20th Anniversary - Need Destination Guidance
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20th Anniversary - Need Destination Guidance
Hi All
I am looking to plan our 20th wedding anniversary. I am having a hard time deciding on a location. I know that I want to do a catamaran charter, for sure. I just don't know where. We have done the BVI's many times, want something new.
I am considering the following areas:
Tahiti / French Polynesia
Greek Isles
Croatia
Things that interest us:
Nightlife
Nightlife
Local Bars / Beaches / Dive Bars
Amazing Snorkeling
Scenery
Things that don't interest us:
Quiet locations where there is nothing going on
Metro / Commercialized beaches/towns
We are looking to go either Spring or early summer 2014.
Any and all suggestions are welcome!
I am looking to plan our 20th wedding anniversary. I am having a hard time deciding on a location. I know that I want to do a catamaran charter, for sure. I just don't know where. We have done the BVI's many times, want something new.
I am considering the following areas:
Tahiti / French Polynesia
Greek Isles
Croatia
Things that interest us:
Nightlife
Nightlife
Local Bars / Beaches / Dive Bars
Amazing Snorkeling
Scenery
Things that don't interest us:
Quiet locations where there is nothing going on
Metro / Commercialized beaches/towns
We are looking to go either Spring or early summer 2014.
Any and all suggestions are welcome!
#2
You will get a lot more response if you post over on the Australia/Pacific and the Europe forums. Here and 'Travel Tips' you will mostly get input from a very few curious Fodorites who check this board now and then.
On the other forums, hundreds of members w/ tons of knowledge will see your questions.
On the other forums, hundreds of members w/ tons of knowledge will see your questions.
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From your mentioned choice it is clear that your preference is islands. Panama City Beach, Florida, South Beach, Miami and South Padre Island, Texas are also best options for summer time. Please mentioned the specific location country or continent you want to visit so that I can mention you more in more precisely.
#5
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Congratulations on having picked the only sub-forum where it makes sense to post your topic twm. Ignore those saying post where there are more people. They think numbers means something when in fact it's knowledge that you are looking for.
Fodor's is primarily a typical tourist forum and you are not likely to find many with much knowledge of your topic. For that reason, I would suggest you try some more likely forums to find sailors on. Try cruisersforum.com or sailingforums.com for a start.
But before you leave here, I will give you some imput. I have sailed in 3 of the 4 places you mention.
First, you are pretty much spoiled as you are familiar with the BVI for sailing. Many consider it THE best sailing destination in the world.
Tahiti and the French Polynesians have a lot going for them. Good snorkeling in places and beautiful islands. They say Bora Bora is the most beautiful island in the world. I don't know if it is, not yet having visited every island in the world. I can say it is the most beautiful island I have ever seen though.
The down side to the Polynesians is the distance between islands. Think overnight passages rather than a hop from say Soper's Hole to Foxy's Bar. That's where the BVI has spoiled you you see. So while someone with a month or two to cruise the islands might not see that as a problem, for a short anniversary cruise it can be.
The other downside is costs. The most expensive can of Coke I ever paid for was on Tahiti.
The Greek islands (depending on which group you pick) can be good for nightlife and exploring ashore. But for snorkeling, anywhere in the Med is crap really. If BVI scores a 9 for snorkeling, the Med scores no more than a 4 in my book.
You can find islands within easier cruising distances between them though. So if you were willing to drop the emphasis on snorkeling in favour of history and good food, they are a viable choice.
By the way, don't expect great sea food to be cheap anywhere in the Med unless you are willing to pay for it. The Med is basically fished out and consequently any decent fish, lobster, etc. is sent to the major cities like Paris where the customer pays big bucks for it. I once bought a lobster directly from the fisherman on the island of Corsica and paid nearly as much as I would have in a Michelin restaurant in Paris. Then we still had to cook it on board ourselves!
I haven't sailed the Croatian coast and islands although I have heard some good things. But I'm sure you will get some comments on some of the sailing forums.
Personally, I'd go back to the BVI. You know what you'll get; the sailing is easy and you can just lay back and enjoy it. The BVI really is sailing paradise.
What about the Grenadines as an option?
