Alison

Hi,
My b-friend and I want to visit the Caribbean in early November. We love to scuba dive and want to do a lot of water sports i.e. windsurfing, snorkeling, jetskiing, diving, etc. We would also like a very scenic island with few crowds where we can rent a car/jeep and just drive around and stop to take in the beautiful scenery. We just want to get away from it all! See, we work in NYC and really need to give our nerves a break. I WAS working in WTC until those bastards destroyed those wonderful buildings! Okay, I'll try not to sound bitter. Just gotta look forward to my week in the Caribeean...but where??? We really appreciate your advice. Any moderately priced lodging advice is also welcome.

Alison

Oh, and just a few more things...
we have ruled out Jamaica, St. Martin, St. Thomas, Aruba, and Bermuda because I've read that they are very touristy and overdeveloped. Jeez, I'm picky...

Eva

Consider Grenada. It remains one of the few off-the-beaten path gems of the Caribbean, with very low-key development (nothing can be taller than the palm trees), and blessed with an abundance of natural gifts. The center of the island's "tourism" is Grand Anse Beach, where you can find any watersport your heart desires (even the dreaded jetskis). But if you want to get away from the action, you need only walk down the 2-mile beach a ways, or find another of the many secluded and varied gems of beaches on this island. And as for exploration, you have mountains, rain forests, waterfalls, hot springs, crater lakes, rum distilleries, nutmeg plantations, etc. The only caveat: driving is an adventure. Visit www.grenadaexplorer.com for more information, or visit my personal website for trip reports: www.homestead.com/islandtime/MainPage1.html.

Mary

November is still low season so no matter what island you choose, chances are good you won’t be affected by a lot of tourists. Quite often, we travel to the Caribbean around this time because of this (plus it’s typically cheaper).

Shari

Hi Alison,
My favorite is Anguilla, just six miles north of St. Martin. Absolutely STUNNING beaches, great snorkeling. I'm not a diver so I can't offer first hand advice, but there are dive operations on Anguilla. Have seen windsurfers, but have never seen jetskis there.

Best part is, there are only about 1,000 hotel rooms on the whole island, so beaches are never crowded, and you will often find yourself all alone on a gorgeous beach. The Anguillan people are as friendly as islanders I have met. Plenty of excellent dining options, and accomodations range from VERY upscale hotels to intimate, budget priced inns and apartments.

Check out http://news.ai
for all kinds of links to more Anguilla information.

anon

Have you considered Cozumel? I think it will accommodate all that you are seeking, especially the parts about diving (one of the best spots in the world) and renting a jeep and exploring.

R. Bailer

I second the Grenada recommendation. Great scenery, big enough to give lots to explore; driving a bit of an adventure but not all that bad, active or deserted beaches as you wish, friendly people. I do understand that the snorkeling/diving is not first class, but is available.

Alison

So far, we've narrowed it down to a few islands...St. Lucia, St. Croix, Cayman Islands. I don't think Grenada will be a choice because it's scuba diving isn't that great. What have you all experienced at St. John, Turks & Caicos, and British VI?

Eva

Of the places you mention in your last post, you might give some thought to the BVI. While you will not find much in the way of motorized watersports, the other activities are well-represented. The dive sites are well regarded. The BVI are green, hilly islands with low-key tourism on land; the focus is mostly on sailing.

As a dive destination, of the placs you mention, the Turks and Caicos is probably the best. The main beach on Providenciales, Grace Bay, is breathtaking -- one of the loveliest anywhere. And the hotels on the beach offer many of the activities you seek. However, Provo has gotten a little too commercial for my tastes, particulary with the advent of a number of large, all-inclusive resorts (Allegro, Beaches). Still, a bit of walking down the beach, and you can get away from the crowds. The island is otherwise not much to look at.

Penney

I live twenty minutes from the city so can understand you needing to get away from it all. Glad to hear you are safe.

We have been all over the different islands and to really get away from reality, Turks and Caicos is damn close. It is one of the last true desert islands - nothing much on the island, small town, and renting a jeep and just touring about is one of the things that peopel do most there, second to the excellent scuba at the Great Wall. The beaches are very long, pure white stretches of completely empty space, and th water is the clearest brightest of blues. Really beautiful. Theer are a number of great places therer. Some of the smaller are Coral Garens, The White House

Dee

I'd suggest you check out Barbados. Great scenery, gorgous water, good restaurants and good people.

