Help! Need *New* Caribbean Vacation Destination

Please help us find what we are looking for in a *new* (for us!)
relaxing Caribbean vacation destination. We have been going together
for 3 years now and have very different tastes and histories in terms
of prior winter vacationing.

"He" is 52 and has always been a St. Martin guy at heart with its
uncrowded natural beauty, low hassle factor, low crime, laid-back
ways, endless gourmet food & restaurants, easy getting around in a
rental car, etc. "He" tried South Florida and Aruba (one time each)
and hated both for their crowds, noise, traffic (in Florida), stark
commercialism and high costs. The Bahamas likewise hold some bad
memories.

"She" is 47 and comes from an all-inclusive "stay in one place and
like it" Cancun and Dominican Republic perspective most recently...
liking both for what they were... with mostly Northern European
vacations under her belt prior to that. No mobility need for her to
enjoy an island... and little need for culinary variety or true
gourmet food either! For her, it's simply plunk down and veg out with
a good book!

After a whirlwind Caribbean cruise and several quick mini-vacations,
we are both ready again for a truly relaxing Caribbean vacation... but
she doesn't *get" the mobility and French island things at all... and
he doesn't *get* the Mexican and DR "all-inclusive" things... feeling
captive and having worked (with very little fun or pleasure to
remember) in both of those locations in years past.

The only thing we can agree on is that we want clean, uncrowded white
sand beaches and a very low crime location. The multi-island cruise
taught us quite well to avoid those islands and places where crime is
currently a bit out of control.

It seems hopeless right now. Especially on our relatively tight
budget for this year. Other than separate vacations... any ideas?

TIA,
Chuck and Chris

On 3/1/2007 2:04 PM Chuck & Chris wrote:
Please help us find what we are looking for in a *new* (for us!)
relaxing Caribbean vacation destination. We have been going together
for 3 years now and have very different tastes and histories in terms
of prior winter vacationing.

"He" is 52 and has always been a St. Martin guy at heart with its
uncrowded natural beauty, low hassle factor, low crime, laid-back
ways, endless gourmet food & restaurants, easy getting around in a
rental car, etc. "He" tried South Florida and Aruba (one time each)
and hated both for their crowds, noise, traffic (in Florida), stark
commercialism and high costs. The Bahamas likewise hold some bad
memories.

"She" is 47 and comes from an all-inclusive "stay in one place and
like it" Cancun and Dominican Republic perspective most recently...
liking both for what they were... with mostly Northern European
vacations under her belt prior to that. No mobility need for her to
enjoy an island... and little need for culinary variety or true
gourmet food either! For her, it's simply plunk down and veg out with
a good book!

After a whirlwind Caribbean cruise and several quick mini-vacations,
we are both ready again for a truly relaxing Caribbean vacation... but
she doesn't *get" the mobility and French island things at all... and
he doesn't *get* the Mexican and DR "all-inclusive" things... feeling
captive and having worked (with very little fun or pleasure to
remember) in both of those locations in years past.

The only thing we can agree on is that we want clean, uncrowded white
sand beaches and a very low crime location. The multi-island cruise
taught us quite well to avoid those islands and places where crime is
currently a bit out of control.

It seems hopeless right now. Especially on our relatively tight
budget for this year. Other than separate vacations... any ideas?

TIA,
Chuck and Chris

You didn't say what time of year. With a tight budget I am assuming
Summer? Mexico still gives the best bang for the US Buck. But instead
of the overly crowded party-party spots maybe look at smaller locals.
Playa del Carmen comes to mind. If you can avoid the cruise crowds
downtown during the day, you should have the place to yourself in the
evenings.

More isolated is Puerto Morales (just south of Cancun), and Tulum
Beach. The latter is about an hour and a half ride from the airport.

Then for more isolation there's Isla Mujeres, North West of Cancun is
reachable by ferry. To get "out of the box" of Isla you can do
excursions to colonial town Merida and/or Chichen Itza. For the budget
minded you might look into cabañas as opposed to hotels. Some provide
all the amenities of an AI, while others are very basic. The most basic
(no electricity) go for as little as $40.00 a night. Tulum Beach has a
very swank Cabaña next to the archaeological site including free
admission to the ruins of Tulum. During the summer it is very
reasonable. The property includes a pool, AC units with electricity and
a restaurant specializing in local food.

