Davina

...an old Spanish village where cars are almost unheard of, where we can rent bikes or hike to beautiful hide-a-ways or awesome points of interest. Where life is casual and layed back and the outside world doesn't exist. Where the virgin beaches are unspoiled and the water is crystal clear. Where people are friendly but not pushy and the food is fresh and delicious.

We are a family with 2 children (3 & 8) who are well traveled - all over Europe, Scandanavia, Asia. We just moved to Texas, USA. We are looking to get away for a week in March where we can experience some history, activity, natural beauty and some great beaches - not ritzy or touristy but safe and clean. Price is of no object....

Davina

I GUESS IT DOESN'T EXIST!
THANKS!

Marilyn

Davina, I think the problem is wanting "an old Spanish village" with "some history" AND an unspoiled beach without tourists. You can find the former in lots of places and the latter to some degree, but they don't exist in the same place that I know of.

TC

I agree. Davina, you are asking for too many conflicting items. If you can "rent bikes" and there are "awesome points of interest" - then there are tourists. If the food is "delicious" then there's a restaurant and a cook who knows the ropes and again, that means tourists for monitary support. If the water is "crystal clear", chances are the divers beat you there. Do you really think that those "friendly, but not pushy" people want to live in the poverty of not even having a car? How will YOU, your family and your luggage get to this place if there are no cars? Where will you stay if "the outside world doesn't exist"?

Do I think you can find a great vacation spot? Yes. You just have to prioritize your needs a bit more and then you'll get lots and lots of ideas from this board.

suze

Chiming in along the lines of the other replies you've already received.. your "wish list" is filled with contradictions.

There are some high-end isolated resorts on the water (for instance to the south of Puerto Vallarta) that are laid back with some of what you are seeking, and yes they are expensive... but certainly these have been developed for tourists and are not an authentic local village by any stretch.

Towns with a place for visitors to stay would normally have taxis to get them around. Fresh food requires restaurants or a place for your to stay one week with a kitchen (again a tourist set up). I'm not familiar with any old Spanish villages remaining that are on virgin beaches.

Especially with only one week to travel, it would be difficult to get in and out of the more remote regions.

My suggestion is pick only a couple of the things you'd *most* want to find, and let the board help you with some suggestions for that.

Wednesday

Sounds a bit like Costa Rica or St. Lucia to me....

Davina

Thanks for the responses! When I lived in Europe I visited an Island 1000 miles E. of Africa in the Indian Ocean called the Seychelles. It consisited of many little Archipaligao Islands that were similiar to what I had described although they wern't 'old spanish towns' but more like the old French, British or what ever Pirate happened to be settling there at the time. It was closest thing to paradise that i have ever seen.

Anyway, I will narrow it down. When I say not "touristy" I don't want wall to wall hotels and condo's on the beach or pushy/rude natives. When I say "old Spanish town" how about just some history within driving distance, maybe tour some local fishing ports or the ancient ruins. We are really into biking and hiking and would love trails thourgh a lush rain forest. I do like the plush resorts although a bungalow on the beach would do as well. We stayed in the Banyon Tree Resort which was beautiful tree houses built in the lush Jungle over looking the Indian Ocean.
I am thinking somewehre in Mexico/S. America on the Beach with acess to hiking and biking as well as day trips. Any ideas?

NNJBOBBY

It's not even so much that she is asking for too much in one place but she posts the original question at 01/26/04 at 2:30 PM and then posts again at 01/26/04 at 3:52 PM. One hour and 20 minutes later, she doesn't have patience to wait for a good though out answer from all of the experienced members on this board but in responding with "I GUESS IT DOESN'T EXIST!
THANKS!" she sets herself up for the answers she got. At least with all that travelling you would learn some patience. And thanks for telling us about all your travels.

NNJBOBBY

One other thing, she states in her last line above in the postquot;Price is no object" Then I find that she posted elsewhere this post: "Author: Davina
Date: 01/26/2004, 02:48 pm
Message: What are the best travel sites for discount or last minute travel? Is there a comparison site for air travel, hotel?"

Something is fishy here, either she is a troll or she is just trying to impress on one hand but not have the substance on the other.

suze

Although I wouldn't be quite so harsh as Bobby, I do find the posts incredibly naive - especially in relation to Mexico.

And the Seychelles are far from an undiscovered spot these days. I have several different friends who've been recently on both dive trips and Elderhostel tours.

Although it certainly can't fulfill everything Davina is asking for, the general ambiance sought sounds more Caribbean to me than Mexican or South American.

AndrewGW

you might want to check out www.mexicoboutiquehotels.com as there are some ideal locations - old Spanish charm with super hospitality and even some on a beach - they have circuits as well that might be of interest - some days in the interior for the history and then some days on the beach

Ally

How about Belize or parts of Costa Rica?
Not much 'culture' in Costa Rica but lovely, quiet beach towns, lot's of wildlife and fabulous forest with hiking trails galor. In fact, the Osa Peninsula has both forest and beaches and is quite remote. There are very nice areas in Belize too. It does not have the beautiful white sand beach with clear blue water that is found in the caribbean, but you can find some resorts with nice little stretches of beach, and you have forest and Mayan ruins to explore.