Dear all,<BR><BR>I need to get away for a short time and would like to try the islands. Can anyone suggest a quiet place that is safe for a single lady?

Dear Elaine,<BR><BR>Try Belize, look into Victoria House. If you have not traveled before read up on travel safety before you leave.

Anguilla. That's where Mom & I went when Pop passed. It was a beautiful, peaceful island.

Try Barrymore Beach Club, Antigua. Very peaceful, great apartments and beautiful grounds. The owners manage it and will take good care of you.

One of the out-islands might be nice. They are very laid back and peaceful with miles of prestine beaches and pretty easy now to get to. There are many adorable places to stay - a good one is Pink Sands.

Penney: I recall from past posts that yours are consistently egocentric! <BR>"Pretty easy now to get to". From where???? I get the feeling that you have never stayed @ some of these 'adorable' places that you are suggesting.

I agree with Penny that some of the Out Islands in the Bahamas might be perfect for a quiet getaway.<BR><BR>Penny is also right that it is easier to get to some of the outislands these days, like Eleuthera, Spanish Wells, Abaco and Harbour Island.<BR><BR>You can fly directly into Nassau and take the Fast Ferry over to Harbour Island (2 hour trip) or fly on Bahamas Air (15 minutes to N. Eleuthera)<BR><BR>There are several nice places to stay on island, like Bahama House, Romora Bay, Runaway Hill to name a few.<BR><BR>The island is very laid back, beautiful beach and some good restaurants.<BR><BR>Hope this helps a bit and I am so sorry to hear of your loss.

Find an island that matches your personality;it needn't be remote to give<BR>you a private retreat away from the world. You'll find perfect getaways on obvious islands as well as outling ones that are more difficult and expensive and time-consuming to get to. If you can, escape for a minimum of 10 days, giving you a breather for travel days on each end. Beyond reflection time, you may<BR>also want human contact. There's nothing like the warmth of the Jamaican character -- or as one of our guests last week E-mailed us --"What better place to spend a holiday than surrounded by not only natural beauty, but also a people who have naturally beautiful souls."

When I want a few days in the sun by myself I have gone to Jackie's on the Reef in Jamaica,near Negril.<BR><BR> It is a tiny, unique, inexpensive holistic spa with 4 or five lovely rooms. It is on the water--on a coral reef--but not on the beach.<BR><BR> Massages are required (!), and conducted in a hut right next to the sea. The food is healthful, original, and great (Jackie, like me, is from New York, her standards are high). <BR><BR> Usually it's women staying there, occasionally one has a man with her but it's basically a restful, slightloy spiritual, soothing feminine environment. Guests eat with Jackie at one table. Otherwise people leave you alone.<BR><BR> I will usually get Jackie's driver to take me to the beach in Negril after lunch and pick me up in time for dinner. You can go sit in the chairs at a nice hotel, there's some kind of arrangement. <BR><BR>

Dave,<BR><BR>Thank you Dave, for once again confirming that people on this board are not allowed to voice a personal opinion, which, after all, people are indeed asking for, without getting unnecessary crap.<BR><BR>Penney