Carribean Vacation Suggestions needed
 

Mrs WD and I want to get away for a week this January or February.

Our goals are:
Get warm, rest, eat, drink, revel in being together. We don't want adventure, we don't want to learn anything, we don't want an "experience." We are exhausted and it's just going to get worse. We want to get far away ASAP and that is mid-January. We've been to the Mexican beaches and the Bahamas and those places would fit the bill, but I'm wondering if anyone has any other suggestions.

After living there for many years and being of Trinidad descent, I recommend the French Islands or the southern part of the Lesser Antilles.

Eat, drink, revel, be together and "nothing special" to do.

Key West.

Go to Belize on Southwest.
Puddle jump or water taxi to one of the Cayes.

Rent an AirBnB on the beach, with a deck, kitchen, balcony, and beach access for 1/10 the cost of a resort hotel.

We spent eleven days in Trinidad and Tobago, I liked it. But if you want quiet make sure you don't go the weeks leading up to or during Carnival. If you want crazy go for Carnival.

I recently spent a week in Cancun. Sounds like you've been there and know what's up. . . I think it would fit your bill pretty nicely though.

edit: Also have been to St. Thomas for a week with day trip to St. John, Everything in Mexico was nicer, cleaner, bigger, better.

We also spent a week in the islands off Boca del Toro, Panama, that's quiet and fun.

An all inclusive resort in the Dominican would fit the bill as posted (unless Mathew screwed it up). And the DR is fairly inexpensive.

There's a few nice resorts on St Maarten if you get away from the airport. You can fly direct to Tortola also but IMO the beaches aren't as good. There's more fun to be had near Tortola if you want to get in a boat but doesn't sound like you wanna move Around much.

Look at Roatan , had great time !!

My wife and I love St John. It's a US Virgin Island, so no customs or immigration hassles, US currency, and english is the language. St. John has very few cars, smaller hotels, and very laid back.


https://www.tripadvisor.com/SmartDeals-g147409-St_John_U_S_Virgin_Islands-Hotel-Deals.html

St. John | US Virgin Islands

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1475851759.jpg

We went to Punta Chivato, east coast of Baja, very private and very quiet. We spent a week but it's quiet. It's a place you should take a new girlfriend. The Rat Pack used to hang there.
We have also spent a few days each on ST Criox, I liked it, Barbados, I liked it, Puerto Rica, didn't care for it.

I like central and southern Baja too, and go often, but they want to "get warm" in the dead of winter. Baja will be warmer than anywhere in the US, but it's still winter there. Highs in Punta Chivato will likely be in the hi-60's to mid-70's in January...maybe even chilly at night

Not much of a beach guy but friends of ours chose the Nesbit Plantation on Nevis for their wedding and asked me to officiate. Very comfortable bungalos, an outstanding restaurant on the premesis, bar/beach/pool, but the real treat was the staff. Sincere, welcoming hospitality without being formal or stuffy. Fly to St. Kitts and take the water taxi to Nevis. Pricey but a very memorable winter break.

Biras Creek, Virgin Gorda
Esmarelda, St Marting

Aruba. Great place to do nothing. All inclusive,low rise side of the island. A hotel called Manchebo. Foods great drinks are great and if all you want to do is relax that's the place. If you decide you want to do something it's a small island with a bus system and cabs.

I have been to All-Inclusives in Cuba (x2), Antigua, Jamaica, Panama (x2) & they are all pretty much the same. Bake on the beach, drink, line up for buffets, try to ignore the irritating people, drink more, fight for beach/pool chairs, more buffet, try to get reservations for the special restaurants but you realize you should have booked them the moment you arrived like everybody else unless you do get in & then you realize the special restaurants aren’t, drink even more, ogle the babes at the swim-up pool bar until your wife drags you away, drink again, fly home.

If this is appealing . . . the Dutch & French islands are the most expensive, followed by the American, ex-English and Mexican places with the Spanish-speaking islands at the bottom. You do get what you pay for.

Since I am done with the AI experience, I would rent a villa. We did this very successfully in St Lucia last February.

