My husband and I are considering a trip to one of the islands around the end of March-April.

Three prerequisites: one, we'd like someplace warm (I know some places are still coolish this time of the year); two, we'd like to avoid Spring Break locales; and three, a clean, semi-luxurious hotel would be preferable.

We'll be staying just 3 nights, and we'd like to keep the budget under $2,000. Any possibilities.

Candygrrl- Thanks for posting the question. I was going to ask the same. We were trying to plan a trip to Turks and Caicos for the middle of March, but the RWI is booked and that seems by threads to be the best place to stay for the money. Any other ideas for T&C, we're also up for other islands. Thanks!

Hi candygrrl, For a short trip, I'd try to consider locales as short a flight as possible from your home airport.

You've not mentioned where you'll be flying from, but consider San Juan, PR Jamaica, St. Thomas/St. John or Caymans as closest Caribbean options. Rivera Maya area in Mexico might also be an option.

If you can get a direct flight, so much the better. You definitely don't want to spend half your trip getting to and from your destination!

Thank you tpatricco, we'll be coming in from New York City, and definitely looking to do a nonstop. JetBlue has some packages to San Juan and Nassau with the British Colonial Hilton as the hotel choice.
I wonder if these will do the trick.

You can do a non stop to Montego Bay and stay at Half Moon about 10 minutes from the airport in Rosehall.It is lovely.Very plantation/ elegant.

My first thought was Puerto Rico. It is far enough down to be warm. It will be a direct flight from NY. It also has a number of very nice hotels not too far from the airport.

For a wonderful introduction to the Caribbean, I'd suggest going to Barbados. It has some of everything any island can offer except for gambling and a volcano. Lovely people, lush green tropical setting, clean air, pure water, wide range of hotels, beaches, water sports, sightseeing such as caves, tropical gardens, animal preserves, plantation houses, submarine ride. Outstanding restaurants, both in hotels and independent. All revolves around a British/Caribbean culture so you don't feel like you're just in tropical America. Barbados is a really special place with a strong economy, not dependent only on tourism, so a visitor experiences a sense of a place which is beyond just a resort on a beach. Generally avoid August-October (hurricane season). Otherwise weather is great all year-perpetual summer with water temps over 80 deg. even in winter. Lowest hotel rates are mid-April to mid-December, with a big jump in high season. Calmest water for swimming/snorkeling is on the calm!
west coast north of Bridgetown. IMO the best hotel on that stretch is Coral Reef Club. Family-owned for 50 years, low-rise and plantation cottage style hotel in tropical gardens and fine beach. See www.barbados.org and www.coralreefbarbados.com

mjhz:

Do you especially want to stay at a big resort in Provo? My husband and I went last summer and stayed at the Sibonne. It has a wonderful restaurant, is right on the beach, and is very intimate. We stayed in one of the beachfront suites and were literally steps from the beach with plenty of room and one of the most comfortable beds we've ever slept in. Luxurious? No, but certainly more than adequate. We were glad that we chose it over the big resorts when we got down there and saw what they looked like.