I plan on taking my wife away on a romantic winter vacation. I'm kind of stuck on ideas but I'm leaning towards Jamaica. However, I'm open to any suggestions that you people may have.

Looking forward to your ideas!!

Paul

I'm also going to Jamaica in April, but if you and your wife are a little adventurous and would like to go to a romantic place, away from the big resorts and SuperClubs, go to Los Rocques in Venezuela. It's a group of amazingly beautiful deserted islands off the cost of Venezuela (in the caribbean) Only the main island, GRAN ROCQUE is inhabited by about 600 people. The concept is that, you sleep on the main island but everyday you explore one of the other 50 small islands, where you and your wife can be totally ALONE.....The main island offers a lot of small but confortable POSADAS or other luxurious accomodations. Ask your travel agent or just fly to Caracas and then take the first flight out to Los Rocques with the local airline. It's the most amazing please you'll ever go to, you'll see the biggest, most romantic starry sky you could ever see...If you are into Jacuzzi, manicure and pedicures, happy hour and so on..DON'T GO THERE>. Good Luck !!!1

What a great guy! Have you thought about the U.S. Virgin Islands? I lived on St. Croix and it is a bit of heaven. Look up Sugar Beach on line. This is a resort that has studio, one and two bedroom suites with full kitchens, pool and a beautiful beach. You may be thinking that you will not want to do any cooking on vacation. Even if you only kept coffee, soft drinks,fruit,snacks and the like you would not only be saving money but think of having your first cup of coffee or tea without having to dress and go to a restaurant. I remember sitting on the balcony every morning watching the island wake up. St. Croix is much less commercial than St. Thomas and very beautiful. One of the best things to do is to sign up for a sail to Buck Island,which is right off of St. Croix. When President Kennedy visited the island he dedicated it as a Nationl Monument. There is a snorkeling trail that you follow by reading underwater signs. The beach is wonderful for strolling along looking for shells. Your trip may even include a beach picnic. No matter where you go I hope the trip is great!

sorry that I messed up the first e-mail address. If you want more information just ask.

No quetion about it -- ST. LUCIA! See my response to Advice on St. Lucia - Where to stay - When to go. We have been to several Caribbean islands and we keep going back to ST. Luica.

I recommend Aruba. It is a lovely desert island..you can be laid back or as busy as you would like to be. The main beach (Palm Beach) is where all the hi-rise hotels are..the sunsets are spectacular, the people extremely friendly. If you would like more info and help in making your travel plans, I recommend Alan at [email protected]

It is hard to know what it is that would really suit your desires. In the Caribbean their is a very large range in cost, comfort, activities, safety and local attitudes towards tourists. If Ian Keown's Caribbean Hideaways is still being published in a revised and updated verion, this is the type of book to can give you the type of information you need to pick a vacation destination in the Caribbean. Your daily budget for all including, activities,shopping, room, meals, drinks, service and tax is one of the largest factors affecting your choices. Transportation time and cost can be another important factor. If you only have a week and it takes two days to get there and return--it is hardly worth the effort. If air conditioning is important, this can be a problem at some of the top places since they have none. If you want to tavel around the island and mix with the local people, you need an island where the it is safe and the people are not hostile. If Ian Keown's is no longer available, look for something similar. I haven't looked recently at any of the guides, but Fielding once did decent job in comparing islands and places. If you want a top resort class property, don't overlook Puerto Rico--a new one opened in the past year or so that is very nice with good golf course way at the eastern tip of the island. All things depend whether you are in the $200,$400,
$600 or $800 per day catagory. I don't think you are going to find anything in winter below $200 day
that many people would consider romantic.

Paul, I have been to several spots in the caribbean and any plans should include time of year and length of stay. If you have 7 days or more and it isn't summer, try Aruba. I've been there twice and stayed on Palm Beach at the Americana. The place is great.
For less than 1 week, maybe Nassau. We went last November for a four day getaway and had one of the more pleasant and relaxing times ever. We stayed on Cable Beach and had the hotel/air fare/breakfast plan and it was inexpensive. LAST choice: Jamaica. I lived there and I won't return. Crime, dirty, expensive, problems, no thanks. If you want more info, e-mail me. Have a good time.