My husband and I are planning our trip to the Caribbean, but don't know where to go. Here are our thoughts - -maybe you can give us some advice:<BR><BR>1. want to snorkel<BR>2. prefer a location that is not frequented by cruise ships<BR>3. would like to "island hop" if possible (st Kitts to Nevis and such)<BR>4. nice restaurants - -not necessary to have any real nightlife<BR>5. We are not very good relaxers -- if there are interesting things to do besides sit on the beach, that would be good.<BR>6. We LOVE boats! <BR>7. Since we don't go away that often, we ususally like to splurge ($$$) on the hotel. I've looked into the Four Season Nevis, but heard that the property/beach is not that nice.<BR><BR>I am also assuming(!) that since we are going in early December we will avoid hurricane season.<BR><BR>Also, when I looked at the Four Seasons website -- the rates were about $1000/night? Could that be right?<BR><BR>I appreciate any help.<BR><BR>thanks<BR><BR>

Hmmm. Aruba is a very nice island. People are wonderful. The topography is quite interesting. A tour is definately a must. You can hop over to Bonaire or Curacao (unsure how far). However, I believe ships do stop there. Now St. Martin/St. Maarten is nteresting in that it a mix of Dutch and French. The ships come in on the Dutch side. I didn't though find the beaches much to talk about. From the French side you can take a ferry to Anguilla. You are also just a short flight from Tortola (British Virgin Islands), St. Barts, St. Kitts, Saba, St. Thomas. You could also consider St. Thomas however I have not been there so can't discuss what to do, etc. Now Tortola is a wonderful place. Safe, great beaches (especially Cane Garden Bay & Smugglers Cove), wonderful selection of restaurants and your just a short ferry ride from St. Thomas, St. John, Virgin Gorda, and a myriad of other small islands lining Sir Francis Drake Channel. Not sure if this helps.

yes that could be the rack rate at 4Seasons and anyone who said the property isn't wonderful hasn't been there. <BR>you might check out St. John (www.caneelbay.com) since it seems to fit many of your criteria. However some small cruise ships do port there and you do have an influx of those from St. Thomas at several of the tourist beaches. Great sailing, easy island hopping, good food (but not outstanding like St. Martin/Anguilla/St. Barth's), activities like hiking, beach hopping and adventures in the Nat'l Park, renting your own dinghy to explore and Caneel Bay is a wonderful spot to splurge. St. Martin might be another good spot to jump between islands since it's a short ferry to Anguilla for wonderful beaches but many prefer to stay on Anguilla and hop to St. Martin. Not great snorkling but wonderful dining and wonderful beaches on Anguilla and lovely propertys. The BVI's are also easy to hop between but for snorkling, great beaches and lush accomodations you would look at other than Tortola. Biras Creek has complimentary Boston whalers to putt about in and find those great snorkling spots and deserted beaches, good hiking, great food as does Peter Island with day trips to Jost, Anegada and some of the other great islands. Although it can be done on Liat island hopping between Tortola or St. Thomas and St. Martin is not an easy daytrip due to the flight schedules. Why not a boat charter either in the BVI's or the Grenadines but the BVI's does have its share of cruise ships now.

Thanks for the advice - -How does T&C compare with St. John, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, &/or Anguilla.

My wife and I stayed at the Comfort Suties on TCI in February 2002. Grace Bay on Provo is absolutely great. The Comfort Suites is a short walk away from the beach. This is NOT an all inclusive resort like Allegro, Beaches, Sands, etc. However, the dining experience in the myriad of restaurants is worth it. I have been to many islands and found the colour of the water (turqoise) truly unique. The island is quiet. There is not much nitelife. While there is a casino at the Allegro it is small in comparison to say the casinos in Aruba. We really enjoyed TCI. Did the Captain Billy's pirate cave tour, the cave trip to Middle Caicos and snorkelling off Seashell Island. I would not hesitate to go back to TCI. Tortola and Virgin Gorda would be much more expensive than TCI. I can't speak to St. John's as I've not been there.

Turks and Caicos would have the deserted beaches on the other cays and islands and excellent snorkeling and diving on the reef that surrounds the islands, doesn't have cruise ships but not sure there would be enough to keep you busy away from the beach and water. The dining is fair and is starting to catch up with some of the other islands but there are a couple of good restaurants. No shopping, no sights to see and the trips to the other cays if you stayed on Provo are just for the beaches mainly. JMO but found the Turks and Caicos more expensive than the BVI but not more than Anguilla. But that is partially dependent up on where you choose to stay.

Thanks again - -so T&C is out - -I had to cancel plans to Point Grace last spring after my dad got sick. I was a bit worried about having noing to do there.<BR><BR> If think I'm narrowing it down to St John, Virgin Gorda, Tortola & Anguilla. If I split my trip 5days in one place and 5 days in another -- what would be the best choice?<BR><BR>thanks

Also, any hotel recommendations? Caneel Bay, Little Dix Bay, CuisinArt..... (one more with a B in Virgin Gorda -- the name escapes me)<BR><BR>thanks

When we went to BVI we stayed at the Prospect Reef Resort on the Channel side of Tortola (5 minute walk from Roadtown. We quite enjoyed it and the many resaurants. However, I have not been to BVI since 1988 and 1989 so don't know what the Resort is like now. Friends of mine have stayed at the Long Bay Resort and enjoyed it. It though is on the other side of the island.

What about Barbados? My TA just mentioned it, but I haven't seen many postings.<BR><BR>thanks

If you decide on St John (Caneel Bay) and Virgin Gorda (Little Dix Bay) are both Rosewood resorts. They provide a ferry service (90 minutes) between the two locations.<BR><BR>Hurricane season technically runs through the middle of December.

Hurricane season officially ends the end of November not middle of December. There is no daily ferry service between LDB and Caneel but several days a week transportation can be via their launch. Neither Prospect Reef (a timeshare resort with NO beach) nor Long Bay fit the criteria bu then neither does Tortola. Of your choices Tortola would be at the bottom of my list but check Frenchman's Cay because of the lack of wonderful beaches. It's very nice but no lush properties on Tortola and snorkling is by boat for the most part other than at a couple of beaches. Anguilla doesn't have the excellent snorkling but would head for Cap. Much nicer than CuisinArt check out Frangipani and some of the other more modest resorts. (See Howard's post under the thread about Anguilla). Excellent advice. Biras Creek? Lovely and much nicer than LDB but more isolated from Virgin Gorda since it is reachable only by boat. Island Hopper offered by Rosewood (Caneel/LDB) for 10 days is great with transportation included. Caneel has some of the best snorkling right from their 7 beautiful beaches on property and Cruz Bay is a short drive away for dining options. <BR>Other B in BVI might be Bitter End. Lots of activity and sailing. Not so good food though .