Makjes

We are flying to St Martin next month with our three teenage daughters and we are looking for an island to split time with. We need to walk a fine line here because my wife and I prefer the more boutique hotels on quiet islands whereas our girls are going to want something with a bit more activity (by activity I mean daytime pursuits, we're not into nightlife). Given that we will be on St Martin for at least 3 days, we don't need to be somewhere with a lot of commercial activity. We do need to be able to get there easily by boat or plane and we want to go somewhere we haven't been before (that rules out St Barts, Anguilla, Antigua and Virgin Gorda). We were thinking about either the Buccaneer at St Croix or the Marriott at St Kitts. Both of these islands seem to be peaceful (good for the grown ups) and the resorts are large enough to entertain the kids. I'm leaning towards ST Kitts because it is cheaper to stay and get to. I threw Tortola in the mix because it sounds like a beautiful, tranquil place. I just don't think there are any resorts that would interest the kids. I've also thought about Nevis but i think the resorts are also too small since the 4 seasons is closed. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

eileen

Hi, I have been to Marriott St. Kitts and it's a good choice for teens if you are looking for a mega-resort. Nearby are also fun casual beach restaurants (Mr. X's Shiggidy Shack is great -- try the ribs). Touring the island (we rented a car) is fairly easy and Brimstone Hill and Carib Batik at Romney Manor are interesting. Also, there's a relatively new outdoor mall at the cruise pier so the shopping is a bit better than some other islands. You can also take the ferry to Nevis or a Catamaran/snorkeling trip there which stops right near the "famous" Sunshine's on Pinney's Beach where the Four Seasons is. I have only been to St. Croix for a day (went on a Buck Island trip) so can't really comment on the Buccaneer but having at least seen the island I think St. Kitts would be the better choice. The beach at the Marriott is the most gorgeous beach, but it is very wide and you can walk the length for almost 45 minutes.

eileen

Sorry, should read "isn't the most gorgeous beach"

iw

I would also recommend St. Kitts. While some think that the Marriott is an eye-sore on the island, it does have everything that you are looking for. Personally, we love the hotel and all that it has to offer. Nevis is worth a day trip. I love Nevis, but it is very quiet. On both islands there are rain forest hikes that are excellent. Caribelle Batik and Brimstone Hill Fortress are definitely worth checking out. There are many knowledgeable guides that will customize a tour for you. Thursday night at the Shiggidy Shack is awesome and PJ's, down from the Mariott is excellent. On Nevis, Chevy's is a neat little beach spot and Oualie Beach Hotel has a nice view while eating. Very laid back.

Makjes

Thanks a lot for the input. It helps confirm what I thought. Eileen - what didn't you like about the beach? I must say that from the photos it looks rather large and lacking in character. Is that it or was there something else?

iw

It is not a beautiful white sand beach like you read about and would expect. It is nice, however. I am thinking that this is what Eileen means, but I would not post on her behalf. Just posting my personal observations. I is wide and nice. Great for walking.

HowardC

Live on St Croix and recently went to St Kitts. On St Croix the Buccaneer has an auction package on luxurylink.com which you might check out. Have stayed at Buccaneer and it's very nice.. Also on Skyauction.com Sugar Beach Hotel condo on St Croix has an auction package. Havent stayed there. Also on Sky Auction Oualie Beach Hotel on Nevis has an auction package. As I rcall Winair flys from St Martin to Nevis. St Croix is easy to get to. A half hour flight on Liat. Flight arives about 12:20 PM. If you can do St Croix there is an AA flight around 5:30 PM back to Miami or you can take American Eagle back to San Juan. Don't know when in March you plan to travel but there is a big St Patricks day parade on 14 March which is always fun and horse races the 15th.

eileen

Hi, St. Kitts and Nevis are not known for their beaches or for the turquoise water you find on islands such as St. John, Turks & Caicos, etc. The water is darker, the sand is more brown and coarse. What is nice however, is there is a view of Nevis, I believe, from the Marriott St. Kitts. So the view tends to be a bit more interesting than just looking at water. Thus, it is not the prettiest in my opinion but yes, it is very, very wide and I like the fact that you can walk a long distance past lots of undeveloped land (at least it was two years ago).

cariblover10

Sorry to contradict you Eileen but there is no view of Nevis from the Marriot. It looks out across the Atlantic, the sea is usually quite rough there and swimming is not great
You get amazing views of Nevis from the South Pensinsula, looking out across the Caribbean. We stayed at the Mariott once with our kids and it was OK, but when we came back the next time we rented a villa, which was great as it had its own pool, was really private and big enough for the kids to hang out. We stayed here
http://turtlebeachhousestkitts.shutterfly.com/
hope this helps!

eileen

Hey, no problem, I wasn't sure as we also went to the South Peninsula and to Nevis (Nisbet Plantation, which has a view of St. Kitts) on that trip so I got my views mixed up! The Marriott St. Kitts wasn't high on my list (we were there on points) as I like smaller properties -- I wish St. Kitts had more smaller upscale properties on the beach!