I have just got the sudden urge for a beach vacation ....ya know, where you just plunk on the beach and live in a swimsuit. My dh wants snorkeling. Otherwise i would like an upscale place to stay with ocean view. Would prefer a place we could just walk to resturants and not have to have a car. Any suggestions? Oh and if American flies there, that would be an added bonus, i could use my miles. Thanks

Stephanie dogma to Rosco and Sedona

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Originally posted by dogma:
I have just got the sudden urge for a beach vacation ....ya know, where you just plunk on the beach and live in a swimsuit.

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Ah, yes, I know the feeling well. In fact, I live for it, and definitely have some strong opinions about the best spots on earth to do it! Here's one:

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My dh wants snorkeling.

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Check, on the snorkeling:

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Otherwise i would like an upscale place to stay with ocean view.

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Check, on the swell digs and the ocean view:

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Would prefer a place we could just walk to resturants and not have to have a car.

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Restaurant right on the premises, dishing up fine island and French fare, served by lively and lovely waitresses, with soft music drifting in from these fellows playing in the bar:


And few cars- just a rare moped on the unpaved road.

Where is this Eden? The atoll of Fakarava, in French Polynesia.

Unfortunately served for the most part by Air Tahiti Nui, Air France, and Air New Zealand. Still, it's the most beautiful spot on earth in my estimation.

To be fair though, the food there wears after a while (hubby and I have learned to take along hot sauce to liven it up!). And it IS far away.

So, perhaps a better suggestions might be: somewhere in the town of Grand Case on St. Martin (French side of St. Martin/St. Maarten). We've stayed at the Grand Case Beach Club and have thoroughly enjoyed it- lovely little beach, lovely little town of Grand Case- which is a culinary jewel of the Caribbean! Restaurants galore, of all different ranges and tastes (though many French of course). Problem, though, I can't seem to recall what the snorkeling was like there, which is weird because I LOVE snorkeling. I do recall seeing a pair of the largest puffers I've ever seen in my life in a fantastic snorkeling spot in another area of St. Martin, so it's definitely available on the island, anyway.

Karin

Travel Adventures in Italy, Tahiti, and more

Stephanie- I just noticed that you're in SoCal. I gotta tell you, hubby and I have jokingly (only half-) tossed around the idea of moving to LA so we could be closer to French Polynesia. It's a serious addiction- and so many islands there to feed it!

Karin

Travel Adventures in Italy, Tahiti, and more

Here's a couple of options. We have a mobile home on a permanent site at Toowoon Bay (1 hour north of Sydney). That's the place where you put on your swimsuit (cossie, trunks, bathers, swimmers ...or whatever Aussie name you choose), and spend a week or two alternating between Shelly Beach (a 2km long golden sands surf beach that is 100 meters from our van) and Toowoon Bay, which is only 500m long and faces north, so doesn't get the surf....kind of like a lagoon, and that's 200 meters the other side of our van.

Ours is roughing it....but then there is Kim's
This is serious relaxation. Cabins on the beach amid a mini rainforest and a dining room that is infamous. People say that a stay at Kim's involves breakfast, a long walk on the beach and a swim to make room for lunch, a long long walk and a sleep after lunch to make room for dinner, then stretch out on a banana lounge for the evening on the beachfront.

No coral, but plenty of reef to snorkel. Sailboards and para boarding on the bay, surfing on Shelly Beach, Hang Gliding offf the southern headland of Shelly Beach.....

That's it, Ches and I will have to take a couple of weeks there for a Christmas recharge.

"If it isn't true, it's to the point"
Italian Proverb
Gavin's Travel Journals
Gavin's Travel Photos

Yes I agree St Marteen & St Barth are great for beach holydays "but" remember the strikes. Last year we spent new years eve and some other nights without electricity (no firg, no air conditioning no nothing) beacuse the island follows the french strikes calendars... So be informed or at least prepared!

St.Lucia Sandals Golf Club & Spa.

