Typically my family goes to Barbados (we love it a lot) and stays in a villa. As 2007 will be a busy year for Barbados, we were considering a villa someplace else with gorgeous water and a few things to do (too much relaxing is not what we want).

Any suggestions & reasonably priced villas that would sleep 6 (4 adults, 17 year old and 14 year old girls).

We've been to St. Thomas for 10 nights but found that too Americanized. Might consider someplace in the Bahamas, or other suggestions.

Due to school and sports, when we travel with the family we usually are limited to last week of July and first week of August. Hurricanes worry me (Barbados is pretty much out of the way of hurricanes).

We love fabulous, gourmet restaurants, a nice pool, a few shops or activities available. Although it's a year away, we'd like to get started and plan something. Please help.

Many thanks,

Lois
Barbados Insider Tips

My first thought for you would be Abaco, particularly Elbow Cay. Nice villas available, lots to do: boating (you can rent by the day or the week - we rented a week and used the boat and golfcart as transportation - no car), lots of exploring by golfcart, not really gourmet, but enough restaurants to keep things interesting every night. Great town, Hopetown, complete with shops, lighthouse etc. I recommend you stay south of town, you cannot bring golfcart into Hopetown, you must park at the gate!

Folks are going to recommend St. John, but if you think STT is too Americanized, you will think the same about St. John. On the other hand, BVI, Tortola and Virgin Gorda, retain the Caribbean feel. But I still think there's more to do for your group on Abaco.

Have fun deciding!

Website for Elbow Cay house rentals:
http://www.elbowcayrentals.com/homes.html

PS Re Hurricanes: go to insuremytrip.com, and get inexpensive trip insurance. And then, the hurricanes are no worry!

Lois, it's funny for me to see post here looking for info!

I don't have any firsthand experience yet, but I'm heading to Grenada next week and I was very pleased with the service I've had working with Nick Hughes at www.spiceislevillas.com. He represents several villas that would suit your party of 6, some of which are right on the water.

Grenada definitely wouldn't feel too Americanized, and it really is bouncing back well from the two horrible hurricanes in back-to-back seasons. It might work well for your family.

EJCrowe

Actually, we've been to Grenada. My husband and I will probably go to Barbados early fall. Just looking for something different that might appeal to my granddaughters. They've been with us to Barbados since they were born on a yearly basis (next trip is July 22), but I just thought 2007 with cricket, etc. might be too busy and I'd look for alternatives.

We've also been to St. Lucia, Cayman Islands, and Antigua (that was kind of interesting -- just not sure about villas there). I figure, I can always learn something new.

Thanks again -- keep ideas coming.

Joan -
I am looking at the Elbow Cay villas - lots to chose from. What do you think might be good for 6 of us. In Barbados we've been fortunate to get a great one for $2,100 for the week (3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths & private pool).

Lois

I agree that Abacos would be fun for your family. You can stay on Elbow and ferry around to other cays (great guanna etc) or even rent your own boat. Beaches in the Abacos are great, some decent restaurants, and good snorkelling. It would be quieter than Barbados though. Another suggestion would be Tortolla. Lots to do including hiking/snorkelling and day trips to Virgin Gorda (baths) and Jost Van Dyke (white bay). The restaurants are ok. Definately not americanized.

Check out Anguilla, they have beautiful beaches and fabulous restaurants. We rented a villa right off Rendevous Bay that was around the corner from the Cuisinart resort that had a pool in the backyard and was a couple of hundered yards from the beach, very affordable.

Lois
I'm trying to finalize plans right now to go to Barbados this August (yes, I'm late) and debating villa vs. The House in Paynes Bay. Can you recommend a good villa rental agency? Have looked at both Caribbean Way and Island Holidays, but have not made up my mind. Looked at some of the Reeds House rentals, but have not finalized anything yet.

There are only two of us, so that's why we are also considering the hotel. If we do get a rental villa, we'd like a place on the beach so we can snorkel, and pool would also be nice.

We are considering Barbados, as we're worried about hurricanes as well. You seem to be the go-to person for info on Barbados. Any help or guidance would be appreciated.

By the way, we really liked Tortola (much better than St. Thomas) and there are nice rental villas available there, but most are on the hillside and you'll need a jeep. Also, most don't have staff.

Marcie

Marcie,

If you write me at: [email protected]
I can send you out my extensive Barbados tips which should help. I cover everything in them including villa companies, car rentals, etc. (25 pgs. worth)--it's free. In your note tell me it's you.

I would recommend contacting Island Hideaways -- see their site at:
www.islandhideaways.com

Lois

Hi Lois--I second the Anguilla recommendation. Carnival is usually the first 10 days in August and is lots of fun. We went last year. Parades, concerts, beauty pagents, boat races etc. Think the kids and adults would like it. I recommend looking at Beachcourt Villa--www.beachcourtvilla.com-- at Shoal Bay East. Really nice and about two years old. Has pool and tennis court and overlooks the beach which is a short walk. You can also search for villas on www.news.ai and www.anguillaguide.com. www.anguillaforum.com is an excellent forum so post your question there. There is also www.elegantretreats.ai which handles villas. For an insight
into Carnival go to www.festival.ai. There are lots of excellent restaurants on Anguilla in all price ranges.
If you decide to go I can give you recommendations later. Believe you have my e-mail address so feel free to e-mail me with questions.

Lois, $2100 for a 3 BR with pool is a fantastic price! I don't think you'll find that rate on Elbow Cay, but I'm hoping your budget can go up by about $1000?

If so, check out Fran's Fancy, I really liked this house (didn't rent it, because we only needed 2 BR). Also, I guess you know this, but vrbo.com is a great place to get rentals by owner at a discount.

http://www.bahamasrentals.net/fransfancy.htm

Hi Lois,

You were very helpful to me when I went to visit my best friend living in Barbados...and I wanted some spots to go on my own with family - so I don' know if this will be handy or not but I might suggest going to one of the lovel Villas on the french side of St. Martin....maybe look at Grand Case as it definetly has the lovely lovely lovely restaurants and shopping on the island is great - easy to drive just like Bbdos...Grand Case has a lovely beach and if you don't mind hectic Orient beach is really very intersting...there are some really nice villa for rent in the Orient Village area...Not at ALL Americanized as it is almost totally FRENCH....so less of a West Indian feel then Bbdos but even Bbdos is losing that WI feeling for the tourist with the Cafe Lattes on the West coast...

If you have any questions I did visit SXM last year and I am more of a Grenada in my heart gal but really really enjoyed SXM too for all kinds of other reasons!! We are booked this year for two weeks in St.Kitts in a one bedroom unit at Timothy Beach Resort...very different from Bbdos...but we have enjoyed it very much in the past!!

Best of luck in your searches!!