Sherri

I'm planning a week's vacation for the end of November and would like to know what islands offer nice beaches w/ water sports, condo type places to stay and some sort of nightlife. I'm going with my boyfriend, so places that aren't crowded with families would be preferable. I've been to Anguilla, St. Maarten and Aruba. Any other suggestions?

lili

negril, jamaica or cancun, mexico come to mind

Sherri

I've heard bad things about Jamaica, very seedy and dangerous. Has that changed? I forgot, I did go to Cancun, but that was a spring break trip. Too much alcohol, I don't remember if it was nice or not.

Kim

I really dont know where all the bad hype about Jamaica comes from on this sight. We love Jamaica and the Jamaican people are wonderful. Yes, there is crime but where in this world isnt there any? Look what happened to New York.I think I would have more fear to visit us here in the United States then in Jamaica. Negril Jamaica is a wonderful place for relaxation, and a great place to spend quality time being alone. There is alot of night life just have fun and enjoy!!!!

Bill

Sherri: What you heard about Jamaica is very accurate. The island is filthy and the crime rate high. I'm always amazed when I hear folks rave about the island and its friendly people. My wife and I went there once and would never return.

Penney

I have been to Jamiaca numerous times and agree that Negril does offer some of the best beaches in the Caribbean. Very long white stretches, calm clear blue waters and the area of NEgril offers alot ofsee and do off the resort area's. It is a more laid back part of Jamaica.

Jamaica does however have its fair share of crime and the people can be rather pushy to sell you stuff but a firm NO works well! Basically, you would use the same street smarts that you would goinginto a new city - don't go into area's that you do not know, don't go off alone, etc..... On the resport, you are very safe.

There are alot of great places - www.Negril.com is a good site. Jamaica is also one of the msot affordable places.

Other islands would be Bahamas (good night life), Barbados, St. Thomas.

You could also look at www.vacationspot.com which has tons of condo type places all over the islands.

Tim

Unbelievable!!!
How can somebody say a stupid vague statement like "The islands is fitly" for a whole country like Jamaica?!!!!!??!!!
Are you kidding me?
Jamaica, while there are some, lets say, interesting people, is a greta place. Unbelievable culture. Great shopping. I loved the Ocho Rios Area. Stop for some Jerk Chciken and patties. Go to the Sony shopping center. Of course, go to Dunns. Its a great, interesting country, and anybody that says one sterotype about such a huge island is completely clueless.

Tim

It reminds me of st. martin. One family has a bad time because of their own decisions and they post that people should not go. Its not fair, but thats the way the internet is!

d motl

Would recommend Isla Mujeres first. It is a small island 10 miles off Cancun.
Small town, laid back, safe, cheap, and great beaches. We spend one month a year there and keep up a 20 page brouchure on the island . e-mail us if you want a copy.

Would recommend Negril Jamaica second. We went there for the first time last year and had a great time. We have booked for two more weeks in 02. We did a 5 page first timers brouchure on Negril upon our return. Will also e-mail that on request. DAn and Ginyy

joe

Bill has been on this sight before trashing Jamaica. He had a post at one time called "I hate Jamaica" so as for his response thats his opinion and you know what they say about that!

Ingrid

I've been to Jamaica (twice), Aruba, Playa del Carmen (south of Cancun), Turks and Caicos, Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica. Since you've been to Aruba, I'd suggest Costa Rica, if you can get a good deal, Playa del Carmen (nice beach, some ruins, some nightlife)and Turks and Caicos (great beaches).
I would just see where you can get a great deal, e.g. www.moments-notice.com

Ingrid

Go to www.frommers.com. They're reviewing a trip to Belize for 741.00. Sounds wonderful!

Karen

Gosh! you should find lots of "bargains" out there now. Not too much money is relative but Mexico does offer inexpensive get-a-ways (maybe Playa del Carmen area rather than the commercial Cancun) or Aruba.

Sherri

How is Playa Del Carmen as far as nightlife and beaches? I don't remember restaurants in Cancun having anything edible, does Playa have nice restaurants?

ingrid

We stayed at the Royal Maeva, an all-inclusive, which had just opened 9a couple of years ago). The beach was wonderful, the food was very good, with their Italian restaurant being on par with any restaurant I've ever been to in Italy.
Check out the website http://www.cancunsouth.com/ for info and reviews.

lili

hi sherri,
what you heard about jamaica really depends on experience ... negril is actually quite niece and the only resort place i'd go to in jamaica - a couple of points, thought: 1. don't go during spring break(MARCH/APRIL), too many students drinking and locals trying to get their money, ANY OTHER TIME IS JUST WONDERFUL AND LAID BACK. 2. most people are very friendly and agreeable, ... yes, people may try to sell you things - JUST SAY NO, NO THANKS, and you'll be fine. the beach is lovely, the snorkelling is great, especially off the reef, there's so many people from all over the world, there's jungle/waterfall tours and it's relatively budget/affordable so just be smart and you'll not run into the "seedy or dangerous"
ps: my cancun experience was the same drunken spring break you speak of, but after coming back, i learned there was a reef to snorkel in cancun, and maya ruins to explore ... the things we find out after the vodka clears, ))

lizm

We like Jamaica too. Unlike some people who post here anonymously and have never been or stopped there for a couple of hours, we have been 7 times, with and without our kids, in villas, small hotels and once to a megaresort. That last was the least fun.

Negril is our favorite too though if you want a slower pace Treasure beach is nice too, far fewer tourists.

my email is REAL, feel free to ask me for details.
Liz

Sherri

Ok, now I'm thinking of doing the Bahamas and found a great airfare and hotel deal for Grand Bahama. I've heard plenty about Nassau, but what does GB have to offer? Would Nassau be accessible by ferry if there isn't much to do on GB?

Cissy

Sherri: We just returned from Barbados and it was great. Sounds like it fits your criteria. There are many resorts/condos that are on the beach and as far as nightlife, we stayed on the South Coast and there was plenty in St. Lawrence Gap.

Daniel Williams

Hi

Other than BahamasAir, there' s no quick and easy way from Grand Bahama to Nassau; they're actually not all that close to one another (100 miles apart approx.). There's a mailboat but this is a long uncomfortable journey and not so frequent. i.e. If you go to Grand Bahama, that's where you'll be spending your vacation.

I've never been to Grand Bahama, but I do know that the main settlement of Freeport/Lucaya was only created in the 1950s by an American financier, so it's not the place to go for culture and history; sounded a bit tourist-trappy to me. On the plus sie, the island itself I've heard has some quite gorgeous beaches; there is also a casino and a market. The population on the island is around 30-40,000.

Enjoy. DAN