Ian

Green Turtle Cay, Abaco, Bahamas for laid back out island relaxation

Sanibel Island, Florida.

Welcome to Sanibel Island.com!

I've been to one all inclusive resort in my life, and that was 30 years ago. I would NEVER consider one again.

If you are local to the cruise departures just show up and negotiate for a berth. Could work from a hotel base but it may take 2-3 days to get a deal you want to take

If you like to cook and take care of yourselves: rent a house on an outer island in Belize, BVI, St Croix.
If you want to be pampered: Find a high-end resort and hand them your card.

I have had great experiences doing both in Belize, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Bahamas, BVI. We did the Sandals all-inclusive in Jamaica with friends about 10 years ago and also had a great time. I can say I have never had a lousy time on vacation in the Caribbean. It just always works for me.

I would try to get to Cuba before the American tourist boom ruins it. My wife and I were there about 3 years ago and are looking to return sometime this winter. A 5 star place is more like a 3 star in the US or maybe a 4 star in Mexico. I would avoid AI and just get a good hotel in Havana . Meals were cheap

Saint John is awesome. Very laid back. Do as much or as little as you want. Nobody will bother you and nobody cares. It's awesome. Find the Oppenheimer house - there's a great little beach right there with some killer snorkeling.

Bitter End Yacht Club in the B.V.I.
Away from it all......

Red mentioned Key West. What's it like in January?

When the wife and I want a truly relaxing vacation we go to Grand Cayman. Stay in Cayman Kai, the East End or Boddentown- not Georgetown. Rent a house on the beach with a private pool. Here's where we'll be when it's freezing up here.

Bodden Town, KY Cayman Islands - In Harmony | Luxury Cayman Villas

Key West in Jan is warm mid 70,s sometimes hotter and usually dry. It is a nice place to visit but it gets boring after seeing the small town with it,s usual tourist shops and bars and resturants . I,ve been there a dozen times over last 30 yrs but never stayed more than a week

Whew! At $10,000 a week I'll see you when you get back.

Cuba is super cheap through Toronto .If your passport will let you go there from Canada yet. Look at Sunwing or Redtag.ca (not .com) You can fly round trip with a 4 or 5 star hotel in Havana included in Jan for something less than $1000 Cdn (about $750 US and add a few days in Toronto too) Cheaper than airfare alone from Florida

WD it's a little more than half that amount. What's published and what'a actually charged is completely different.

We're booked at a nice looking place on St Thomas for the first week of February! Thanks all for the suggestions.

We spent a week at the all inclusive Sandals , Whitehouse Jamacia, and would definately go back. Seven resturaunts on the resort, no reason to leave on excursions, good entertainment, beautiful weather and scenery, and adult only (no screaming kids)......and never have to pull your wallet out for anything but trinkets.

I would never consider a cruise boat, way to many people with the same idea.

Excellent choice. My wife and I honeymooned on St Thomas. Do take the time to take a morning ferry over to St John. Spend the day relaxing on a more secluded beach.

My suggestion also, of course, I am biased since I lived there for three years and was The Resort Manager of The Green Turtle Club.

Yeah, too much $$$

I hear Haiti is cheap right now...

I disagree.
I found the allure of Key West to be exaggerated; an overpriced, overcrowded, tourist trap. My opinion.

Agree 100% with Cashflyer. Went looking at real estate as a poential retirement spot. Left KW for Hilton Head two days early. Couldn't wait to get out of KW.

Key West is a bohemian destination spot, very expensive, and way too crowded, with no escape.

We do all inclusive so, kids love it...

Dominican Republic. Nice, clean, mid priced. Good food , but blandish.

Jamaica. Absolute dump. The armpit of the carribiean great for college kids on a shoe string budget. Even the major ports are dumps.

Turks and Caicos. Awesome, top of the line, most expensive. Resorts have tons for the kids to do...

Mexico. Not really Caribbean. Cheap. Felt unsafe, cheap. Small resorts. Cheap.

Turk and Caicos if you can swing it...

Bo