hansa

Hi there.
I am a single man, 44 years old from Norway.
I have yet to travel to a tropical paradise.
Yes, I know...
Shame on me!

I have been checking booking.com
and other various booking sites for offers.
I have found some places, but I need some tips anyway.
I feel it is confusing several times to pick a good spot.
I am focusing on the Caribbean first.
Looks to be the best sport for a newbie for me.

My "demands" so to speak.
I want to photograph and film it all as this is one of my biggest hobbies.
I want/need a place with a long white beach with azure blue and clear water.
A row with palm trees along the upper border.
I would like to find some palm trees hanging out on the shore.
I love those scenes on photos on the Internet.
And it should be on the east shore because of the sunset.

Yes, I know this is restrictive and narrowing.
But, kick my ass if you like it.
First time tropical traveler, you know.

It should be not too far away from a international airport.

I was thinking about the Punta Cana area in the Dominican Republic.
It has mile long white beaches, a lot of palm trees and cheap hotels some places.
And is somewhat close to an international airport
with flights from bigger cities in the US and even Europe.

Any other places fitting this bill, you think?

My biggest problem is the cost.
I can do (converted to USD) up to 1800 in total cost an a trip.
I do not need a expensive resort, I can however snoop through the outer area if passing by.

I can do non-expensive flights from Miami, New York or direct from Europe.

So now what?...

Odin

The Dominican Rep is not somewhere I would want to go for tropical beaches such as you describe. It’s not a place I want to go to at all.

You have so much choice of flights to the Caribbean from Europe, there is no need to go via NY or MIA. Via London you can get to many islands on Virgin Atlantic or BA inc Bermuda, Bahamas & Turks & Caicos, via Paris to St Martin (& then into Anguilla by ferry) Guadeloupe (where Scandinavians like to holiday esp at Langley Resort Fort Royal), Martinique which has the closest match to what you ask for except it’s on the west coast on Les Salines beach - google images, it really is a super stunning beach - via AMS for the Dutch Caribbean. The French islands are great for cheap places to stay, it’s in EUR, some accommodation are gîtes same as in France.
You could also look for flights with vacation companies such as TUI and see what departs from Scandinavia & Norwegian Airlines.

blamona

Although PC is not my favorite place in Caribbean, it is actually what you’re looking for.

Most pictures res you see are probably Maldives and Bora Bora, maybe Hawaii

other than PC, most “tropical” beaches in Caribbean have a palm here and there, but not many. But the beaches are still breathtaking and water lime nowhere.

The bent Ent palms close to shore aren’t usually in Caribbean. (Except Punta Cana)

and your budget is low, so really PC is closest to your requirements.

Also check mexico and Roatan

suze

Negril Resorts, Hotels and Vacations, Negril Onestop Jamaica Resorts and Hotels look here for Negril Jamaica it has most of what you seek and low cost lodging options available. you could go to a resort or you could stay independently at one of the local-style hotels and eat local-style food out and about.

Punta Cana would be about the last place I'd go in the Caribbean. It's about All Inclusive resorts not about island culture.

tom42

I get that but he didn't mention island culture in his list of wants. He seemed to be more focused on scenic beauty - palm trees, long white sand beaches, etc. I've never been to Punta Cana so can't comment on whether it fits the bill.

suze

OK, I'll say it this way instead then...

I think the 7-mile beach at Negril is more beautiful than any beach I've seen in the DR.

Odin

Here are some photos of Les Salines Martinique with palm trees bending over the water

Les Salines

There are loads of palm trees on many islands in the Caribbean, cannot imagine why someone would say otherwise. The lusher islands such as Tobago (Castara Beach, Englishmans Beach, Pigeon Point), Grenada (La Sagesse Beach is stunning and so is the inexpensive hotel of the same name) & St Lucia for starters. Hasn't anyone seen the BBC series Death in Paradise (set in Guadeloupe, Deshaies?) My DD just came back from DR (they won a trip otherwise they wouldn't have gone) and the photos of PC beach was mainly big waves, very windy, rough water with palm trees, as you would expect from a beach on the Atlantic side.I don't know why people on a limited budget are always advised to go to DR when there are so many other options eg Negril.

blaire25

Do some research on Negril, Jamaica as well as check out some places in Bahamas