Dominica has some great beaches over 100 natural waterfalls, a
semi-active caldera, and scattered about the island are geothermal pools
that can be used for bathing. In the late Spring and Summer it can be
very reasonable. You can be as isolated or as "walking distance to town"
as you want to be.

To my knowledge there are no direct flights from the US. Your most
expensive cost will probably be your air fare. Still, Dominica (not
Dominican Republic) is a beautiful island worth visiting.
http://www.avirtualdominica.com/tourism.cfm
http://www.dominica-cottages.com/

--
____
Brian M. Kochera
"Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once!"
____
View My Web Page: http://home.earthlink.net/~brian1951

On Thu, 01 Mar 2007 20:01:04 GMT, Brian K
wrote:
You didn't say what time of year. With a tight budget I am assuming
Summer? Mexico still gives the best bang for the US Buck. But instead
of the overly crowded party-party spots maybe look at smaller locals.
Playa del Carmen comes to mind. If you can avoid the cruise crowds
downtown during the day, you should have the place to yourself in the
evenings.

More isolated is Puerto Morales (just south of Cancun), and Tulum
Beach. The latter is about an hour and a half ride from the airport.

Then for more isolation there's Isla Mujeres, North West of Cancun is
reachable by ferry. To get "out of the box" of Isla you can do
excursions to colonial town Merida and/or Chichen Itza. For the budget
minded you might look into cabañas as opposed to hotels. Some provide
all the amenities of an AI, while others are very basic. The most basic
(no electricity) go for as little as $40.00 a night. Tulum Beach has a
very swank Cabaña next to the archaeological site including free
admission to the ruins of Tulum. During the summer it is very
reasonable. The property includes a pool, AC units with electricity and
a restaurant specializing in local food.

Dominica has some great beaches over 100 natural waterfalls, a
semi-active caldera, and scattered about the island are geothermal pools
that can be used for bathing. In the late Spring and Summer it can be
very reasonable. You can be as isolated or as "walking distance to town"
as you want to be.

To my knowledge there are no direct flights from the US. Your most
expensive cost will probably be your air fare. Still, Dominica (not
Dominican Republic) is a beautiful island worth visiting.

Thanks very much Brian. You may be on the right track with the Mayan
Riviera. That keeps coming up over and over again as a logical top
choice. I just need to get over associating that area with my past
work and all of those endless travel and work-related hassles. Don't
know about others, but it is very hard for me to think "fun and
relaxation" about a place that I only remember for its hassles and
difficulties. I should also add that we have both already done the
Mayan ruins thing... her while on those past Cancun vacations and me
during occasional breaks in my work assignments.

I will have to do some serious research on Dominica. Can't say at
this point that I know very much about that location.

BTW... this vacation is planned for late March or April 2007. I also
regret giving the impression that this needs to be a bargain basement
vacation. One couple's "relatively tight budget" can be another
person's extravagant budget! Let's just say that we are looking for a
"mid-range" cost charter vacation for two leaving out of Boston's
Logan Airport... not the most expensive package, but not the cheapest
either.

The point on which we need the most help is that seeming contradiction
between "him" wanting an island (or resort area) that provides a
little fun, variety, mobility and true gourmet food... while "she"
just wants peace, quiet, solitude and privacy. That's the big
challenge. What's a new Caribbean place (for us)... definitely with
low crime... where we can somehow manage to satisfy us both?

Thanks again,
Chuck

The point on which we need the most help is that seeming contradiction
between "him" wanting an island (or resort area) that provides a
little fun, variety, mobility and true gourmet food... while "she"
just wants peace, quiet, solitude and privacy. That's the big
challenge. What's a new Caribbean place (for us)... definitely with
low crime... where we can somehow manage to satisfy us both?

Eastwinds St Lucia - its all-inclusive with gourmet food and wine; small and
peaceful, but with a 'dine around' option, and the island is very beautiful.
Or Tobago - beautiful island; fairly quiet (tho I fear it has a Hilton now).
Have you ruled out Barbados - you may have to search around a bit for peace
and quiet but I'm sure there are places that fit that bill, and the island
has a lot to offer in the way of fun, variety etc.


