B_and_B

Looking for your feedback on the islands of Tobago, Curacao and Bonaire, and which hotels/resorts you recommend for a vacation in late Feb/March time frame. We are in our late 50's and are looking for good snorkeling, good food/drink, and relaxing on the beach. It would be nice to do a day trip or two, but we don't need nightlife, and prefer places not overrun by children. We've stayed at a lot of all inclusives because they are easy, such as La Source, Grenada; Galley Bay, Antigua; Palm Island, The Grenadines; Grand Lido, Negril; Sandals, St. Lucia; but have also enjoyed hotels in Aruba and Grand Cayman. Thanks in advance for your help!

Knowing

A good choice of a hotel in Curacao is the Marriott. Nice pool area and less than a handful of kids - and they have their own kiddie pool. Great beach, the rooms are very clean, great staff, good food and quiet when you want to sleep at night. Nice bar down by the beach. Wonderful place to relax. They do have an A/I plan if you choose to go that route.

utrechtman

The Half Moon Blue hotel in Tobago is a lovely small hotel with, nice, comfortable modern rooms on the ocean-side of the road. Very romantic too! Steps lead down to a nice, small, private beach with overhanging trees for shade. It's not that far from the airport. There's also a car rental at the hotel, i think it's Le Mans Car Rental (www.lemanscarrental.com).The Blue Waters Inn is also nice and right on the beach. But it's much further from the airport. You can go out on the glass-bottom boats, but i'm not sure about snorkeling.

utrechtman

The plane trip from Trinidad to Tobago is only about 20min on Caribbean Air. The ferry is about 2 1/2 hours and part of the trip can be very choppy during certain times of the year. People get sick.

KVR

Of those three we have been to Curacao. For the time frame you are looking at going I would not be surprised if the Marriott had many families there for Spring Break. They also have an AI meal plan.

We stayed at the Lions Dive in a 2 bedroom oceanview apartment and loved it. The beach was nice and it had decent snorkeling. There are 3 resturants on site and within walking distance to several more and the Sea Aquarium. We went in May and there were a handful of kids.

You might also look at the Kura Hulanda. There are 2 resorts, one secluded and one in town. They are pricey, so not as family friendly. They do offer a meal plan, but it does not include alcoholic drinks.

Breezes is the only other AI hotel and I would definatly not recommend it. It will be crawling with families and the reviews are horrible regarding upkeep and quality of food.

StanKase

Curacao has it all. The Marriot and the Kuro are very nice hotels. The dining at the AstroLab Le Bistro Chaduad (spelling is off but the food is not) and La Ruissse are very good. I would avoid the Portofino at the Marriot and Ft. nassau for dinner. There are 2 Italian restaurants right at the Arches whose names excape me that are quite good,. One has Allegri in the name and has been there for years and the other is just before it and is only 5 yrs. old with modern decor. With a car you drive to the WEST END, 30-40 minute trip based upon which hotel you choose to a series of 7-8 bays and along the boulders that frame the bays there is good snorkeling and if it is not a weekend or holiday and between 8AM-3 PM we often found maybe 1-2 other couples on 75-100 yard beaches. At Klein Knip if you look for a sign "Captain Good Life" he will take you out in his motor cabin to 3 different snorkel spots off land and leave you there for 30-45 minutes amnd return to pick you up. He was cgharging $12/person for 2.5 hrs.-3 stops. He now may be $25/person but he is quite a character and he will try to convince you to have lunch cooked by he and his wife for $15-$20/person. It is quite good butit was too much food for lunch.Enjoy.

tejana

The most relaxing, peaceful week of my entire life was on vacation in Tobago.

islebethere

I have been to Tobago seven times, but not for the last several years. It is not as laid-back as it used to be.

heijbroek

I love Bonaire it only has 14,000 people so is more relaxing than Curacao. It also has Klein Bonaire which is a perfect day trip to an idyllic island with no development - only sand beaches and whenever I snorkel there I see turtles. My family friends made a great video if you want to see what it looks like - http://www.bonairerentacar.com/

Hope that helps, cheers.

pigflo

This feb will be our third trip to Bonaire...we usually have done different islands each year in the past, but then we found Bonaire..and have not wanted to go anywhere else since. My husband and i are avid snorkelers and found it to be spectacular here. we dont care about sandy beach areas, so i cant help you with that. But outstanding people, snorkeling, food and beauty are what Bonaire has to offer. And we only will stay at our home away from home Bamboo Bali. An intimate 5 cottage resort, surrounded by trees and flowering plants, that attract beautiful hummingbirds and butterflies. The hosts are truly wonderful,accommodating people who make every effort to make your stay the best!!!!!

Richard56

I would also agree Curacao would be a much better choice concerning your ages and the things you are looking for to do.

Hotel I would recommend is the Renaiisance Curacao Resort right in downtown. It is in walking distance of evrything.

http://www.marriott.com/.../curbr-re...rt-and-casino/

The marriot ws also a good choice. Or perhaps even the new Hyatt property.

www.curacao.hyatt.com

Rosa23

We have been to Curacao 4 times already and we are looking forward for our 5th trip in January!!

heijbroek

Another tip is Bonaire Seaview Apartments - http://www.bonaireseaviewapartments.com/

The view overlooking the island is epic. Wietze the owner is a very hospitable guy and he shared lot of information on his favorite dive sites (quite a few) and about other things to see and do on Bonaire.

The apartment is airy and clean and the garden is beautiful.

Hope that helps, Clark

StanKase

Just spoke with someone who was at the Marriott in Curacao and they indicated the family environment is predominant so I do not thing that's what you are looking for though it is well situated for the various restaurants are 10-20 minutes away and the snorkeling out the WEST End is 25-30 minutes away. But the Kura Hurlanda is top shelf and is as well situated for dining and only adds 10 minutes to the trip to the WEST END.

greenie

Lodge Kura Hulanda in Curacao is fantastic! The shore snorkeling is superb!

Peace, Greenie

StanKase

greenie; Though the snorkeling of the beach at Kura Hulanda is o.k. you should have tried the bays out at the WEST END. On a scale of 1 to 10 Kura would be a 4 and the WEST END would be a 7, in my opinion. Keep that in mind for your next visit. We are returning in December for a day on a cruise and have a car rented to scoot-out to the WEST END for 3-4 hours.