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unspoiled Caribbean island for NATURE, snorkeling, & romantic getaway?

unspoiled Caribbean island for NATURE, snorkeling, & romantic getaway?

Old Dec 8th, 2005, 05:42 AM
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Another interesting tidbit for Tobago ... It has the oldest protected rainforest in the western hemisphere ! Take a peek at www.castararetreats.com , Plantation Villas , and Half Moon Blue .
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Old Dec 8th, 2005, 06:24 AM
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Hi Melissa, Let me try to answer your questions. We've been to Vieques 7 or 8 times, most recently at Thanksgiving this year. Probably our favorite place to stay is Hix, but only because it is so different. It, like Vieques, is definitely not for everybody. Check out TripAdvisor.com for more. Inn on the Blue Horizon, Hacienda Tamarindo, and Bravo are all more traditional, boutiquey type hotels and are all good choices as well. Only one beach on Vieques, Sun Bay (which is gorgeous), has facilities. Other than a couple of picnic shelters on Red and Blue Beaches, the rest have absolutely nothing on them, which is what we like. Yes, there are a number of places where one can snorkel from the shore.

The locals are very warm and welcoming, and there are some remarkably good restaurants. What Vieques doesn't have is alot of night life. While there is occasional live music at various restaurants, if this is of big importance to you I probably wouldn't go to Vieques. Of course, the unspoiled laid-back nature of the island is exactly what we like about it. This is what the Caribbean was like before cruise ships and chain hotels invaded.
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Old Dec 8th, 2005, 06:32 AM
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Definitly St. Kitts!! Uncrowded beaches, fun beach bars, friendly and helpful locals, rainforest and volcano tours, catamaran excursions, historical fortress - Brimstone Hill, snorkeling, golfing, fishing and so much more!

Variety of accommodations from cozy B&B (Rock Haven), gorgeous plantation inn (Ottley's), small intimate inn (Ocean Terrace), and comfortable beachfront properties (Timothy Beach Resort).

A website you might find helpful is www.discover-stkitts-nevis-beaches.com

The Caribbean's best kept secret. See it before it become too commercialized!
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Old Dec 8th, 2005, 06:38 AM
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You may want to check out Virgin Gorda in BVI. Quiet, not developed, very friendly locals, some flora/fauna, nice views and decent beaches. If you are open to villas you may want to check out the ones on Mahoe Bay otherwise resorts would be Bitter End, Biras Creek. Also check out Cape Santa Marie on Long Island (bahama out islands)
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Old Dec 8th, 2005, 10:05 AM
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The Port Antonio area of Jamaica ( Portland Parish ) ..... If hubby likes vegetation , this is " Vegetation gone amok " !!!! INCREDIBLE , more lush than Costa Rica ! ( meets most of the criteria , and would be fun for you to look at )
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Old Dec 8th, 2005, 10:08 AM
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ME again !! www.portantoniotravel.com , and www.portantoniojamaica.com .
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Old Dec 8th, 2005, 10:15 AM
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I see that you're considering Vieques, which certainly fulfills your requirements of not overdeveloped, good beach snorkeling, and nature experiences. If you're concerned about the little nightlife on the island, I invite you to consider staying on the main island of Puerto Rico for at least a couple of nights before or after you go to Vieques. You can get your nightlife fix in San Juan and enjoy daytrips to several good nature explorations. Although large sections of Puerto Rico, especially the San Juan metro area, are definitely overdeveloped, Puerto Rico also offers great biological diversity and opportunities for nature walks and ecotourism. Among the places worth visiting that might be of particular interest to your husband are El Yunque rain forest, Cabezas de San Juan nature reserve, and Guanica dry forest. I'm attaching some websites with information on some of these spots, which pique your husband's interest. Have fun planning.
http://www.elyunque.com/forests.html

http://wordtravels.lycos.co.uk/Trave...egions/Fajardo

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wi...nt/nt0226.html

http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/caribbean/
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Old Dec 8th, 2005, 12:09 PM
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Melissa, If choosing Vieques, right now there's what sounds like a good deal on the cheapcaribbean.com web site. Not sure personally, as haven't been but fellow Fodorites will surely have feedback! It covers the time period you need in Feb.
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Old Dec 8th, 2005, 05:04 PM
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Thanks everybody for all these suggestions and web-sites! My head is swimming with Caribbean visions.

One problem I'm running into is that hubby and I have different priorities, and we need to combine them! I want to stay right on a beach, with some level of comfort and romance, though it certainly doesn't have to be the Ritz, in fact the Ritz is much too stuffy (stayed there once in a room at reduced rate).

Hubby wants an island with native flora and fauna and interesting topography, not too flat.

So, this is kind of a crazy way to plan a vacation, but I'm almost thinking of finding a hotel on a beach that is well-rated on tripadvisor, then seeing what island it is on, then asking hubby if he is interested in the biology there!!! Also tripadvisor shows average prices paid by guests. Looking to pay $150 to $340 per night for a hotel on a beach.

I tried it the other way around, first choosing the island hubby would like, then trying to find a hotel on a good beach, but kept coming up with hotels that were like $600 for one night. And we thought Maui was expensive when we paid closer to $300 a night for an anniversary trip!

