Zoe

My husband and I are planning a vacation in late March or April. We are not the resort-types, but will want to rent a villa. We want an island with supreme beauty, very quiet, not commercial. We had thought of St. Lucia, but the poverty, driving conditions, and resorts like Sandals are putting us off. Any suggestions?

penny

I agree with you about St. Lucia. It is a lush island, but the driving conditions and poverty are concerns. As we travel the caribbean there are better choices-we love St. John. I cannot recommend a villa,but the island has beauty,it is not commercial and is much easier to get around. It has outstanding beaches,hiking trails and fun restaurants in Cruz Bay. Yes it is very quiet-the only busy area is the town of Cruz Bay,and Trunk Bay can be busy with daytripers from St. Thomas. The whole island is almost all national park land!
Hope this helps.

ohliz

I have a list of villas in Jamaica, the Blue :agoon villas, in particular, may be what you're after - they're at the end of the list below. Not the cheapest place but away from crowds, has private water access and beaches..too nice.

http://www.jamaica-resorts.com/ (a handful of south coast villas)

http://www.blow-hole-villa.com/ (too cool..and not expensive)

http://www.villasinjamaica.com/ (JAVA reps hundreds of private villas and there are photos and info for all of them here)

http://www.jamaican-villas.com/ (just one villa but good info on villa rentals in general)

http://www.jamaicavillas.com/ (tons of really nice ones here, including a castle)

http://www.beingees.com/blmain.htm (Blue Lagoon Villas on the east coast - you get a car and a boat with your villa - it's on the lagoon - I am DYING to stay here!)

John

Try St Barts. Quiet, elegant, beautiful, great restaurants, etc.

BillK

You've just described St Barths.

ellen

Little Cayman or Cayman Brac. Not hard to get to and secluded for sure.

S

My wife and I went to St. Lucia for our honeymoon. Other than the exhilirating drive from the airport, our stay at the Jalousie Hilton was incredibly relaxing, beautiful and isolated. (private villas and the most incredible sunsets) It was also one of the few with a decent private beach. Nothing like a Sandals resort.

Brad

I've been to 15 islands and would suggest St. John for this. The suggestion of St. Barts is excellent as well, but St. Barts is one of the most expensive islands in the entire Caribbean. Its also very French. Anyway, back to St. John. It is one of the best islands, at least in my opinion, because most of the island is a reserve and cannnot be developed. The Caribbean was magnificent before the people destroyed it. St. John is wonderful and you can have all the benefits of quiet vacation and can choose to take a quick 20-minute ferry to St. Thomas if you choose. (20 minutes to Red Hook; 45 minutes to Charlotte Amalie (downtown)).

waggie

Ditto on St. John. Many, many villas with different options to choose from. We love both St. John and Grand Cayman, but based on your "wish list," SJ sounds like what you are looking for. Do a search for St. John villas, and you'll find plenty of companies with villas to choose from. Be sure to check out www.cateredto.com to view a large # of villas. We stayed in "Sea Wind" and had a great time.

Laurie

My vote goes to Peter Island Resort in the BVI. The resort is located on it's own private island with seven beautiful beaches. If you get bored there is a ferry service that will take you to St. Thomas, Tortola or Virgin Gorda for day trips. Good luck!
Laurie

felix little

i suggest you check out www.caribbeanway.com - they have some great small properties perfect for you - check out La Perla on St. Martin or Pink Cottage on Barbados - we have stayed at both and my wife keeps asking to go back ...

BillK

Brad,

You say St Barths is great but its very french???? Why is that a bad thing?? If you want someplace where the currency is the same and the language is the same and everything is familliar, you don't even need to leave the house. Half the fun of travel is to experience new things. Come on Brad - vive la difference!!

Lucy

Resorts on Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman would be ideal for you.

Erika

I would second (or is this 3 or 4) St. John. There are a wealth of properties for rent - from the very bare to the very elegant. There are only two large resorts on the island (Caneel Bay and the Westin) and NO McDonalds or KFCs. Since St John is a US territory, and 2/3 of the island is national park - the living standards and general environs are a little better quality. (the national government employs the locals and the locals' job is to keep the park looking nice). MOst visitors are villa renters. Try www.usvi-on-line.com for more info and the forum for villa suggestions!

Debbie

You want remote, quiet, stunning, without resorts? Try St. Kitts!! The south peninsula is the most beautiful unspoiled spot in the Caribbean. There are no resorts, except Jack Tar, which is fairly small. Some poverty, but you will not see any on the south peninsula.
The locals are a little difficult, but will warm up to you with a little conversation. You won't be disappointed. BTW-we also like St. Barts.

jill

DEFINITELY St. Barts. Laid back feel, lots of houses to rent, either beachfront (our preference) or on hills overlooking water. Fantastic restaurants, beautiful beaches. No big resorts. It's a dream island. Peter Island is nice, but very resorty (albeit a classy resort). I would stay far away from 7 mile beach on Grand Cayman unless you like a built up commercial strip with Burger King, etc.

BillK

Lucy they said no resorts. Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman is more like Miami beach. Cayman - unless you dive - has got to be the ugliest island above the water line (Turks and Caicos runs a close second) there's a total of a 43 foot difference in altitude between the highest and lowest spots on the island. It s congested with Burger kings Mac Donalds etc. As I mentione above St Barths is what you've described they have wonderful villas (wimco.com) either in the mountains or on the beach - of which there are 23. Over 80 superb restaurants on an island thats 8 square miles. no building over 2 stories no hotel with more than 40 rooms - NO TIME SHARE - no street vendors or hassels of any kind, everything works and I've only got 44 more days before I go back for my 8th visit. We've been to over 25 other caribbean locations before we found St Barths and we wouldn't switch for the world

Ronnie

Being from the VI, my answer could be construed as slanted, but even I am caught up in the St. John factor. It's beautiful even for me! There is a villa I like, on a beach in Chocolate Hole, the waves lull you to sleep, the breeze keeps you sleeping, you will want to turn off the air and enjoy natures sounds and breezes! The National Park has the world's most beautiful beaches when you want to explore.
The villa is called Vida Del Mar and can be gotten thru island-getaways.net.
I think that this will fulfill your qualifications.
Ronnie