A Hawaiian vacation in the Caribbean
 

We are looking for an island in the Caribbean which would offer the same experience one can find in Hawaii (Maui and The Big Island), that is, nice beaches as well as other activities like hiking/snorkeling etc, and that would not be over touristy.

We have been reading about many island but none of them seems to be close to the Hawaii experience. Can you help us to find the perfect island for us.

Check out St. John (USVI's)or Virgin Gorda (BVI's) - both are hilly, semi-lush, have plenty of hiking trails, wonderful beach and offer numerous places to snorkel. FYI - 2/3's of St. John is set aside as a National Park so you can hike to your heart's content.

For a much more lush island (think rain forests, waterfalls, extinct volcanos look at St. Lucia. The beaches there are picturesque but have dark sand (due to the island's volcanic origin) and the snorkeling is not the best in the Caribbean.

For a pure eco-tourist experience take a look at Dominica (not the Dominican Republic) - this lush, volcanic based mpontainous island appeals to those seeking a place that's off the beaten track. The is;land has good beaches and some adequate snorkeling.

Lastly, you should know that in the Caribbean as a general rule the best snorkeling will be found around the flatter limestone/coral based islands such as Bonaire, Anegada, the Turks & Caocos and the Bahamas Out-islands. Unfortunately, because these islands are usually very arid they lack dense lush vegetation and hiking is not a major activity as the islands are rather featureless.

Thanks for the info. How would you rank Puerto Rico?

Hi Joshpal,
I've been to Mauai and Kauai. Of the Caribbean islands I've been to I would say St. Lucia is just like a "mini Kauai" with the lush rainforest, golden sand and black sand beaches, deeper blue water, mountains, etc. It's one of my favorite islands (with Kauai being my most favorite). You would want to stay close to the Pitons. It's much less built up and more mountainous there than the north shore.

I've also been to St. John but wouldn't compare it to Hawaii. I love St. John and would recommend it highly for a good "Caribbean" island to visit. But it's not like Hawaii at all IMO. It has white sand, clear blue water, mountainous (much smaller mountains though than say Kauai) and not as lush. It's a great island to visit though-another one of my favorites.

I haven't been to, but from pictures I would say, that Nevis looks a lot like Mauai w/the large volcano in the center of the island. It looks beautiful and I've heard great things about it. Dominica also looks beautiful and very lush/Hawaii like.

Of course the culture on any of these islands will be very different from Hawaii.

Oh, I've only been to Puerto Rico a few times through way of the San Juan airport so I can't comment there.

Good luck!

Okay, I love Hawaii, especially Kauai. Maybe what you are expecting is something like Nevis. We really enjoyed ourselves there. Loved sitting back and reading and just mellowing out. We also enjoyed all the wonderful restaurants, the hiking, and the monekys. Absolutely hated leaving there. The people were just so friendly and treated us like family. Not at all touristy, but they are not known for their beaches.

A lot of people come here asking for a Hawaii-like experience. It's like comparing apples to oranges. Really, they are nothing alike except that both are beach destinations. The cultures are very different. I'm surprised, however, that you find Maui to not be very touristy.

I think RoamsAround has it exactly right. St. John is hilly, has great beaches, and is an excellent snorkeling destination. It's not at all touristy. There are some hotels and resorts but it also has a wealth of villas and rental houses. I haven't been to Virgin Gorda but I know it is somewhat similar to St. John.

And I agree about St. Lucia also. We loved our hike through the rain forest and our swim in the volcanic pool. My hair and skin were unbelievably soft and smooth for days afterwards. There are a couple of nice beaches on the island but it doesn't boast the beaches of, say, someplace like St. John, Anguilla or Turks & Caicos. One really fun thing we did while vacationing on St. Lucia was to take a day trip to the Grenadines. It was a flight in a sight-seeing plane over some of the most spectacular water I've ever seen and then a snorkeling trip off of some sparsely populated islands. It was all simply beautiful and the landing on Union Island was comparable and as knuckle-biting as a landing on St. Barts.

I can't really agree on the inclusion of Nevis and yes, I have been to Nevis, Maui and the Big Island. It is a mountainous island but it doesn't have good beaches nor snorkeling. You will find good hiking, however, and some good restaurants. There's not much else to do on Nevis unless you golf as there is a golf course on the island.

You are asking for nice beaches, hiking and snorkeling. Many islands in the Caribbean can easily give you 2 out of the 3 with only a couple of locations offering all 3 (St. John is one). I happen to love both the Caribbean and Hawaii. They are just different and you should keep that in mind if you decide to visit the Caribbean.

