Difficult Decisions!!
 

I am having a difficult time finding the right Next Destination...... I have not been a lot of places. However, Last year I went to Negril and found that i love snorkeling :) and really frustrated with beach peddlers. Here nor there, I felt a little confined to the complex as there was not much civilization, decent shopping, alternative restaurants....etc. Perhaps I am to Americanized. So for all the travelers out there here is what I'm looking for.

Her Idea vacation amenities - Spa, nice beach, morning coffee with a beach view, snorkeling, shopping, Good Food, Better Drinks, CLEAN and Warm, Warm water (I am in Northern IN and this is a must)..... love to hike, love waterfalls, Love mountains..... If only Colorado was in the tropics.

His Idea vacation amenities - beach, civilization, nice restaurants, awesome excursions, nature, BEER, great food, things to do outside resort.... :) ( Did I mention Beer??

I know this is a little scatter brained but this is how frustrating it is for me to select.......LOL

" things to do outside resort.... "

Have you considered not staying in a resort? Actually visiting a place, not a complex?

I would consider it ... absolutely. Again, need guidance. :/

Also, I should include that will will most likely do 6 or 7 nights and Budget....

Budget is Under 10,000.

I should add..... places we have considered; Costa Rica, Belize, Aruba, St Lucias area or Mexico. I know wide variety. I hate the idea of long all day plane rides but as long as its worth it I'm sure they make drugs for that.

That's certainly plenty of money.

Long plane flights are a pain, but if I wanted a tropical beach with fabulous food I'd head for Asia.

Anyway, you'll get a lot more responses if you post on the destination boards - maybe Central America, South America - not sure about snorkeling there - and Asia.

There's always Hawaii...

Consider Beequia in St.Vincent and the Granadines. You would have to change planes in Barbados. But, it has wonderful snorkeling and diving, has no beach peddlers,and lovely hotels. We liked the relatively unsophisticated Frangipani.

Be careful of the weather. In El Nino years, the southern islands tend to get a lot of rain.

St John, USVI, Grand Cayman or post on Caribbean forum

When are you going?

End of March early April at this point.

<I felt a little confined to the complex as there was not much civilization, decent shopping, alternative restaurants....etc.>

Negril has a lot to offer, there's loads of "alternative restaurants" but you'd need to have left your resort.

But even then it IS a rustic destination, sounds like you want something more upscale than what Negril is all about.

I think either Mexico or Hawaii better fits what you seek.