Hi everyone,<BR><BR>My husband and I had booked a romantic vacation to Grenada which is now cancelled b/c the airline went out of business!! Our travel agent suggested barbados or nevis. I am worried that Barbados will be really busy and noisy (i flee from hordes of tourists and duty free stores). My husband thinks Nevis is too quiet with NOTHING to do. <BR><BR>Please help! A possible hotel in Barbados is teh Savannah and Timothy Beach/Oualie Beach in St. kitts/nevis.<BR><BR>thanks.

Nothing to do? Sounds like the place for me!

WE visited both Barbados and St. Kitts on a cruise last April. Barbados we did not care for (also visited years prior). Nothing really stood out as far as making it appealing or more so over other islands. Not a big help, I know!<BR><BR>St. Kitts, on the other hand, was one of themost beautiful islands we have ever seen. Very green and mountainous and prestine - the gov't is very strict about polution. It is soooooo scenic. Adorable little town and the people are wonderful. We only saw Nevis from a distance (from the shore - it is literally right there) but here it is wonderful but perhaps quieter.<BR><BR>Timothy Beach, from my understanding is all but washed away. On the ship they told us to aviod this beach butI have heard favorable things about the resort there. Jack Tar there is very popular and gets good reviews.

We have been going to Timothy Beach Resort for many years. St. Kitts is a beautiful island that is not commercialized like most of them. The beach was "messed" up from the water surge from the hurricane that went to the south and one that went to the north of the island. Mother nature has started to repair it. The snorkeling is excellent from the beach all around to South Friars. Check out their site at www.timothybeachresort.com

Never been to st. Kitts. but would reccomend barbados. If you stay on the west coast of the island there are less people, beautiful beaches, and great resorts. I was not there in high season so I cannot say what the crowds are lik.

I would recommend Antigua - not as developed or commercial as Barbados, but more developed than St. Kitts and with much better beaches and a really good choice of restaurants.

We have been to Barbadoes, the BVI and Nevis. We LOVED Nevis - quiet, but enough to do for one week. We stayed at the Nisbet Beach Plantation. Charming plantation house, lovely cottages, great food. Much more Caribbean than the Four Seasons Resort which is more American and in my opinion could be in any tropical location. We had a guided hike in the rainforest up the mountain, toured the island in a moke and thoroughly enjoyed the visit. That resort is on the beach, though there are many other lovely inns on Nevis that are a little away from the beach, in the hills. The only possible negative of this resort is that it is close to the small island airport (which is actually handy when flying there from St. Kitts) There is also a boat service) I think there is a lot of construction of a new resort/casino near or at the Jack Tar Resort on St. Kitts that may make a difference.

Hold everything?! There is a Rain Forest in Nevis? How did I miss that in my research... Is it comparable to that on St. Lucia and/or Puerto Rico?<BR>Please advise!

Yes there certainly is a rainforest, accessible from the Golden Rock Hotel. They have several trails set out, I recall that you could choose between a 3 hour and 1/2 hour hike, and several in between. I absolutely agree with everything Cathie said about Nisbet Plantation, we also stayed there and thought it was great. BTW we did not notice the proximity of the airport at all, a small propeller plane would fly overhead a couple times a day, not all that audible.

Of Barbados, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Grenada, I would still try to find a way to get to Grenada.

In my opinion having been to both in January, Barbados and St. Kitts are wonderful. You can find cosy, uncrowded areas in Barbados. One of the most beautiful beaches in the word is in Barbados at Crane Beach. Another great beach is Long Beach-very quiet-there is a resort there called the Long Beach resort-prices are very reasonable.The West coast of Barbados is less busy than Southern coast. The Payne's Bay area is village like-good restaurants, cute little shopping area funky beach bars, pretty beaches and since it is the west coast-great sunsets. In St. Kitts the best beaches are not part of the hotels.Jack Tarr is gross and so is the food. Frigate Bay Hotel is gross --shabby and is loaded with flies. Timothy looked nice but we didn'tgo inside. You'll have to drive to get to a good beach. Went to Nevis for a daytrip-is very beautiful and quiet.Good luck.

Barbados was not a very attractive island. We had a good time, bridgetown was weird and the beaches and scenery were JUST OK. St. kitts was also a good time, but also has that weird quality to it that, when the question "Would you go back there" comes up, you say no!<BR>I loved turks and caicos, and I love st. martin. Both those islands, which are opposites (thats why I like the 2) are great vacations. Provo is pretty and relaxing, st. martin is pretty and FUN!<BR> I would go to st. kitts between the 2, but u cant go wrong.

James, what is the definition of weird? For the benefit of those of us on the Board please explain!<BR><BR>Lisa, I have been to Barbados several times, and I stay in the South Coast because I like the nightlife. The West Coast however, is beautiful, quiet and has some of Barbados's best beaches.<BR><BR>Holetown has quite a few restuarants to suit any taste and the Chattel Houses are very pretty, the West Coast area is all very beautiful. It always amaes me when people say there is nothing to see in Barbados.<BR><BR>There is the Harrison Caves,Animal Flower Caves,The Barbados wildflie reserve,Grenada Hall Station and Forest, Farley Hill Park, Flower Forest Park, Speightstown, rum, factories, Andromeda Gardens,Orchid World, Welchman's Gully,Graeme Hall Bird Sanctury,horseback riding,Jolly Roger and Habour Lights Party Cruise, or private yacths that you can charter. You can do day trips to other Islands,visit the South Coast and St.Lawrence Gap's many bars and restaurants.<BR><BR>Bridgetown is a typical Caribbean city, there is a port where the cruise ships come in, a dowtown mall and duty free shops, several restaurants but no sky scrapers.<BR><BR>I have also been to Grenada, and it was beautiful just a little to quiet for me.