Fodor's is primarily a typical tourist forum and you are not likely to find many with much knowledge of your topic. For that reason, I would suggest you try some more likely forums to find sailors on. Try cruisersforum.com or sailingforums.com for a start.
But before you leave here, I will give you some imput. I have sailed in 3 of the 4 places you mention.
First, you are pretty much spoiled as you are familiar with the BVI for sailing. Many consider it THE best sailing destination in the world.
Tahiti and the French Polynesians have a lot going for them. Good snorkeling in places and beautiful islands. They say Bora Bora is the most beautiful island in the world. I don't know if it is, not yet having visited every island in the world. I can say it is the most beautiful island I have ever seen though.
The down side to the Polynesians is the distance between islands. Think overnight passages rather than a hop from say Soper's Hole to Foxy's Bar. That's where the BVI has spoiled you you see. So while someone with a month or two to cruise the islands might not see that as a problem, for a short anniversary cruise it can be.
The other downside is costs. The most expensive can of Coke I ever paid for was on Tahiti.
The Greek islands (depending on which group you pick) can be good for nightlife and exploring ashore. But for snorkeling, anywhere in the Med is crap really. If BVI scores a 9 for snorkeling, the Med scores no more than a 4 in my book.
You can find islands within easier cruising distances between them though. So if you were willing to drop the emphasis on snorkeling in favour of history and good food, they are a viable choice.
By the way, don't expect great sea food to be cheap anywhere in the Med unless you are willing to pay for it. The Med is basically fished out and consequently any decent fish, lobster, etc. is sent to the major cities like Paris where the customer pays big bucks for it. I once bought a lobster directly from the fisherman on the island of Corsica and paid nearly as much as I would have in a Michelin restaurant in Paris. Then we still had to cook it on board ourselves!
I haven't sailed the Croatian coast and islands although I have heard some good things. But I'm sure you will get some comments on some of the sailing forums.
Personally, I'd go back to the BVI. You know what you'll get; the sailing is easy and you can just lay back and enjoy it. The BVI really is sailing paradise.
What about the Grenadines as an option?
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#7
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PPS:
The Lonely Planet Thorntree forum has some knowledgeable regualrs on their 'Life on the Ocean Wave' branch.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntre...spa?forumID=54
Perhaps more 'sailing vacation' oriented than more dedicated sailing forums.
The Lonely Planet Thorntree forum has some knowledgeable regualrs on their 'Life on the Ocean Wave' branch.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntre...spa?forumID=54
Perhaps more 'sailing vacation' oriented than more dedicated sailing forums.
#8
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Improviser
Thanks a bunch for the information.
You are correct. The BVI's is amazing! Straight to the Willy T, then over to Peter Island the next day to recover. Up to Bitter End, then over to JVD.
We have a desire to try something different. But, disappointment could follow as the bar is set pretty high with our numerous cat trips to the BVIs. Hell, I visit soggy dollar webcam multiple times a week.
Thanks a bunch for the information.
You are correct. The BVI's is amazing! Straight to the Willy T, then over to Peter Island the next day to recover. Up to Bitter End, then over to JVD.
We have a desire to try something different. But, disappointment could follow as the bar is set pretty high with our numerous cat trips to the BVIs. Hell, I visit soggy dollar webcam multiple times a week.
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Foxy's at New Year's Eve is still one of the most memorable NYE parties I've ever been to. The boats were anchored and rafted so close together you could practically walk ashore.
Do the Pusser's restaurants still give you a free bottle of their Rum with every 4? dinners ordered?
As for your cat trips, I'm a firm monohull sailor and like many consider a cat as a deathtrap waiting to happen. LOL I've been rolled twice, one in the Atlantic and once in the Pacific. If I'd been in a cat I would probably not be around to write this. Fine for the BVI, not for open water. Great for space and shallow water but rough seas, uh uh.
Do the Pusser's restaurants still give you a free bottle of their Rum with every 4? dinners ordered?
As for your cat trips, I'm a firm monohull sailor and like many consider a cat as a deathtrap waiting to happen. LOL I've been rolled twice, one in the Atlantic and once in the Pacific. If I'd been in a cat I would probably not be around to write this. Fine for the BVI, not for open water. Great for space and shallow water but rough seas, uh uh.