jimmy

My wife and I are both in our late thirties looking to go to the Caribbean around New Year. While we have both been to the Caribbean on cruises, we never got to really experience the islands because of short port calls. Aside from what we have seen on these brief trips, the caribbean is still a mystery. reading some of the posts on this board makes it even more of a mystery because of the variance in opinion.

anybody got any suggestions based on experience? I love to snorkel and my wife loves to shop. we both love good night life.
anybody's help is appreciated!

Jimmy

karen

Hi Jimmy: We are cruisers also but have done Aruba and Jamaica (Sandals) as island based vacations. On cruises twice we have stopped at Barbados and I have found this island to be wonderful. We have snorkled at the Marine underwater park , rented a moke and drove around the island. Many historical sites, Codrington College etc. Gorgeous beaches like Bottom Bay, Paynes Beach etc.. We even were late enough in port to spend the evening at a local restaurant and pub and had a Banks on the beach. Great shopping, although may not be as inexpensive as some other islands but nice quality, a British influence is felt on the island.I think that Barbados may be the best all round vacation island in the Caribbean it has friendly people, great beaches, good choice of restaurants and it is easy to navigate on your own. The combination of lushness, history, and sun/sea activities makes it an island hard not to like. Karen

lili

caymans and cozumel seem to fit both your needs, in my opinion

The Skipper

The Caymans? Affordable? Hardly. It's probably one the most expensive islands in the Caribbean.

Penney

Your most affordable islands I feel are Jamaica (Negril is wonderful - beautiful beaches), Bahamas, Aruba (but air fare will be higer but they do offer some good deals and have great beahes), St. Thomas and Mexico. I tooo would think that the Caymans would be one of the most expensive islands. That is whay we have not been yet!

ingrid

Dominincan Republic (but it's full of tourists from Germany, where it has the reputation of a cheap vacation destination.