I am seeking advice regarding a high quality, yet understated quiet resort in the Carribean. No high rise; no casino; just beach and nice services. I want good value if possible. Any ideas?

Try Rendevous in St. Lucia. I was there several years ago and it was wonderful. It was a couples only resort and therefore much quieter than a family resort. They had things to do during the day or you can just relax by the beach as we did every day. It is an all inclusive. There is one main dining room facing the sea. If the service has not changed, I would highly recommend it. Have fun!

Check out Virgin Gorda, Biras Creek or Little Dix. Peter Island is just a short boat ride from Tortola. Caneel on St. John. All are top quality with wonderful beaches and very very quiet laid back attitude with super service and amenities. My first choie is Peter Island. E-mail for additional info.

Try any of the top end resorts on a special island called St. Barth. Do a websearch on St. Barth and check out the Carl Gustaf Hotel, Hotel Isle De france, Manapany, Le Toigny, Guanahani, or Francois Plantation. If you want a classy, quiet place, it's St. Barth!

ANSE CHASTANET in St. Lucia sounds just like what you are looking for...top quality food, best beach in St. Lucia, laid back atmosphere, scuba diving paradise...very lazy in the middle of paradise, very secluded and the resorts rooms are built up the big hill overlooking the sea. The rooms at the top come highly recommended because of the view (of Souffriere, sea, and Piton mountains). Owned by an architect, each room is unique and interesting. I've heard the 14BLOCK is best. They offer both all-inclusive packages and not. Others like this in St.Lucia (same area)are Jalhousie Resort and Ladera Resort, all very quaint and intimate. ST. LUCIA IS THE PERFECT PLACE TO GO AND JUST RELAX AND TAKE IN ALL THE BEAUTIFUL SCENERY. There is some things to do, if you feel like adventuring for one day of your stay. Try the Rainforest Tour, or the Botanical Gardens and Mineral Springs....you'll come home rejuvenated!!! Hope this helps, Leslie.

Out of the ordinary in the BVI is a private island with very unusual flora and fauna named Guana Island. Check out the details on
http://www.guana.com.

I have been to most places in the British Virgin Islands including those mentioned so far. I would pick Guana Island, Little Dix and Biras Creek in that order. Peter Island is too large and too typical resort type for me.

Guana Island is very small and precious with good food, good hiking, and many beaches some with interesting snorkeling. Most people have not heard of it. Little Dix is one of the top resorts in the world carrying forward the old Rock resort tradition.

Another Place even more out of the ordinary is The Windmills Plantation at Salt Cay near Grand Turk. You can get info on it by calling 800 822 7715. I am not certain that you would call this a resort it is so small and it is the same as being the guest of the owners.

Petit St. Vincent is another unusual place in the Genedines.

I am assuming that you want true tranquility in a very lovely spot rather than all of the trappings that you find in the typical resort. Today I would not go to Little Dix because it is too resort like for my tastes now. I would have picked Biras Creek over Little Dix if I liked its location better.

Very lovely islands and resorts are found in the Fiji islands. If you are on the West coast it is just as easy to get there. One of the top places is Turtle Island. There are several more less expensive.

Have you considered Bermuda? It is technically not in the Carribbean, but certainly is very high quality and reserved. We like it because the Bermudians are very pleasant and live in well kept homes (no run-down areas). And the place is as beautiful at the brochures. There is plenty to do if you want to, and lovely pink beaches if you just want to veg out. Suggest you stay at one of the small hotels - we like The Reefs - and get the meal plan. Eating on your own can be expensive. Shopping is a very pleasant and, if not a bargain hunters paradise, surely an experience in which to expect top service and merchandise. You can't rent a car but can get motorscooters. We find them to be great fun and the Bermuda drivers to be generally patient and courteous to motorbike riders. If you go to Bermuda once, you'll go back. Good luck!

