Caribbean Vacation

I'm new to this board and am currently looking into a trip for May.
I've been to Jamaica and the USVI.I'm looking for advice on my next
island adventure.

I just returned from a trip with my aunt in Jamaica. The people were
fabulous and so very friendly. They definitely made the trip
everything it was! My only disappointment in Jamaica was the inability
to just walk down the street and venture out on the island as two
females alone without taking organized tours. I would like to take a
trip with my mom and while I'm not prone to feeling unsafe and never
felt so in Jamaica, I know she might. Which islands are the easiest
and safest for this kind of travel? I'm not into plush accomodations
or spending my entire vacation on a resort. I love getting out and
meeting the people, so any advice would be appreciated.

Also, I went diving in Australia quite a few years ago but mostly
enjoy snorkeling. Does anyone know of islands with fairly shallow
shipwrecks that can be viewed while snorkeling?

"Kel" wrote in message
m...
I just returned from a trip with my aunt in Jamaica. The people were
fabulous and so very friendly. They definitely made the trip
everything it was! My only disappointment in Jamaica was the inability
to just walk down the street and venture out on the island as two
females alone without taking organized tours. I would like to take a
trip with my mom and while I'm not prone to feeling unsafe and never
felt so in Jamaica, I know she might. Which islands are the easiest
and safest for this kind of travel?

Tobago has a nice mixture of sightseeing and shopping and cultural
possibilities. Skip Trinidad. On Tobago, the further you get away from the
town and the airport the more friendly it gets. This is a stunningly
beautiful island, with surprises at every overlook. You're going to want a
camera and a wide angle lens. The roads are a B+, but they are mountainous
and demanding. The country folk are a delight and quite friendly.

I would suggest a rental car and you look at one of the bungalows at Blue
Waters Inn. It is in a stunning bay with a view of Ian Flemmings home,
located on a rocky island in the bay that is filled with the sunrise. There
are numerous less exopensive options, but the BWI wasn't overpriced and was
just lovely. The food service was passable but pricey- but the town of
Speyside was a quick car ride away with a few local places to eat.

Many birders go to this paradise and enjoy the waterfalls and other natural
life. There are no shallow wrecks that are easily accessed, but the reefs
are a paradise for snorkelers.

I'm not into plush accomodations
or spending my entire vacation on a resort. I love getting out and
meeting the people, so any advice would be appreciated.

Also, I went diving in Australia quite a few years ago but mostly
enjoy snorkeling. Does anyone know of islands with fairly shallow
shipwrecks that can be viewed while snorkeling?

The best place for easy snorkeling, with its own 140' intact upright
shipwreck that tops out in 20fsw, bottoming out in 40-60fsw is a resort in
Roatan called CoCoView at www.cocoviewresort.com , located on it's own
private 10 acre key.- so it may be a bit isolated for your needs. The wreck
is just 300' offshore of the small cluster of the very private over the
water cabanas. Mom will have no issues. Altho principally a dive resort it
is taken over by snorkelers when www.seaforyourself.com comes to visit- so
it sure works for snorkelers.

There's not a whole lot to do on Roatan other than hire a driver and go see:
The Iguana Farm, Treetop Jungle Canopy Slide Tour, Botanical Gardens,
Mangrove Water Taxi Tours, Garifuna Village trips, and to snorkel with the
Dolphins at a penned environment at Anthony's Key Resort. Do not drive your
own rental car on the D+ Grade roads- insane liability issues.There is some
minor shopping.- nothing to write home about. A very safe environment as
well.

Hope that helps. I have a SCUBA group trip going to CCV on May 15th-22nd for
$1110 with air from Houston, includes 7 nights in over the reef cabanas on
stilts, all meals, transfers, and all 24/7 SCUBA. This is quite a decent
value, well below the $1350 price that is standard. Call CoCoView and ask
for my "May trip". Maybe that will work for you?

Doc.

"Kel" wrote in message
m...
I'm new to this board and am currently looking into a trip for May.
I've been to Jamaica and the USVI.I'm looking for advice on my next
island adventure.

I just returned from a trip with my aunt in Jamaica. The people were
fabulous and so very friendly. They definitely made the trip
everything it was! My only disappointment in Jamaica was the inability
to just walk down the street and venture out on the island as two
females alone without taking organized tours. I would like to take a
trip with my mom and while I'm not prone to feeling unsafe and never
felt so in Jamaica, I know she might. Which islands are the easiest
and safest for this kind of travel? I'm not into plush accomodations
or spending my entire vacation on a resort. I love getting out and
meeting the people, so any advice would be appreciated.

Also, I went diving in Australia quite a few years ago but mostly
enjoy snorkeling. Does anyone know of islands with fairly shallow
shipwrecks that can be viewed while snorkeling?

San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize would be just great. The people are very
friendly, you can walk absolutely everywhere without a worry. It is
actually a fabulous destination for women. Lots go single.

There are no all-inclusive type resorts, many are small and cozy.

You can also take any number of day trips to the mainland and get some
jungle/ruins excursions too.

"chilly" wrote in message
news:XT4dc.45613$Pk3.6310@pd7tw1no...

