Caymans or St. John?
 

My wife and I are planning a mid-November trip to the Caribbean, but are undecided between visting Grand Cayman or St. John. Anyone that has traveled to both and could provide a recommendation?

Go to Cayman's if your choice is that or st john.

St john needs a year to settle down from its crisis.

I've been to both and they are 2 completely different islands. It all depends what both of you are looking for.

We loved St. John and liked Grand Cayman (just personal preferences). Grand Cayman is much bigger, more commercialized (if you stay where all the hotels are...mainly Georgetown), very nice beaches, very good restaurants (and a good variety too) very nice people, little if any crime at all.
Here's my GC trip report:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34790307

St. John is lush, beautiful beaches (I personally give St. John's beaches the edge over Grand Cayman - sand felt much softer and nice entry into the water) although they're not one long stretch like Grand Cayman's 7-mile beach, not nearly as developed at Grand Cayman, very good restaurants (not the quantity/variety of GC though). People weren't unfriendly but there definitely was not the warmth that I've found on a lot of other islands. I've recently read on this board of some crime issues. I still would go but would definitely be more careful about what I do compared to the first time I went.
My St. John trip report is old and has no pics so I won't look for the link. But if you use the search box and type St. John, you'll find some recent trip reports with pictures.

I think there's a lot more to do on Grand Cayman, while St. John is a more laid back destination and more beautiful island physically.

Good luck.

We've done both and hope you will do one in Nov and do one next year. But since your question is which to do in November, I think it depends on what your dream is. St. John is more laid back, but GC, although more Americanized, has the most wonderful restaurants. If you give us a little more information of what is most important to YOU, we will be able to give you a little more direction.

Thanks for the quick responses...

This will be our first vacation to the Caribbean; we're typically either in Maui or Cabo San Lucas for vacation and love both, but wanted to change it up a little bit this year.

Early thirties with no children yet, we're content to lie on the beach for a day or two, but then get pretty restless and are anxious to get out and do something, be it snorkeling, hiking, or exploring. Not big on the traditional tourist trap destinations, we like to venture off the beaten path a little bit.
We have a passion for great food, and if possible, want to experience great restaurants while there.

Thanks to all for your responses and recommendations.

Cheers

fuse, I haven't been to GC, but from your last statements, STJ sounds right for you. We are mid 30's, no kids, love snorkling, hiking & restaurants and STJ is one of our favorite destinations. It's very laid back, no dressing up for dinner but plenty of good restaurants to choose from. You cna do a different beach every day, snorkle, swim, float on a raft or lay on the beach and relax. Plenty of hiking trails too. Day trips to the BVI's are easy to do as well.

I think November would be a great time to be there...although I don't think there is a bad time to be on STJ.

Trish

Been to both.
St John hands down.
End of story.

Returning in dec 06 for 4th straight year. Clean, nice, white (not a racist).

St. John, White? Really? You mean all those Black people I saw on the island were just White people with really great tans? Wow. Who knew?
I always find it amusing how people who make racial comments feel the need to add disclaimers, a la 'but I have Black friends".

fuse,

I have been to both and love both places.

Grand Cayman has better snorkeling and restaurants.(IMO)

St John is visually more beautiful.

You mentioned that you want to change it up a bit on your next trip...so I would suggest Grand Cayman as it is less like Maui than St John.

The only part of Grand Cayman that is real built up is Georgetown.There are many places to explore that feel like "off the beaten path".

I felt that the people in GC where a little more friendly than St John.(unless you talk to the NATIVES of St John which are very few now)

Both places are great!:)

Christie

The above poster hit the nail on the head. I've been to both and if I had to pick which one to return to, I'd prefer St. John over GC for its natural beauty and cove-like beaches. (Although I love GC too and would not hesitate to go there again -- They are just very different types of destinations.)

I am all set to go to St. John in October (booking flight today), and I am hearing that the people are not friendly??? So far the ones that I have emailed about villas have seemed wonderful. I was hoping that that was the norm on the island. Heck, we have a lot of unfriendly people right here. I don't want to go if there is any distension amongst the tourists. Of course, we are not out late at night and always keep our wits, but I want to feel safe in a villa, especially if it sits out somewhat. Maybe we should reconsider a villa closer to town?

