I am planning a surprise 10th Anniversary trip for November 2005. I have settled on the Caribbean, but I know nothing about the region. It will be about an 8-day trip, and I'd like to split it up between 2 places for a little variety. I'm looking for: (1) small resorts (max. of 50 rooms); (2) very secluded; (3) luxury accommodations; (4) beautiful beaches; (5) decent diving; and (6) lots of other "nature" activities (hiking, fishing, etc.). I'm thinking maybe half at a resort on an island that has some jungle landscape (in addition to the beach), and half at a pristine, isolated white beach. So far, I am considering some combination of: (1) Montpelier, Nevis; (2) Beach House, Barbuda; (2) Peter Island; (3) Jumby Bay; (4) Little Dix Bay; (5) Biras Creek; and (6) Guana Island. I would certainly consider others. Finally, I have no idea how feasible it is to travel between those destinations for a "split" vacation. Any help would be most appreciated.

Let me first try to answer your "travel" question (I'll give you my final recommendation at the end). It is not always easy to "island hop". Peter Island, Guana Island, Little Dix Bay and Biras Creek are all in the BVI's and are in close proximity to each other so you can easily move between those resorts. Keep in mind that you will first have to get yourself to Beef Island (Tortola) - most visitors connect through San Juan and then take a ferry to the resort thy choose. You cannnot get from the BVI's to Nevis, Antigua or Barbuda without going back to San Juan or connecting through St. Martin. Also, you cannot get to Barbuda without going through Antigua. You can, however, fly between Nevis and Antigua. The upshot of all this is that if you want to split your time between resorts in the BVI's and islands outside the BVI's you will spend the better part of your first vacation day getting to Resort #1, a considerable part of one day in mid-vacation going to resort #2 and a third day going home. That's a lot of airport time for an 8 day trip.

As to the resorts themselves, Peter Island, Little Dix Bay and Biras Creek are very similar destinations and it doesn't make too much sense to split your stay between those. Of the 3 LDB will give you easy access to the entire island of Virgin Gorda whereas there is nothing on Peter Island except the resort. Although Biras Creek is on Virgin Gorda it is accessible only by boat so getting to the rest of VG means relying on others for transportation. Visit the websites for each of these resorts and choose the one that most appeals to you. I've not been to Guana Island but from what I heard it will fill your desires for "nature" activities (although you'll find plenty of hiking and fishing if you stay on Virgin Gorda).

Montpelier is a very nice resort and Nevis will give you access to rain forests, hiking trails and lots of natural beauty but since you've stressed "beautiful beaches" and "white sand beaches" you will be disappointed because the beaches on Nevis are darker and brownish in color (to be fair there are some "light" sand beaches on the Atlantic side of the island but they do not hold a candle to the beaches on the other islands you are considering. Beach House on Barbuda will give you long stretches of nearly deserted beaches (they have pinkish tone to them), a nature preserve and little else. Jumby Bay is an upscale private island resort with beautiful landscaping and a decent, if somewhat uninspired beach. The resort is only a few minute boat ride from Antigua where you will have access to hundreds of small to medium size beaches.

Since this is your first trip to the Caribbean you would be wise to spend your time at one resort and for that I'd recommend Little Dix Bay. The accomodations are upscale, you'll have plenty to do, you can visit a different "white" or "light golden" sand beach (most will be uncrowded) every day, you can go hiking, enjoy the local flora and fauna, there's some of the best diving sites in the Caribbean, you can go fishing, sailing, and take day trips to neighboring islands. In short LDB offers just about everything you've asked for. Have fun planning your trip.

Sunnyboy - Thanks very much for the thorough, well reasoned advice. It is exactly what I needed. Can you give me a sense for which of the BVI resorts we have discussed have the nicest accommodations?

I haven't physically stayed at any of those resorts in 3 years so any comments I make about the quality of the accomodations would be a little dated. With that in mind, I'd rate them in this order: Little Dix Bay, Peter Island and Biras Creek. All of these resorts are discussed often on this board. If you use the search feature at the top of this forum (type in the resort's name) you find hundreds of recent posts. Also go to www.tripadvisors.com and you'll find a lot of reviews by previous guests. Hope this helps.

Though I've not stayed at most of the resorts, they were all (except for Peter Island, which for some reason does not appeal to me) in the running for my honeymoon last year. I absolutely agree with Sunnyboy about minimizing your travel time between destinations. If you can increase your trip by one or two more days, however, I would recommend that you try 2 different islands for your trip.

I can also tell you that the rooms at Guana (which is where we honeymooned), though they are spacious, comfortable and well-designed, are far from posh or luxurious. The luxuries at Guana are more of the seclusion and being closer to nature than at the other resorts, rather than the marble vanity and heated towel rack variety. It would be perfect for hiking, snorkeling, birdwatching, etc. Then again, the other places in the BVI you mentioned would be perfect for those things, too.

And though I'm not necessarily recommending you do this combo, I do know that as of last June there was a nonstop flight from Tortola to Antigua because I was on it. (With all due respect to Sunnyboy here. It may not be offered daily, but I flew Liat from Beef Island to Antigua with no stops.)

If you haven't already checked them out, I'd recommend that you take a look at www.scubamom.com and www.scubatreks.com for indepth reviews and photographs of many of the places you're considering. Hope you have a wonderful anniversary, and with the places on your short list you're bound to have a fantastic and memorable vacation, no matter which one(s) you choose!