Thanks a lot for the great info. I think I didn't explain myself clearly enough. We are not REALLY looking for something exactly like Hawaii. We are want something that will have the following

1. Nice hotels and restaurants close to nice beaches.
2. Easy access to non-touristy activities like hiking, snorkeling, nice towns, or other activities besides tanning.
3. We are not really into shopping, gambling or things of that kind. Towns full of cruise-ship tourists are not our cup of tea.

The closest thing I found was st john, but it seems like it has a very small number of ultra expensive hotels.

PS, to add to the above, we will also be traveling with our 2.5 year daughter.

Ah, that's very different then!

Provo (Turks & Caicos) has one of the most beautiful beaches anywhere. I think it's more of a diving location but it does boast at least one touted snorkeling spot. Most of the accommodations are condo-style and some are definitely high-end. Having a condo might be an advantage with a toddler. Great beach, good restaurants.

Grand Cayman also has a world-class beach with good snorkeling. There's a newish Ritz Carlton right on the beach. It is a cruise-ship destination but as long as you stay out of town on cruise-ship days you're probably okay. It's a flat island, however, so no real hiking. You can walk for miles on 7-Mile Beach if you need some activity. There's a turtle farm that might be a good attraction for the little one and a must-do snorkeling trip to Sting Ray City. It also has a large, well-equipped US-style supermarket which you might like to have access to with a young child. You won't find those types of grocery stores on all islands. Great beach, very good restaurants.

Maybe you should look into St. Barts. The snorkeling isn't very good and I'm not sure there's any hiking but there are certainly ultra expensive hotels and a nice town. Plus you can take a ferry or a quick flight over to St. Martin if you want a change of scenery. Very good beaches, great restaurants.

Antigua also has some pretty high-end resorts. Good beaches and good restaurants.

Did you look into Little Dix Bay on Virgin Gorda? It's more upscale than Caneel Bay, its sister resort on St. John.

I'll post back if I can think of anything else that might interest you.

How about Grenada? It has beautiful beaches, great hiking, a wonderful town. I'm not sure how good the snorkeling is though. We found it easy to get around using public transportation.

I read a bit about Puerto Rico and it sounded very nice. However from browsing here it seems like people are not really excited about it. Any comments? Also, I did a little reading about St. Lucia and some places that it's not really safe there. Any comments on that?

I can't comment on Puerto Rico, but now that I see more of what you're looking for, and that you'll have your little one with you, I do think St. John would be a great fit. I've also been to Virgin Gorda, but it is much more of a pain to get to than St. John (don't get me wrong-we LOVED Virgin Gorda, but you won't find the little town for restaurants and shopping there as you would in St. John, and there will either be a long ferry ride or a puddle jumper involved to get there). We took our daughter w/us to Virgin Gorda when she was about 8 months I believe (she's now 4.5 years old so I'm trying to remember!), and then to St. John with us when she was about 2.5/3 years old if I remember correctly. It's a great place with calm beaches for little ones, great snorkeling, fun day trips, a great little town (Cruz bay) for shopping/restaurants. If you are open to renting a villa there are plenty on the island to choose from. If not, you can look into Gallows Point in Cruz Bay, or Caneel if your budget will allow. We tend to rent villas on our vacas, it's just easier for us w/kids. Here are my pictures from our St. John trip-might help in your decision making process. Also, keep in mind that if you go in off season it will be much less crowded and less expensive. Villas are usually about 1/2 the price in off season than high season. Off season is usually April 15-end of October. enjoy!

St. John, part 1-
http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/..._photos_button

St. John, part 2-
http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/..._photos_button

ps-regarding St. Lucia, we felt completely safe our whole trip-the locals were extremely friendly. Of course, as with any trip, you should keep your wits about you.

Hi again, we have discussed our "problem" with some of our friends and they had an original suggestion; "go to south Florida". It is has the everglades, the beaches, nice views. How would you compare that to the Caribbeans?

We mainly go to the Caribbean to swap snow and cold for green and warm weather.
You don't say when you are going, but the bottom line is they don't compare. Don't limit yourself. You won't get the Caribbean food, you won't enjoy the ocean time nearly as much because the beaches aren't nearly as nice.
Florida doesn't have the natural attractions, the rainforests, the misty mountains, the volcanic peaks, the diving and snorkeling, the same flowers and trees, etc. It's like saying, "Why not just go to CA rather than Hawaii?" The everglades are worth seeing, but the views and the excitement level are something you would miss in FL.

Knowing said it perfectly ;)

I totally agree, but from reading about almost all the islands the idea I got was that driving in them is very dangerous and so most people just stay in the hotel and do not explore the island. That kind took the steam out of our intentions to go around which ever island we chose. Since we are traveling with our daughter we really do not want to get into any trouble driving around unsafe roads. If you can recommend an island that has lots to offer and is easy to get around in that would be great (I am counting out st john since the only hotel I managed to find there was for $400 per night which is over our budget).

