Where to go?
 

I am planning a week in the Carribean or the Bahamas, but don't know which island is best for me. I love history and historical sites, quaint towns, beautiful beaches with good swimming, good food, some shopping. Night life is not important to me. I prefer more lush landscapes than dry ones. Any ideas about which island is best for me--have been thinking of Nassau but not sure. Help please. <BR> <BR>Shelley

Have you ever been on a cruise? I have been on 5 cruises, leaving for my sixth in a week, and I highly recommend it. Its a wonderful way to get to see a bunch of different islands in a short amount of time. Depending on the length of the cruise, you sail for a day or so, then stop at an island for a day. Then you sail for a day (or sometimes overnight while you're sleeping!) and visit another. Every island is a little different in culture, climate (volcanic island/rainforest, etc.). Its nice to see a few and get a brief overview of them all. <BR> If a cruise doesn't suit you, you might consider Puerto Rico... it has wonderful historical sites, such as the fort of El Morro. It has some nice beaches (check out the phosphorescent one...Yes-the water glows in the dark!), and there are some great restaurants too. There are also lovely rainforest tours. If this is your first time, and you're dead-set on just one island, I think Puerto Rico is a wonderful taste of the carribean, and is so diverse, that everyone will find something to like.

I second the idea of a cruise which would let you sample several different islands. I also agree with going to Puerto Rico. It has everything you have stated you like. I have been to the Bahamas many times and really like it there, but I've also been to Puerto Rico several times and it has much more to offer in the way of historical sites,quaint towns, and beautiful beaches,and shopping all in one island.

Instead of Nassau, please consider Harbour Island. It has all your requirements, especially the "quaint" aspect. A very small island off the coast of Eleuthera (you take a water taxi to get there), the beaches are gorgeous (pink!), the locals are friendly and sincere, there's wonderful food (a place there named Ma Ruby's makes the original Cheeseburger in Paradise), and you can get everywhere by walking or biking or renting a golfcart (hilarious). Not really lush, but beautiful all the same.

I also agree with both a cruise and Puerto Rico. <BR> <BR>Whil I am not a big fans of cruising, it was a wonderful way to see the different islands. Can't beat 5 islands in 6 days! <BR> <BR>Peurto Rico is very lush and green, great shopping, wonderful beaches. Stay outside of San Jaun however - too touristy. <BR> <BR>St. Kitts is also one of the most beautfiul islands we have been to - very green and mountainous, prestine land, good sites to explore, beautiful beaches, quaint town.

I agree Puerto Rico is great. Nice beaches, good hotels, beautiful old town with a stunning view of the ocean and old Fortress (El Morro) & the El Yunqe rainforest is fantastic.

I'm going to recommend my favorite place, the British Virgin Islands. First of all, it meets your list, but then, you can add these descriptors that are important to me. <BR>1. Warm, friendly people who are glad to see you. Our taxi driver kissed both of us good-bye on one of our departures, and while that is not typical, you can rest assured that the BVI is not so dependent on tourism that the locals become jaded and negative. <BR>2. Small resorts restricted by law from being taller than a palm tree, and spread out so that there is no "strip" with endless high-rise resorts. Instead you find resorts seldom within sight of one another, usually one or two on a bay, and most parts of the islands totally empty of resorts. <BR>3. Many small bays with no more than a house or two on them. These are often located at the bottom of steep roads on lush mountainsides. All beaches are public so you can often enjoy a bay all to yourself. A rental 4WD is a must. <BR>4. No crowds. <BR>5. Regarding shopping you have literally the best of two worlds, since in order to preserve all the unspoiled nature that is the BVI, it has to be that the shopping (which requires lots of people to stay alive) is in the nearby USVI. So you just get on one of the ferries that run many times/day over to St. Thomas (a beautiful ride) and shop your buns off, and then return to your tropical paradise. <BR>6. Here are the resorts you ought to investigate (in each price category I list them in my order of preference). I believe you can access all their websites at bviwelcome.com, a website of the BVI Tourist Bureau. High end: Biras Creek, Little Dix Bay, Peter Island Resort. Mid-level: Frenchman's Cay, Bitter End Yacht Club, Olde Yard Inn, Sugar Mill, Fort Recovery, Long Bay. <BR>Travel: I use Delta to San Juan for a very good connection over to Tortola on either Air Liat or Sunshine Air. <BR>Hope this helps. Bon voyage! Write direct if you want.

St. Kitts has everything you discribe. timothybeachresort.com is directly on the beach and the island has all to offer.