loved kauai ---is there a comparable caribbean destination???
 

just came back from a wonderful hawaiian honeymoon!!! we're eager to start planning another vacation, but hawaii is just too far away from the east coast for a shorter getaway. we loved kauai so much, and would like to know, which destination(s) in the caribbean could compare to kauai in terms of--exotic natural beauty, clear water (for snorkel/diving), availability of outdoor activity (hiking, kayaking), overall lack of commercialism. for reference for anyone who's been to kauai, we stayed in the north --the hanalei area. thanks for your comments.

For the qualities you are looking for, you might want to take a look at St. John in the US Virgin Islands and Guana Island (private resort) in the British Virgin Islands.<BR><BR>Much of St. John is comprised of the Virgin Islands National Park with all its lush landscape and underwater splendor. The snorkeling/diving should be better than what you encountered in Kuaui. Although it might not have all the excursion/activity resources Kauai has, you should be able to find enough to warrant your stay.<BR><BR>Guana Island seems like a natural reserve (may very well be) and being a private island, you won't be subjected to any sense of commercialism unless you visit the popular tourist sites such as the Baths. But overall commercialism in the BVI's are relatively minor.<BR><BR>I'm sure all the other Caribbean islands in one way or another fit your preferences, but I think you'll find St. John to be the most comparable to Kauai. Hope this helps!

Ditto the suggestion RE: St. John. The landscape in Kauai is more beautiful. St. John isn't as rugged - the mountains are more like very large green hills than jagged peaks - but still very beautiful. There aren't any waterfalls, but the hiking is very good and the island is mostly national park land, so it's largely undeveloped. The beaches in St. John are better than in Kauai. The water is calmer &amp; more blue, the sand is whiter and the snorkeling is better. <BR><BR>Below is a link for a villa on St. John. The view off this villa's patio provides a good example of St. John beauty.<BR><BR>http://www.caribbeanvilla.com/cinnamonbay/cinnamonbay.html<BR><BR>You might also look into St. Lucia, which is frequently compared to the south Pacific. The landscape in the southern part of the island is gorgeous. The beaches aren't as good as on St. John, however. St. Lucia offers more of an &quot;authentic&quot; caribbean experience. You will also see a fair amount of poverty (although you will see some poverty in St. John also). Given that it is part of the USVI, St. John feels more like the US. <BR><BR>Here's a link to the Ladera resort in St. Lucia. Take a look at the slide show, which has some fabulous shots of St. Lucia scenery.<BR><BR>www.ladera-resort.com<BR><BR>Hope this helps!

There's nothing in the Caribbean as pretty as Kauai.<BR>Plenty of options for quiet, relatively unspoiled beach vacations, limited commercialism.<BR><BR>The only things you can't find in the Caribbean (vs Kauai) are scenery which is as striking, and the option of a short trip to adjacent islands with amenities like Maui and Oahu.<BR><BR>The better beaches in the Caribbean are much better than Kauai's. There are many interesting options which offer cultural variety.<BR><BR>Biggest downsides to the Caribbean (generalizations here) are the crime rates and poverty are noticeably worse than Hawaii, and there is a significant dislike for Americans on many of the islands.<BR><BR>Some people on this board will write back and disagree with any knock of any type against any Caribbean island. I have no agendas or axes to grind. I like both Hawaii and many (not all) of the Caribbean islands, having been to all of the former and most of the latter. I'm just calling it as I see it. Good luck.

Tony summed it up quite well--and you will be sorely disappointed in the Caribbean compared to Hawaii. However, for the same STANDARD OF LIVING as Hawaii, I suggest either Grand Cayman, St. Barts or even Bermuda!

Definately St John. We have been to both. My favorite place in the world is St John USVI with a very close second of Kauai, while my husband and son have them reversed.<BR><BR>I only get to go to mine more often because we too live on the east coast (we leave for SJ next Friday) as the USVI is a 4.5 hour flight while Kauai is 11.5 hours away.<BR><BR>St John is smaller. You won't find many built up areas like on Kauai, nor will you see open fields or a canyon/watefall.<BR><BR>St John reminds me most of the north coast of Kauai in the Hanalee area. Very few roads. Mountainous. Forested. Beautiful snorkeling. Hiking trails.<BR><BR>If you loved that same portion of Kauai you will fall in love with St John. I think you will agree with me.<BR><BR>Lawren

