Cold_NW

So as our screen name suggests, we're from the Cold NW (31 degrees outside right now and about to get hit with Freezing rain tonight).

We are here trying desperately to decide where to go on vacation. Stumbled across this forum page, and some great advice on here, so hopefully someone can help us. While I realize flights from Portland to Caribbean will be expensive enough (about $800 to $1,000 per person), our minds are definitely set on Caribbean (Pirates, Ye be warned!).

So the big question is: Where to go?

We want somewhere with great snorkeling (been in a few places in the Red Sea and that was excellent... does anyone know how these compare?), want somewhere not too over-run with people but also a bit of social buzz, great food is a must, some sightseeing apart from just the beach. Need some culture, and also to get away from the “US” lifestyle.

Been looking at “All Inclusive” and are very much shying away from that…. Think the more places you can eat, the better, and the better experience you will have. And we’re both kinda good foodie freaks.

We want to go for 14 nights minimum, and our budget would be about $5,000 for flights and accommodation. Less is better, but more will mean my wife does not get as nice a Christmas present next year (and I won’t get one at all)!! And please don’t tell us to go to Hawaii!!!!

Your combined inputs would be most warmly welcome in this cold climate.

Thanks all in advance…..

Traveler863

Cold_NW
Your answer is Bonaire, fantastic snorkelling...some 50+ sights can't do them all on one trip like swimming in an aquarium. Your cost and time will be getting there. Once there lodgings aren't too expensive and food is excellent. Its a low key island you'll enjoy.

tivertonhouse

See the largely-unknown Bocas del Toro area of bays/islands on the Caribbean coast of Panama. Easy flight connections into capital/the country has a good infrastructure. Bocas has few AIs -- Punta Caracol, bungalows on the water, South Seas style and the only one of its kind in Caribbean, might appeal. National parks, diving and sportfishing. Still Colonialist in feel landside with land sales now booming like the early days of Costa Rica (Texan developers are doing one-week cheap junkets around US$1,000 INCL.air from East Coast that one of our friends went on;just be careful about the pitches you'll hear). There are a lot of get-rich-quick 'noni plantation farm schemes'. Think Paul Theroux' 'The Mosquito Coast'. Turks and Caicos, Roatan/Bay island off Belize also also diving meccas not overhwhelmed by tourism yet.

faithie

Tiv. , this area looks INCREDIBLE !!! Exactly my style . We are still kicking ourselves for not buying land in Costa rica 14 yrs. ago , what a change there !( we just got back from first trip in 10 yrs) This is a definite must see place ! Thanx , Faith

girlonthego

What about the British Virgin Islands?