My wife and I are *finally* taking a vacation. I'd love to do something in the Caribbean. Can you help? <BR> <BR>Here's what we'd like: <BR> -- Beautiful beaches (obviously!) <BR> -- "Fun atmosphere" w/ places to visit <BR> -- Not too expensive, but will pay if it's good <BR> -- Somewhere quiet to go and wind-down within driving/taxi/bus distance. <BR> <BR>I wanted the Cayman Islands, but it may be too quite for my wife...and she's not too fond of swimming and boats. <BR> <BR>Thanks!! <BR> <BR>Jeff

Grand Cayman Island is beautiful! I won a trip two years ago. There is super souvenir shopping in downtown Georgetown. You could go to the Turtle Farm and the town of "Hell". Lots of things to see and do!!! You could try exotic foods and the rum drinks. If any more questions, e-mail me!

Jeff -- You are not being too selective, yet. The islands I'd start researching are: <BR>Tortola (one of my overall favorites) <BR>Barbados <BR>St. Maarten <BR> <BR>All three are wonderful, with nice people. Tortola has a variety of great beaches, easygoing style, low-key but good restaurants. Barbados is more British and a lot bigger than Tortola. It is very gracious, with a particularly beautiful countryside (reminiscent of England at times), dramatic colonial architecture and ruins, and plenty of beaches. St. Maarten/Martin, which is part Holland, part France, wins for European style, excellence of food (true French/European -- expensive at times but not always), and variety of activities, including clubs, casinos and shopping. If you go to Tortola, take a day trip to Anegada to see what an unspoiled island paradise is all about. If you go to St. Maarten, take a day trip to Anguilla (Gorda Aero has day trip flights), although it is becoming more developed. Sandy Isle off of Road Bay (a little boat takes you over) is a great patch of white sand and 8 palm trees out at sea. <BR>

Made a mistake in my posting above -- Gorda Aero has day trips between Tortola and Anegada. It is too far to go by boat. You can, however, take a ferry between St. Maarten and Anguilla.

I have posted some gorgeous beach shots of our favorites: http://www.zing.com/album/?id=4294575393 <BR>Actually the zing.com directory of Caribbean travel photos has a wide assortment picture albums to set you dreaming. I'd suspect of the places we've been you would like St. Martin/St. Maarten the best...