I did notice there are package deals, from my AAA travel agent, where the price per room turns out cheaper, and you even get extras included, for less than $300 a night, even for hotels on the beach. But they tend to be pretty nice hotels, but kind of overdeveloped hotels, with big pools with waterslides and things like that, which we really don't need.

Okay still exploring all the ideas and links you all have given me, thanks a million. My husband likes to check the links I find when he gets home from work too. (I mean the links you find for me!
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Old Dec 9th, 2005, 12:48 AM
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Faithie, thank you for the link to Beau Rive on Dominica. It looks nice and appealing! Hubby says he would love to return to Dominica (we were there 23 years ago on our honeymoon, we went to more than 1 island.) We are going to check into that.

ccc, thanks for answering my questions about Vieques.

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Old Dec 9th, 2005, 10:27 AM
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Melissa, you're the poster child for how a couple with different interests, and children, can stay happily married: plan great family trips interspersed with romantic parents-only getaways! Wherever you chose, may it be as romantic as your trip to the hotel in Hana!
Re: your stated need for beaches with public facilities--try to see comedian Ron White's take on why the most relaxed vacation anyone can take is rafting down a river for hours, wearing a bathing suit, a can of beer in hand, while no one bothering to get out of the rafts for "pit stops."
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Old Dec 9th, 2005, 04:26 PM
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CaliNurse, well, that's easy for Ron to laugh about, 'cause he's a man!

Still considering Dominica, and if that doesn't work out, you all have given me plenty of other options to consider here! I might have more questions when I have done a bit more investigating.

Just bought Fodors Caribbean 2006 guidebook and that should help too. There's even a chart in the front comparing each Caribbean island's relative strength in terms of things like eco-tourism, diving, nightlife, beautiful beaches, etc. This really helps!

You know, I realize now that in January of 2005 we were going to go to the Caribbean for our anniersary trip, but we couldn't agree on an island, and so ended up going to Maui, which is an easy trip from San Diego, California! But hubby really wants to make it to the Caribbean this time (February instead of January)

Hmmm, according this Fodors guidebook chart (which also compares prices), these islands look good: Bonaire, St. Kitts; and Dominica. Vieques isn't even on the chart, that's how undiscovered it is!



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Old Dec 9th, 2005, 11:58 PM
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CaliNurse, thanks for wishing me a romantic trip.

Here's to being somewhere in the Caribbean in February...
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Old Dec 10th, 2005, 12:53 PM
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Melissa5; The "Out Islands", also called the "friendly islands", are those in the Bahamian archipelago that aren't New Providence (Nassau), Paradise Island or Grand Bahama. If you go to an out island, head south in February! If you're a REAL outdoor person, try Great Inagua in the southernmost section of the Bahama chain. It's just north of Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba. Another out island which may be a wee bit warmer is Exuma, where the Tropic of Cancer runs through Georgetown, its capitol. Sometimes it is cool in the northern Bahamas in Feb., and I wear a wetsuit when snorkeling or diving. But, brrrrr, when you get out the breeze feels very cold. Robert
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Old Dec 12th, 2005, 04:53 PM
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Robert, thanks for your input on Bahamas.

I'm looking at Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis as well.

Really need to decide how much music/dancing vs. nature matters... You know, what kind of trip to plan, more active(with gorgeous nature) or more spoil-me kind of trip but still with some nature for Hubsy.
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Old Dec 12th, 2005, 05:12 PM
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Hi - I haven't been to all the places everyone has listed, but I can put in a sure vote for St. John. We love to snorkel, hike and Kayak and absolutely loved our time there. We rented a villa but have been to Caneel Bay to snorkel and I would say that that would be a very romantic place to stay with plenty of amenities, but NOT stuffy. The island itself is very lush and mountain like. The beaches are very natural - no resorts lining behind them! And the snorkeling is awesome. I miss it as I look out at the snow. good luck,
sue
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Old Dec 13th, 2005, 07:20 PM
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Good gravy! This has been a very informative post indeed. Say, have you looked at the trip auctions right here on the Fodor's site? I have seen many with absolutely fantastic looking offerings throughout the Caribbean where packages are creative and cost you significantly less money through the auction process. Perhaps our helpful editor Doug will pop in with suggestions too.
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Old Dec 15th, 2005, 10:03 PM
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Tuxedocat, no, I'm afraid I haven't been to a fodors trip auction...Is that where unwanted rooms go?! Am I missing out on great deals?
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Old Dec 16th, 2005, 05:03 AM
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Unspoiled. Very few of those left. Try St. Vincent and the Grenadines including Bequia, PSV or Palm Island
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Old Dec 17th, 2005, 09:02 AM
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Have to agree with MSQ. St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Your hubby would enjoy the Botanical Gardens, Mespo Valley, La Soufriere. I'd suggest maybe staying on Bequia and day trips from there. Another option is staying on the Mainland. The hotel that is not an all inclusive to consider would be the Grandview. If you visit the website SVG tourism you will find all listings of accomodations. Curiousx posts here and he has much knowledge to share. I returned from SVG this past Monday. They remain my favorites. Hopefully the government will tread wisely when it comes to enticing tourists. Unfortunately they were not so careful when Trump came to town on Canouan
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