vicnroy

Looking for opinions on where to go next. Here's where we've been:

Nevis (twice; loved it; laid back, friendly, and small)
Grenada (loved it; awesome food and great people)
Bonaire (four times; loved it; friendly and laid back; but small beaches)
St Lucia (liked it; beautiful; didn't see enough)
Tortola (liked it; beautiful beaches and snorkeling; but too pricey for below par food)
Jamaica (liked it; great partying; but felt unsafe)
Aruba (so-so; awesome beach but too commercial)
Nassau (just OK; too commercialized)
Grand Cayman (hated it; too much like Florida; too commercialized; too expensive)

We like good beaches, good food, hanging with the locals, good snorkeling.

We don't like big hotels, casinos, chain restaurants.

Thinking of Grand Turk, Anguilla, St. John, or Tobago.

Thanks!

Sunnyboy

Maybe this will help:

Anguilla - Great white sand beaches, over 80 restaurants (many some of the best and most expensive in the Caribbean), friendly people, average to above average snorkeling, safe, little natural vegetation.

Grand Turk - off the beaten path, locals not very friendly, small, uncrowded, below average restaurants.

St. John - small, mountainous, very good to excellent snorkeling, lots of nice beaches (some small) with lush vegetation, good to very good restaurants, a bit on the pricy side, Americanized.

Can't comment on Tobago - haven't been there yet.

Callaloo

While I disagree with Sunnyboy's assessment that the locals in Grand Turk are unfriendly, he is right on the other points. And, while Grand Turk has some amazing beaches, there are better beach destinations.

Just to add a little more to your mix, have you considered the Out Islands of the Bahamas? Yes, Nassau is commercialized, but the Out Islands couldn't be more different. Beaches beyond compare, uncrowded, laid-back attitude, residents friendly (if initially reserved), etc.

Having looked at your past travels, I see some similarities between your tastes and mine. I am headed back to Cat Island -- Fernandez Bay Village -- in less than two weeks, but would heartily recommend the Abacos, Exumas, Eleuthera or other Out Islands as well.

mnag

Anguilla would be ideal for awesome beaches and good but expensive restaurants. I agree on the bahama out island recommendation. We stayed on elbow cay in the Abacos and loved it. Beautiful beaches and Very good snorkelling. The locals were very friendly and welcoming. Decent food though it pales in comparision to Anguilla.

Traveler863

vicnroy,
I've been to all, both your visited and proposed lists except Grand Turk so I can't comment there. I think Tobago will be most similar to Grenada and Nevis which top your list..laid back, friendly and full of charm. Tobago is also relatively inexpensive. Also check out Bequia in the Grenadines. I do agree with other posts recommendations for Bahamas out islands, they are very different from Nassau and Freeport...we thoroughly enjoyed Eleuthera.