To quote Harry Truman, &quot;If given a choice between a carbon copy and an original, people will choose the original.&quot;<BR><BR>If you want Kauai, everywhere else will not be Kauai and you'll be disappointed in the comparison. If you want something unique for its own merits, there are plenty of great places in the Caribbean.<BR>I've enjoyed Barbados on several trips and St. John's. Both are not Kauai but are nice for their own reasons.<BR>

Ryan, you have given the most intelligent answer so far. Amy, it makes no sense to compare the Caribbean with Hawaii or vice versa - its like comparing chalk and cheese. Different locations, different people, different topography, different culture, different languages, different food, different everything. Its either that you want Hawaii or you want the Caribbean - but don't come to the Caribbean expecting to find Hawaii because those are unrealistic expectations. You have to take the Caribbean for what it is. Each island is unique in its own way just as the various Hawaiian islands have their own uniqueness and attractions. Based on what you have said in your post, St John offers alot of what you seem to like, but so does Nevis and the British Virgin Islands and beleive it or not Dominica. But none of them are Hawaii. So put aside the unrealistic expectations, do your research and I make an informed choice. Enjoy!

to Ryan and Sonya, i think you are taking our question too seriously. we are only looking to find destinations which have some similar characteristics to kauai, such as the ones which i listed in the original post. please note that we do not have EXPECTATIONS of finding a replication of kauai in the caribbean. <BR><BR>to everyone else, thank you very much for your suggestions. st john sounds like somewhere we would really enjoy, and we will certainly look into it!

Amy,<BR><BR>Tim is 100% correct Do not let anyone tell you that St. Lucia is similar. It most definatley is not!

Have to disagree with Laura. For the last 25 years, I've been all over the Caribbean; just went to Kauai for the first time 2 months ago. <BR><BR>Islands to investigate:<BR>St. Lucia<BR>St. Vincent<BR>Dominica<BR>St. John

Laura, are you the one who wrote about your recent experience at Jalousie Hilton? If so, from my understanding of your post, sounds like the problem was substantially with the hotel and not the island itself. So why the bashing of St Lucia as a possible destination for Amy to consider? Also from my reading of Tim's posts (he posts as Tim, Greg, Rob and always in the wee hours of the morning and always bashing the islands in a most obnoxious manner), it would seem that Tim's experience of the caribbean is seriously limited. I may be wrong but I am willing to bet that he has never even set foot in St Lucia. So to agree with him is rather foolhardy. Give Amy some concrete and honest reasons as to why she should avoid a particular island rather than coming up with these generalised, useless statements.

What's the matter, FOOLISH Kim, are you having a difficult time accepting the fact that somebody might actually agree with ME and not you?!?

Oh, and by the way, FOOLISH Kim, I happen to live in Laguna Beach, California, so it's actually 10:30p.m. here, NOT 1:30a.m., or, as you call it, &quot;the wee hours of the morning.&quot; In case you haven't noticed after all this time, this Board always posts EASTERN STANDARD TIME!!!

Just a test

Tim:My point is that you never seem to make any contributions that are any real help to anyone. There is nothing wrong with criticism of a destination; its just that for the purpose of this site, I think most people would appreciate it if it is constructive criticism. People also want to know that you have actually been to the place you are critisising so that you are speaking from a position of experience. Have condemn St Lucia in this post but you visited? Based on what I have read of your postings you have been to a mere handful of destinations in the northern Caribbean and yet you constantly bash the islands as a whole in a very generalised, rather obnoxious manner. Bottom line is, we could do without your most unhelpful input.

St John is lovely. I have been to the Big Island of Hawaii (not Maui) and also Bermuda another gorgeous island.<BR><BR>St John is our favorite. Not over commercialized, fanastic villas to rent, quaint town for shopping and eating out. It just had everything we were looking for and most of all those gorgeous beaches.<BR><BR>We were married on Trunk Bay and honeymooned at a stunning villa with views everywhere. <BR><BR>Good luck in your choice

Kim,<BR><BR>Nope, I am not the same Laura. I stayed at the Hyatt (now a sandals) and loved teh resort and it's staff. I was a put off by the aggressivness of SOME of the local people. I did not tell her not to go, just not to expect Kauai, which was her question.

Port Antonio, Jamaica might come close.<BR>St.John has some great beaches but is hardly uncommercialized. Ignore the thrash at Mongoose Junction and head for the opposite end of the island....

The person that wrote about the trash and St. John and said go to Jamaica instead. Has got to be kidding.<BR><BR>St John is on a par with Bermuda. Beautiful, clean island and the most incredible beaches. Plus, no peddlors and armed soldiers on St John. It is 3/4 National Park and very safe.