MSS most people in STJ are friendly. I don't think being closer to "town" makes much of a difference...in fact if I had to choose, I'd think being in Coral Bay side would be better.

All the people we encountered in STJ were friendly and helpful, of course we were courteous and polite in our interactions with them as well.

caribtraveler,

I am with you on your comment to jkleyeguy...why would he/she even say that.Sounds tacky.

Christie

Have been to both - I prefer Grand Cayman. I like the Cayman Kai area of GC the best. All of GC is great but we like to be away from the larger hotels, etc.

Don't know where I have been but... what crisis on St. John? Did a hurricane hit there?

Lvsun,

Over the last 1 1/2 years..St John has experienced more crime than normal,racial tensions,vandalizism and robberies.

A certain person on this forum is making sure that everyone is fully aware of that.

I was there last September and had a great time.We did not feel unsafe or scared.

Christie

Caribtraveler: LOL. You are so right about folks who make racist or other offensive comments quickly followed or preceded by a disclaimer. What can jkleyeguy mean other than something racist, whether he means to offend or not.

fuse220: IMO, your decision needs to be based on what you are looking for in a vacation. I think Caribtraveler and Christiegr gave you some great differences between the two. I hope to go to the Caymans someday as an avid diver and snorkeler. But to add to your considerations now for STJ: the island is beautiful. The Virgin Islands offers endless opportunities for activities. The people are as friendly as any people I've ever met. But they're people, and you can meet a bad one sometimes. It's an intimate community setting where there is an unspoken understanding of courtesy that if you are not in a hurry or have other considerations, you give any hitchhiker a ride. I've met many lovely, kind people of all persuasions while giving them a lift.

Christie (and others) mean well...but have seemingly have a problem facing the truth about St. John.

Tuxedo is more realistic. In relative terms...

My advice is the same: Stay away from St. John until the situation has calmed down....and time heals wounds.

I think you should stay away from STJ also, Carib & not go there 3 times a week since you're so scared.

Carib,
I have NO problem with "Facing the truth" about St John.

I have just been simply stating that I had no problems at all while in St John in June and Sept. of 05.And we walked around Cruz Bay even late at night.

I grew up in Raleigh NC (which I have now moved from as SO many people have moved there).Crime has risen in Raleigh as it does anywhere that has an increase in population.BUT,that does not keep me away from Raleigh.

It gets old when all of your posts are almost identical postings articles.

I do not care for Aruba but when someone asks advice on good restaurants,I give suggestions and I do not say "Don't go to Aruba".

Christie

IMO, the "truth" about STJ is the truth about anywhere on this planet. Of course you want to be relaxed on your vacation, but that doesn't mean there is any escape from the possibility that something unpleasant may happen wherever you are. IMO, STJ remains as safe and predictable as any Caribbean destination, or just about any vacation destination. S**t happens. Haven't you all read about the hikers out west that have been picked off by some crazed gunman? What? Are we supposed to stop going to and enjoying our national parks? Are we supposed to stop going to and providing much needed support in every part of the world which has socio/economic issues? Why travel? It's unpredictable. You can only do your best to be vigilant not paranoid. IMO, a life well-lived and especially travel involves taking some risk.

Tux,
You hit the nail on the head. :)

Christie

I have been to both and prefer GC. I can walk to many places from my hotel and a run by myself in the early morning hours is safe and pleasant.

I find both islands to be highly Americanized and without a Caribbean feel to them but prefer the overall ambiance of GC to any of the USVIs.

I have been to both and prefer St. John overwhelmingly. I prefer the laid back style of the island, great restaurants, hiking, short day trips if desired, beautiful, lush and hilly and the beaches! We visit a different one every day while there and the snorkleing, in my opinion beats GC hands down.

I have been to STJ twice this year and never felt unsafe. In my previous five or so trips, I have not come across an unfriendly local either. We are as safety minded as we would be at home and have had no problems at all. Heading back in June and I can't wait!

Wow. Lots of debate. Jkleyeguy should be imprisoned for his comments. I am sure he owns a beat up pickup truck with the Confederate flag on the back window.