ItalianMoonShadow Blog

Karin, yes french poly is nice. We did Tahiti awhile ago. For this place do you fly into Tahiti and then what? It looks wonderful. We have also been to Fiji but that is a long flight. Thanks for the info,

Stephanie dogma to Rosco and Sedona

My vote would be for Costa Rica although I know nothing about snorkling. Two years ago my family stayed at the hotel Tropico Latino which is at Santa Teresa de Malpais, north of Cabo Blanco Reserve. Malpais is a small fishing village on the west coast of the Nicoya peninsula. We were on the beach, in hammocks overlooking the beach, at the pool with a view of the beach, in the restaurant looking at the beach. It was heaven.

Suzanne

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Originally posted by dogma:
For this place do you fly into Tahiti and then what? It looks wonderful. We have also been to Fiji but that is a long flight.

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To go to any of the islands other than Tahiti, you indeed land there first then get on an Air Tahiti flight to all the other islands. Air Tahiti is their local island-hopper network, as opposed to Air Tahiti Nui, which is the international carrier. To get to Fakarava is about an hour-long flight.

The islands of French Polynesia range from the "high" islands (with the high and dramatic volcanic peaks covered in lush vegetation, like Tahiti itself), to the "low" islands (geologically older, sunken islands that are now simply coral atolls fringed with coconut palms and ferns, like Fakarava), to a few in between (still a volcanic peak in the center, with a coral atoll forming around it, like Bora Bora).

Other French Polynesian islands to consider (that I've been to): The island of Moorea, a high island close enough to take a ferry to from Tahiti, the setting for The Bounty, inspiration for "Bali Hai", lots of tourist infrastructure and natural beauty; Raiatea, another high island, the spiritual center of French Polynesia, but no good beaches; Bora Bora, a "middling" island, tourist central, gorgeous beaches and lagoon, diving and snorkeling, but not my fave for island culture; Rangiroa, an atoll, great diving and snorkeling (see my profile picture), good tourist infrastructure, nice people, dolphins frolicking in the waves, all around pretty great; Tikehau, another atoll, reasonable diving/good snorkeling, little tourist infrastructure, and I wouldn't recommend the only "upscale" resort there.

Most people dismiss Tahiti, after only seeing the main town of Papeete, which is rather like dismissing California on the basis of one's impression of LA. I've spent an idyllic week on "Tahiti Iti", the small southern, isthmus-connected part of the island. NOTHING in the way of upscale resorts resorts there, but I just thought I'd plug it for anyone else reading this. Here's what you'd find there:

In the garden:

Lovely tropical pools further afield:

Drat it all. My whole reasoning for coming to this site was to break my obsession with French Polynesia. Literally, hubby and I have made a pact to force ourselves to travel to other beautiful parts of the world to remind ourselves of them. I'm still obsessed with FP, though, obviously...

Karin

Travel Adventures in Italy, Tahiti, and more

[This message was edited by ktravers on 21 October 2003 at 10:46 AM.]

[This message was edited by ktravers on 21 October 2003 at 10:49 AM.]

Dogma,

Although I have yet to get there, I understand the snorkeling off the coast of Belize is excellent. The largest barrier reef in this hemisphere is off it's coast. I can't tell you anything about up-scale lodging but I imagine that there would be plenty. Try a web search and see what you come up with.

Funny you brought up Belize....i was just researching going there. Yes the snorkeling is excellent. I realized i had a book on Belize, came attached to a Costa Rica book i have. This one is definatley in the running. I can also use my American Airline miles to get there .

Stephanie dogma to Rosco and Sedona

Belize! Argh! I've wanted to go there for a million years- I have about 5(!) Belize guidebooks. We almost chose to go to Belize this winter (Placencia to be exact). But in fact one of the things that turned us off was the fact that snorkeling was a ways off (boat trip required), rather than the fall outta bed/ onto the beach/into the water variety that is our ideal. The barrier reef is somewhat offshore of Belize, not inaccessibly so by any means, so it's a good bet for those not so incurably spoiled as my husband and I.

We were considering staying at The Turtle Inn, Francis Ford Coppola's property down there. Nice!

Karin (who has just made reservations on Tobago for our beachy winter vacation!)

Travel Adventures in Italy, Tahiti, and more

Belize is fun. I've been there before. The snorkling is the best. You do have to hire a boat to get out to the reef. You can't just snorkle from the beach like you can in Hawaii.