Sorry, I misunderstood. I thought you were LOOKING for a high end resort!

First of all I'll address the safety issue. Again, many people who have never been to the Caribbean come here asking about safety. They've all heard horror stories. Does crime exist in the Caribbean? Of course. Does it exist in your hometown? Of course. The island that gets the most negative press for crime is Jamaica although most of the crime in that country is in and around Kingston. Most tourists never set foot in Kingston. And "most" of the crime in Jamaica is not targeted to tourists but is drug related. There are bad people everywhere, even in a seemingly paradise. My husband and I have been to 10-12 Caribbean islands, some for repeat visits. We have never been the victim of a crime nor have we ever once felt unsafe. And we definitely don't confine ourselves to the resort. We almost always rent a car and use it to explore the island. Most islands are VERY safe. The crime against most tourists is property crime so don't leave an expensive camera, iPod, etc. unattended on the beach, that sort of thing.

Based on your criteria I really do think St. John would be the perfect introduction to the Caribbean for you. It's very safe, has hiking, has beautiful beaches, has snorkeling, has no cruise ships, has no gambling, has a cute town. Are you totally opposed to a villa or rental house? St. John doesn't have that many hotels and yes, Caneel Bay is pricey, but I'm surprised you can't find a good deal at the Westin. Did you check out Gallows Point in Cruz Bay? The time of year you plan to travel also makes a huge difference in prices. High season in the Caribbean generally runs from mid-December to mid-April or in some cases the beginning of May. After that, prices can drop dramatically, often as much as half off high-season prices. Take a look in the Sunday travel section of your newspaper. The large travel agencies (Liberty, etc.) often run specials to the Caribbean, even in the dead of winter.

I guess my question to you is what are you reading that says "... reading about almost all the islands the idea I got was that driving in them is very dangerous and so most people just stay in the hotel and do not explore the island." Oh my goodness! Being a veteran Caribbean traveler I can assure you this is patently untrue. It might be true that many people go to an all-inclusive resort and never leave it but for the most part the guests are there to take advantage of the amenities offered by their resort.

I'll reiterate you should also look into Turks & Caicos. The accommodations are mostly condo-style and there is a range of prices. Fabulous beach, very safe, easy to get around.

Perhaps St. Kitts would work for you? I haven't been but it might offer a lot of what you are looking for and it's not known as being an expensive destination.

I've been to Puerto Rico a couple of times - and it would not be in my top 10 list in the Caribbean (would actually rather go to Florida).... I think Grand Cayman would be excellent - good children stuff to do, great beaches (love those stingrays), I haven't been to St Lucia, but I hear it's lovely. Turks and Caicos would be great... If you decide on Florida (depending on time of year) - look at Sannibel....

Hi Sharona and Debi, thanks a lot for your answers. Our plan is to travel at the beginning of May, which seems to be the right time to travel in south Florida. As to Sanibel, do you think this area of Florida will be a better fit for for us (compared with the keys)?

Sharona, I did try to look for deals in st johns hotel for that time of year, but even in Gallows the beast rate is about $400. And this place does not even seem to be a high end resort! Perhaps they publish the better rates later on in the year? As to vila/condo, we don't mind that, but it just seems like the amount of time one needs to invest in making sure he is about to rent an appropriate place is enormous. Is there a fast way to find reliable places to rent?

As to driving, I looked for example at st. Lucia (which other people suggested in this thread) and some travel guides explicitly say that one should not even consider driving there, and that taxis is the only option.
Of course, the only information I get is from the books, which may be the wrong one.

So assuming we cannot find a descent place in st john, which place can you recommend for us (besides Florida),

Another question on st john. The reviews on Westin and Gallows are pretty horrific. Can you recommend any one of them?

Joshpal,
You have gotten some good advice but I am going to go in the opposite direction. We are more "off the beaten path" travellers,not into big resorts, and prefer smaller, out of the way places. You mentioned being interested in Puerto Rico and wanting a place with hiking, snorkeling, safety and lack of casinos, shopping or crowds. Have you considered the PR islands of Culebra or Vieques? I have been to Hawaii a couple of times- more recently to the Princeville area of Kauai and I would much rather go to the Caribbean for shorter travel times from where we live; warmer, clearer and calmer water (depends on where you are in HI, I understand), and a more laid back experience- hard to put into words. While these islands are certainly nothing like Hawaii, they do offer some of what you say you want and would be a good family-friendly location spot to research. There are almost no waterfront hotels on Culebra but there are some places you would probably like- look at the condos at Bahia Marina, for example- you would want to rent a jeep but the driving is not difficult or scary. You can go to a different beach every day in a very short drive. I have not been to Vieques but there are more options for lodging, eating, etc. than in Culebra.
I live too close to Florida and have spent too much time there to really advocate for that as being a viable alternative for what you say you want- many years ago Sanibel might have fit your bill but I find most of south Florida to be overgrown and overtouristed- I still love places that we still go and I have family there but I would vote for St. John and renting a villa or checking into the BVI's instead- love St. John and am headed for the BVI's in April.
Hope you find what you are looking for- have a wonderful time!

