Kent

St. John on par with superior Bermuda?!? NEVER in a million years!!!

Therese

Kent: you need to read carefully before you respond. I don't think "St John" is saying St John is on par with Bermuda as a whole. He/she is clearly referring to the beauty of the island, incredible beaches and cleanliness of island and saying that THOSE features of St John are on par with those of Bermuda. That is a fair statement and I would even venture to say that St John's beaches are probably as a whole even more beautiful than Bermuda's.

Annie

May I suggest Puerto Rico? <BR><BR>My husband and I have been to Hawaii (Big Island, Maui, Kauai and Oahu) four times starting with our wedding trip over 32 years ago. We have been to Puerto Rico several times in the past few years. We both felt that certain areas of Puerto Rico, as we drove around the island, reminded us somewhat of Hawaii - the mountains as a backdrop, the lush areas of green, palm trees, the beautiful water, lovely beaches, spectacular views from mountainside drives, etc. It is not exactly like Kauai or Hawaii in general, but it is close enough in natural beauty and in flying time (I'm from the east coast)! <BR><BR>Just a thought for you, amy. Good luck in your search and let us know where you decide to go.

Sue

Hi Amy! We honeymooned in Kauai as well and there is really nothing comparable in the Caribbean. I do think that St. John is a good suggestion for a number of reasons. The clear water is very appealing and it is calmer than many of Kauai's beaches. It is not very developed and you may find the island provides a similar solitude to Northern Kauai. You will not find resorts similar to the Hyatt Kauai or Princeville but you could do a villa or the Westin for a week happily. Good Luck! Sue

Scottie

It's Dominica, hands down. St John's doesn't hold a candle to Dominica in any area you mentioned. St. John's only has hills; Dominica has 5,000 foot mountains covered in pristine tropical rain forest. The hiking is far and away the best in the Caribbean. The scuba diving and whale watching are world-class. The people are extraordinarily friendly and welcoming. And it is almost completely undeveloped. There is no such thing as an &quot;all inclusive&quot; or a high-rise hotel. Most accommodations are locally owned. If you want a mini-America set in the Caribbean, by all means go to St. John. It's an OK place to visit. If you want a REAL Caribbean experience that's off the beaten track, Dominica is just the ticket. And yes, without question it is the closest thing to Kauai in the Caribbean.

x

Would Grenada be somewhat similar to Kauii? I am interested in comments about Grenada.

traveler

Amy have you considered French Polynesia..Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea? I know you asked about the Caribbean but Caribbean and Hawaii are quite different culturally, landscape, etc. I agree that St. John would be lovely. Also St. Lucia is a very pretty island.

islandtravel

In reference to the Dominica suggestion, just be aware that Dominica has essentially no beaches. Fabulous interior, but it is NOT a beach vacation in any way shape or form. Scottie is right about a &quot;real Caribbean experience&quot;, but also be aware that accomodations tend toward the rustic.

Donna

I have to second Scottie's recommendation for Dominica. In fact one of my co-workers just returned and was raving to me this morning. I also agree that it will not afford a &quot;beach&quot; vacation so if you are looking for miles of white sandy beaches to lounge on you should go with St John. Dominica is volcanic so the beaches are mainly brown/black sand. However if you truly want that Caribbean experience and don't mind trading the typical creature comforts of a high rise resort/hotel in favour of a charming guest cottage in the midst fresh lush vegetation (Dominica's hotel accomodations lean towards small family run type guest houses/cottages)and wish to have the option of 365 rivers at your disposal (yes, one for every day of the year), waterfalls in abudance, sights such as the Emerald Pool, the Boiling Lake (a hike not to be missed for nature lovers), Milland Falls, the Carib Reserve, the Indian River etc etc, natural exotic beauty above and beyond anything you will see on any other island then this might very well be the place for you.

don'twantguilt

How IS Dominica? The posts sound very pro. Is it poor? Are there children begging and vendors constantly approaching you as there are in Mexico?<BR><BR>I don't want to sound like a snob. But I really hate the &quot;guilt complex&quot; I have gotten in Mexico (although Puerto Vallarta was better than Alcapulco in that regard). It just ruins my vacation for me when the children are begging you to buy Chiclets gum from them.<BR><BR>I'd rather pay more for my vacation and donate to charaties at home.