You'll want to stay out on the Cayes. Ambergris Caye is probably the most developed. I stayed on Caye Caulker which was more laid back almost hippy. We also stayed part of the time in the jungle. I think this month's National Geographic Traveler has a bit on Belize. Placentia is also a new upcoming resort area. I'm not certain about the snorkling from Placentia.

There is a lot to do especially for the nature lover. Besides snorkling, the bird watching is great, you can kayak, take boat trips inland to see the manatees or stay up in the jungle areas for a day or so.

The reef does extend up into the Yucatan. There are great beaches down along the coast from Cancun. We stayed at Akumal which is between Tulum and Playa del Carmen. You do need a car but they have great vacation rentals. There is good snorkling right from the beach at Akumal or in the lagoon at Xelha. You can probably use your AA frequent flier miles to Cancun.

Adventures to come in Chile

Karin, your photos are beautiful. My dream is to go to the South Pacific when I retire...less than 3 years. I'd love to hear more about the places you've been.
I have been to St. Martin many times. I prefer to stay on the French side. We usually stay at the Meridien and really enjoy the restaurants in Grand Case and the Marigot Marina.
The British Virgin Islands have lovely beaches with snorkling as well.

ItalianMoonShadow Blog

We are thinking about our winter vacation too. We were in Tahiti (Bora Bora, Huahine, Moorea) for about 4 weeks - but in 1981!! Bora Bora was beautiful - only 2 or 3 hotels - not touristy. Karin says it is touristy - so it must have changed. We have also been to Fiji and Raratonga - but also many years ago (1982 probably). Raratonga was a bad decision - it was longer flying there than to New Zealand. We were the last plane out before a hurricane took down a lot of things on the island.

We have never been to the Caribbean - but have been to Hawaii many times. We are booked to go to Kauai this year (all of February) but I am having second thoughts - but Stephanie's comments on the Santa Barbara rain and cold (and a quick look at the weather for Feb.) have convinced me this might not be a good plan.

I have gone back and forth on this so much that Steve will not talk about it any more (do your spouses get like that?). Every time we are on Kauai, in this cute little cottage we rent (very reasonable), I have a good time - but each trip before we go, I wish we were going someplace more exciting or different or with high speed internet access and a comfortable desk. But even as I write this, I remember our long morning walks and lovely afternoon swims - is it any wonder Steve does not want to talk about this with me any more.

I think I am going to have to cave this year - and just book the dreadful flights from Albuquerque to Kauai.

Anyone know any good vacation rentals in the Caribbean? We can't stay in hotels - have to be able to do our own cooking.

Pauline from Slow Travelers

Carribean site:
http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/ubbthreads.php

Don't know if there are any apartments.

ItalianMoonShadow Blog

HiK,

I clicked on the link for Turtle Inn. Looks nice! It also looks pretty much open air (not air conditioned etc.). This is good, very good, you'll be able to hear the water and critters at night. However, those mosquito nets in the picture? I promise you they are not just to look romantic. I spent two weeks in the Amazon (which granted has got to be buggier) we were very, very thankful for our mosquito netting, bug repellant etc. Just remember to make sure that it is well tucked in around you at night

Have fun. I am really jealous of all you Carribean bound people.

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Originally posted by ktravers:
Belize! Argh! I've wanted to go there for a million years- I have about 5(!) Belize guidebooks. We almost chose to go to Belize this winter (Placencia to be exact). But in fact one of the things that turned us off was the fact that snorkeling was a ways off (boat trip required), rather than the fall outta bed/ onto the beach/into the water variety that is our ideal. The barrier reef is somewhat offshore of Belize, not inaccessibly so by any means, so it's a good bet for those not so incurably spoiled as my husband and I.

We were considering staying at http://www.turtleinn.com/, Francis Ford Coppola's property down there. Nice!

Karin (who has just made reservations on Tobago for our beachy winter vacation!)

http://ktravers.smugmug.com

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Originally posted by Moon Shadow:
Karin, your photos are beautiful. My dream is to go to the South Pacific when I retire...less than 3 years. I'd love to hear more about the places you've been.

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You're very kind, thank you! I love to talk about Tahiti, so if you have any questions, feel free to shoot 'em my way.

And Travelbug- no worries here about bugs- we've faced 'em down, and feel comfortable about being able to establish some sort of liveable environment. Hubby and I usually take along a travel mosquito net, as sometimes even the netting provided has inexplicable holes! We always bring along DEET, no less than 95%, and treat the mosquito net and any hiking clothes with permethrin. There are definitely some buggy spots in French Polynesia, which have trained us well!

