palmtree2384

Can't decide between these? Want beautiful white beaches, golf (even if we have to ferry somewhere else for the golf that is nearby), nice accomodations(don't know if that is possible if we want to be on a quiet unspoiled island) and wonderful friendly people.
With that criteria I thought some of you might have some ideas of which of these would suit us best. By the way, we also were considering St. John.
Thank you for your help.

blamona

Anguilla--nice accomodations, friendly people, gorgeous white beaches (some of the best in the world.) Greg Norman golf course-but be prepared to pay for it: around $395-$450 a round. quiet unspoiled island.

VG--no golf. Not even close, unless you go over to St. Thomas. Same with St. John.

Out Islands--Exumas has excellent golf course, but would have to stay at Grand Isle, Fours Seasons is closing. Abacos has a golf course on Treasure Cay. Treasure Cay Resort is okay, nothing great, best place to stay is Bahama Beach Club. From the marina close by, you can charter a boat to Great Guana Cay and Elbow Cay. There is also a golf course at the Ritz Carlton run The Abaco Club at Winding Bay in Marsh Harbour. I have been to all except The Abaco Club, as that was not built on my last visit.

NM

The golf course on Anguilla has been closed for a number of months now.

palmtree2384

would the grenadines have the beaches of these other places?

blamona

The beaches of the Virgin Islands compared to the beaches of Anguilla and Out Islands are completely different from each other. Anguilla, Out Islands of Bahamas, and Turks and Caicos are flat drier coral type islands, they will have the long stretches and the whitest sand and brightest turquiose. VI, as the Grenadines, are hilly, a little bit lusher, and beaches are more in coves. They do have white sand, and turquoise water, but not to the extent that the flat islands do. Grenadines are more similar to VG, niether VG nor Grenadines are similar to Anguilla or Out Islands.

As for the Grenadines: stunning vistas. The view from Palm Island looking at Union Island is like a mini Bora Bora. You have to daytrip to all the different cays, Tobago Cays are gorgeous. Canouan, where the golf course is, while the beaches are nice, my opinion, not as nice as the other places--you have to hop around the cays for the nice beaches.

I know you decided against Turks and Caicos-but you might want to consider it. While it's more built up than the others, as far as resorts lining the beach, it's by no means crowded. The beaches are long, the restaurants are excellent, the golf course is really nice for a Caribbean course. On a crowded week, it's not like going to Mexico, DR, or even Caymans. No cruise ships, it's actually a fairly quiet island. The turquoise of the water might be the most turquoise of them all. Check out Turks and Caicos Club, West Bay Club for quieter sections of Grace Bay. Also check out Villa Renaissance and Regent Grand, again quiet sections. Regent Grand offers free golf rounds during your stay, it's a quiet yet luxurious property, and yet it's walking distance to shops, restaurants.

I love VG, I love Anguilla, but when you ask us to compare something else to either one, you have to understand that VG and Anguilla are completely different from each other.

palmtree2384

Thank you very much Blamona for the information. As far as T&C goes, we just got back from our first trip there. I'm not sure if you remember my trip report but we had a bad experience there with the crime. I know that some people have had wonderful experiences there and I probably will go back one day because the beaches were unbelievably beautiful. That is the reason for me wanting to maybe find out about some other places to try first that maybe have close to those beaches, but maybe a different feel to the island for us. =)
Thanks alot.

blamona

I do remember now--sorry that happened to you.

Anguilla has those beaches, as does Out Islands.
I had answered you on another post, you may want to check out:

Bahama Beach Club in Abacos
Grand Isle Resort in Exumas
Caymans has a decent golf course-similar to T&C, more built up
Canouan in Grenadines has a gorgeous golf course
Barbados has stunning golf courses
DR has the best golf course in Caribbean-but I'm not a big DR fan-mostly all inclusives
St. Thomas has a golf course (2 hour ferry from Virgin Gorda, 25 minute ferry from St. John)
Aruba has a golf course
Bermuda has terrific golf courses, and is a beautiful island-it is fairly upscale
Hubby thought the course in Paradise Island Bahamas was just okay.
Jamaica has golf courses.

scfphoto

You did not ask about it but Nevis has all your requirements especially golf and friendly island. Beautiful and lush green one of our favorites. Pinneys beach is great if a hurricane has not taken the sand away.

palmtree2384

scfphoto, are the beaches in Nevis very good? would consider Nevis if I knew a little bit more about the beaches. Thanks for the information everyone. =)

scfphoto

I thought the beaches were very nice but not the pure white sand type but light beige. Pinney's beach is by the 4 Seasons but I see hotel is closed till October due to damage from Hurricane Omar.Pinneys is over a mile long great walks but sand may have been taken away by storm waves, that happened to us on a trip a few years ago. Great golf course at 4 Seasons but...

NM

I recently read something on another forum that said the 4-seasons Nevis won't be opening in Oct--sounded like it might not open for a while. I'd check out Grand Cayman, does have golf, great beaches, dining and nice condos and resorts on 7-mile. If you stay at the western end of 7-mile it's quieter. I know it's not as laid-back as AXA or the BVI's but it still offers a lot,has golf, and is relatively easy to get to.