Hi we are saving Marriott pts and we are choosing between the two islands for a trip next year. I lean towards GC, but our friends who are also saving pts like the SThomas Marriott better.(from pictures.) Now the GC Marriott is less of a resort than Frenchmen's Reef. We like the big resort feel.
If you have been to both places, what was your favorite and why?
We are looking for a nice resort, good food, nice beach and snorkeling (we aren't experts on this, but enjoy it).
Thanks.

I have been to Grand Cayman and St Thomas (only to go to STJ).BUT my in-laws stayed at the Frenchman's Reef in STT..they said that it is a nice resort but there are nicer resorts on STT that are on a nice beach.FR is near were the cruise ships come in.

I passed the GC Marriott and it is on a nicer beach than STT FR.

From what you are looking for (good food,nice beach,snorkeling) I would go with Grand Cayman.The restaurants are as good (if not better)than Aruba's.

The snorkeling in Grand Cayman is some of the best that I have come acrossed.

The locals in GC are more friendly.It also has a lower crime rate.(if that matters to you)

IMO..Grand Cayman has alot for the kids to enjoy.

I love St John but I'm not to crazy about what I saw of St Thomas.

JM2C,
Christie

Thanks Christie. I had a feeling this was the case. Now, to convince my friend who is gung ho on St Thomas. My choice would be GC. I am not against St Thomas, but from what I have heard, St. john is the place to go, not St Thomas. I have Marriott pts so we are only looking at Marriott islands. We did Aruba. That was a nice Marriott. Curaco is recommended a lot here, but hard to get to for us. We must not be on the route. We are planning to use some delta points too. That is why planning a year in advance is so important.
Anyway, I appreciate your words. I will have to think about it some more. Thanks.

Your welcome! My feeling is that you will like GC alot more than Aruba..if you end up going there.

Christie

We've stayed at the Holiday Inn k/n/a/ the Courtyard by Marriott in Grand Cayman and Wyndham Sugar Bay in St. Thomas. Our choice is Grand Cayman.

Grand Cayman: better beaches, clearer water, excellant snorkeling, Sting Ray City is awesome, Island tour was good, safer to walk around, shopping OK, cruise shippers did not bother us, nicer atmosphere, friendler staff at the hotel.

St. Thomas was OK, shopping was very extensive, day trips to St. John and BVI's really nice, Downtown shopping area crowded, Island tour nice, didn't feel safe walking off the resort at night, roads are are riding on min-roller coasters. Many people rave about St. John and Trunk Bay, but we didn't see it. Coki Beach on St. Thomas had better snorkeling, but still like Grand Cayman better. It all depends on what you are wanting in a vacation.

I've stayed at the Marriott on Grand Cayman. It is one of the best hotel properties on the island. Be sure to eat breakfast at Coconut Joe's across the street. There is also a smaller Courtyard Marriott up the road. I loved Grand Cayman so much I'm going back 7/1/2006 (staying at Reef Resort). Grand Cayman is high end, very expensive, very safe place. Tourism comes second to the 600 or so banks on the island. Stingray City and Pampered Ponies would be the tourist highlights. I was in St. Thomas in 1997 (not at a Marriott). You don't DARE drive anywhere yourself there. The local drivers don't believe in traffic laws. There are a lot of poor folks there barely scraping by, living in corrugated metal and dirt shacks. Yes the hotels are nice. I would never take a walk there at night. For me, Grand Cayman wins hands down. It's not a hilly island (the mountains are in the water, hence the superb diving and snorkeling) but for my vacation I would really rather feel safe, luxurious and pampered.