Sheila

This forum is such a wealth of information. My boyfriend and I (early 40's) are planning a trip to the Caribbean and have narrowed it down to these 4 islands: Aruba, Barbados, Cayman Islands, and St. Lucia. We are looking for something very romantic, quiet, beautiful scenery, lovely beaches, good food, etc. We'll be lying on the beach, by the pool, sight-seeing, snorkeling, lots of R&R. Oh yes, he likes to golf, but it's not a necessity. Are these islands similar as far as price? We'd like to keep it under $5,000 if possible. Any favorite hotels? Any and all input will be greatly appreciated. If we can't decide on one of these islands soon, we may just go to Maui instead! (We're in California) <BR>

Sara

I would opt for Aruba. It's not a lush island but a desert island with a beauty and charm all it's own. You will also find some of the finest restaurants for dining. Go to the following webpage..great pricesL <BR> <BR>http://www.travelunlimited.

Sara

I would opt for Aruba. It's not a lush island but a desert island with a beauty and charm all it's own. You will also find some of the finest restaurants for dining. Go to the following webpage..great pricesL <BR> <BR>http://www.travelunlimited.com

Sara

I would opt for Aruba. It's not a lush island but a desert island with a beauty and charm all it's own. You will also find some of the finest restaurants for dining. Go to the following webpage..great prices: <BR> <BR>http://www.travelunlimited.com

karen

Hi Sheila: What a decision to have to make. We have been to Barbados, St.Lucia and twice to Aruba, we have also been to 5 or 6 other islands. Aruba is our favourite. It has glorious beaches, wonderfully romantic restaurants great casinos, unique landscape and the friendliest people you'll ever met. You will feel very safe walking the beaches, riding the public buses or driving the country roads. The only time you may be bothered is by the timeshare people(we turned this into a positive by getting free tickets for evening cruise and a free car rental). Barbados and St Lucia are also nice, I would give the nod to Barbados because the beaches a nicer and the Island is easy to navigate on your own (we love to explore at our own pace). I have another suggestion for you - have you thought about taking a southern Caribbean cruise out of Aruba or Barbados. We have also done this and really enjoyed it. It is a great way to get a taste of the Islands for future week long visits. The cruise we did went from Aruba to St.Lucia, Grenada,Barbados, Margarita Island and Curacao. There are also cruises with variations of this itinerary. Have fun planning. If you have any more questions e mail directly. Karen

p thompson

<BR>Sheila <BR> <BR>My husband and I (we're both in our late 30's) visited Aruba last February. We thought it was okay and by the end of our stay we weren't all excited about visiting again. <BR> <BR>First of all, I was 3 months pregnant on the trip and it was impossible to find any restaurant, casino or show that had a non-smoking area. Not sure if this is a concern for you, but the smoke filled casino's turned my husband off. <BR> <BR>There are lots of nice restaurants, great shopping and some sightseeing. We got attacked by many natives trying to get us to visit timesharing property. <BR> <BR>The beaches were nice also, but the water wasn't as clear as it normally is because of El Nino. <BR> <BR>I have lots of great things about Barbados and there is one hotel in particular that we almost chose for our honeymoon two years ago, but decided on Hawaii instead. I believe it is called Almond or Pineapple something. <BR> <BR>I highly would recommend Maui since we honeymooned there and in Kauai (I would go back to Kauai before Maui it is much more intimate). We stayed at the Hyatt in both locations. <BR> <BR>Gee, I wish Hawaii was only a 5 hour trip as it is for you. We're in Boston and it was a 12+ trip, but worth every minute. <BR> <BR>Good luck!!!

Cathy

I love St. Lucia, but for what you're looking for I would leave that one out of the mix. The Cayman's are known for their snorkeling, but that island I have not yet been to. I do hear that it is rather expensive though. My favorite is Barbados and I think offers you exactly what you're looking for. It doesn't have the casinos like Aruba has, so if you're interested in that then maybe that's your best bet. But Barbdos will offer you good beaches, romance, quiet, beautiful scenery, etc. Golf is also available. Sounds like you would prefer the west coast. If you decide on Barbados, e-mail me and I'll give you some ideas for hotels and websites to check out.