I also would like to know if you care about the island. Caneel Bay in St. John is understated luxury. You should check out renting a villa. There are loads of gorgeous places.<BR><BR>The beaches are uncomparable. I have been to Harbour Island and have seen the Pink Sands. All that is there is a pretty beach. St. John is much much lovelier.

Some of you people aren't listening to what Bari is looking for. She doesn't want a villa, she doesn't want a resort like Caneel or Little Dix. <BR>She wants television and marble bathrooms etc. <BR>Please stop telling her to go to St John. I love St John and Caneel but it's not for everyone.<BR>IMO Sandy Lane in Barbados comes closest to Cap Juluca. The type of resort you're looking for is rare in the Caribbean. That's fine with me but must be frustrating for those who NEED things like marble bathrooms.... whatever.

Janey,<BR><BR>We understand what your saying. Maybe some of us are trying to enlighten her that you can have it all without marble bathrooms. <BR><BR>Just trying to get her too read others experiences. Doesn't matter whether she listens or not. Just sharing information.<BR><BR>St. Barts is also a consideration.

Le Toiney in St. Barth's is the finest place in the Caribbean and on the finest island. It surpasses Cap Jaluca though that is also wonderful, because it is even more exclusive and more European. The island is perfection, the beaches are unbelievably gorgeous and the food is to die for with everything imported several times a week direct from Paris and Lyon. The people are lovely and the other tourists are limited to upper class couples and a few lowkey families, mostly Europeans and some Americans. Lovely shops with tax free goods from France. I agree that Biras, Peter, etc. sound lovely but are definitely one notch down.

People, people.<BR>Can't you just say "Well, I really liked this place because..." instead of denigrating other people's choices?<BR>It's really annoying to keep hearing, "this place is better, hands down," and "no comparison" and "that place is one notch down" and on and on.<BR>Just say why you liked it or didn't instead of sounding like a pretentious snob playing nyah nyah nyah.<BR>Anyone coming to this board looking for info is going to think we're a bunch of spoiled brats.

NOW I remember why I have never wanted to go to St. Barts! 1,000's of Lizzes. What a snob. Bashing other people's choices for nice places and saying her idea of utopia is an over-priced non-beachfront prig-infested over-crowded wannabe movie-star nouveau riche enclave that is NEVER mentioned in the same breath with some of the other posters' suggestions. Liz is living in her own fantasy Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous world.<BR>

Obviously there is a market for 5 star travel accomodations and destinations. Comparisons are what this board is all about. As travellers become more experienced and go to more places, these distinctions count for alot. The ability to go to a resort where you can wear nice clothing and go to chic places is a different criteria from resorts where you hang out in bermuda shorts and T-shirts all the time. Bari made it clear that she wants champagne, not a mai-tai.

Bari -<BR><BR>Boy, do you sound like me! Have never been to Cap Juluca - is it nice? As far as luxury - I would say St. John (Westin), Cayman Islands (Hyatt, Westin), Aruba (Hyatt, Radison, Marriott), or any of the many luxury hotels on Turks/Caicos. On my to-do list is the 4-Seasons in Nevis, but haven't been there yet.<BR><BR>Conde Nast rates the top hotels in the world - and the 4-Seasons Nevis got the highest rating of all the hotels in the Caribbean.

Liz,<BR><BR>Good for you! Sounds like a lot of jealous people on his board. They just love to bash. <BR><BR>St. Bart is lovely and also St. John. Different type of crowd. I still prefer St. John. Both are very picturesque islands. <BR><BR>St. John is 2/3 National park with mostly villa rentals. You have the one upscale (understated luxury) Caneel Bay resort where everyone keeps to themselves. The grounds gorgeous and 7 spectacular beaches around and about the resort. Other resort is Westin. <BR><BR>Town of Cruz Bay has lovely upscale shops but the beaches make the island. IN MY OPINION.......<BR><BR>After experiencing renting a villa, for us, it's the only way to go. It was like staying at luxurious resort having it all to yourself.<BR><BR>Ah memories!!!!! <BR><BR>

Sue,<BR>While I really enjoyed the Four Seasons Nevis very much and absolutely fell in love with the island and its people, I have been to other places that I felt had higher standards of overall luxury. (Just my opinion.) <BR>For service and beautiful rooms, you can't beat FS Nevis. The staff works very hard to make sure everything is just perfect, and there are a lot of little touches that make you feel very pampered.<BR>Really, the only thing I had any major complaints about was the food quality for the price. <BR>The beach is not nearly as nice as the one at Cap Juluca. It all depends on what you are looking for. People have very different ideas about what they want in a resort.

Sue, if you are using the Westin on St. John or the Aruba hotels as a bench mark for luxury you are in for a wondrous treat when you finally do get to some of the luxury resorts in the Carib. Most of them tend to be smaller and not the chain hotels but there are a few exceptions and unfortunately you haven't listed them. The TCI luxury hotel choices is very limited also. As to the other xxx, LeToiny is lovely and many places aren't mentioned including the Cotton House and other wonderful retreats but that doesn't make them awful!

Well, Travelpro -- or is it KarenW? -- when you call the Ritz an "Italian marble palace," well, that's EXACTLY what Bari is looking for, so thank you for confirming that! And, despite the smallish beach area, the totality of the property is still far more beautiful than Cap Juluca can ever hope to be (or the 4 Seasons Nevis, whose beach is VERY disappointing, no matter what size!), including the Ritz' infinity pool overlooking the ocean! As for the Ritz not having direct ocean front rooms, it really doesn't matter as the walk to the beach is quite beautiful and the property still has many gorgeous views from various rooms just the same! Besides, it's not really THAT far from the beach area (are most of you really THAT lazy?!?).<BR><BR>As for Le Toiny on St. Barts, yes, it, too, is quite remarkable, but the beach is not that great and the surf is quite rough. Bari, you might also consider the Isle de France hotel on Flamand Beach on that marvelous island as well!<BR><BR>Bravo to Liz!!!<BR>

P.S. -- Also, Bari, if you'll just be a bit more patient, in about another year there will also be a brand new Ritz-Carlton on Grand Cayman as well as a new Four Seasons on Great Exuman in the Bahamas, both of which should be outstanding resorts!