Mr Helper

Your in the drivers seat now.Take your pick.

Sandy

Alison,
If your into diving, then I would recommend checking out Grand Cayman. It's some of the best in the world! And since the Sept 11th tragedy, tourism is way down on the island. Known as a very expensive island, you can get some really good deals right now. And from what I've heard over the past few weeks, the beaches are almost deserted. It's also a very quick flight from New York. It's the perfect island for renting a jeep and exploring!
Sandy

Karen

St. John is wonderful with wonderful views and scenery around every bend, over every hill. Since most of the island is Nat'l Park, it is still pristine and not as busy as the other USVI. It is a great spot to jump to the BVI's for a day trip or two. Small and private, your choices there are the Westin (not my choice), Caneel Bay (upscale and wonderful with 7 beaches on property) or one of the many villas or condos on the island. The hotels will offer the windsurfing but jet skiing is very limited in St. John waters for ecological reasons and the snorkling from the many beaches is great. But you can rent a dinghy and explore the beaches with that! There is great diving too. Most villas have at least a hot tub or plunge pool since there are very few on a beach but have fantastic views. If you go to www.stjohnlinks.com you will find great info as well as great pix of the beaches and views! The only thing is the quiet nitelife and it really is "getting away from it all." Always was and always will be. The Tourism Comm. is trying to put together 2fers for air for the USVI and you might want to watch for those specials. The BVI does offer more remote and isolated places as well. Virgin Gorda or any of the islands other than Tortola would be my choice if I wanted the Virgin Islands. There are many options from "high end" to more moderate accomodations rather than the two choices on St. John and villas that are lovely. TCI would be another choice but since they are flat and not tropical but scrubby and pretty barren (and absolutely lovely beaches) it may not be the scenery you are looking for. And those beaches and water sports are outstanding!
Good luck in your search!

Lee A/T

Highly recommed you check out Tortola. Easy to get to, great diving(you would love to dive the HMS Rhone!!!) and not real expensive. A great place to stay is Cane Garden Bay, lots of action there. Where ever you decide have a great time. Lee in Austin,Tejas

JMM

T & C has everything you want EXCEPT scenery. Fantastic snorkeling right off the beach, wall dives,excellent water clarity. Even the most 'developed' island - Provo is quiet. It is VERY safe - my husband has walked along Grace Bay at all hours of the day and night. Not much scenery - though - it is a dessert island. If you rent a 4 wheel drive there are some very pretty (and empty) coves up in Malcom Roadstead (extreme west end of island).

Jeremy

Malcolm roads, the best beach in the caribbean, IMO. Snorkleing on the beach, all to yourself. Its great. The drive is also fun.

Miriam

Allison,

My vote is for T&C. You won't regret!! It is ABSOLUTE BEAUTIFUL!!!!!! The Sands is a great reasonable place to stay!! The beach there is wide and no on it not even in August when we went!!

Miriam

ourpou

Southwest of Puerto Rico you have diving, kayak surrounded by mangroves, private beaches, light fishing, Cabo Rojo's Boqueron has ma and pa bars. High or low season is cheap. Locals are cools barely any toursits. The Paradores (small inns) have excelent services) All US citizen are secured because Puert Ricans are US citizens. The airport is among the safest airports under the FAAA administration and US government.

tweedy

Alison, there are SO MANY deals in the Carribean right now, because there are much fewer tourists from the states right now. I have heard from a couple of people who recently traveled that it seems the carribean is "closed", lol, but I think that is a bit sad that the "devistation" we experienced has far reaching results.

My suggestion is get in touch with Barbara at Liberty Travel, that's who I use when I travel and she has always done a great job for us.

Another suggestion would be my favorite island Harbour Island in the Bahamas, easy to get to from NYC, you fly directly into Nassau and take the fast ferry over. The 7am flight gets you into Nassau around 11 and you can be on the beach on Harbour Island by 3pm. The most beautiful beach you will ever see too.

There are a couple of nice places to stay and a few cheap places, so it's up to your pocketbook. Try this website for info and pictures of places to stay www.briland.com, or www.romorabay.com or www.runawayhill.com

I am so glad to hear you got out ok, I went down last weekend to see it for myself, and it really looks like a war zone. And it is....