HELP! Please help to narrow down a tropical destination
 

Hi to all-

My boyfriend, my mom, and sister are planning a tropical vacation in December of this year. We are hoping to obviously find a place with great beach weather at this time. The more I google and research Caribbean Islands/other places the more overwhelmed I become. Below are some places we are considering. Any help on resorts/places to stay, all inclusive or not, activities/things to see, etc. would be greatly appreciated. We have been to Maui, St. Lucia, Jamaica, and Cancun in the past so looking for different places this go around. I'd also like a not very poverished island/place outside of resorts, as I had a bit of a shady experience in St. Lucia. We also are interested in any combo of these (whichever combos win us over): overwater beach bungalow, infinity pool, wild animal excursion/activities, historical site tours/culture, safe, fun nightlife, rainforest perhaps, near other islands to tour by boat for a day trip, pink sand beaches...basically not a "typical" beach island. We want to stay possibly 6 nights, nothing crazy expensive (maybe no more than $1,500/person.)

Places in mind are:
St. John
Belize
Azores-google claims the weather isn't too warm in December...?
Turks & Caicos
Tortola
Bermuda-pink sand beaches, yes?
Dominican Republic
Virgin Gorda
Puerto Rico
St. Barth's

Any tips/info is much appreicated!

Also-not looking to zipline, paddle board. Would love it if there were some waves for surfing, I love to snorkel, we aren't looking for major excursions that are off the resort..more of a relaxing on the most beautiful beach out there with crystal clear water...GREAT food and drinks, we love music, fun night life, shopping...just unique things that I won't find perhaps on a beach vacation in Florida (although I love Florida panhandle beaches.)

Ohhh dulce, I sense a little rudeness in your response. No need for one if that's what you are going to say! Thanks. I've contacted a travel agent that was no help, so that is why I chose to continue the search on my own.

I'm actually looking for personal experiences and reviews.....

bns1104: You will get much more/better/friendlier response if you re-post on the Caribbean Forum and possibly on Europe (tagged for Portugal for the Azores).

This forum is more for 'non-destination' topics - like luggage, electronics, etc.

janisj-thank you. I did post this in the Caribbean forum as well. I hope eventually I will get some worthwhile feedback. :)

Given that the 'tropics' covers a huge area that spans various countries and continents, you would have to post on nearly every geographic specific sub-forum on Fodors. This is the only sub-forum that actually covers all posibilities geographically.

The constant suggestions to post on a geographic specific forum by some posters, only serves to continue to limit the usefulness of this sub-forum. The more people that use this sub-forum, the more it will attract to provide answers.

There is no rudeness in my response bns1104, only honesty. You are asking for a typical package holiday. That you don't think it is, doesn't change that.

I've been to all of the places you list with the exception of the Dominican Republic. I sailed to most of them on a sailboat rather than flying to them. They are all package holiday destinations.

Your budget of $1500 per person doesn't really allow for you doing anything other than a package holiday.

I could suggest that you charter a skippered sailboat in the British Virgin Islands for a week for a more unique holiday than you are used to. Experiencing New Years Eve at Foxy's Bar is one of the top ten must experience things on many sailor's wish lists. Snorkeling at the Baths or discovering Pusser's Rum at the Pusser's Restaurant in Sopers Hole are other highlights. I could go on but there is little point when a charter would run you roughly $10k for a week all in for the boat and skipper but not including your airfare to/from Tortola.

There is no rudeness intended when I say you have a package holiday(beer) budget and champagne wishes. To suggest anywhere further afield such as the Cape Verde Islands or Madagascar perhaps will simply increase the cost. So your stuck with the usual suspects, all of which any good travel agent is familiar with.

>>Given that the 'tropics' covers a huge area that spans various countries and continents, you would have to post on nearly every geographic specific sub-forum on Fodors. This is the only sub-forum that actually covers all posibilities geographically.<<

From the list bns provided he would not have to post on all the other forums. Just the two I recommended.

>>The constant suggestions to post on a geographic specific forum by some posters, only serves to continue to limit the usefulness of this sub-forum. The more people that use this sub-forum, the more it will attract to provide answers.<<

Nothing posted here will 'attract' others since most members only check the Geographic boards. Now if a poster has absolutely no idea where they want to go - <i>then</i> posting here might help them refine their thinking. But once they have a semi/sorta plan . . . it would be off to the Geographic forums for detailed/better response. If someone already has some ideas re places - posting here is really a waste of time.

And IF you notice - the OPs post on the Caribbean has received a TON of very thorough advice/discussion, none of which would have happened here.

And one more thing then I'll leave it. I have absolutely no horse in this race . . . my ONLY reason for posting this specific advice is to help folks get better/more effective use of the forums.

I've thought of another possibility for you to look at.

Find the cheapest flights that will get you to ST. Thomas in the US Virgins. Take a taxi to from the airport to Red Hook and the ferry from there to St. John. Take a taxi to Concordia Eco-Resort. Book an 'eco-tent' which sleeps up to 6.

That will be a pretty unique vacation by most people's standards. http://www.concordiaeco-resort.com/

All you have to do is figure out the cost per person and see if it will fit your budget.

My favourite memory of St. John was a day charter skipper who sold t-shirts to his day trip guests with the boat's name on the front and an outline of a woman on the back with 'Put a little colour in your cheeks, sail naked' written below it.

I replies on your thread in the Caribbean forum.

Sorry all, just checking this one. Thanks again for the suggestions! Much appreciated.

Hi BNS,

I've been to several of the places you mention and would like to add my impressions.

First, as I've discovered you can't generally have good snorkeling and waves at the same place. Sometimes you can get it at different parts of the same island, but even that is not common.

I would eliminate Bermuda since it won't be warm enough to swim when you want to go. I would also remove Dominican Republic from your list - It's mostly AI's in the area with nice beaches and you can't really wander by yourself outside them.

I would recommend Puerto Rico as a possibility. On the big island there are nice swimming beaches with waves as well as the culture of Old San Juan. There is a range of places to stay at all price levels. If you also stay a couple nights in Vieques, you can see something truly unique - the Biobay.

Belize is also a good choice for you in that it has great snorkeling and wildlife. Another place to consider is Costa Rica which has beaches, wildlife and a smoldering volcano, though not all in the same place.

If you want pink sand beaches, you can check out Eleuthera in the Bahamas. It's beautiful but there's not a lot else to do besides swim, snorkel and boat.

Good luck and have a great time.