"Kel" wrote in message
m...
I'm new to this board and am currently looking into a trip for May.
I've been to Jamaica and the USVI.I'm looking for advice on my next
island adventure.
San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize would be just great. The people are
very
friendly, you can walk absolutely everywhere without a worry. It is
actually a fabulous destination for women. Lots go single.

There are no all-inclusive type resorts, many are small and cozy.

You can also take any number of day trips to the mainland and get some
jungle/ruins excursions too.


I should have added this: www.ambergriscaye.com and check out the message
board while you are at that website. :^)

Kel wrote:
I just returned from a trip with my aunt in Jamaica. The people were
fabulous and so very friendly. They definitely made the trip
everything it was! My only disappointment in Jamaica was the inability
to just walk down the street and venture out on the island as two
females alone without taking organized tours. I would like to take a
trip with my mom and while I'm not prone to feeling unsafe and never
felt so in Jamaica, I know she might. Which islands are the easiest
and safest for this kind of travel? I'm not into plush accomodations
or spending my entire vacation on a resort. I love getting out and
meeting the people, so any advice would be appreciated.

My vote would be Tobago. Safe and friendly.

miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu

On 7 Apr 2004 21:00:11 -0700, (Kel) wrote:

Which islands are the easiest
and safest for this kind of travel? I'm not into plush accomodations
or spending my entire vacation on a resort. I love getting out and
meeting the people, so any advice would be appreciated.

You are not so likely to be hassled in the smaller islands that lack
heavy tourism development. I think its fair to say that "familiarity
breeds contempt" applies to tourists.

In the less developed islands, or even in less traveled areas of large
destinations away from from the tourism infrastructure, the local
people are living closer to their own traditions of mutual respect and
more likely to extend that same respect to visitors. The possibility
of getting to interact with the local people on a more sincere basis
is also greatly improved outside the hot spots.

I'd suggest almost any of the islands in the group known as St.
Vincent and the Grenadines (especially Bequia or St. Vincent or
Union). I also agree with the suggestions about Tobago.
Even the Outer Islands of the Bahamas might be put on that list with
the caveat that they are less interesting than SVG or Tobago.


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On 7 Apr 2004 21:00:11 -0700, (Kel) wrote:

I just returned from a trip with my aunt in Jamaica. The people were
fabulous and so very friendly. They definitely made the trip
everything it was! My only disappointment in Jamaica was the inability
to just walk down the street and venture out on the island as two
females alone without taking organized tours. I would like to take a
trip with my mom and while I'm not prone to feeling unsafe and never
felt so in Jamaica, I know she might. Which islands are the easiest
and safest for this kind of travel? I'm not into plush accomodations
or spending my entire vacation on a resort. I love getting out and
meeting the people, so any advice would be appreciated.

There is a close inverse correlation between number of people and safety.
For example, on Saba the hotels don't even give you room keys. They say
just leave the room unlocked when you go out. Then nearby Statia the people
were so friendly my hitchhiking rate was 100%. That is 100% of the first
vehicles to pass picked my up, and 100% of them took me directly to my
destination. Of course the island is small, so they weren't going too far
out of their way.

Both of these islands have diving, but Saba is know for deep diving and I
don't know about Statia.

Another small and crime-free island is St. Barts. I passed the lumber yard.
There was a big stack of tropical hardwood lumber just sitting there. No
one would take any.

The one island that is small but not as safe is Bequia. Their problem is
not robbery as much as burglary. The reason is they are a ferry ride away
from a populous island. The burglars can be on the 6 AM ferry back before
the crime is even reported.

On none of these islands do you need to spend a lot of money. They all have
guest houses.

You can find my trip journals listed on www.donwiss.com (which is down for
a day or so, so alternatively use www.panix.com/~donwiss/).

Don donwiss at panix.com.

Originally posted by Kel

Why don´t you go
to Margarita Island, Venezuela.
Great exchange rates 30% above the
official one.
Diving is around 80 Dolars, from Margarita Island you
could go to Los Roques a coral atoll with nicer diving grounds.
Have
you seen Angels Fall yet? The world´s highest waterfall.
Shouldn´t
you know where to change Dolars or Euros.
You could try to contact me.

best regards
Arnego2


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Don Wiss wrote:
On 7 Apr 2004 21:00:11 -0700, (Kel) wrote:

The one island that is small but not as safe is Bequia. Their problem is
not robbery as much as burglary. The reason is they are a ferry ride away
from a populous island. The burglars can be on the 6 AM ferry back before
the crime is even reported.
Don donwiss at panix.com.

You really don't give up your Bequia tirade, do you? Doesn't matter
what the subject - you pipe in with your "Bequia is a drug infested
criminal haven..." drivel.

a

The one island that is small but not as
safe is Bequia. Their problem is not robbery
as much as burglary.

Bequia is a WONDERFUL place. I wouldn't want anyone to come away with the
impression that Bequia isn't safe - it's ridiculously safe. I felt safe at
all hours with or without my husband. No one is going to attack, rob or
murder you at any time of the day or night. Theft is rare, and certainly
indicates the use of no more precautions than one would use in a safe US
suburb. I locked my room and put stuff in the trunk of my car rather than
visible on the seat - I don't know whether that is necessary, but it's just
my practice when traveling. Forget any ridiculous talk of Bequia not being
"safe."