hated dominica

Perhaps a lengthier stay than mine is necessary to really appreciate Dominica, but i was there for a day on a cruise stop and I absolutely hated it (as did my four friends.. all women then in our late 20s)... We took an island tour with one of the local companies (arranged thru the ship), and expected this beautiful rain forest tour, complete with what was advertised as including fantastic waterfalls, and a stop at a local inn to have rum punch..... <BR><BR>What a waste of a day.. the entire trip we had natives trying to sell us things (no lie: the tour guide must have stopped every 5 minutes to allow someone on the side of the road to try to sell us something... this completely took away from any beauty the place may have had to offer). <BR><BR>The waterfalls were not much to see, in my opinion, (two of them, that we had to view from a distance, and of course we had to walk by people trying to sell us things to get there...) and the worst had to be the rum punch stop... the place was a run down house in the middle of nowhere with a filthy bathroom and you simply could not have paid me to drink or eat anything they offered.)<BR> <BR>Again, our problems may have had more to do with the tour we took, but my impression of the island was that I cannot imagine why anyone would want to go there. It certainlly lacked commercialism but in a poor, run-down way, not an exotic way, in my opinion.<BR><BR>I have never been to Kauai, and thus i can't really assist you with a direct response to your question but felt compelled to offer a different view of Dominica.<BR><BR>I can also comment on an island mentioned by somone above....Nevis... (again, can't provide a direct comparison, never having been to Kauai) .. I think that island may meet many of your stated requirements, except perhaps for the water.. it is clear and beautiful, but not the crystal clear blue waters some islands have to offer (there is a volcano on the island and the sand is thus not the pristine white you might expect).<BR><BR>

Scottie

A bit more info on Dominica, which I've visited more than a dozen times. Yes, the accommodations tend toward the rustic, which is what I personally prefer. I don't need cable TV, telephone or AC when I am in Paradise. If you do expect the upscale treatment, you can stay at the Fort Young Hotel in Roseau, which is quite nice and offers all the amenities. You can also try a place like Zandoli Inn, a small, elegant retreat on the southeast coast with gorgeous rooms, double-poster beds and a stunning view, or Pt. Baptiste near Calibishie in the northeast, which is a turn-of-the-century plantation estate. Quite lovely and filled with history. If somewhat rustic is OK, few places compare to Papillote Wilderness Retreat near Trafalgar. The grounds are set in a spectacular botanical garden, and the volcanic hot mineral pools are pure delight, especially after a long day of hiking in the rain forest. As for poverty, yes indeed you will see poverty, but not in the same sense as many other islands. People are poor, but they are truly happy because they have practically everything they need. Dominica is so lush that it would be impossible to starve there. Grapefruits literally roll down the streets. Begging is actually quite rare and confined almost exclusively to the city, and hawkers tend to descend only on the cruise sheep, whose presence quite frankly detracts more from the island than anything you will find from local folks. Though I try not to generalize, if you are the sort of traveler who finds cruise ships appealing, you will probably not fit in very well in Dominica. The island is best suited to nature lovers who want an authentic cultural experience, not a pre-packaged, glitzy holiday. In fact there are some stunning white sand beaches in the northeast, again near Calibishie, where the jungle literally meets the sea like a scene from Robinson Crusoe. Sea Cliff Cottages are very nice in that area, and the proprietors will be happy to arrange whatever activities you may want to try. All in all, Dominica is one of the most beautiful places on the face of the Earth, as are the people who inhabit it. If that were not the case, I wouldn't be drawn to the place like a bee to honey. It fits my style, though it doesn't fit everyone's.

