help choosing a first-time visit
 

We're looking for the perfect first-time Caribbean vacation mid-March 2010, and we're overwhelmed by the choices. Any advice on where to start? From other posts, I believe this info will help... Thanks in advance!

What's your budget? up to $5K, but this can be flexible
What are your travel tastes? (tent, modest, luxury?) luxury. Specifically, due to allergies, we need a place with a full kitchen and private washer/dryer. A private pool would be very good too. Beach front would be nice, but it's not necessary. Need at least 1 bedroom and 2 bathrooms.
Want history or basically scenery? yes - photo opportunities and scenic vistas are very important, but there should be a story to go with them
Want to walk around or drive? driving is OK. Walking is OK for reasonable distances
Want big island or small? don't know
Hilly or long flat beaches? don't care, as long as they are photogenic, relatively serene, and suitable for walks
Turquoise water, or black sand beaches? photogenic... and suitable for nice walks
scuba and snorkel? not necessary
Upscale or do you mind vendors approaching you? upscale
Scenery or water sports? scenery
Secluded or crowded? secluded... definitely not crowded
shopping? Nightlife? Casinos? the only important shopping is a good selection of groceries with English labeling... food allergies to consider. Restaurants, nightlife, and casinos are not a factor at all.
Topless/nudity? not a factor
Easy access from States or off the beaten path? relatively easy... under 5 hours for the trip from the mid-Atlantic US
Sailing? don't care
Island hopping? if it's necessary and useful

It sounds to me as if you just want a villa or condo on a beautiful beach. I'd recommend the Turks & Caicos. While most people would recommend Provo, I'd actually send you to Grand Turk, which has more history. Although it's a tiny island, it's the nation's capital and has a decent museum and a cute small town. It's also very safe. You should be able to get a condo or small villa there with a kitchen for your budget on either Provo or Grand Turk. Though the two-bathroom thing may be a real issue for you; few one-bedroom condos and villas have 2 full baths.

Aruba would also suit you as it has more history than the Turks & Caicos and also beautiful beaches. Antigua might also be a consideration because it's more historic and more scenic. And there are several villa/condo enclaves where you can walk to restaurants and nightlife there. I would not recommend St. John because driving is almost a necessity there. Grand Cayman might also work, but you'd probably have to rent a car there.

You don't say how many people are traveling. If it's just two, then the budget is no problem. If it's a family, then I think you really have to plan carefully.

Does the $5K include airfare?

i'm going to suggest barbados. i think it tics all the boxes on your list. is british so all groceries in english with plenty of grocery stores.
very photogenic. has beaches and lots of history in old plantations, distilleries & churches as well as botanicals, music & local arts & crafts. you can watch polo in season.
has rough rocky atlantic side & calmer palm lined beaches on carib side. i'd look for accomodations on the west/carib side a ways north of 'the gap' (busy town area). plenty of villas & condos.
on all islands i think you're going to find it difficult to find 2 bathrooms unless you get a 2 br condo or villa.

I think St. John USVI is always a good choice for a first-time Caribbean trip. Plenty of villas to choose from, most with gorgeous views (though not beachfront) and many with private pools. Exceptional beaches although not great for super long walks. Sugar mill ruins, petroglyphs to check out. Take a day trip to St. Thomas to shop and see more sights.

Sorry, Jimmie, but I disagree. There are almost no beachfront condos or villas available in St. John. I don't think it meets the OP's major needs.

But I definitely think Barbados should be in the running. And what Virginia says about the availability of 2 bathrooms is generally true, especially for this price range.

Doug,
she said beachfront would be nice but not necessary -- scenic vistas and photo opportunities were more important. Wouldn't a villa with pool above Coral Bay with views to the BVI do the trick? TCI is lovely, but after you take your 100th picture of the stunning water, what do you do next?

Well, you certainly have a point about the photo ops in the T&C. But I don't think I'd send someone all the way out to Coral Bay on their first trip to St. John, let alone the Caribbean. It's a bit isolated. There are probably some villas that are closer to Cruz Bay and would do if they go that route. It's really up to the OP, after all.

That was a lot of info to digest but a much shorter list than we started with! Thanks everyone. I researched these recommended islands, and I think we have narrowed it down to Barbados or TCI.

To address the questions, just two travelers, budget is flexible and does not include airfare, beach front is not necessary, driving is not a problem, and the second bathroom is a nice-to-have.

The varied scenery and botanical gardens of Barbados seem to fit the photogenic requirements, and there seem to be a variety of villa options. It's unclear whether Barbados satisfies the secluded preference because it seems very popular with cruise ships. Any insight?

TCI is running a close second, and seems like the right tempo. It doesn't seem to have the varied photo opportunities and activities of Barbados. We're not able to be out in the sun much, so TCI's apparent main attraction of time on the beach during the day is out of bounds.

Aruba's description (on this site) makes it sound like it's known for nightlife and casinos, which aren't attractions for us. St. John (as reported on other sites) seems to be a magnet for Spring Breakers, which is something we want to avoid.

So, if it's Barbados, any specific recommendations? Safety concerns? Places to see? Places to avoid?

Thanks for the advice... the Caribbean just got a lot more comprehensible!

Also, any tips on finding the right villa?

We have always been very pleased with Barbados and never found it to be like other islands where you know there are cruise ships. I'm not able to be out in the sun much either and part of what I appreciate about Barbados is that there is so much to see and do without being in the sun. Laying out around the pool is just one choice of activity. We stay at the Hilton so I'm afraid we can't help with recommendations on a villa. We have been everywhere on the island and felt completely safe at all times. I might sugegst you look at the website visitbarbados.org. There are so many things to see. Make sure you get up to North Pointe and over to the east side to Bathsheba for some great photo ops.