My husband and I were in Barbados in June and it is one of the most beautiful and diverse places we have ever been. We felt as if we were on three different islands because of the differences between the South,West,and East coasts. We will be going back in October. It really is a beautiful island.

HELP!! Now I am really confused after reading everyones recommendations. We were considering Martinique, St. Barts or St. Lucia for our honeymoon. We are looking for a romantic getaway with beautiful beaches, a luxurious resort, and plenty to do to keep us occupied for a week plus. We are trying to stay away from islands that are over developed and commericalized. But offer a variety of sights and activities.<BR><BR>Also I should mention that our trip will be in Sept. I have read mixed reviews about going this time of year. Any input?

I love Barbados and live since some years here! Everybody can find that Barbados what he loves most! You can have Clubs and Nightlife at the South Coast, beautiful beaches, famous Hotels and Golf courses and excellent Restaurants at the West Coast! I am living at the East Coast under a Lighthouse - it's a very lonely but scenic place! I still can recommend Barbados!

I would recommend St. Kitts. I've been to both islands many times, and although I really enjoy Barbados, I believe St. Kitts is far superior. It is as picturesque as islands get -- hills, a volcano, rainforest area (around the volcano) an old fortress(Brimstone Hill) where you can get spectacular views of the island (and see Saba and St. Eustach), incredibly lush, monkeys and with a beautiful winding road from which you can see the Atlantic Ocean on the left side of the road, and the Caribbean Sea from the right. St. Kitts has many very good restaurants (as does Barbados) and the people are the friendliest I have met anywhere in the Caribbean. There's golf (albeit only 9 holes until the Marriot opens in Nov/Dec since they're renovating the course. There's a casino which is not the most happening spot, but it's a casino. The shopping is nothing great, but they do have a downtown area with some shopping. The Beaches are incredible and are finally cleaned up from the hurricane -- they are in great shape as of Dec. 30, when I was last there. There are many long, desserted stretches of sand ... some not good for swimming (Atlantic Side), some perfect for snorkeling, others with small bars/restaurants.<BR><BR>If you want to see Nevis, you can take a boat across (30 minutes) or take a small plane.<BR><BR>That being said, if you're looking for great nightlife, you want find too much of that -- restaurants and some bars downtown. But the restaurants are great. <BR><BR>As for Timothy Beach, I haven't stayed there but the location is beautiful -- right on Frigate Bay Beach and the beach is pretty nice.<BR><BR>I've stayed at Frigate Bay Resort, which isn't bad, and Horizons Villas which I thought was nicer.<BR><BR>But in terms of my favorite Caribbean destinations, I put St. Kitts right up there with all (certainly a notch below St. Barths for luxury and dining though). That's not saying that I wasn't thrilled with Barbados, because I would never turn down a vacation there either -- but I find it too crowded in relation to St. Kitts and just not nearly as picturesque.

I would recommend St. Kitts. I've been to both islands many times, and although I really enjoy Barbados, I believe St. Kitts is far superior. It is as picturesque as islands get -- hills, a volcano, rainforest area (around the volcano) an old fortress(Brimstone Hill) where you can get spectacular views of the island (and see Saba and St. Eustach), incredibly lush, monkeys and with a beautiful winding road from which you can see the Atlantic Ocean on the left side of the road, and the Caribbean Sea from the right. St. Kitts has many very good restaurants (as does Barbados) and the people are the friendliest I have met anywhere in the Caribbean. There's golf (albeit only 9 holes until the Marriot opens in Nov/Dec since they're renovating the course. There's a casino which is not the most happening spot, but it's a casino. The shopping is nothing great, but they do have a downtown area with some shopping. The Beaches are incredible and are finally cleaned up from the hurricane -- they are in great shape as of Dec. 30, when I was last there. There are many long, desserted stretches of sand ... some not good for swimming (Atlantic Side), some perfect for snorkeling, others with small bars/restaurants.<BR><BR>If you want to see Nevis, you can take a boat across (30 minutes) or take a small plane.<BR><BR>That being said, if you're looking for great nightlife, you want find too much of that -- restaurants and some bars downtown. But the restaurants are great. <BR><BR>As for Timothy Beach, I haven't stayed there but the location is beautiful -- right on Frigate Bay Beach and the beach is pretty nice.<BR><BR>I've stayed at Frigate Bay Resort (which is right next to Timothy) and which isn't bad, and Horizons Villas (also near Timothy) which I thought was nicer. However, regardless of where you stay, I highly recommend the locale at which you are thinking about -- Frigate Bay -- it's the ideal location, and close (5-10 minute drive) from the great beaches on the southern portion of the island.<BR><BR>But in terms of my favorite Caribbean destinations, I put St. Kitts right up there with all (certainly a notch below St. Barths for luxury and dining though). That's not saying that I wasn't thrilled with Barbados, because I would never turn down a vacation there either -- but I find it too crowded in relation to St. Kitts and just not nearly as picturesque.