RSS
Twitter
Facebook
YouTubeI've never been to the Carribean and was considering going this winter. Everything I see online looks great, but it all sort of looks the same to someone who's never been. Where have you been that you liked or disliked? Suggestions of any sort would be great!
Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion » Q&A
What's the best Carribean vacation spot?
[32 posts] [23 contributors]
Topic Rating:
(Total Ratings: )
Rate this topic:
Rate this topic:
-
Columbusite
Minneapolis
Login to Send PM
I've only been to Puerto Rico, but it'd be hard not to have a good time there. There's San Juan (watch the bad neighborhoods that can pop up in one block) which has all the usual city amenities, beaches of, and if you can stomach it, cockfighting arenas. You should explore the island and check out the jungle, mountain region, beach towns, local cuisine (lechón and the seafood), and there are some of smaller islands just off the east coast which are more sleepy and remote. Expect to rent a car, since their public transit for getting around the island is as bad as ours.
Posted 2 years ago # -
joev
Merion Village
Login to Send PM
I think it depends on how long you want to stay.
I loved St. Croix - very laid back, less touristy than the other US Virgin Islands and much of the rest of the Caribbean. I think four or five days would be about the maximum to spend there, as you run out of restaurants after that (I'm not an all-inclusive person.) Definitely have to rent a car there, too. The beaches and snorkeling were amazing - some of the prettiest scenery I've seen, but the towns aren't much to speak of.
If you are staying longer, a larger island or one with more variety in non-beach activities would be better, but the tradeoff is that those are more touristy.
Posted 2 years ago # -
groundrules
Login to Send PM
I think it also really depends on what kind of vacation you want. if you just want a warm beach and to be totally pampered, there's a million big resorts south of cancun on the mayan riviera where you can be fed and happy without lifting a finger. if you're looking for more adventure or a cultural experience, you should look elsewhere. something a bit more independent like the island trips mentioned above. but flying to cancun is cheap, and i'd recommend Isla Mujeres if you want to be in that neighborhood but not surrounded by resort d-bags.
Posted 2 years ago # -
aaminian
Short North
Login to Send PM
I just went to Puerto Rico a couple months ago with my gf and a group of friends and had a blast. We stayed at the El San Juan Hotel and Casino (very clean/nice with beautiful lobby and bar areas). Used shermantravel.com and paid about $1200 total for 4 nights AND airfare for both my gf and myself. Awesome deal.
Posted 2 years ago # -
cc
Login to Send PM
Haven't been there, but several people I know swear by St. Barts.
Personally, my favorite 'caribbean' spot is camping at Bahia Honda Key in the florida keys. (you can drive there from Miami)
http://www.floridastateparks.org/bahiahonda/
imho it is as close to a Gilligan's Island vacation you can get in the States and it is dirt cheap.
Posted 2 years ago # -
PompousAss
Clintonville
Login to Send PM
I would have to agree with Pez, though I might be a little bias since I am typing this from Couples Swept Away. This is my first time on the internets in 6 days, which is sadly probably the longest I've gone since my honeymoon at Swept Away 3 years ago.
I've heard good and bad things about Puerto Rico and can tell you from experience that Jamaica is better than the Dominican Republic.
It depends on what your looking for in a vacation spot. If I'm going to take a week off of work for vacation I would prefer to go somewhere where I don't have to think about anything other than what book I'm going to read on the beach, which for me means going to an all inclusive. But if you are trying to get a taste of the local culture then all inclusive definitely isn't the way to go.
Posted 2 years ago # -
michaelcoyote
!seabus
Login to Send PM
cc wrote >>
Haven't been there, but several people I know swear by St. Barts.
Personally, my favorite 'caribbean' spot is camping at Bahia Honda Key in the florida keys. (you can drive there from Miami)
http://www.floridastateparks.org/bahiahonda/
imho it is as close to a Gilligan's Island vacation you can get in the States and it is dirt cheap.
used to live in Key West, and would go up with my GF all the time on weekends to go swimming there.. What an awesome place..
Camping in Florida isn't my thing though due to some unhappy experiences with red ants and sand spurs. Plenty of hotels down and up the keys though. Big Pine Key is closest
Posted 2 years ago # -
joev
Merion Village
Login to Send PM
Carambola Beach on St. Croix - all beaches on the island are public, so you can hang out at the ritziest places for nothin'!
I booked with CheapCaribbean.com for a great deal 5 nights w/ flights for 2 for $1100. If you are flexible on dates and locations, you can book really late and get an excellent deal.
Posted 2 years ago # -
dru
IV
Login to Send PM
joev wrote >>
all beaches on the island are public, so you can hang out at the ritziest places for nothin'!
.technically the same is true in Mexico. you can go to the Ritz and lie on their beach so long as you don't use their chairs, towels, etc... they can stare at you and make you feel really uncomfortable, but they cannot technically make you leave.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Bride777
Login to Send PM
Wow, so I see this thread and know MY favorite place in the Carribean thinking that I certainly wouldn't see anyone else post the same ... boy was I wrong! Couples Resorts are the most awesome for a relaxing, romatic vacation for two! We are CSS fans and are planning our next trip home in November 2010.
Posted 2 years ago # -
lilbit
GV
Login to Send PM
BigJuice wrote >>
Vieques! Small island off of Puerto Rico--Beautiful, rustic, cheap, often empty depending on when you go... Easy cheap ferry ride from Fajardo, PR.My parents have been to Vieques several times. They like it. It's not as developed or touristy as mainland (? if you can say that) Puerto Rico...not yet anyways.
Posted 2 years ago # -
ernesto
Login to Send PM
+1 on Vieques, PR, but I think Culebra is ten times better. For either island you can either take a ferry from Fajardo which is about 45 min. east of San Juan by car; or you can catch a puddle jumper from SJU. I've always taken the ferry and heard that the plane from SJU is not for the faint of heart.
Posted 2 years ago # -
hugh59
Aboard the ultimate power in Olde Towne East
Login to Send PM
Well, gee, I lived on St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands for four years. Imagine a tropical West Virginia.
Now St. John is just a 20 minute ferry ride away and it is lovely. 2/3rds of the island is national park. You have a little shopping and some nice restaurants on the west side of the island...and nature on the east side. I am also very fond of Tortola and Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands. If you go to Tortola and are there during the full moon, you need to go to the Bomba Shack for their full moon party...especially if it fals on a weekend. It is a wild time. Last time I went (in December of 98) I stayed at a little inn about a hundred yards down the beach (Sebastians by the Sea, if I remember right). I had a nice dinner, partied like hell, then went back to my room.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Mercurius
First Avenue
Login to Send PM
My vote is for MacDuff's on Norman's Cay. I went here once for a Marine Biology class and stayed on a sailboat. One of my fondest memories. While it doesn't have the topography of the Virgin Islands, the serenity more than makes up for it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman%27s_Cay
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kitty-cats-corner/sets/72157594434199035/with/455762298/Travel restrictions are slowly being lifted from Cuba and I would love to see it before too changes happen. While not the Carribean, CU member Daz had some of the most amazing photos I've ever seen from the Galápagos Islands. A bit more costly I'm sure but with most things, you get what you pay for...
Posted 2 years ago #
You must log in to post.
Launched in August 2010, TheMetropreneur.com is a local online resource devoted to small business development and entrepreneurship. Its aim is to tell the stories of Central Ohio's business community, foster regional economic development and assist entrepreneurs with its resource-heavy focus.