TO:ejcrowe - Great info on Guana Island, I learned alot from your post. As to the Liat flight from Beef Island to Antigua I'm not sure it is still a non-stop. Before I wrote my answer to brenkj I checked travelocity and the Liat websites and couldn't fine any non-stop flights between those two islands in November, but I must admit I didn't check every day for that month. You may be right, however, that the flight only goes out on certain days given that you were on such a flight. Add to that the fact that those small island based airlines change the schedules so often it's hard to keep up. What works durning one part of the year doesn't always hold true for other months. I travel to the Caribbean about every 6 weeks and I'm always on different flights even though I may be going to the same destination. Sometimes it's a real challenge getting around the islands.

To Sunnyboy: yes, I get the feeling that LIAT changes its flight schedules often--daily, or perhaps even hourly! When I left ANU going to EIS, we made a scheduled stop on Nevis, had to turn around and go back to Antigua for maintenance, and then make a non scheduled stop back on Nevis before going on to EIS. But as far as I'm concerned, it's all good.

Oh, to be in your shoes and be able to visit the Caribbean once every 6 weeks. No wonder you're so helpful to us all!

Sunnyboy: Thanks again for all the help. The info. re. the flight concerns was especially helpful. One more question: I think the 3 things I want to be able to do during the course of the trip are: (1) good scuba/snorkeling; (2) really interesting hiking (not just walking around, but visiting rainforests, etc.); and (3) lie around on a beautiful beach with hardly anyone else around. With that in mind, do you think I'd be better off staying in the BVIs the whole time or doing the split Montpelier/Jumby trip.
Thanks again.

To brenkj: Now you are making it harder on me (and others) to give you a definitive answer but I do understand your desire to get the most out of your vacation. That said, no one destination is going to have it "all" - the trick is to come as close to possible in getting what you want without trying to cram too much into one visit (that's why I avoid cruises like the plague - one needs time to fully explore an island.

If I were you with only 8 days, I'd spend the entire time in the BVI's, specifically Virgin Gorda (my personal favorite). By far, you'll find the best snorkeling/scuba in the BVI's and while there are no rain forests on Virgin Gorda (or in the BVI's for that matter) it is are relatively lush and mountainous so you will find some excellent areas for hiking and, except for the area know as the Baths, there are no shortages of uncrowded beaches on Virgin Gorda. You can also take easy day trips to anyone of a dozen or more nearby islands for hiking, snorkeling, scuba or just sitting on an uncrowded beach (there will be plenty from which to choose).

Jumby Bay is relatively small so you'd have to go to Antigua for access to the off resort beaches or to go on any strenuous hikes but Antigua, although hilly, lacks the lushness and natural beauty of the BVI's and there are no rain forests. Snorkeling/Scuba in and around Antigua can't compare to the BVI's.

Nevis (my second favorite island)is a truly beautiful island and the most lush of the destinations you are considering and you can hike lowlands, the rain forests, mountains and volcanos. You can explore hundreds of old ruins many of which are so hidden in the forests that you'll get the feeling you are on a trek with Indiana Jones. Because the island is volcanic in nature the beaches are dark sand and the waters surrounding the island lack the bright blue torquoise look you'll find in the BVI's. Snorkeling is almost nonexistent on Nevis (the best in the area is off of Shitten Bay on St. Kitts - 40 minutes by boat) and from what I've heard from others (I don't do scuba myself) scuba sites are just OK.

Again, if I were you I'd stay in the BVI's for this trip and save Nevis for your next trip. Don't worry, after visiting the Caribbean you are bound to become "hooked" and will do anything to get back there again and again. Remember every island is different and offers it's own special appeal and what feels right for me may not be your idea of paradise. Half the fun of traveling is searching for and eventually finding that perfect place in the sun. So many islands, so little time. Hope this helps - happy travels.

Just to put a vote in for Little Dix bay - have been there a half dozen times. The spa is new and wonderful. Have always enjoyed the food - can think of no more beautiful spot to dine than the Pavillion looking out over the "bay". A new pool is going in this fall and the rooms all being renovated. That said, I would reiterate that they are not marble bathrooms (unless that changes with the renovations but I doubt it - thought maybe in the new "rosewood suites" or the two villas) - it's not the cushy luxury of a Four Seasons but very nice all the same - you probably won't need it in November, but I appreciate the A/C - which wasn't in the rooms the year we went on our honeymoon. Remember to that you are on island time - it takes me about 24 hours to adjust - no one is in a hurry, nothing happens in a hurry, flight departures and arrival times are sometimes just "estimates" I think. Hence again, I'd second that I'd stay in the BVIs rather than spend a second day travelling. I would note that on our last trip to the island it was our first to spend it just on one island - often times we'd done the Little Dix bay/Caneel Bay combo - which means transport is only about a 90 minute boat ride from one resort to the other - which is a possibility for you - St. John is a fun island (but I still prefer VG). Anyway, I was worried I'd be bored staying in one place - but I loved it (my wife knew she wouldn't mind - give her a beach, a novel and a rum drink and she's happy for most of the day) and two or three things I'd really meant to do, I still didn't get done (a day sail to Anegada; snorkeling at the caves on Norman Island) So I wouldn't worry much about staying on one place. LDB does offer very good diving opportunities (we're snorkelers not SCUBA people so we often ride along on the dive boats). It is larger than you want - 100 rooms (vs. 50) the grounds are beautiful and not like any other I've seen in the Caribbean.