Crime in St. John: Haven't been there in a year and a half. When last there I jogged alone throughout Cruz Bay from 6a till 7:30 a. My wife and I (and young children ages 5 and 7) walked the streets of Cruz Bay at night. I thought it was extraordinarilly safe and considered buying a Condo there. But my perspective is jaded. My favorite island is Jamaica and (based on crime rate alone) it is probably the most unsafe of islands. Yet, I can walke around Negril or Ocho Rios or Montego Bay at night with ease. Do I walk the back alleys? No. I use the same common sense in Jamaica (and St. John) that I use when I travel to Chicago, San Francisco, L.A. New York and Miami. And I bet no matter what is happening in St. John, it cannot be as "bad" as these vacation hot spots in our own backyard. St. John is gorgeous. Don't miss it. Going to Grand Cayman for the first time in a couple of months. I can comment on that then (of course the originator of this thread will have already went on his/her trip.

"Jkleyeguy should be imprisoned for his comments."

Really? There's no more free speech on this forum? I may disagree with everything this poster says, may even find it reprehensible, but why shouldn't s/he be able to post that opinion?

"I am sure he owns a beat up pickup truck with the Confederate flag on the back window."

Really? You think that Southerners have cornered the market on racism, do you? Interesting.

Alwaysvacationing, I applaud you for making up your own mind about which countries to visit and for being level-headed as regards to personal safety when traveling, no matter where you are. I hope your upcoming vacation to Grand Cayman is fun and memorable and that you return to give us a trip report about it to help future travelers. However, your above comments are just as offensive to me as the ones that Jkleyeguy made.

Oh, ejcrowe, yet again you point out the subtle ironies of these posts. I do agree with many points of "always"'s post, and I told him so in another post. I am getting a bit tired of defending the island, considering that nowhere in the world is crime-free and was glad to see someone reflecting a positive view. But I do see and echo your points regarding the subjective and perhaps, stereotyping bias expressed in his comments. I think jkleye's form of "racism" definitely happens in every walk and geographical location of life, and "always" for all of his good intentions is exemplifying that very point. By the way, neighbor, my email is: [email protected]

St john needs some time to heal and calm down from past 17 months of crime and other problems..

see this:
http://cbs2chicago.com/seenon/local_...255230953.html

November is too soon...

its a great island...but tensionms are running wild...

ej,

I totally agree with you.I am from NC which is in the South and I am NOT a racist.

Always,
You are just as quilty as jk for your comments.

Christie

I am glad I got all of your attentions. Aren't broad comments so distasteful? Freedom of speech is reasonable. Racist comments are not. Period! If the original poster likes St. John because it is "white" (and it really isn't but it does have its share of American expats) then that should not be posted. This country and the world has suffered too much from the fear generated by racism. Certain things you just don't say no matter how you feel. If you believe differently you are part of the problem. Those who are part of the solution realize that racism is the root cause to such international genocides as the holocost, slavery and even the "settling" of the Americas. My comment was ignorant. It was meant to be so. I encourage you all to be thinkers. And to learn to deal with your fear in an intelligent way.

Alwaysvacationing, if you would like to get into an offline discussion of racism, I would be happy to engage you. I happen to think that it is one of the two or three most important issues we face in the US today, but also that it is nearly impossible to have any kind of intellectually honest discussion about it. This forum is not the place for it, except perhaps under "Under Topics."

The FBI report has finally been released regarding the rape of the woman i the center of all the past 17 months of racial tension on st john.

read here:
http://www.choice.vi/findex.php?t=a&....com/stjohnvi/

" American expats" isn't really accurate since this is a US territory. Legal citizens here are all Americans. (Just wanted to clarify.)

Ditto Carrybean: you can't be an ex-pat in your own country. Just because it's a "territory" doesn't make it any less American. We should all remember that when it comes time to dole out the money or the lashes. Well, that was a spectacularly anticlimactic finish to a nauseatingly grotesque debacle. How confusing for the locals and potential tourists alike. Since Ms. Frett revealed herself and her claims publicly, it's too bad the FBI felt they had to be so vague about the facts of the investigation. It seems the whirlwind of emotions and accusations has now spun out to sea, leaving a wake of damage and destruction. St. John is unique in that the permanent population is almost 50/50 ethnically, and both sides lost in this ridiculous sequence of incidents. I agree that public officials show cowardice in the face of alleged racism. IMO, someone should have the guts to say: "Evidence failed to prove Ms. Frett's allegations of rape, and Mr. Sells' jacka** behavior got him in trouble and embarrassed a community." Case closed.