Looking for quaint carribbean
 

I am looking for a great vacation spot in the Caribbean for two couples in our late 30's for March, 2006. We are traveling from Penna. We have already been to Jamaica, Aruba & Mexico (several times) so these are out. We would like a smaller hotel (no superclubs) with clean, uncrowded beaches lined with palm trees and drinks brought to us, great, friendly service, excellent food - great variety, and nice, modern, clean and quiet rooms. We are going with our kids so we would prefer no kids or minimal kids. I am not a fan of all-inclusives but the other couple insists on one - so the best all inclusive you can think of would be great! We like to stay up and drink but we don't need any chug contests going on nor do we need a casino or disco. As far as price - nothing ridiculous. Sightseeing is not an issues - we aren't going anywhere! We have heard of people having to wake at 6 am to claim a chaise - that is definately not us! Nor do we want to have to decide on which restarant we are going to eat in 3 days in advance. We just like to go with the flow.

Are we asking too much?

tiredmoms--like your name lol sounds like me.

Check out St.John USVI's it sounds like what you are looking for..though it does not have AL hotels only 3 resorts..The Westin is said to be nice and on the beach.STJ is not a busy island compared to the others and has some beautiful beaches from what I have read and been told and the pictures on the internet are pretty.

My family and I are going there in June and taking a day trip to St.Thomas one day..the ferry is only 20 minutes between the 2.

It is worth checking out.
By the way..I went to Aruba last April.I don't know how you liked it but to me..the food was great and the beaches were also..but it was not a very pretty island.I would rather go somewhere that has beautiful trees and mountains,great snorkeling and less commercialized.Anyway,good luck wherever you go!!!

I meant to say AI hotels..they also have alot of villas..that is what we rented.

Have I missed something, or is this request
the equivalent of a posting oxymoron? To wit, "we are going with our kids so we would prefer no kids or minimal kids". Does this mean that it's OK to have your kids at the resort but you don't want anyone else's kids,
or perhaps your kids are special but anyone
else's are verboten? I'm not sure I understand the concept. There are a number of resorts, for example, that do not permit kids under 12, but that would include
all kids, including your own!

toning it down a bit here, i assume "tired"mom did not notice her typo,["we are going with ouT our kids"] and that she is not taking her kids.
tired - you could look at the couples that aren't on jamaica. no kids. but honeymooners.
also the sandals on st. lucia or le sport.
on dominican republic (punta cana) there is a secrets excellance that is all adults and a riu palace that is "adult orieneted" - not sure what that means, but it looks like a beautiful place.
dom rep does not have a great rep on these boards; i think because it is such a terribly poor island. but if you will be staying on club property there should be no issue.
have fun planning

If quaint is what you are looking for try Harbour Island or Abaco in the Bahamas.

There are very active websites for Abaco and I think one website is www.coconuttelegraphic.com or take a look at one of these.

www.rockhousebahamas.com
www.runawayhill.com
www.coralsands.com
www.romorabay.com

Harbour Island was named the #1 destination last year, and is one of the best beaches in the carribean, and yes I know it's not technically in the carribean.

A little shopping some great restaurants and a little celebrity siting, beautiful views and warm welcoming people.

Have a great time.

Look at Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. The Paridisus has what they call "Royal Service" which would give you what you are looking for. It is an All-Inclusive. It seems to have everything you are looking for.

And here I thought the oxymoron was asking for quaint Caribbean and all inclusive in one post ;)

Seriously though, do you think there's any possibility of convincing the other couple to go the non-AI route?

And here I thought the oxymoron was asking for quaint Caribbean and all inclusive in one post ;)

Seriously though, do you think there's any possibility of convincing the other couple to go the non-AI route? What is it specifically that they like about AI's. Is it just that food and drinks are included? If so, there are lots of resorts which aren't necessarily AI's but where it's possible to add a meal or AI plan to the rate.

Sorry about the double post!

Bermuda is a quaint island. It is not the biggest family vacation spot. It is more couples oriented. You can stay at a resort that includes breakfast and dinner(most do) and pay for lunches and drinks as you go. The Reefs is an excellent small hotel on a nice beach. If you want more service, the southhampton princess or elbow beach club will bring drinks to your chair. The food is good in Bermuda. Night life is low-key or non exisistent.

Sorry for the confusion, I meant to say "Without Our Kids". We do love kids but have not taken a vacation without them in 10 years! We have been going to Disney/Universal resorts for years and would just like a little peace and quiet.

I thank you all and will look into all of your suggestions.

P.S. The other couple likes the AI's because they think they are a good deal (yeah maybe when we were 23).

I would just suggest that, as charming as it is, Bermuda is too chilly in March. We were there in May and although the air was warm, the water was not. You might consider Belize or even Costa Rica.

Patty, that's what I thought, too! :)

I would also agree with Patty's suggestion that you and your friends consider a hotel or resort that offers an AI option but doesn't require one so that both you and your friends will be happy. If you come up with some really wonderful places and show them to your friends, you could probably win them over and convince them that AI isn't the way to go. Long Bay Resort on Tortola might be a nice compromise or Blue Waters on Antigua, for two examples.

If an AI is necessary, check out Spice Island beach Resort on Grenada. Or perhaps Blue Waters or Galley Bay on Antigua. Jumby Bay just off Antigua is in a league of its own--for service, food, quality, and naturally price.

Do you intend to venture off the resort to sitesee and dine? It sounds like you do, and that your friends do not. If that's the case, you and your friends could actually stay at two different palces within easy reach--if they want to do all of their eating and drinking in one place and you want to get out a bit, then you'll be going your separate ways for part of the time anyway. If they need an AI and you don't, pick two places within an easy distance so that you can spend days or evenings together.

Palm Island in the Grenadines. Checkit out www.eliteislandresorts.com

Sorry I didn't read the part about March. Bermuda is not the destination for you than! Too cold.
I too was thinking of Long Bay on Tortola for laid back and all inclusive just for easy. Hope you have a great trip wherever you pick. Every place we go tends to be with kids or busy big hotels, etc...Let me know where you go!!

I was checking out some of the wonderful suggestions you have been posting. Thanks to all of you!

I was checking out some of the flight times. I don't mind traveling 6 hours but some of these islands require many stop overs with long layovers and then a ferry or a puddle jumper (small aircraft) to get there. Now you're talking 8+ hours (Anguilla seems impossible to get to). Am I mistaken? Perhaps there is some sort of package or tour. I'll have to check it out.

Antigua looks nice. Maybe Galley Bay, Jumby Bay or Blue Waters.

Another neat looking place is Palm Island, Grenadines (again a hassle to get to).

If you have any secrets or tour planners that can get us to these places faster - please do tell!

Where are you flying from? American/American Eagle flies to Anguilla and Antigua from San Juan. Palm Island IS hard to get to and many travelers opt/or are forced to overnight in Barbados on the way there and back.

Buying a tour package doesn't mean you'll get better air routing than booking it yourself, often it can be just the opposite. What you see for flight schedules is the same as what an agent can book, there aren't any secrets to get there faster unless you consider chartering an option.

hi tired
I don't think you are asking for too much!! What comes to my mind to fit your criteria is Peter Island,BVI. Flights from PA (?Penna) to Tortola probably not too bad, then the private water taxi over is a blast! Food is included and very good, drinks are not. No cars, so it is quiet and very relaxing. Let us all know what you choose and happy planning!! Carol