PS Joshpal,
this website helped me when I was planning for Culebra- www.islaculebra.com- click through some of the links to see photos of some of the beaches, although our favorite, Zoni, is not pictured. There is good general info about the island. There is a "sister" site that might be www.isla-vieques.com (can't remember) but there is a link to it on the Culebra site. Happy reading!

I used to live on the west coast and vacationed in Hawaii, which I loved.

Now that I live on the east cost I have been travelling to the Caribbean and finally found true paradise....St. John! Plenty of hiking, going to different beaches, off beach snorkeling...I love it even more than Hawaii...especially Caneel Bay.

Hi Joshpal. I stayed at Caneel Bay on St. John so I can't really help with specific villas or even rental companies. My suggestion is to do a search here by putting in St. John in the Search the Forums box and see what comes up. I would also Google St. John, or St. John villas, or something like that. A lot of people use vrbo.com and have been very happy and I wouldn't hesitate to use a recommendation by someone on these forums. I think you should easily be able to find nice accommodations in a villa or cottage for around $1,500 a week, particularly in May.

Here's an example of an older thread on this site that has some good information:

http://www.fodors.com/community/cari...vi-cottage.cfm

As to the driving on St. Lucia, that is one of the few islands where we did not rent a car. We stayed for a week at Le Sport, an all-inclusive where we certainly didn't need a car, and then moved to a resort on Rodney Bay for a few days. We did a few tours from our Rodney Bay hotel where transportation was provided and then we just used taxis if we needed to. There were restaurants and shops within walking distance of our hotel so we didn't feel the need to rent a car. The driving is a bit challenging there although if we go back we will undoubtedly rent a car. It's a large island with very hilly terrain and not so great roads in the hilly areas.

Other suggestions for islands for you to consider are the aforementioned Grenada and Bonaire. I think I mentioned Grand Cayman up-thread and I still recommend that. It's an expensive island for the most part but there are nice, reasonably-priced places to stay (condos) and they have a large, modern grocery store where you can stock up on breakfast and lunch items to save a little money.

If you are still considering St John, have a look at Grande Bay Resort. We have stayed at Gallow's Point several times and it was just getting out of our price range. Grande Bay is a group of condos and has been a work in progress for some time. We stayed there last time to save some $$, knowing what we were getting into. Basically, our unit was brand spanking new but there was still some construction going on but nothing loud and obnoxious. The pool and hot tub were being filled during our stay. Our unit had a stackable washer and dryer and I'm pretty certain that most if not all do. It is EASY walking distance to Cruz Bay restaurants and shops. Also has a parking garage. I'll post the link to the website, but check out vrbo (look for St John, Cruz Bay) because I have seen some varied rates. You should be able to get what you want for about $200-$250 per night.

http://www.grandebayresort.com/

Just had a closer look at that website. While it is beachfront, it is not "swimming" beachfront. Ferry comes in nearby and lots of other boats there.

Whoever above mentioned Grenada, I'll second it. It's lush and mountainous with interior activities like hiking to waterfalls and exploring historical sites. But it's also got really beautiful beaches, a wide array of restaurants and accommodations, and fun water sports. The West Indian flavor is really strong, too, so you'll definitely get that "I'm outside the US"feeling that one doesn't get (or at least I didn't get) in Hawai'i. The island is very safe for traveling around alone as a family, but part of the fun would be to find your own private tour guide (any taxi driver can give a tour, but there are some, like Mandoo, who specialize in tours) to get the real scoop on all of the things to do.

Take a look at www.grenadaexplorer.com for lots of general information about Grenada. Then take a look at www.spiceislevillas.com to find some great villa deals--your dollar will go a lot further on Grenada then many other Caribbean islands.

Thanks a lot for all the great answers. While looking for places on St Jonh, we found a place called Coconut Coast Villas. Their prices are very reasonable compared to other places, so I wonder if there is any "catch" there?

Did I miss why you discarded the idea of Virgin Gorda?
I think it's an ideal place given the age of your child, the beaches and your budget.
Take a look at the special rates at Mango Bay for May. The property is right on the beach so you don't have to drive to another beach unless you wish.
There are other hotels and villas with a similar feel...

What time of year are you planning to go?

He mentions the beginning of May as when he wants to travel...

we just returned from Costa Rica. It was very Hawaii like. Yes, I know it is not in the carribean, but the flight is just as close.