Anon2

Ughh! I would hate to go on vacation to have poptarts, half a sandwich or half a burger for lunch!

:-)

LOL! The poptarts are cheap & easy (& just an example). You prefer oatmeal? ;-) Sometimes we do fix a couple of "real" breakfasts during the week, but we're more likely to have cereal & juice Half a sandwich or burger is just perfect for us, esp in the heat cause we're active. But believe me we do supper right! No skimping, no holding back. Esp on Barbados, the food is so good ---

It's not a meal plan forever, it's just to budget for the week. Saves time as much as money. I don't like going out & eating a big breakfast before going out in the sun. Time flies so fast on vacation that the lite lunch works fine --- sometimes we carry cheese, crackers & fruit in a cooler & just munch all day. We're not tied to the kitchen or the buffet at the AI all day.

I know, some of you folks love AI & that's fine if it works for you, but me personally, if there's unlimited food I engage in unlimited eating --- & spend the next few months trying to shed the weight I gain. Same thing on the one & only cruise I took a few years ago. Just too darn much food & too little willpower. So we arrange things where we pig out, at a different wonderful restaurant each night, mostly with beautiful oceanfront patios.

Ok, now I'm starving for both food AND vacation.

Jereme

Natashia, my fiance and I are looking into a trip and it looks like we're looking for the same thing you are. Have you made any decisions? Any info that could help us? Feel free to e-mail personally. THanks.

tivertonhouse

Natashia and Jereme: We're sending honeymooners, romantic twosomes, amd first-time-to-island couples to two places this year -- both get-away-from-it-alls of vastly different style. See
Unforgettable -- and the undiscovered Treasure Beach/Fort Charles coast area of Jamaica at www.jamaicaescapes.com or at www.treasurebeach.net --their 'Where to Stay' section. All-inclusive rates are US$1,395/week for two low season,US$1,695/high. Horizon's
Sea Ranch Cottage at Bluefields Bay/Belmont on the South Coast also gets a big first-time and repeat guest following. At US$635/week for two year-round, with cook available for hire, it also gets booked solid very early (most of next Feb,March and April are already booked out).See www.jamaicaescapes.com

SS

st lucia is full of green mountains and great beaches, and is not too touristy. For an all inclusive resort without the hefty price tag, try rendezvous. A moderate, middle of the road, AI. Not as fancy as sandals, but it gets good reviews. See www.caribbean-on-line st lucia forum for info.

Piotr

Cuba is probably your best bet but after the recent storm, I'm not sure how quickly they will bounce back.

If it's beaches you want, few places can top Anguilla or St. Martin. There are some moderately priced options in St. Martin. Combine that with day trips to Saba and Anguilla ($35-$40 boat trips) and you'll get your dose of greenery, beaches, sunshine and nightlife in Marigot and Phillipsburg.

Debbie

Just returned from Antigua. What a great place!!!!! We stayed at the Rex Halcyone Cove. Allinclusive with entertainment nightly outside or in with non motorized sports inc. Food was good room was nice staff excellent. Cheap!!! 1700.00 us 7 nights 8 days.

lean

Nat- If going in SEPTEMBER and want to be certain to avoid a hurricane, look at the ABC's (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao) they'r outside the hurricane belt, very exotic, relaxing, and have great beaches and Not too pricey restaurants and shopping. They also have a real International feel--lots of European and Latin American guests--not all Americans and Canadians.

rena

Aruba, Aruba, Aruba in my opinion should win this hands down. Gorgeous beaches, food out of this world and the friendliest people you would ever want to meet. No hurricanes to deal with. It can be pricey but there are many smaller resorts to look into as well. Good luck!

Vita

Our first island getaway was to Jamacia and we stayed at Sandals Mo Bay for six nights.... with air it came to 1500- pp. It seemed like alot b/c it was our first trip... it just gets more and more expensive. Now I am up to 2100- pp at St. Lucia.

So from what I have researched... I have gotten the cheepest rates in Jamaica.

Paul

Martinique has everything you described. A volcano and beautiful rainforest. Gorgeous beaches on the island's southern tip. Some of the Carib's best food. Some nightlife options, including one casino. Very good prices, because of the favorable $/Euro exchange rate you'll get. Not overrun with tourists or cruise ships, and certainly not a big vacation spot for kids.

Brad

Go to St. Kitts -- I've been there 3 times and love it. You can tour a rain forest, or do a volcano hike (full day). There's also an incredible site, Brimstone Hill, which was a fortress and from where you can take in incredible views of the surrounding Caribbean (including Saba and St. Eustatius). The island is somewhat hilly and very picturesque -- and plenty of monkeys to see.

There are numbers of incredible beaches on the Atlantic Ocean side and Carribean side (no surf). The beaches are great -- and rarely have many people on them. The exception is when a cruise ship comes in, but then you just need to go to a beach where the cruisers are not taken (and there are many such secluded spots). Snorkeling is great, and can be done right off the beach.

The people on St. Kitts are the friendliest I have met in the Caribbean. The food on the island is great. Some places are expensive, but there are plenty of restaurants which are not.

But having been to Bahamas, Barbados, St. Barths, Aruba and St. Kitts, I would heavily recommend St. Kitts -- much cheaper than St. Barths, but much nice than Barbados or Aruba. And you will never have to deal with excessive crowds on St. Kitts. It just doesn't seem as if many people know about it.