turks and caicos, aruba, st thomas

has any one been to the beaches and is it any good? do they have a casino?
going in july with our 3 sons 19,22, and 25 also looking into aruba, and st
thomas.
any suggestions?
Thanks

We've been to T&C and Aruba multiple times. Both have nice beaches and
Casinos. T&C has the better beaches, Aruba has the nicer casinos.
Aruba is much more 'developed' and Americanized. While T&C has been developed
a lot since our first visit, There are probably 1/10 the number of
resort rooms there. The restaurant choice is much more limited in T&C
and you need to be a little adventerous if not staying at an AI.
Of our two favored activities, Windsurfing is better at Aruba and Snorkeling
is better at T&C.
We have not stayed at Beaches T&C, since our children are grown and gone...
we stayed at Club Med. Walked to Beaches a couple of times. It seemed nice
but I have seen mixed reviews. For boys that age, I would seriously consider
the Club Med. (but it does not have a casino on the property.)
You can't go far wrong with either T&C or Aruba.
Mike

Hawaii0712 wrote:
has any one been to the beaches and is it any good? do they have a casino?
going in july with our 3 sons 19,22, and 25 also looking into aruba, and st
thomas.
any suggestions?
Thanks

thanks Mike Big help I think we are leaning towards Aruba..any suggestions
for a hotel there?
The "boys" love water sports and my husband likes the casinos and luxury!
Me..i like both!
Thanks for your help

Wish I could help you more... But on our first visit we stayed at
the Bushiri. While we enjoyed the stay, it is a ways from the beaches
(pretty close to town) and has closed and reopened several times since; I'm
not sure of the status now. The other stay was at the Allegro and I believe it
has been taken over by some other chain.
If you stay at about any of the resorts along Palm Beach you'll be able to
walk to any of the other resorts and any of the water sports providers.
If you or your boys are interested in Windsurfing, there is a good outfitter
and 'school' (Vela) at the Marriott. One of the main sports areas is (or was)
at a dock just about in front of the Holiday Inn.
You might want to read my trip report on our web page.
www.hammocktree.org/ms/trips.html
and scroll down to the Allegro Resort, Aruba review.

Oh, if you do a Sat. - Sat. schedule, be prepared for major lines and delays
on your departure. (see the Bonaire report for some information on that.)

Mike


Hawaii0712 wrote:

thanks Mike Big help I think we are leaning towards Aruba..any suggestions
for a hotel there?
The "boys" love water sports and my husband likes the casinos and luxury!
Me..i like both!
Thanks for your help