resort selection--quiet, nice pool, luxury?
 

My wife and I--in our 40s--are going to go back to the Caribbean late this September. We were going to Europe but I've become a bit debilitated and can't do a lot of walking. We have been to a few islands, Aruba, Turks and Caicos, the Bahamas, and Peter Island. We would not mind repeating islands but something new would be nice.

We were thinking of going to Little Dix for 6 nights but after reading Scuba Mom's review, I'm sort of hesitant--we're not big kid people and would prefer a less family oriented resort--more like Peter Island where it was mostly couples. And their website certainly seems to encourage kdis of all ages.

We like gourmet food, snorkling off the beach, and I'd prefer not to be at Sandals type resorts. We like it laid back, but with a luxurious bent.

Since I can't get around too much, I'd like there to be a really nice pool area as well. And not too much walking involved.
Any ideas? Cost of 500-600 per night (off season)is ok for ocean front.

I can't help you too much with many suggestions (although Anguilla has always been on my list with several luxury resorts). I thought I might mention, however, that you are unlikely to run into too many kids at any resorts in late September as they will be in school. Guess there's always a chance that you'll run into toddlers but that's still pretty unlikely given your price bracket. So if you'd like to go to Little Dix (we were there for dinner many years ago...pre-kids), why not go for it?

Just wanted to let you know that we were at Little Dix in early December two years ago-- and there were approximately zero kids. Actually, there was one family, but they stayed way at one end of the resort, and we only saw them when we strolled down to the beach bar there for lunch one day. I think the pool area at LD is especially nice (including the additional one at the spa), so if that's impt to you, I think you might really like it there. Also, my sense is that the accommodations in the middle price range rooms are a good deal superior to Peter Island's ocean view rooms. (Haven't been to P.I.; the LD rooms are very nice-- much better than at Caneel) I wouldn't call the food at LD "gourmet," but it's ok.
Or what abt the Ritz Carlton in Cayman, or the Westin there (if it's still a Westin)? Or the Hyatt on Cayman. My memory is that the pool is very nice at the Hyatt. (Haven't been there since the Ritz was built.)
Or one of the fine resorts in Barbados?
Good luck-- and I hope the walking gets easier.
(We've been trying to decide whether to give PI a try. I've been turned off by the description of those badly-in-need-of-update ocean view rooms-- including the possibility of hearing the generator. And the beachfront rooms-- even before high season-- are close to $1000 per night.)

I stayed at Cap Juluca a few years ago and didn't care for it. I'm only mentioning because there were many steps leading to our room and they were unlit. I fell our first night and hurt my shoulder badly.
If you're in a physical state that makes walking difficult, this is one resort I wouldn't suggest.
What about Isle de France on St. Barth?
It's small, lovely and I doubt you'll see childern in September!

Well, the Four Seasons on Nevis might be a good choice for you. Not much there in the snorkeling department, but the island offers everything else you're seeking.

I also agree with the others that in September there won't be many children at most resorts in the Caribbean, so if Little Dix is what you really want, go for it!

grand cayman ritz or alternative would be good as they have lots of beach snorkeling.
or how about st. thomas ritz.
when i first read your post i thought of caneel bay on st. john but i do not think they have a pool. just 7 beaches.

Children are a hit or mis thing. Sept as you know is quite risky in terms of tropical depressions with rain and weind and possibly a hurricane which is less likely. Anguilla has NO snorkeling. Little Dix is very nice but i is big enough to have kids and due to coral bleaching the snorkeling on Virgin Gorda is poor to fair.
Cauacao might be worth considering. The snorkeling on the West End is worth 2 or 3 trips but it it is 30-50 minutes from the hotels but it is very good. Check out the Cuacao thread under search. Also there are 7-8 very good restaurants but they will run $60-$120 a couple but most are well worth it. Avoid Portofino in the Marriott and Ft. Nassau. Their is a lovely old hotel with A/C called Kula Hal------ but it is tops on the island. While it is expensive in Sept iy is less than Little Dix, Caneel, PI, Grace Bay Club Old Bahamia Club for instance.Just some thoughts to consider. Most places will have availability except in the cheapest rooms even if you investigate for 2 more weeks but you will be so close make sure you buy airline tickets 30 days before departure or fares really go up at 21, 14 days etc.
Bood Luck.

Cap Juluca and the other Anguilla resorts close for 2 months (September & October) every year.

We dined at the Ritz Cayman. It is a very nice hotel.
We stayed at the Marriott on the Caymans in late June. I would highly recommed the Caymans for nice island with good food, safe and friendly. It has good snorkeling. The Ritz is brand new and we loved the restaurant 7. It had wonderful food and service.

