searching for the best white sand beach!
 

Help me find the ultimate white sand beach vacation...no rocks, no seaweed to get tangled in, plenty of nice white sand to go for long walks, float with a pina colada in clear turquiose water...any recommmendations???

Anguilla
Isla Mujeres, MX
Negril, JA
Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos

Grand Cayman is perfect for that!! 7 Mile Beach is one of the best I've seen!! Clear, blue and calm waters. Nice white powdery sand!

Of course I hear even better things about the beaches in Turks & Caicos which is why I'm taking my first trip over there in May!!

I will be going to Turks and Caicos in 6 days and can make a better comparison between GC and T&C as well, but I've been told the sand and water color at T&C is pop-your-eyes spectacular.

Grand Cayman has some beautiful sandy beaches with lots of swimming area that is also sandy. There is also a bit of ironshore in areas. Rum Point beach is also very pretty there.

For a 10 mile long talcum powder soft white sand beach and calm turquoise waters check out Cape Santa Maria resort on Long Island in the Bahamas.

Other islands noted for white sand beaches are:

Grace Bay on Providenciales (Turks & Caicos),
Anguilla,
Anegada (BVI"s)
Grand Caymen
Aruba
Barbuda
Just about any of the Bahamas Out Islands

Harbour Island, Bahamas - not sure you can get someone to get you a pina colada while you're floating, but it fits your other requests.

Another vote for Anguilla. Best beach I have ever been on.

Posted too soon. If you'd like, you can post your email address and I'll be happy to email you a couple of pictures.

The beaches of Eleuthera 100 miles long. With Long Island a close second. T&C can't come close too either one. Grand Cayman nice in front of the Villas of the Galleon also.

Punta Cana in the D.R. has a very beautiful 22 mile long white sand beach with palm trees and great for long walks on the beach. Very beautiful.

ONZGO: What resort did you like in Punta Cana? Family friendly, but nice.
Thanks.

Two best beaches I have been on in the Caribbean are Barbuda and Macaroni

Another vote for Anguilla. It's so breathtaking. I'm been to Grand Cayman as well, but I would still pick Anguilla. Never been to T&C, but keep hearing that it rivals Anguilla for beach and water.
Hope this helps!

Pine Cay- Meridian Club

Thank you to all for the great ideas! Now maybe you can help me narrow it down...need great hotel, bringing (maybe) my kids, prefer all inclusive option. Beach must be calm, turquiose water, (loved Negril Couples, so should help with planning!) Thought about RWI in Turks, (not all inclusive though), Westin St John but, beach looks sorta rocky..?? Already been to Aruba, Paradise island, Barbados, Antiqua so want someplace new. I love the ideas from everyone, keep them coming! Thanks!

girlonthego, we have been to Punta Cana once and stayed at the RIU Bambu. It was nice, but I was not thrilled with the resort. I personally didn't like the designated dinner time and designated table seating at dinner time (sort of like a cruise ship). I prefer to go to dinner when I want and sit where I want. The pool area was pretty and the beach area outstanding. Tall beautiful palm trees everywhere. We found the air conditioning did work very well in our room at the resort and we aren't the only ones to complain about it. I have even heard on travel forum others complain at RIUs air conditiong at their Mexican resorts, so maybe this is something in general with the RIU resorts. We had a ceiling fan in our room and it help. The air conditioning seemed to go off at night. We could eat and drink at all the other RIU resorts nearby, except the Palace. The food wasn't the best, but I understand the food isn't that great in the D.R., but since I have only been once I can't compare to any other resorts food, but we were never hungry. The drinks were fabulous and I highly recommend you try a Caparina. They are very good, but also very powerful. They have a Caribbean Street for all the RIU resorts and one night a week they have a jump-up for all their guests and it is great fun with dancing in the street, places to sit and drink and eat and the shops are open. I would go back again to the RIU if we got another good sell-off, but would not pay full price. I would definately go back again to Punta Cana again, but I would like to try another resort next time, even if it is just for comparison sake of the resorts and food. We paid a sell-off price of $800.00 Canadian for air & all inclusive at the resort about 3 years ago, so we really couldn't complain because it is a 5 star resort. The grounds were beautiful. The pool was beautiful and very tropical looking and it had a grotto with a waterfall and a swim up bar. Service was good but English was the staff's 3rd or 4th language. We did see some kids, but we went when school was in session, so didn't see too many.

Hope I have helped you.

Oops! That should have read the air conditioning didn't work very well in our room.

Anguilla.

Ya Long Wan beach, in China's utmost south city Sanya, is highly recommended. More info can be find at http://www.kanxiqi.com/

White Bay Beach - Jost Van Dyke BVI
Breathtaking!

NO DOUBT, 12 MILES OF WHITE SAND:

GRACE BAY BEACH, PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

or

PINE CAY, TURKS & CAICOS

Another vote for White Bay !