--
Rita Daggett

Chuck
Check out TNT vacations They charter out of Boston.
http://www.tntvacations.com/tntHome.jsp
My favorite is always Barbados No hassles very laid back and beautiful.
St Lucia is also nice but much harder to get around.

--
Dilly

http://home.comcast.net/~itsdilly/
http://community.webshots.com/user/savalier
People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did, but
people will never forget how you made them feel.

"Chuck & Chris" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 01 Mar 2007 20:01:04 GMT, Brian K
wrote:
You didn't say what time of year. With a tight budget I am assuming
Summer? Mexico still gives the best bang for the US Buck. But instead
of the overly crowded party-party spots maybe look at smaller locals.
Playa del Carmen comes to mind. If you can avoid the cruise crowds
downtown during the day, you should have the place to yourself in the
evenings.

More isolated is Puerto Morales (just south of Cancun), and Tulum
Beach. The latter is about an hour and a half ride from the airport.

Then for more isolation there's Isla Mujeres, North West of Cancun is
reachable by ferry. To get "out of the box" of Isla you can do
excursions to colonial town Merida and/or Chichen Itza. For the budget
minded you might look into cabañas as opposed to hotels. Some provide
all the amenities of an AI, while others are very basic. The most basic
(no electricity) go for as little as $40.00 a night. Tulum Beach has a
very swank Cabaña next to the archaeological site including free
admission to the ruins of Tulum. During the summer it is very
reasonable. The property includes a pool, AC units with electricity and
a restaurant specializing in local food.

Dominica has some great beaches over 100 natural waterfalls, a
semi-active caldera, and scattered about the island are geothermal pools
that can be used for bathing. In the late Spring and Summer it can be
very reasonable. You can be as isolated or as "walking distance to town"
as you want to be.

To my knowledge there are no direct flights from the US. Your most
expensive cost will probably be your air fare. Still, Dominica (not
Dominican Republic) is a beautiful island worth visiting.

Thanks very much Brian. You may be on the right track with the Mayan
Riviera. That keeps coming up over and over again as a logical top
choice. I just need to get over associating that area with my past
work and all of those endless travel and work-related hassles. Don't
know about others, but it is very hard for me to think "fun and
relaxation" about a place that I only remember for its hassles and
difficulties. I should also add that we have both already done the
Mayan ruins thing... her while on those past Cancun vacations and me
during occasional breaks in my work assignments.

I will have to do some serious research on Dominica. Can't say at
this point that I know very much about that location.

BTW... this vacation is planned for late March or April 2007. I also
regret giving the impression that this needs to be a bargain basement
vacation. One couple's "relatively tight budget" can be another
person's extravagant budget! Let's just say that we are looking for a
"mid-range" cost charter vacation for two leaving out of Boston's
Logan Airport... not the most expensive package, but not the cheapest
either.

The point on which we need the most help is that seeming contradiction
between "him" wanting an island (or resort area) that provides a
little fun, variety, mobility and true gourmet food... while "she"
just wants peace, quiet, solitude and privacy. That's the big
challenge. What's a new Caribbean place (for us)... definitely with
low crime... where we can somehow manage to satisfy us both?

Thanks again,
Chuck

Try the island of Nevis. Upscale and low stress with no Parrot Heads.
Truly the Caribbean the way it used to be before crass commercialism.
See my website on Nevis for more photos.

www.nevis1.com

Great island but a bit tricky to get to. Hope this helps.




On Thu, 01 Mar 2007 19:04:47 GMT, Chuck & Chris
wrote:

Please help us find what we are looking for in a *new* (for us!)
relaxing Caribbean vacation destination. We have been going together
for 3 years now and have very different tastes and histories in terms
of prior winter vacationing.

"He" is 52 and has always been a St. Martin guy at heart with its
uncrowded natural beauty, low hassle factor, low crime, laid-back
ways, endless gourmet food & restaurants, easy getting around in a
rental car, etc. "He" tried South Florida and Aruba (one time each)
and hated both for their crowds, noise, traffic (in Florida), stark
commercialism and high costs. The Bahamas likewise hold some bad
memories.

