Help: Vacation spot secluded pool, vistas....
 

My wife and I are observant Jews in search of a vacation spot in the sun. For modesty reasons we require an extremely secluded area to sit out in the sun or swim. We also require a room/suite/villa with a kitchenette so we can prepare kosher food. <BR> <BR>It would be ideal if the spot had nice vistas, mountains, ocean.... <BR> <BR>While I am asking, I might as well empty the bag... If the area had some kind of night life, casino? movie? <BR> <BR>It is a tall order but the fodors gang has been very helpful in the past <BR> <BR>Thank you <BR>Michael

There are a lot of web sites to help with this...try www.kosherica.com or www.jewishtravel.com.

Are you willing to leave the U.S.? <BR> <BR>If so, Ladera Resort on the island of St. Lucia has rooms with private pools and kitchenettes. It is gorgeous. Open-air rooms high on a hillside overlooking the Piton mountains and the Caribbean. More on this in the Caribbean forum and check out www.ladera-resort.com <BR> <BR>I also stayed at a wonderful resort in Costa Rica called Villa Caletas, also high up on a cliff overlooking the Pacific ocean with beautiful views. Some rooms have private pools but I'm not sure about kitchenettes. http://www.distinctivehotels.com/hot...etas/rooms.htm <BR> <BR>Another hotel in Costa Rica that has private pools is Punta Islita. I have not stayed there but have heard good things about it. Don't know about kitchenettes. http://www.hotelpuntaislita.com/ <BR> <BR>In Mexico there is a hotel called La Casa Que Canta which has suites with private pools. Don't know about kitchenettes. Maybe check Latin America forum. <BR>http://www.casaquecanta.com.mx/ <BR> <BR>There are also lots of places in the U.S. Virgin Islands that would meet your needs (probably St. John if you want mountains) -- private home and villa rentals with private pools -- there are many posts on this in the Caribbean forum if you search old threads. <BR> <BR>Good luck! <BR>

Those of you who have read my post entitled 'Hawaii or FL, Ocean View but NO Close-View of People?- Looking For Special Accomodations...' can imagine my surprise in finding this post. <BR><BR>A few comments:<BR><BR>1. As a fellow observant Jew, I commend Michael for abiding by the laws regarding modesty. I must, however, point-out that 'nightlife' such as casinos and movies are also not acceptable for Jews by Torah standards. <BR><BR>2. Kosherica runs cruises with kosher food cooked fresh on-ship as well as Jewish prayer services, lectures and music. From their website: <BR><BR>"Kosherica offers luxury cruising on fantastic five-star oceanliners to wonderful destinations worldwide together with quality Jewish entertainment and gourmet Glatt Kosher food prepared fresh daily by five star chefs."<BR><BR>I have browsed their website and received their brochures and, unfortunately, I have not seen any mention or indication of concern over Orthodox modesty requirements and sensibilities. <BR><BR>Unfortunately, many Orthodox Jews do not appreciate that the laws and concepts of being 'kosher' are not limited to _food_ but encompass all areas of life. There are numerous vacation programs and cruises throughout the world that bill themselves as being 'kosher' but the overwhelming majority of them pay little, if any, concern to truly being 'kosher' beyond just the food they serve. Ironically, many of them boast of adhering to the highest standards of 'kashrus' (Kosher observance)- even in so far as abiding by stringencies and customs not absolutely mandated by the law[1] -while completely ignoring the Torah requirements and restrictions concerning modesty, many of which are _at least_ as severe as many of the dietary laws. This modern-day paradoxical phenonemon would be absolutely unthinkable to our forefathers and still is absoultely unthinkable to the truly devout. <BR><BR>3. I appreciate Lisa's list and will be saving it. I plan to look into some of those and may add them to the list of worldwide options that I am compiling. <BR><BR>NOTES:<BR><BR>[1] It should be noted that there is a big question as to how reliable the kosher supervision of even the food itself is on many of these programs. Esteemed rabbinical leaders have warned that as a general rule, if a program offers an _enviornment_ and _activities_ that are not 'kosher', it usually reflects poorly on the actual standard of the kashrus of the food as well.<BR><BR>(DISCLAIMER: I do not mean to impugn any specific program in this regard but merely am urging caution in general.)<BR>

I just forgot to add that at this point, I know of one kosher program in a warm location that sounds as if it really does adhere to Orthodox modesty requirements. It's for this coming Passover, at the 'Mira Monte' resort near Palm Springs. The website is http://www.chevrahpesach.com/index2.htm<BR><BR>Last year was their inaugural year, at resort in Florida. (I think it was near Ft. Lauderdale)<BR><BR>DISLCAIMER: I take no responsibility for any aspect of any program or accomodation that mention, whether religious or otherwise. People should do their own research and consult their own rabbis.<BR>

Sammy:<BR>I read your original question (elsewhere). Rather than rambling on and on in a very tangential and circuitous fashion without making much sense, you should have simply stated your question as Michael did.<BR>There's an old saying that when someone must use 1000 words to answer (or in this case ask) a basic question, they're usually bluffing or don't know what they're talking about. I was having a hard time making heads or tails out of your question(s), though it's quite clear now.<BR><BR>Anyway, as is often the case, the archives at Fodor's hold a wealth of info, and I'm glad that you were able to find a few leads.<BR>Hopefully other readers will be able to offer additional insights.<BR>Good luck with your planning.<BR><BR>

While there are obvious striking similiarties, there are also some impt. differences b/w my inquiry and Michael's.<BR>

As suggested earlier by another...<BR>Sammy is in need of some serious therapy.