TCIs for example. And having taken your point blamona, I realize that the 'perfect' destination as I sought it does not exist, however your suggestions are actually very good (as well as those of virginia and the rest of you guys). The next question I have (and I hope I am not throwing off with this one) is which of the above mentioned destinations would be, weather wise, better to go lets say from late February to late April BUT for 3 nights-4 days....And what kind of temperatures/conditions etc would I be met with once there during those months? Is the weather drastically different in those places than that of the July's 90s in TCI?
Thank you again
yannis
Jan 30th, 2011, 06:22 AM
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yes weather is pretty different for feb-apr.
air temps in gc or vg will be mid-80s. temps in bahamas or t&c would be mid 70's to low 80's. obviously cooler at night.
when you were on provo in july oceanwater temp was around 82. in feb-apr it will be in the low 70 for bahamas and 80ish in the caymans or for virgin gorda.
also spring in the islands will be a bit rainier & windier.
if you want to match the water color i'd still say grand cayman.
plus with only 4 days you'd waste to much time traveling to & from virgin gorda < just my opinion & i want to say that virgin gorda is an island i can't wait to spend time on, having only daytripped there so far. i just don't think it's what you're seeking for this trip.
air temps in gc or vg will be mid-80s. temps in bahamas or t&c would be mid 70's to low 80's. obviously cooler at night.
when you were on provo in july oceanwater temp was around 82. in feb-apr it will be in the low 70 for bahamas and 80ish in the caymans or for virgin gorda.
also spring in the islands will be a bit rainier & windier.
if you want to match the water color i'd still say grand cayman.
plus with only 4 days you'd waste to much time traveling to & from virgin gorda < just my opinion & i want to say that virgin gorda is an island i can't wait to spend time on, having only daytripped there so far. i just don't think it's what you're seeking for this trip.