JeffRome, where did you stay in Aruba and the Bahamas?

My husband & I like what you like. The places we've stayed that fit are Bucuti Beach (Aruba), Ocean Club (Paradise I), Swept Away (Negril), and this year we're trying a new place, Royal Cancun. (Not crazy about the idea of Cancun but our nonstop destinations are limited.) For you I also thought of some alternative locations: Little Palm Island in the Florida Keys (quiet luxury escape ), Villa Rolandi on Isla Mujeres in Mexico, and La Casa Que Canta in Zihuatanejo, Mexico. Have you checked out Small Luxury Hotels of the World? (slh dot com) Also Roads Less Taken (roadslesstaken dot com) is a GREAT site for researching resorts by type (luxury, couples, AI, etc.).

Check out Palm Island in the Grenadines Jeff,it's great.Never seen any kids and it's just total relaxation if thats what you require.My wife and i just love it and have been back twice.Everything about the place is wonderful.They even throw in free flights from Barbados.
I think it's just what you may be looking for.

If you don't want to do a lot of walking, you might not be too keen on the Ritz in Cayman, as even the oceanfront rooms are a fair distance from the beach itself.

Plenty of gourmet restaurants in Cayman (at the Ritz and others), but perhaps rent a condo right on the beach and rent a car / use taxis to get around.

As earlier noted, late September = very few kids around.

Thanks all. KeyGal, I forget actually where we stayed in Aruba--a midprice mega condo resort midway up the island. That was our honeymoon 14 years ago and part of a package. In T & C we stayed at the Grace Bay Club, as I recall. Nice. I'mleaning toward either Little dix, St. Thomas Ritz, or Nevis. Thanks again!

Nevis is lively. In our opinion the nicest hotel for food, accommodations, staff is FS. But, you do run the chance of many children though in late Sept. they will be under 5 yrs. old. since school is in session. The same for the others. I really do not enjpoy St. Thomas though the RC is quite nice. We did not find many restaurants outsuide the hotel that were worth a second visit. Little Dix has lovely beaches, is smaller than FS a bit and much smaller than RC.
As for snorkeling St. Thomas is not good but you can go on a day sail with a total of 6 or 8 to St. John and get in some very good snorkeling, weather permitting. As I said earlier Little Dix will have snorkeling that now is not even as good as PI, unfortunately.
All in all I would take a premium room at Little Dix

Not so sure the Ritz on STT is for you if you can't do alot of walking. If you plan your day, I suppose you could manage a minimum of steps but there are lots of marble steps up and down and all around. They do have a golf cart to transport but it's still a lot of steps between the Palazzo and the beach with the infinity pool. The Club rooms are lovely and it might be more convenient for your beaching it there but it is still a distance to the restaurants, etc.
Of course it was March (Spring break time) when I visited Little Dix and it was swamped with kids of all ages and sizes. Doubt that you'd run into that late September but Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kipper are in September so many schools are closed (at least here in the NE) and some people vacation then. Caneel would be your answer in the USVI for directly off-beach snorkeling but their pool is rather medicore and not used much. I used to enjoy the split between Little Dix and Caneel that they offer. I think that they'd probably give you a hint as to the number of families who have reservations for the time that you wish to go there.
I am still trying to come up with a suggestion - the pool reqirement is a stopper since I usually pay absolutely no attention to them

Just curious, StanKase, what restaurants you chose on STT since there are some that are quite good yet those that get the "most press" are often medicore - yet dining off property on Virgin Gorda doesn't offer as many choices.

Thought of one - Jumby Bay off Antigua. Remember a pool and they were excellent about using a golf cart if you wanted it to go between the room, restaurant, beach, etc.

Friends just returned from Jumby Bay and had a fabulous time. It looks amazing and is on our short list.

Actually I cannot remember any names for none were memorable. Though the Ritz was not memorable several dinners and lunches were quite good.

As for Jumby Bay the snorkeling is worse than St. Thomas. Antigua is not known for coral or exceptionallly great visibility under water. Ecerything else is as good as it gets except for Parrot Key in T&C but it is one of the most expensive resorts in the Caribbean.

Thanks for answering. I did forget that snorkeling was one of the favorites so, you are so right, any snorkeling on Antigua and surrounds is pretty much non-existent.
Parrot Cay would not be my choice for someone with ambulatory problems. Altho the pool is lovely and the spa "great," 'tis a long hike from the beachfront rooms. The food was not wonderful either - but it did have a very strong Asian influence which was not to me appealing. I much prefered Meridan Club on Pine Cay but one would not go there expecting the luxury of PIR, the Ritz, FS but I loved the setting right on the beach and the isolation.