Grand Lido in Negril Jamaica sounds like its the place for you. I've been there 8 times and the beach is absolutely fabulous. Long and peaceful. You don't even have to get up off your beach chair to get a drink. The good is top notch with excellent service. 24 hour room service. 9 bars, 2 pools, several hot tubs. Every chair has a float for comfort and relaxing in the water. There's a yacht with sunset cruises thats wonderful. The rooms are in two story buildings - request a lower floor because you can walk out onto your patio. (the upper patio's are very small). There's plenty of watersports to keep you busy and lots of beach to relax and do nothing. It's very quiet and no one bothers you to get involved like some of the Sandals properties. The property is small to medium so you don't require buses to carry you around. Request a beachfront room on the main beach or you can go over to the clothing optional side and take in the views. The clothing optional part of the resort is done extremely tastefully and you'd never know it unless you wander over to that side of the resort. Grand Lido is rated tops in our book and we will go back again and again for the perfect vacation. Good Luck!

Sounds like you would love Anguilla. Worth looking into - beautiful beaches, quiet, no casinos, friendly people. We celebrated our 25th anniversary last June - spent a week at the Malliouhana Resort. What a Paradise!! It was everything we had hoped for, and more. Don't miss the trip to Little Bay.
Good Luck! Barbara

Hi Karen-
I'm planning my honeymoon for September - probably in the BVI. I was leaning towards Biras. Why do you prefer Peters?
Thanks in advance.

my wife and i would also reccommend peter island bvi. comfortable rooms (only 25-or 30?) good food, but a little formal for us,we enjoyed the buffet cook-out on the beach, you can also ferry over to tortola to try local restaurants. we also rented a car and toured tortola stopping to snorkel cane garden bay etc. all in all very enjojable and relaxing.

Have you ever considered the Horned Dorset Primavera resort in Rincon, Puerto Rico? Tel. (787) 823-4030. This is an exclusive, first-class small hotel on the western side of the island (3 hour drive from San Juan). It has excellent service, dining, great beach and is exxxxxtremely quiet. No casino, no disco, no shows, just relaxation. Check it out.

Have you ever considered the Horned Dorset Primavera resort in Rincon, Puerto Rico? Tel. (787) 823-4030. This is an exclusive, first-class small hotel on the western side of the island (3 hour drive from San Juan). It has excellent service, dining, great beach and is exxxxxtremely quiet. No casino, no disco, no shows, just relaxation. Check it out.

My wife and I have just returned from a wonderful stay at Club Oasis Akumal on the Mayan Coast of Mexico. Located 1 hour (by bus) south of Cancun, this resort offers peace and quiet in a great natural setting. The resort is small (approximately 100 rooms), the service is perfect, there is a dive shop on-site, great snorkeling from the beach, good food... In addition, Oasis Akumal is a 15 minute drive from the Mayan ruins of Tulum. If you would like more information, do not hesitate to write.

I must agree with Michel totally. We just returned from Hotel Club Akumal Caribe and it was wonderful. Clean beach, good food, fast trips to local attractions, snorkeling, etc.... We will be going back in the future. E-mail for more info.....

Dear Roy: Would recommend "Hawksbill" in Antiqua...
3 Beaches, 1 of which is nude....beautiful, elegant,
European....we truly enjoyed!

Dear Roy: Would recommend "Hawksbill" in Antiqua...
3 Beaches, 1 of which is nude....beautiful, elegant,
European....we truly enjoyed!

Anguilla may be the place for you. It is a friendly island. No casinos or "hubub". The beaches are beautiful. The dining superb. We stayed at La Sirena, a charming little resort with fine hospitality...very low-key. We would return in a minute. Please feel free to e-mail me if you would like more information. Good luck! Linda

I would suggest Little Dix Bay on Virgin Gorda. We stopped there for a while when we took a Windjammer Barefoot Cruise back in July. It was absolutely beautiful. By the way, the Windjammer Cruise was very laid back. Good luck.

Andy

I would suggest Little Dix Bay on Virgin Gorda. We stopped there for a while when we took a Windjammer Barefoot Cruise back in July. It was absolutely beautiful. By the way, the Windjammer Cruise was very laid back. Good luck.

Andy