My wife and I are looking to spend a week or so in the Caribbean and are searching for the right spot (if there's a flight/room etc still left in mid-Feb). We are too restless just to flop on the beach so we're looking for a combination of interesting culture (in the broadest sense) and a nice beach, ideally with snorkeling. We speak English and French which opens up Martinique etc. Any thoughts from fellow travellers?

The Mayan Riviera has the opportunity to visit the ruins at Chichen Itza, Coba or Tulum and very good snorkeling/diving in many spots up and down the Caribbean coast and on Cozumel.<BR>On many of the islands, you can find one or the other (culture/snorkeling), but none come to mind to be outstanding in both areas.

Thanks. The Yucatan is the one place where we did find both - and we are prepared to return if nothing else turns up.

I see by your email address (assuming it is a real one) that you are Canadian. Therefore you might want to consider Cuba.<BR><BR>I would suggest that to get the best of both culture and beach/snorkeling, you consider splitting your week with say 3 days at Cayo Largo for beach activities and then 3 or 4 days in Havana for some unique culture.<BR><BR>At Cayo Largo (an island off the south coast of Cuba) I would suggest the Melia Club Sol Cayo Largo (5*) and in Havana you might want to try the Ambos Mundos which will put you right in Habana Vieja, the old city.<BR><BR>mi dos centavos.<BR><BR>Steve<BR><BR>

there is an amazing hotel in tulum called zamas- they have an internet site and its worth checking out- we hada blast!