Caribbean Island Help Us Choose
 

We have enjoyed Hawaii, Phuket and Mexico in the past, but have been hesitant to go to the Carribbean because there does not seem to be much of a cultural experience or activities outside the beaches and resorts. Any advice on a good Caribbean island?

If you want cultural experiences and activities outside the beach, how about Jamaica?

Toots and the Maytal's Funky Kingston will get you in the right mood.

Hey hey hey hey hey
I want you to believe every word I say
I want you to believe every thing I do
I said music is what I've got baby
And I've got to find some way to make it
Music is what I've got baby
I want you to come on and shake it
Shake it, shake it baby
Oh yeah
Funky funky funky
Funky Kingston is what I've got for you, oh yeah
Funky Kingston, yeah is what I've got for you
Funky Kingston
Watch me now, you watch me now
Played from east to west yeah
I just played from north to south, yeah
All across America people keep on asking me for Funky Kingston
But I ain't got none
Somebody take it away from me
You got to go and fetch one
Funky Kingston

What was it about Hawaii, Phuket and Mexico that you enjoyed?
Culture is everywhere.
Culture in the Caribbean is alot about the sea, but way more than beaches.
There is Haiti, there is Mustique for finacial diversification.
There are verdant volcanic islands with fields of cane, there are the flat coral/limestone islands.
People everywhere living their lives as the land dictates.
Cultural experiences are only limited by lack of seeing.
However, the Caribbean may not have the "in your face,this is so different" experience as Tibet, Nepal, or China might offer one uninitiated in their World.
Downtown Kingston might work though.......

For a wonderful introduction to the Caribbean, I'd suggest going to Barbados. It has some of everything any island can offer except for gambling and a volcano. Lovely people, lush green tropical setting, clean air, pure water, wide range of hotels, beaches, water sports, sightseeing such as caves, tropical gardens, animal preserves, plantation houses, submarine ride. Outstanding restaurants, both in hotels and independent. All revolves around a British/Caribbean culture so you don't feel like you're just in tropical America. Barbados is a really special place with a strong economy, not dependent only on tourism, so a visitor experiences a sense of a place which is beyond just a resort on a beach. Generally avoid August-October (hurricane season). Otherwise weather is great all year-perpetual summer with water temps over 80 deg. even in winter. Lowest hotel rates are mid-April to mid-December, with a big jump in high season. Calmest water for swimming/snorkeling is on the calm
west coast north of Bridgetown. IMO the best hotel on that stretch is Coral Reef Club. Family-owned for 50 years, low-rise and plantation cottage style hotel in tropical gardens and fine beach. Barbados is a really special place. See www.barbados.org and www.coralreefbarbados.com

Laby, I had to grin when I read your message. My boss at work introduced me to Toots and the Maytals, for about a month long stretch at work last winter, we started each day playing "Funky Kingston" loudly before any customers came in. Love that track!

doc, I second the suggestion for Jamaica. If you're not American and don't have the same travel restrictions we do, take a look at Cuba.

Otherwise, consider Puerto Rico. It's got TONS of culture in the Old San Juan area--everything from old forts to art galleries and museums. Including a museum that houses the world's largest collection of pre-16th century Spanish language books. As a bibliophile, that's on my list of things to see when I'm there in May.

It also offers mountain vistas, rainforest with hiking & waterfalls, water sports galore, city life in San Juan with casinos, glitz, restaurants, night life and everything else a big city imples. And there are Culebra and Vieques, the two small Spanish Virgin Islands with pristine beaches, good snorkeling, bioluminescent bays, herds of wild horses roaming, and a general lack of development.