ejtipton

Good morning, Starting research for trip next May.
I know,I know plenty of time, but it gives me something to look forward to!

So far I've narrowed it down to these two and am open to any new suggestions.
We are looking for
*off the beaten path*
*friendly people*
*diving,snorkeling*
*hiking*
*good food*
*relaxation and rum*
We have been to and liked in order
St Lucia,Grenada,Cliff side of Negril,St John,Jost Van Dyke(Loved)but might get boring for a week. Puerto Rico, Mayan Peninsula, Roatan

Would appreciate any insight!!!

RoamsAround

Bequia is quite small - only about 7 sq. miles in area so, like Jost Van Dyke could "get boring for a week".

Dominica is much larger - is 40x's bigger at 290 Sq. miles in area. It's an eco-tourists delight. It is more off the beat trail then Bequia (which is a haven for sailors).

ejtipton

Was a little worried about small size of Bequia.
However if we go that direction we might start with doing an overnight in the Tobago Cayes. Both have been on my mind for a while.

Thank you

RoamsAround

You have to be on a boat to overnight at the Tobago Cays.

ejtipton

Ha,yes.... We would do an overnight charter.
Decisions,decisions! why I start looking in advance

tropicgal2013

It's not a good time to go to Dominica due to unreliable air service to the island. Maybe by next May things will improve but right now LIAT airlines is almost always delayed, sometimes by several hours, or flights are cancelled. There is one flight into Dominica from San Juan on Seabourne Airlines, not sure if it's daily or certain days of the week.

I'd choose the Grenadines over Dominica, which includes all the little islands between Grenada and St. Vincent. The water color is incredible throughout. How about a sailing cruise or a sailing charter? Check out www.IslandWindjammers.com, which leaves from Grenada and sails through all the Grenadines, including Bequia. If you want to be land-based I would consider staying there for a week. Also stayed a week at the private island resort, Palm Island, years ago and loved it. It is near Union Island. The diving in the whole area is fantastic. You would have all the things on your list met except the hiking.

beholder

Right now LIAT presents a difficulty anywhere in the Eastern Caribbean including St. VIncent and the Grenadines. We are all hoping that their switch over to a new fleet will be complete by the time you are traveling.

As someone who has traveled extensively in the region, including sailing St. Vincent and the Grenadines. I would highly recommend Dominica. It is unique in the Caribbean. It has 125 miles of well maintained hiking trails. Spectacular waterfalls, two UNESCO world heritage sites. It's a well known diving and whale watching destination. It has the largest boiling lake in the Western Hemisphere and a challenging hike to it and natural warm sulphur pools to soothe your aching muscles. There are black sand beaches and sea turtle nesting area preserves.

If you loves birds,Dominica has two varieties of Amazona parrots that live nowhere else in the world. It's mountainous terrain and high peaks guarantee an abundance of pure water and pristine rainforest. Dominica with its small, friendly population, lack of polluting industry and wide area of protected forests makes it a welcoming carbon neutral environment. I have been to Bequia and it is lovely and so is Palm Island, and if you're principally looking for good rum and a sandy beach these will certainly fill the bill. I remember mooring at Tabago Cay, twenty years ago. The water was so clear you could see every wine bottle passing yachties pitched overboard.

But if you love nature and unique environments you will find it hard to do all there is available in a weeks vacation, including sampling a variety of local rum infusions.

After returning to Dominica every year for five years I decided to live here permanently. So you will forgive my sincere enthusiasm.

ejtipton

Thank you guys! Much to consider.
Dom does seen more exotic, but would have to
Spend a night in Sju on way there and on way back.
Could push for 8 nights tops. Would fly seabourne.
But thought it might just feel to rushed. Maybe wait for 10 nights? Or would 5-6 nights still be good? Not a big fan of Sju at all.

eastenderusvi

Old San Juan is wonderful- lots of history, great bars and restaurants. It is much more like old Spain than the Caribbean. Would be a great contrast to Dominica.

BTW, if you did go to Bequia- look at Moonhole. Also, a crewed charter in the Grenadines would be a way to see the Tobago Cays and much more.

ejtipton

I do like Old San Juan, have been twice
First time was planned, second was a 72 hr delay
on way to Grenada. Checking out Moon hole now.
Thank you

ejtipton

Thank you, I appreciate every ones insight and opinion!

ejtipton

Now thinking Saba,and Anguilla......
Any thoughts on this?

RoamsAround

Saba - great diving, snorkeling good but need boat access, good hiking, definitely "off the beaten track", OK food, no beaches.

Anguilla - 35 fabulous white sand beaches, it's flat and arid so no hiking to speak of, 80+ restaurants, on the expensive side, limited snorkeling is average to good, diving just OK.

eastenderusvi

Dominica is more like St Lucia and Grenada. Anguilla is a flat scrubby island.

Saba is a teeny tiny gem, great for scuba and hiking. Oh, and drinking Saba Spice. Definitely off the beaten path.

iamdavo

Some misinformation above about Bequia for sure. Yes, its only seven square miles, but you could stay a month and not get bored. You also dont have to worry about the flailing LIAT Airline. You can fly any major airline to Barbados and you can then take SVG Air directly to Bequia. The SVG folks are very nice and always on time - unlike LIAT.

So, what do you do while on and around Bequia:

Beach it:
- Lower Bay Beach: Party at Mangos and De Reef.
- Princess Margaret Beach, hike to the caves, have amazing drinks from Kenny @ Jacks Bar
- Hike up to the top of Mount Pleasant and around and down to Hope Beach. No cars, no hotels, just a trail.

Dive:
- Dive Bequia is the best. Some of my favorite sites are: Ships stern, Boulders and the shipwreck as a night dive. Bequia sites are untouched.
- Dive St Vincent - take the ferry over to SV and Dive with Callie and the boys. Bottleneck reef is great and have lunch at Wallilabou where they filmed Pirates of the Carinbbean.

Eat:
No big restaurants on Bequia. Just small, intimate wonderful food. Too many to mention, but here are my favs
- Fernandos Hideaway - cooks what he catches
- Macs Pizza - Best Pizza in the Caribbean. Lots of celebs yacht over to eat at Macs. Seen Mic Jagger there.
- Frangipani - voted one of the top 100 bars in the world. Right on the water . Jump up every Thu night.
Papas - Gert and his staff have amazing food and the best susnset happy hour on Bequia.

Adventure:
- Day sail to the Tobago Cays - paradise
- Take the fast ferry to Canouan and beach it at a 5 star resort or play golf on a world class course that rivals any hawaii course.
- Take the fast ferry to Mayreau. An island of about 100 people. More goats that people I think. Stay at Dennis' Hideaway , eat at robert Righteous, beach it at Saltwhisle Bay (always in top 50 beaches list). Have lunch there as well.
- Day trip to Mustique - Lunch at Basils on the water, grab a moke and get lost on the island which does not allow cars. See the houses of , Mick Jagger, Tommy Hilfiger, Shania Twain, Brian Adams and many others, Hang on Macaroni Beach.....
- Waterfall trip to St Vincent: All day trip to Trinity Falls where three falls feed into one falls which drops into a third pool where you swim. About a two hour tdive and 90 minute hike through a rainforest. Dark View Falls is an easier Day and you are rewarded by two falls in a bamboo forest.
- Spend a morning with Brother Keing each Tuesday when he cleans the tanks and sea turtles he is rescuing and growing at the Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary on Bequia.
-Take a boat to Isle de Quatre (il de cot) , a deserted island where you can shore fish, cook what you catch and hang out.

Anyway, you get the idea. You could be there a month and never be bored.

Davo