"She" is 47 and comes from an all-inclusive "stay in one place and
like it" Cancun and Dominican Republic perspective most recently...
liking both for what they were... with mostly Northern European
vacations under her belt prior to that. No mobility need for her to
enjoy an island... and little need for culinary variety or true
gourmet food either! For her, it's simply plunk down and veg out with
a good book!

After a whirlwind Caribbean cruise and several quick mini-vacations,
we are both ready again for a truly relaxing Caribbean vacation... but
she doesn't *get" the mobility and French island things at all... and
he doesn't *get* the Mexican and DR "all-inclusive" things... feeling
captive and having worked (with very little fun or pleasure to
remember) in both of those locations in years past.

The only thing we can agree on is that we want clean, uncrowded white
sand beaches and a very low crime location. The multi-island cruise
taught us quite well to avoid those islands and places where crime is
currently a bit out of control.

It seems hopeless right now. Especially on our relatively tight
budget for this year. Other than separate vacations... any ideas?

TIA,
Chuck and Chris

On Fri, 2 Mar 2007 16:17:10 -0000, "Rita Daggett"
wrote:
Eastwinds St Lucia - its all-inclusive with gourmet food and wine; small and
peaceful, but with a 'dine around' option, and the island is very beautiful.
Or Tobago - beautiful island; fairly quiet (tho I fear it has a Hilton now).
Have you ruled out Barbados - you may have to search around a bit for peace
and quiet but I'm sure there are places that fit that bill, and the island
has a lot to offer in the way of fun, variety etc.

Thanks for the tips. We did like Barbados a lot when we stopped there
on our 2005 cruise. Sadly, we never actually got to see any of the
beaches in the brief time we had there. We were too busy doing the
standard tourist things, which were quite interesting. The people
were very nice there. It could fit the bill.

St. Lucia was not one of our favorite stops. It was in the midst of a
serious crime wave at the time... or so they told us... and we were
warned to be extremely careful. In view of that, it's probably not our
best choice even if the resort itself is quite fine.

Chuck

On Fri, 2 Mar 2007 11:35:35 -0500, "Mildred Savalier"
wrote:
Chuck
Check out TNT vacations They charter out of Boston.
My favorite is always Barbados No hassles very laid back and beautiful.
St Lucia is also nice but much harder to get around.

Thanks Mildred - We know TNT very well... and GWV too. We were both
good customers of theirs long before we met. :-)

See my previous comments on Barbados and St. Lucia. Barbados may work
for us if the price is right... but we'll pass on St. Lucia for now.

Chuck

On Fri, 02 Mar 2007 12:29:51 -0500, Nevis Island Tourism
wrote:
Try the island of Nevis. Upscale and low stress with no Parrot Heads.
Truly the Caribbean the way it used to be before crass commercialism.
See my website on Nevis for more photos.
Great island but a bit tricky to get to. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the tip. We'll check out your website.

Funny that you should mention "the Caribbean the way it used to be..."
because that's really what we are BOTH seeking. Being over 50, I can
still remember St. Martin LONG before it went completely over the top
with over-development and over-crowding. Those were the good old
days. I'd personally do anything to capture that "sophisticated &
varied... yet still laid back & unhurried" kind of atmosphere again.
It was the very best! :-)

Chuck

There are pictures of Barbados on my webshots page.
The beaches are too good to be true!
Snorkeling with the turtles is a real treat and Surfing!
Very hard to find surfing in the Caribbean.
We stayed at the Savannah and the Amaryllis.
Through TNT with real air. Try to avoid Miami airport direct connect if you
can get it.
GWV merged with Apple and the prices went way up I am very sad to say, We
GWV ed our way to St Lucia.

--
Dilly

http://home.comcast.net/~itsdilly/
http://community.webshots.com/user/savalier
People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did, but
people will never forget how you made them feel.


"Chuck & Chris" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 2 Mar 2007 11:35:35 -0500, "Mildred Savalier"
wrote:
Chuck
Check out TNT vacations They charter out of Boston.
My favorite is always Barbados No hassles very laid back and beautiful.
St Lucia is also nice but much harder to get around.

Thanks Mildred - We know TNT very well... and GWV too. We were both
good customers of theirs long before we met. :-)

See my previous comments on Barbados and St. Lucia. Barbados may work
for us if the price is right... but we'll pass on St. Lucia for now.

Chuck