Michelle

We really did not like Martinique. We stayed at the Bakoua which was supposed to be the nicest hotel on the island and needless to say, it was not. Also the water was not that beautiful clear blue that we like so much. Thank goodness I speak French or my fiance would have been lost as most people DO NOT (or choose not to)speak English.

anon

St. Lucia

Beth

Jamacia!!!!!

Nancy

Our biggest disappointment was Aruba. Our expectations were very high because of the Aruba Bulletin Board. Every post was about Aruba being heaven on earth and paradise, the most beautiful beaches and the best food. We knew it was deserty, but didn't care because we were told that the beaches were amazing. We knew it was windy, but also didn't care because we were told that with no wind, it would be unbeliveably hot. The beaches were far from amazing and we had to fight for shade, the water was very very murky, sand blowing everywhere and no one mentioned the oil refinery and prision. Paradise does not have an oil refinery and a prison! The food was very good, but not great. Since we were so disappointed I swore off travel forums. However, I did find that the opinions on Fodor's and Caribbean-on-line travel forums were much more realistic. I'm not sure if we would have enjoyed Aruba more if I didn't lurk around the Aruba BB.

xxx

St Marteen

Carol M.

St Martin/Maarten. DUmp of an island. Filthy with trash and horrible traffic. Overrated & expensive restaurants. Very high crime (advised not to walk on beach at night!!!) That's a first. Also lots of aggressive panhandlers/vendors/dealers. Never again.<BR>

MA

Carol, you must not travel much. There is no island in the Caribbean where you are not advised to avoid walking the beach at night. This includes even St. Barth's and Grand Cayman.

Syndy

To Nancy:<BR>The post is about which ISLAND was a disappointment "In terms of scenery, beaches, sightseens, things to do, etc.", if you had done your research on Tobago and know it does not boasts luxury resorts then you should have known what to expect from Grafton. I find it unfair that you brand the Island as being a disappointment when you were disappointed in just the hotel.<BR>

Carol M.

Uh, "MA", you're wrong. I go to Seven Mile Beach every November and have NEVER been advised by anyone not to stroll on the beach at night, and in fact I often walk between the Marriott and Holiday Inn in the midnight moonlight and have never felt unsafe for a moment. Same is true of Aruba's two most popular beaches, Palm & Eagle. Plenty of people take wonderful nighttime walks in complete safety. <BR><BR>Apart from one stretch of Cancun, St. Martin is the ONLY place where I've been told it's unsafe to walk on the beach after dark (by my concierge). Please do tell me what I'm missing here, MA.

MA

Now you can consider youself both "told" and "lucky". I'm guessing it's dumb luck.

Tim

Carol you truely have bad taste. If you like the dry ugly one beach full of high rises non culture american island of cayman more than the green large mountains, good shopping, good grand case restaurants, actually great, you just have bad taste, and not to mention great beaches. Very high crime, yea right. SXM is safe compared to most. Stay in Cayman Mrs. bad taste.

Anon.

We knew Tim would be back, defending that hellhole of an island, St. Martin / Maarten with all his might. Carol's right. Let it go already, Tim.

Tina

Just had to agree with you Nancy. Before I found Fodors, I used to visit the BB in visitaruba.com and the people there make it sound like heaven. The Palm Beach was murky and there was an awful smell (sewage) from the low rise hotel section. Of course when I reported this at that BB, they told me I must be either delusional or hallucinating. If I found fodors before I made my plans, I would never go there.

coconuts

Nancy,<BR>Rather than the Grafton, you should have stayed next door at Le Grand Courlan. It's a few dollars more a night, but the rooms and atmosphere are better. That narrow access road bordering the beach never bothered us. It was rare to see a car on it. We've stayed at the Courlan twice and at the Hilton once. The Hilton was very nice, but I generally prefer smaller, more intimate hotels. I also like the Blue Waters Inn in Speyside -- basic accomodations in an isolated, beautiful setting.

Bud

I would have to agree with Tina and Nancy. Aruba has become "Miami Beach South". I wrote a unflattering look on Aruba a couple of months ago and was viciously attacked on the Aruba BB. The only reason people defend Aruba is because it is cheap compared with other islands. I loved Aruba a couple of years ago, but now it is becoming like St. Martin. Traffic, noise, trash, etc. I can see that at home.

Nancy

Coconuts, you are right. We did have dinner at Le Grand Courlan one night, and it did seem to be nicer. It wasn't that much more expensive, but the travel agent pushed us toward Grafton - probably a bigger commission.<BR><BR>Cyndy, as I said, one of the criteria I use for going back to an island is accommodations in the category I'm looking for. IMHO, Tobago does not have that variety. It's my choice and my impression. If you will go back to my original post, I said I enjoyed the island immensely. I don't have to justify my reasons for not going back to you.

Chris

Cindy,<BR>Please chill out honey. By the way, the name is Chris - not Kris.

Tim

Wrong Tim, Anon. Besides, I DETEST St. Martin!

Anon

Carol M,<BR><BR>The reason you probably were told not to walk the beaches at night in SXM .. they didn't want you scaring anyone else.<BR>

Tim

So far people on this thread have said st. martin is a hellhole and they detest it. No facts as usual, because St.martin is the best island in the carib. Great beaches, restaurants, shopping, mountains, and day trips.