Am considering a quick trip to the Carribbean in May. We will have 5 days and am pretty positive that the best bet is to stick with one island. We would like an island with nice beaches and also some eco tourism options. Nice town with great restaurants would also be a plus.

Grenada seems to be a good fit, but have also read good things about Antigua, St Martin and Anguilla. St Barts appears to be very expensive. Any assistance would be much appreciated.

skids,

Where are you traveling from? Are the islands you are contemplating an easy journey for you? With only 5 days you don't want to waste time with connecting flights. I'm assuming it's just the 2 of you?

In 5 days you should visit one island. So, in that case, What is your budget and where have you visited before and what did you like about that trip.

Apart from nice restaurants what are your interests? Lying on the beach, snorkeling, diving, casinos, shopping?

We would like to help you, we just need more information.

If Jamaica doesn't scare you, I suggest that you might like to check out Idle Awhile in Negril. There are lots of positive postings here and we stayed there in April and loved it - only 14 rooms in the middle of the beach in Negril, lots of restaurants within an easy walk along the beach.

I agree with alya on Jamaica, and I also think Grenada is a very good choice.

(I don't, however, think the other islands you mentioned fit your needs as well.)

As alya said, give us a little bit more of what you are looking for - hiking? snorkeling? diving? bicycling? sightseeing? etc. - and we can give you a better idea of where to go.

Thanks for the responses. We have never been to the Caribbean before other than a jaunt to the Car side of Costa Rica. My favorite part of the trip there were days hikes to isolated beaches.

The key is that we have things to do during the day other than the beach. We like the beach, but not all day everyday. Potentially museums, shopping, sightseeing, casinos, hiking, golf & good restaurants. I would like to spend $400 or less per night.

Negril sounds interesting. Always thought of it as a party town and that is not our main agenda. Hope this is enough to go on...

Sorry we are coming from a wedding in LA and then flying home to Richmond. Thanks again.

Coming from LA means it will take you a very long day to get to the Caribbean. San Juan may be your best bet because American Airlines runs so many flights through there. I definitely would not go to Grenada because it will take you forever to get there (at least two connections) and even a lot of traveling on your return trip to Richmond.

My advice would be to save your Caribbean trip for another time because, even if you go to San Juan, you'll be spending too much of your time on planes and waiting at airports. Why not simply enjoy some of the sites and beaches around LA for those extra days. That would be much more relaxing.

Barbados has everything you described, including golf, but not gambling. Quickest way is to fly American overnite, LAX-MIA, then nonstop MIA-BGI which gets you in midday. Leaving BGI early afternoon gets you to MIA in time to fly to Richmond or Washington National.

why not consider the maya riviera. it would be alot less flying time, and def offers all the things you listed for off beach time (not sure about the gambling??) the area between playa del carmen and tulum would be perfect.

I'd say St. Martin would be a good bet for some of the interests you mentioned. Grand Cayman is nice too but no gambling or hiking really. Grenada is a paradise to me but it was hit hard by the hurricane. You'd have to ask around about how it's recovered. Not the best bet for this year. St. Martin is a nice option because you can take a fast ferry to Anguilla and St. Barts for the day to explore. Just a thought. Good luck!

I was just in Grenada twice in 2005 - January and November - and it is nearly back to normal. Very few of the hotels /resorts are still closed, all of the sights are back up and running, and the foliage is lush and vibrant.

In fact, although you can see lots of damaged buildings still, you have to really look to notice damage to trees and plants, and it certainly did not affect us at all during our recent trip other than to be a reminder of why we stopped traveling to the Caribbean during hurricane season.

To the OP, I think Jamaica would be your best bet, but San Juan (as Laby mentioned) would work as well.

Grenada is one of my favorite islands, but it probably doesn't have the historical and cultural attractions to the extent you may want to have available, and shopping is not a big pasttime there - but the Market there is great!