Overwhelmed....
 

Is there a particular island or destination that has AMAZING Excursions....... Some civilization and great restaurants and shopping. Nice snorkeling - ( not where they dump you out of the boat and you get 20 min ). Nice beach and a nice resort... NOT a mega resort. We went to Negril Last year and was on 7 mile. It was Okay but wouldn't label it an amazing vacation.

You're looking for 1 island fits all, which doesn't really exist. The closest is Mexico-- Cozumel. (beaches are just okay, but you can ferry to Playa for a nicer beach. Or stay at Marmona but would have to travel a little for snorkeling

St John/Virgin Gorda might fit too. VG doesn't really have shopping, SJ limited but some small shops, but you can ferry to St Thomas for that

These come close, nothing else will offer what you want. Great snorkel destinations don't usually offer shopping, and most don't have great beaches.

Most AMAZING excursions are water based, kayaks, sail boats, snorkeling. St john you can hike and explore a little

Mexico has Mayan pyramids and caves and all kinds of adventures

The Playa del Carmen area of Mexico has what you're looking for. Not necessarily the town of Playa, but the general area.

Depends on what you are shopping for. Cheap Viagra? In terms of "amazing" do give us some more info. You may actually be on the wrong body of water.

Agreeing with a couple posts above, I think Mexico sounds more like it offers more of what you seek than any one specific Caribbean island.

My other half has been to Alaska and his excursions were over the top. so his idea and mine are 2 different things. Give me water and some fins and Im out. Restaurants and unique food is always interesting. Shopping - I like very unique artsy items.

Does St Lucias fit the bill? We have considered going there and splitting our trips by staying in the northern part 4 nights and then the southern part.

Considering how much time (and money) it takes to get to a Caribbean island that, while interesting and beautiful, does not fit all your desires, why not look at Spain, and the Canary Islands? A bit further and a bit more money to get there, but might be just what you are seeking.

I've always heard the snorkeling in St Lucia is just middling, nothing better than that.

I think you can find this on Mayan Riviera, but not sure what level of snorkeling you are used to. Akumal does have some snorkeling right off the beach, but mostly you have to go out in a boat to get anything decent. I've only snorkeled off Cozumel, and you can do some right off the beach (I think), but it's not that good there, you have to go out in a boat. Yes, the boat stops in a couple spots and you get out for maybe 20 minutes each, not sure what's wrong with that. They go to several spots for variety, the entire shorter boat snorkeling trips are a couple hours at least, as I recall (off Cozumel pier). I'm sure you can hire a private boat if you want, it's all a matter of money, and stay out as long as you want. I think the coral reef has been degraded somewhat off Cozumel, though, and it's maybe not as good as it used to be. Puerto Morelos also has snorkeling but you have to go out in a boat.

There are plenty of pricey resorts in that area, like El Dorado in Akumal has a good snorkeling beach, but it is very expensive, of course (like $500+ per night). Most others, you have go to somewhere for snorkeling, I think.

I would rather stay in PDC or surroundings than on the island of Cozumel myself, I think you get better restaurants, shopping, and of course access to great excursions to historical sites. Otherwise, you'd have to take the ferry to the shore to do all that, I'd rather just take it out to go snorkeling.

I've heard St John has good snorkeling.

We have found some resorts and locations that we narrowed it down to.

Galley Bay resort - ANTIGUA

Barcelo Bavaro Beach - Punta Cana

Bucuti - Aruba

Sonesta - St Maarten


Looking for feed back on either location and or resort......and GO!!!

No real snorkeling at any choice (especially off the beach, although for me St. Martin and Aruba and Punta Cana really don't have decent snorkeling at all!)

No real shopping at Punta Cana-- PC is also more catered to all inclusives which tend to keep you trapped at the resort (there are excursions, but nature of AI keeps vacationers that way)

Great shopping St Martin, decent Aruba okay Antigua

Best restaurants St. Martin-- amazing. Good restaurants Aruba, okay Antigua, mostly AI and stomach issues at PC

Civilization St Martin, Aruba. PC tends to confine to resorts, Antigua has clumps but more laid back

A closer fit for you is probably Virgin Islands, with bonus of great snorkeling in areas. Mexico would fit too.

Your choices really don't meet you're criteria in my opinion

Well......blamona - I appreciate that heads up!!! Ill keep searching,,,Sigh :)

I agree with blamona. The places you mention don't meet your criteria.
People keep telling you to look into the Riviera Maya area of Mexico so you might want to do that. It fits all your criteria.

Consider Grand Cayman. No civilizations but you do have botanical gardens, turtle farm, sting ray city, and dolphin discovery stuff if that interests you. Has snorkeling, great restaurants and good shopping. Check out the Westin or Ritz on 7 mile beach. There are tons on beachfront condos as well all along that beach.