Hi all,
I have a seven day certificate to use at a Marriott and a companion pass on Southwest to use over Thanksgiving week. I have narrowed down our choice to either Aruba or Caymans. I will be honest in saying these would not be two islands I would normally choose (I prefer more off the beaten path, less touristy places). We usually travel to far off places but have been to Puerto Rico, the BVIs and Jamaica-I grew up spending summers at our home outside Montego Bay. We are not typically lie on the sun people but some relaxing is OK. We like activities such as cultural interactions, cooking classes, hiking, snorkeling and we like to fly fish. We enjoy going to local places to eat as well-prefer someplace we can walk to or easily get a ride to so no need to worry about drinking and driving. We loved Costa Rica and Belize for the ability to walk down the beach to local places. I had looked at Eleuthera too, but I am concerned there is too much added expense getting there from Nassau and then to the resort and then I feel like we are locked in-ie not much around the resort as far as I can tell. Which island will at least have some more cultural feel to it? I loved Jamaica for that-I always knew I was in a culturally unique place. I wanted Curacao, but there is no availability at the hotel right now-if it opens, I think that is what I will book. Thanks for any help!

If you don't like "touristy places", steer clear of Aruba, which reminds me of Miami in the Caribbean. It's very commercialized. Grand Cayman is, too, but not nearly as much, and the beaches IMHO are nicer than either Palm or Eagle Beach in Aruba.

I agree with the above poster. While we like Cayman it is certainly not off the beaten path. And overall it is quite an expensive destination. I really like the idea of Eleuthera for you (we have been 3 times now). It would fit you nicely expect you will need a car to get anywhere unless you stay in Gov Harbour. Even then you should rent a car to explore the tons of stunning beaches (more of less all empty) littered all over the island. For us besides the beaches feels like the Caribbean from many years ago...quiet, lovely people, no high rise hotels, good beach bars and restaurants...heavenly

Thank you both. Have definitely eliminated Aruba. My original plan was for Eleuthera but as I said, was worried about additional costs and difficulty getting to from Nassau (have to connect there because of SWA). I will look a little more closely into it but am thinking that Eleuthera will probably be the better choice and I will just have to suck up the additional costs! Thanks!

I am in the process of researching a first visit to Bonaire- have you been there? See Marriott http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/boncy-courtyard-bonaire/

From all I have been reading, it sounds like it might tick many of your boxes!

I have been to PR, BVI, Eleuthera- not Aruba so can't comment. I have not been to Grand Cayman in 30 years but know it is way too busy for us now- we are headed to Cayman Brac on a dive trip in April but it is worlds apart from GC.

Take a look at Bonaire if you have not been there.

Pick Nassau/Paradise Not because you love it there, but because you can Day trip to

northern Exumas (stunning)

Harbour Island

although they’re just day trips for you, you get away from what you don’t like, and venture to where you do (even if just day trips)

you can even even go to HI twice, once for HI, once take water taxi and introduce yourself to eleuthera

and from the main island, go hang out and eat at Compass Point, which is more of what you seek.

You can also day day trip to Rose Island

so use your Marriott as a base point, but get what you want out of it

aruba has no real Islands to explore this way

caymans has little and brac, but harder to do than using base in Nassau to explore Out Islands