After researching for weeks and posting tons of messages (I'm sorry.. I know I'm getting annoying I am having doubts. I was so set on the USVI's or the BVI's.. but I'm reading all these threads about rental cars and taxis. Isn't there an island that has beautiful beaches, great snorkeling, and restaurants and shopping all in walking distance? I would like to snorkel every day, swim, shop, eat a lot of food.. and relax on a nice hot beach without renting a vehicle or getting a taxi, if at all possible!!

I can't say for sure, but most islands [and I've been to many] don't have lots of shopping and places to eat right near hotel, beaches -- or at least close enough to not need transportation. They are often mutually exclusive.

Perhaps, an "all inclusive resort would be more to your liking and better fit your needs -- you wouldn' need to leave the property?

Your order is tall. You may have to make some compromises. I remember a thread some time ago about what the Fodorite's perfect island would be. Many of your criteria were on the wish list.

hey brenda! going anywhere soon? been anywhere lately?

I'd love another trip back to St. John about now, but could do without the goats! LOL
Debi

I'm sorry, but I have not read your other posts so these suggestions may have been made before. Caneel Bay on St. John is the first thing that came to my mind. Could you handle a 5 minute taxi ride to get into town for shopping and eating?

Have you looked at Virgin Gorda? The rentals on Mahoe Bay are oooo-la-la and yes, you would have to drive to shop and eat, but who cares? It's a small island and things aren't that far. We may be headed there in the near future.

Hope this helps.

If you stay on St. Jean Beach on St. Barts you will have everything you asked for, except the snorkeling.
You could stay at Tom Beach Hotel
http://www.st-barths.com/tom-beach-hotel/index.html or
Les Islets de la Plague
http://www.st-barths.com/ilets-de-la-plage/index.html

The food on St. Barts is phenominal and there are tons of shops all within walking distance. I don't think you would be sorry with this choice.

Hi Debi,
Heading to STJ again in 23 days!!! Read on the Fodorite Lounge a while ago that you had some health issues. Hope all is well. Take care and best wishes.

Brenda

Whenever asked what my favorite Caribbean island is, I usually answer that it's either the last one I've been to, or the next one I'm going to (even though I do have actual favorites that get repeat visits...). But in this case, my immediately past destination and my next destination may suit you.

On my last trip, I stayed in the village of Grand Case in St. Martin. We rented a small apartment right on the beach. And it's a beautiful beach and not very crowded by St. Martin standards. The village is famous throughout the Caribbean for its concentration of fine French/creole restaurants, though there are casual places that serve other cuisines as well. The village also has a number of fun boutiques and night clubs.

Every morning that we were there (we'd also chartered a sailboat, which was anchored in the bay, and didn't spend our entire time in St. Martin), the guys would walk down to the patisserie or boulangerie and bring back croissants and coffee. Every evening, we walked down the beach to happy hour or dinner. During the day, we could browse the boutiques. If we wanted to go further afield, for better shopping, we would catch a minibus (1 Euro) to Marigot, but I believe they also had buses to Phillipsburg. Dunno about the snorkeling, but everything we wanted was within a few minutes' walk.

You can find my full trip report here: http://www.traveltalkonline.com/foru...e=3#Post651518

For our upcoming trip, we are sailing Antigua. But before we sail off, we will be staying in the Nelson's Dockyard/English Harbour area. I haven't been to Antigua since 1992, but as I recall, this area also has beaches, restaurants and shopping within walking distance or a very short trip by launch.

If you do go to the BVI, think about staying in Cane Garden Bay. While it's not as village-like as the other places I mentioned, it's got a lot going on without feeling too busy or congested (unless the cruise ships have arrived).

Sounds devine brenda - wish I was going to St John too!

I am on the long slow road to recovery; thanks for asking. It has been a long 4+ months.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34979992

Bon voyage and have a Painkiller for me!
Debi

I thank everyone so much for thier responses and helping me out! I'm kinda leaning towards the cayman Islands right now... I've been there before but from a cruise ship so i didn't get to experience much of the islands, and I only visited one beach. They are supposed to have good snorkeling and plenty of attractions. Anyone been there that can offer some advice on where to stay or what not to miss??

The one place that we have been to that we were able to walk to restaurants from our hotel was Grand Cayman. Look into the Ritz, it's on a beautiful beach, wonderful snorkling and some of the better food we've had in the Caribbean. I'm not big into the spirit of shopping anymore, but GC has some unique shopping downtown and the buses are very easy to use. Go and enjoy!

Palm Beach on Aruba fits your criteria. There are several hotels, AI and non-AI, that are walking distance to resturants, bars, shops, water sports and the bus to get into downtown. The downtown area is also compact enough to walk around for shopping and resturants. We scheduled tours for ocean snorkeling, beach hopping and seeing the Island. No need to rent a car or use taxis.

Hotels located directly in Playa del Carmen, MX are within walking distance to 5th Avenue where the bars, resturants and shops are located. Again, you need to schedule a tour or get a cab to do off site excursions.

We've been to Grand Cayman on a land vacation and just recently from a cruise. If we ever go again, we will definitely rent a car to get to all the beaches, snorkel sites and Rum Point. We took the bus/van from our hotel to get to Georgetown for shopping.

When we stayed at the Wyndham on St. Thomas, we had to get a taxi to go everywhere, and driving there is not recommended for the weak at heart.

Thanks again everyone! I think Grand Cayman wins this one.. I found the perfect flight (I have bad luck findind convenient flights lol) and I really like the look of the Sunshine Suites right there on seven mile beach. The only negative thing I have heard about Grand Cayman is that it is very expensive to eat out and such, but where isn't it? There's a kitchenette in the suites if we want to buy a few groceries or stock up on some snacks, but I'd rather pay more to eat out, that's half the fun!

Kaseys412: It is possible and relatively easy to have all of those elements in the USVI's and BVI's. The 3 large USVI islands all have a public transportation system because there are plenty of folks on the islands who do not own a car. On STJ, people often hitchhike, although I am not recommending it per se. Are you hoping to save money? Hassle? The main issue is really one of distance. St. John is a very small island, but you still have to take some form of transportation unless you like really long walks. And if you want all of these elements within walking distance, aren't you really looking for a resort? You may want to look into an island like Jost Van Dyke which is pretty tiny and limited in what it offers for shopping and food, but you can pretty much walk to everything. The suggestion regarding a larger resort like Caneel Bay may also be an option, but you sure wouldn't be saving any money with that one.

Rent a bareboat with a captain and you can have all of it on all the different islands. That is still my favorite kind of vacation. You live on the boat for a week and you can hire a captain and/or a cook and you get to see and experience many of the BVI's and have quiet beaches one day, shopping the next, great snorkeling everywhere and in the BVI's there are great little restaurants and bars at every stop. The boat is like you own taxi. It is such a relaxing vacation. So many companies offer captains and there are many charters out there too. Google crewed yacht charters if interested. We have used the Moorings, Tradewinds and a private boat charter. The catamarans are beautiful now and great for those who are 1st timers. Just a thought. How else can you see so many different places in a week without feeling rushed? We have done bareboat trips 4 times. Once in the grenadines and 3 times in the BVI's. I love it there, because you don't get bored.

Be sure to write back and let us know how you enjoyed your trip, Kaseys. You have done the hardest part - deciding where to go and getting your flight. Now you can enjoy the rest of the planning stage. Have a "phenomenal" trip! (I had to add that, since I misspelled it the first time, LOL.)