Bora Bora has indeed changed much over the years. It's really incredibly beautiful, and anyone going there should certainly feel assured of an amazing experience. But it really very much caters to the honeymoon crowd now. It's not marketed towards "travellers", really, rather to people who want a once-in-a-lifetime trip, and demand that it live up to every romantic ideal possible. Does that make sense? It's a gross generalization, to be sure, but that's why I captioned this image, from several years ago: The storm rolled in, and the sound was eerie- a combination of wind and the collective wails of honeymooners across the island denied their sunset!

Karin

Travel Adventures in Italy, Tahiti, and more

Travelbug, you reminded me about bugs in Belize. I didn't mind them but I probably should mention something about them. On the Cayes, you will run into those no-see-ums sandfly type of bugs. They come out in the evening and really go for the lower legs. Deet was about the only thing that helped. I don't remember if the mosquitos were that bad or not. I definitely remember bad mosquitos on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica.

Also, Belize is in a malaria zone so you will need to get malaria medicine before you visit. I think you need it even if you are only going to the islands. We just picked up a prescription and started taking them a couple of days before we left.

Karin, our best friends love French Polynesia. They stayed in Bora Bora and are exactly the type of tourist you mention. It does look like a wonderful place.

Also, report back on Tobago. That has been on my list.

Adventures to come in Chile

I mentioned earlier another place to go, Akumal on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. Here is a web site for Hotel Akumal Caribe. We rented a 2 bedroom condo from them and it was very nice. This was many years ago (late '80s) but the web site is great and the company looks the same. In fact, Condo 1 looks like the same place we rented. I'd recommend it.

Adventures to come in Chile

I enjoyed Costa Rica, but the Pacific coast where I was wouldn't be good for snorkeling.
St. Johns, a US Vigin Island has some nice beaches and snorkeling.

ItalianMoonShadow Blog

Stephanie,
Since you live in So.California, seems to me Hawaii is the obvious choice. I've snorkeled in both Hawaii and the Caribbean, and I've got to say that the snorkeling in Hawaii is just the best, especially off the Big Island. We were there this past summer and had the best snorkeling off Kailua-Kona (I forget the name of the beach but I can look it up...) The turtles came right up to swim with you! The variety of fish is greater, and the snorkeling is right offshore. No shortage of resorts to choose from--but I can't help you there as we stayed at B&B's. Delicious seafood, romantic restaurants,easy access, volcanos if you want a change of scene (and of course you can fly there on American miles--we did!) Hawaii has it all. Seems obvious, unless you've been there many times already.

Beaches can be nicer in the Caribbean, though. We are spending our winter vacation on St. Lucia...I will report on my return ;-)

Belize...Ambergris Cay is NOT good for beaches. In fact, the beaches there are pretty poor...shallow, seaweedy, not much sand...because of the reef right offshore. You can however take a boat to snorkel and to some beautiful offshore beaches, but that doesn't sound like what you want. I've heard the beaches in south Belize (like Placencia) are much better.

Costa Rica...not really good for snorkeling.

The Yucatan...absolutely the most beautiful beach I've ever been on, any stretch of the "Mexican Riviera" is just gorgeous. Honestly, even though its touristy I love Cancun for a purely relaxing, no-thought vacation. Plenty of resorts, good restaurants, easy to get around, and the beach is to die for. No need for a car, cheap taxis to go everywhere. As long as you're not going during a peak week, like spring break, its great. We actually own a timeshare down there and go every few years. If you want something quieter, for sure the areas below Cancun, such as Akumal, or Playa Carmen.

But, for you so much further to travel than Hawaii!

Janet
www.jczinn.com

Hi Janet...yes Hawaii is an obvious choice but we have been there alot and have family there (who we avoid ). It is very touristy for us. I have been looking at Akumel in Mexico and have found a home on the beach that really looks inviting. The only thing is we will have to rent a car and i was trying to avoid that. Living in so cal....you are in the car soooo much. Oh well, the sacrafices we make to travel Thanks everyone for the great ideas!!

Stephanie dogma to Rosco and Sedona