anid2004

Hi Everyone! I'd appreciate some advice regarding travel destinations.

I'm travelling with a friend of mine. We're both female, signle, in our mid twenties. We're looking for nice beaches but ALSO a good nightlife. We've both been to Cancun (I'm not so interested in going back) and I've been to St. Martin before.

Can anyone recommend any decent travel destinations?!?!

Much appreciated..

pattye111

Why don't you take a cruise on Carnival? You'll get to go to many different islands.

anid2004

Not interested in cruises.

Cooper

only island I can think of is Aruba.This fits both of your needs.

pattye111

Have you ever been on a cruise? It's a good value. Aruba would also be good. Or Bermuda.

ejcrowe

Aruba might fit your needs, and if you want to travel in August or September it may be your best choice. Traveling before or after that, you might want to consider Negril in Jamaica. Beautiful 7-mile beach with plenty of options for nightlife. Idle Awhile gets rave reviews for location and service and the prices are good. www.idleawhile.com
Even better, airfare to Jamaica tends to be lower than most other islands.

bebe0711

If you can afford it, St Barths!

ALways my favorite pick! It is such a chic island.

Nighlife is great too....Nikki Beach.....Le Ti.....Le Plague at Tom Beach Hotel.....

Look into this island. We always have an amazing time here! This is why we go every year!

meta

If you are traveling over the summer, Bermuda is a great island. Many different beaches to choose from and fun nightlife. If you are adventurous, you can rent scooters.

Weadles

Tryf Negril, Jamaica. It has a gorgeous 7-mile long beach, lots of water sports, and excellent nightlife. Because there are only a handful of all-inclusives down there, people tend to hang out at the clubs on the beach, or the small family-run restaurants on the cliffs, where you can watch amazing sunsets each night. It's a beautiful place, with accomodations available in all price ranges.

kfusto

I would NOT got to Bermuda as single women. It is very couples oriented, more so than the other islands I have been to.

Negril is fun as is St. Maarten. Both have a good night life.

If you liked the high rise atmosphere of Cancun, you might like Aruba. While the beaches are pretty, there is not much else I personally cared for about the island.

kfusto

I forgot to mention that I have ALWAYS had fun in Puerto Rico when travelling solo and with girlfriends. Lots og great nightlife, nice hotels, good beaches, lots of diversions and an overall fun experience.

christiegr

My husband and I went to Aruba last April and I personally did not care for it. It was a dessert.The only thing that I liked about it was the water was beautiful and the people were very friendly. We stayed at the Renaissance Aruba Resort and Casino, a great location for shopping and nightlife.The resort also has it's own private island that is nice too.
We have been to Kauai, Hawaii and to me it was MUCH more beautiful. But if its the nightlife you are looking for,Aruba is a good choice.I will warn that the locals are in the streets offering drugs alot so beware.I have heard that St. Thomas is nice for scenery and nightlife.
We are going to St. John in June.
Hope this helps. Christie

christiegr

I would not recommend Jamaica being single unless you plan on staying on the resort.I have heard that crime is real bad there.

Weadles

The stories about Jamaica being a high crime area continue to astound me. Unless you're going into some unsavory neighborhoods around Kingston, you have little to fear.

Jamaica has become quite popular with the spring break crowd. MTV often features specials shot on Negrils' incredible beach. I don't think they'd spend all that money and time if they felt there was a huge crime problem.

In my 25 years of traveling to Jamaica, I've found that most Jamaicans are among the friendliest and most welcoming people on the planet.

Knowing

I think for single twenty-somethings, Aruba would be a good choice. Lots of nice hotels with great beaches and lots of nightlife.

kfusto

I have visiting Jamaica since 1978 and will be making my 29th trip there next month to celebrate my 49th birthday. I am single, active, love the ebach and the nightlife. I have never felt uncomfortable in Negril or any other part of Jamaica. I have travelled there solo and will be alone next month. It is my annual recharge my batteries trip.

If you have not travelled much perhaps a more sanitized island would be better but I think Jamaica is a beautiful island. There are places in the Caribbean I would not care to visit alone but Negril is not of them.

sharkdiver49

Club Med Turks & Caicos (adult village);-)! It's a great time!!!

Traveler863

Anid2004,
Don't go to Aruba...its a horrible place, especially for two young single women. Firstly, its extremely touristy, its very windy which is obnoxious, depending on where you go in Aruba but most main hotel areas are very family oriented so kids all over....pretty much the 'Disneyland' of the Caribbean with annoying beach activity, 3 wheeled trikes, parasailing, jetskis, etc....just too much activity The beaches are not that great, nor is the snorkelling/diving and its very Americanized if you're looking for something different than US you won't find that in Aruba.

What level of nightlife are you looking for? There's some great places with ok to minimal nightlife with great beaches such as Turks and Caicos and Anguilla, or you could try Barbados more nightlife, more international feel, though crime a problem just be careful...but its a nice place. Someone mentioned St. Barts, very nice beaches, very upscale, ok nightlife, very expensive. Think also about something like Costa Rica, good nightlife in certain areas, culture, great place.

Or you could think about noncaribbean destinations like Canaries, Tahiti, Cook Islands or some of the Med islands.

Good luck and have a great trip wherever you end up.

anid2004

Thank you all for your responses.

Some follow up questions.

RE: Costa Rica – where in Costa Rica would you recommend? Liberia? San Jose? Elsewhere?

RE: Jamaica – Most of the packages that I’m finding are for Montego Bay. What’s the crime level in Montego Bay, if any? Will I be (or should I be!!) scared to venture off the resort?

RE: Puerto Rico – what’s the cost of dining and/or going out there? Is it expensive?

Thank you all, once again, for your advice. It’s much appreciated.

liza

Montego Bay's tourist area (the "Hip Strip" by the water, the cruise ship area and Queens Drive, up on a cliff) are fine, there are some neighborhoods on the outskirts of MoBay I would not go to without a Jamaican companion....and as a tourist there isn't much reason to go to them anyway, the areas I refer to are sqautter settlements inland. Downtown MoBay is doable with the caution you use in any large city. In these respects I think it's a lot like Cancun.

MoBay is probably my least favorite area in Jamaica though.

Negril has the best beach if you like lots of activity, bars, restaurants, live music, watersports and a younger crowd in general. Lots of non-AI choices there and lots of inexpensive places to eat and drink that you can walk to.

The east coast (Port Antonio and east of there, in particular) are visually stunning and relatively quiet, not so many tourists. A great area for touring around mountains, rivers, waterfalls, and some incredible beaches.

The South coast, namely Treasure Beach, is the most laid back area that caters to tourists, very quiet and lots of beaches for strolling. No large resorts at all, mainly villas and smaller guesthouses.

Ocho Rios has lovely mountains inland and lots of tourists, it's a cruise ship port, but I don't care for the high rises and there are lots of vendors - the kind that are pushier than you probably want - due to the cruise port and the fact that so many people stay in AI resorts (which have grabbed the best beaches).