Which islands to hop around during the holidays?
 

We would like to do a few islands at Christmas possibly. Which ones would you suggest. We are thinking Aruba.

What other island would be a good combo?

Unless your island hopping by air, IMO, Aruba is not the place to go. Have you considered Bequia/St. Vincent and the Grenadines or the U.S. & British Virgin Islands?.......plenty of islands to visit via short boat trips.

The Virgin Islands are very easy to hop around. Infact, there is a boat operator New Horizons II which operates out of U.S. Virgin Islands that will take you to 4 British Virgin Islands in one day. The Virgin Islands are pretty close together but each has a very different "flavor." Have a great time.

The Grenedines, you can hop around to Canouan, Union, Mayreau, Palm, and others. Virgin Islands, you can hop around Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, Tortola, St. John's, others, and both are excellent choices. Hopping around islands with different feels from each other would be Anguilla, St. Martin, St. Bart's and Saba.
Any islands that have ferries between them are good hopping material.
From Nassau their are ferries to Harbour Island and Eleuthera.
On a smaller scale, The Exumas have a lot of small Cays with desserted beaches, there are enough cays for a lifetime to see, and you can even make it to Long island.
The Abacos in the Bahamas has it too, hop around Marsh Harbour to Treasure Cay, and to Green Turtle Cay, Elbow Cay and Great Guana Cay.
Of course, there is always a cruise.

I would do St. Martin, Anguilla and either St. Barts or Saba.

I have done several trips like this including:

St Martin, Anguilla and Nevis in the same trip. It was very easy travel, ferry and short flights.

St Thomas / St John (ferry)

St Thomas / Tortola / Virgin Gorda (ferry)

St Kitts / Nevis (ferry)

St Martin / St Barths (many flights per day)



There are lots of options. Liat offers 21 day passes which you can purchase if you are going to fly. Ferries are often easier if you are going somewhere that has them...

OH - I forgot we also did

St Thomas / Virgin Gorda / St Barths - that was a little more difficult as we had to come back to St Thomas and fly to St Barths... but it was fantastic!

My vote goes to the Grenadines. My favorite.

Since you asked about "hopping" from Aruba, I would say Curacao would be your best bet from there.

My friend had said Grenadine as well.

Where did you stay? I have heard little aobut the area.

I stay on the Mainland, St. Vincent. What type of accomodations are you looking for? I stay at a small family owned hotel/apt. The type of place locals reside when they are visiting home. Accomodations are very basic, more like apartments than a hotel. One room efficiency has a private bath, stove, refridgerator, twin beds,table chairs, a couch and as you sit outside with your juice or coffee a view of the Caribbean and Bequia to die for.
Do a websearch St.Vincent and the Grenadines, all the info you need will be available. If you have any specific questions just ask. I promise if you choose you won't regret. I was there the beginning of Dec. 04 got to see Light Up Night wherew the community Christmas tree is lit, bands music all kinds of good stuff happenin' Christmas is a big holiday for the country.