Have been to Anguilla and Provo over 20 times and love them both. No AI's on Anguilla--The only one on Provo is Beaches which is large and touristy. Lot of condo type accomodations with kitchens which we prefer. Our favorite is Coral Gardens because of the reef right in front. Although Anguillas beaches are very nice Grace bay beach on Provo beats them. Colors of the water are awesome. Anguilla and Provo beaches have 7 mile beach Grand Cayman beat hands down. Paridisus Punta Cana is very nice and an AI with about 7 resturants and the beach very nice but the resort is large and touristy. Has lots of kids and adult activities. I personally wouldn't lock myself into an Ai on Provo or Anguilla. Too many good restaurants in all Price ranges to try

In the world or just Caribbean?
World (and some in Caribbean)
Maldives
Provo (Turks and Caicos)
Anguilla
Exumas, Bahamas
Harbour Island, Bahamas
White Bay Jost Van Dyke
Treasure Cay, Abacos, Bahamas

Well, I like White Bay also, but if "long walks" are among the criteria, it doesn't pass muster.

Don't even think about the Westin on St. John.

Our favorites so far are Grace Bay and Negril's Long Bay, but I have a question for the Anguilla fans:

Can you really take long walks on Anguilla's beaches? My map shows them at no more than about 1.5 miles long.

Wow! everyone is giving me plenty of investigating homework..ha ha
You mentioned Coral Gardens in Anquilla. Is the beach real rocky because of the reef? I do not want to wear my water shoes to swim. I absolutely loved Negril beach so if the places you all mentioned are close to that beach, I'd be happy. Is food expensive on Provo and Anquilla? safe? I have gotton food poisoning before eating off a resort so I am very careful with food. (in Curacao)We want to take the kids but do not want to go where it will overcrowded like Atlantis in PAradise Island. Is that how Beaches resort is? Considering Provo.(Coral Garden, Royal west Indies), Anquilla,(Ren. Bay Hotel, Great house) Playa Del Carmen(Iberostar) or Grand Cayman(Westin or Comfort suites). Which is best for kids? (15, 7) They love to swim, snorkel and hang on a nice white sand beach.Also, needs to be an island with a hospital because my daughter has a seizure disorder. (just in case) Thanks to all for help! Although I travel alot and have been to many islands, its sooo nice to have the help before planning another.

To CDT--There are over 30 beaches on Anguilla but you are right. None longer than a mile +. Not like Grace Bay Provo.

To Gottago--No rocks on Grace bay beach by Coral Gardens. Food--Very good restaurants in all price ranges. Lodging--Can't recommend Anguilla Great house. Rendezvous Bay is closing for renovations but don't know when. If you stay there you want to get a villa. If snorkeling is a priority Shoal Bay beach East is the best--Look into Shoal Bay Villas and Ku' as well as Serenity. Carimar beach club on Meads bay is nice but no Pool or restaurant and snorkeling isn't that great. In fact snorkeling on Provo is better than Anguilla.

Food is a little more expensive on both islands because a lot is imported. There are very good restaurants in all price ranges on both islands. Do a HowardC search on this site to pull up my previous posts and trip reports on both islands. Both islands have hospitals.. Check out www.luxurylink.com. Beaches on Provo flies Charters in from Boston and NY and is very touristy and crowdwd. All suites at CG have kitchens so that will help cut down on food costs.

Thank you so much for all info. It sounds like you recommend Provo. over Anquilla..? Is Coral Gardens good for children? hows the pool and activities? Is there another place you think is better in Provo. for kids? are there any hotels besides Beaches with water slides? I want my kids to enjoy the islands like we always do. They have been to Bahamas so any place else is good if it meets my requirements..great beach! calm, clear, snorkeling nearby, water activities, ...no rocks. It seems most feel Provo. is best..?

I don't have kids but I hear that The Sands is very kid friendly. I'm staying there on my 1st trip in May so I don't have first hand experience, but I hear a lot of people say how kid friendly it is. They have three pools that look very nice and sits on a great stretch of beach and is only a 20 minutes walk to Coral Garden for great snorkeling.

The Sands is an option but they are starting construction of a couple of resorts nearby. Very nice pool. Not a lot of kid activities at most resorts on Provo or Anguilla with the exception of Beaches which has a kids club but your older one probably wouldn't enjoy. Don't think there are any water slides on Anguilla or Provo with the possible exception of Beaches. Coral Gardens has two pools nothing special but fine to take a dip in after being on the beach. Check out www.wherewhenhow.com for various provo info and activities.

While it's easy to compare Anguilla and provo (Turks and Caicos),In my opinion Anguilla is more couples, more honeymoon, Provo is more kid friendly.

Beaches has small slides.

We have a 4 year old, and had an 8 year old and a 13 and 14 year old with us in Provo. That beach is so spectacular, not a single one got in the pools! Didn't even miss them.