My wife and I are traveling to Provo in the middle of October for 8 days. We are staying at the Sands and plan to take in some snorkeling. Does anyone have any recommendations for our trip (what to see, what to do, where to eat, etc) as well as tips for my wife since she'll be pregnant? Wondering if the water is ok to drink, food is ok for her, etc. Thanks!

Jamicah: Provo is a nice choice if you can't swing St. John. I went to the Virgin Islands while 3 and 1/2 months pregnant during a July. October should be much better for heat. I found I needed to stay cool as much as possible either through sitting in shade, airconditioning or swimming/snorkeling. Snorkeling was fantastic for relaxing! I drank only bottled water (and lots of it to stay hydrated) and stayed away from raw foods or any food that looked like it had been exposed for a while. Common sense stuff. Enjoy! Relax alot and have fun. After the baby, neither of you will have much opportunity to relax.

i'm pretty sure you will like the sands and provo and i think your wife will be fine eating whatever appeals to her normally. very clean, modern restaurants with great food. (perhaps no raw fish dishes) you could buy a case of bottled water after you get there if you have a mini fridge. provo sun really seems to suck the water right out of you. i drink aLot more there. i've also heard eating more salty foods than normal is a good choice to help retain fluids but wife should check on this with doc.
specifically try sharkbite, aqua bar $ tiki hut at turtle cove marina. anacona is unbelievalby romantic with excellent food but $$. enjoyed sun brunch at mango reef. do a restaurants on provo search in the window above for more ppls opinions.
normally i suggest the jeep ride to malcolms beach but think wife would deliver and/or hate you. terribly bumpy, rough road.
how about the conch farm, they have an interesting tour, on the east end and take a drive out by chalk sound. it is really a stunning color and some nice houses to drool over.
snorkel at smith beach, near turtle cove. enter water here on narrow sandy path cut through rock/grasses almost in line with the path to beach otherwise you'll trample all over stuff. and of course snorkel coral gardens.
sopadilla bay beach is quiet, shallow for wading/floating for a ways out.

I travelled to Barbados when I was about 4 months pregnant. The most important thing is for your wife to clear the trip with her OB first. If she is having a normal pregnancy, there should be no reason for her not to travel. Beyond that, it's just common sense, stay well hydrated, don't drink alcohol, don't eat the stuff your not supposed to eat (raw sushi, unpasteurized cheese, etc.).

I had a great time snorkling while pregnant, but SCUBA diving was off limits. So was horseback riding.

Most importantly, have a great time and enjoy the last "grown-up" vacation you will have for a very long time!!

Jamicah: My wife and I just returned from Provo where we stayed at the Sands Resort. You'll love the place. Even though you're there with many people, you almost feel secluded the way the resort is designed. They also come by every afternoon and give you Fiji bottled water. My wife loved that. Neither one of us had any problems with drinking the water at restaurants or from the fawcet. Grace Bay beach and the water are spectacular. The ocean is actually as clear, if not clearer, than the pool water. Hemingway's Restaurant is located on the property and have very good lunches. We ate there one night and my wife enjoyed her meal . . . but I wasn't too happy with the surf and turf. I would suggest dining at Magnolia's overlooking Turtle Cove, Aqua and Tiki Hut at Turtle Cove. One note: be aware that Tiki Hut is located at the marina and once your food appears, the flies attack it due to the dead fish nearby at the marina, according to the waitress. Chalk Sound is well worth the trip to see the color of the water even though the road is very bumpy. There is some good snorkeling at Coral Gardens located about 1/2 mile west of the Sands. I would suggest taking a taxi to Coral Gardens due to her pregnancy. They rent snorkeling equipment at Coral Gardens or you can check it out for free at the Sands. Feel free to ask any questions.

Don't miss the following restaurants:

Simba at the Turks and Caicos Club (casual Caribbean food)

Tiki Hut (chicken and ribs)

Gecko Grille

The fish is fresh in Provo, so in small amounts for your wife, she'll be fine.