A Place like KEY WEST?
 

Can anyone recommend an island in the Carribean that is similar to Key West? Loved that we could walk all over Key West (or moped) and not rent a car, loved the small bed and breakfasts and unlimited number of outdoor restaurants, loved the safety, the diving and water sports. Any suggestions?

Bermuda meeets all of the above. Feel free to ask any questions. <BR> <BR>Angela

If "a place like Key West" means a place that is grossly overcrowded, has an overloaded sewage system that forces frequent closure of the local beaches, and gives my 11-year-old son a great oppportunity to see guys walking down the street with their arms around each other, tell me where it is, so I can stay away. <BR>

Carlos, it's probably too late for your son already. A homophobe for a dad almost guarantees the boy will turn out special.

LOL @ Carlito! <BR> <BR>Negril, Jamaica has a lot in common with Key West. You can walk down the beach or take taxis or rent a scooter or motorcycle and get to the open-air (generally free) live music beach and cliff bars. There's something going on all the time there, 24/7. Lots and lots of really nice small hotels and cottages in every price range. Many restaurants, mostly outdoors or at least partially outdoor. The party atmosphere is definitely there though much tamer than at crazy time (Spring Break - kind of like Key West). Negril is safe if you don't leave your common sense at home (don't walk deserted beaches or streets by yourself at 4AM, don't go off with strangers to buy drugs, etc). <BR> <BR>Negril has much better beaches than Key West - Negril's is 7 miles long and has very white sand and clear aqua water, very shallow and calm. Snorkeling/diving is similar. The whole sunset thing is similar too- while Key West does that festival/party each night, Negril has sunset bars along the cliffs (the westernmost point of JA is in Negril) where people gather and cliff dive or just chill and watch the sun go into the water. <BR> <BR>We've been to Key West 3 times, Negril 5 times (Jamaica 7 times - Negril is our favorite), to put this in perspective. <BR> <BR>The bohemian crowd that is now a little hidden in the Keys, since it became such a massive mainstream tourist destination, is alive and well in Negril - you'll meet a lot of ex-pats who came down in the 70s and stayed on, running restaurants and hotels. <BR> <BR>One thing that's different is that Jamaica (and the Caribbean in general) is not very gay-friendly. <BR> <BR>But Carlos can stay away from Negril anyway, I'm sure there'll be something else he doesn't like about it! <BR> <BR>:) Liz

Lisa alot of the family islands in the Bahamas are like what Key West used to be, like the Abacos, Bimini, and Harbour Island, (which is our favorite), try this website for more info www.briland.com our favorite hotel is Runaway Hill www.runawayhill.com Small and intimate but right on the beach, pool, great food and very relaxing. We never rent a golf cart we just walk everywhere. There are several good restaurants and just about everyone goes to the harbour at sunset to watch the sun go down. <BR> <BR>Have a great time.