Donna

I will just add to Scottie's post that Dominica is among the list of top ten destinations for Fodor's Choice 2002 destinations, selected by Fodors Editors as one of the ten &quot;outstanding and underated&quot; getaways. You can read more for yourself by going to the Fodors' homepage, scrolling down to &quot;Ideas&quot; and clicking on the caption &quot;Fodor's ten underrated getaways&quot;. It tells you some of the reasons why Dominica is so special to them. <BR><BR>To HateDominica: certainly, you would not be able to appreciate the beauty of Dominica during a few hours stop on a cruise ship. You need time to explore, at least a few days if not a week. I would be interested to know which waterfall(s) you were taken to and where you stopped for that rum punch. Did your tour even include the Emerald Pool? <BR><BR>Dominica is not as Scottie said, glitz and glamour. It is for those who want to be one with nature. I recall on a trip there about 3 years ago, 2 friends and I journeyed to the Layou River for a swim and discovered as we walked along the bank, a &quot;hot pool&quot; with delicious warm water flowing from the nearby hillside into this pool and also bubbling up from the bottom. Just enough room for about 4 people. Of course, we stripped down to our bathing suits and stepped in - ahhhh! We had brought with us a bottle of local rum punch and a few plastic cups, so we poured and sipped. What a life!! Soon after, a lone fellow walked up and struck up a conversation with us. We learnt that he was from Switzerland had been on vacation there for 2 weeks and was so taken with Dominica that he had extended his stay for another 2 weeks. Before long, he had also stepped into the pool to indulge in this wonder of nature with us. These are the little things that make Dominica special to me. Yes, there is poverty no doubt but not stark poverty. It is nothing that will detract from enjoyment of your vacation. I have also found the people to be very welcoming and knowledgeable about their island and willing to share such knowledge with visitors. <BR>Another plus is the food. If you are looking for gourmet, you would not find it there. It is a culinary experience of a different sort and the local cooking is excellent. Try the buffet at Fort Young on a Friday for example(if they still have it). Everything grows in Dominica so the food is fresh, there is plenty of fresh fish and it is a wonderful thing to go to the market on a Saturday morning to see and to take your pick from the abundance of fresh local fruits from mangoes, to papaya to the sweetest grapefruits.

steve

turtle island in fiji!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

xxx

Let's reread amy's post. Amy, who is from the east coast, is looking for a destination in the Caribbean which is closer than going to Hawaii. Fiji????

karen

Amy -<BR><BR>Without meaning to be repetitive, I would strongly suggest St. John, USVI, as a close second to Kauai in many ways. We have been traveling to Kauai annually from the East Coast for the past dozen years and had just about given up on the Carribbean as satisfying our needs of finding a quiet, out of the way spot without travel being extremely difficult and then we &quot;discovered&quot; St. John 6 years ago and have returned every year since. Two thirds of the island is Virgin National Forest and so not at all overpopulated. The locals are, for the most part, friendly and accommodating. The beaches and snorkeling in STJ surpass that of Kauai or any of the HI islands, for that matter. St. John reminds us in many ways of Kauai's North shore with the mountains and vistas offering some of the most incredible views anywhere. Additionally, the hiking, while not quite comparable to the many trails on Kauai, is adequate on STJ with the Reef Bay Trail being the most strenuous we have found. Kayaking is available and the tiny town of Cruz Bay with not a stop light is somewhat reminiscent of Hanalei but probably CB is a bit more bustling with the ferry dock so close. All in all, considering the time to travel to St. John, it is a lovely vacation spot offering crystal clear blue waters, outstanding snorkeling, much tranquility, and so close to the BVIs so that you can do day or half day charters that offer even more exploring. The shopping at Mongoose Junction and various other areas, while not comparable to St. Thomas, are extremely adequate and we have never wanted for a fine or casual dining experience. Prices are probably not quite as high as Kauai's better establishments. No one place can ever take the place of another, but do give St. John a chance to be that special place for you and do not hesitate to rent a villa. You are charged by the number of people and not by the size of the villa. The first villa we rented 6 years ago had 5 bedrooms, and 5-1/2 baths, was 5500 square feet and had one of the largest pools and deck areas we have yet to experience. The cost for the two of for a week in November was $1,500.00. We had always wanted to be directly on the ocean, but if you have ever stayed at Hanalei Bay Resorts or the Princeville Hotel in Kauai, the you know the incredible views afforded by being high on the hill. I would highly recommend St. John. Do not hesitate to contact me if you want additional information.