I just went thru Jnini's Jan 2006 THREAD. We are thinking of doing a 5 night Carribean vacation tacked onto 4 nights in Asheville NC at the end of April (going to Asheville for the Brevard GTG).
We want to do something as well as the GTG and were thinking of one of the following:
- 5 nights in the Carribean at some place where we can swim in the ocean and go for walks
- drive up thru NC and VA to DC (dinner at Dino)
- drive down to Florida stay somewhere - can you swim in the ocean in Florida in late April?
So, if we go with option A - Carribean - we have never been to the Carribean. We would fly on Delta from Atlanta. I checked out that Peter Island resort that Suzanne posted about - looks fabulous, but ultra expensive. Maybe worth it for a special treat?
Any recommendations? A place with a kitchen/kitchette would be great, but I imagine Steve could get fresh fish and I could get vegetarian meals in restaurants.
{ fixing spelling in title - from Carribean (WRONG) to Caribbean (CORRECT according to the guidebok I have. }
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Pauline,
Anyone have any opinion on Long Bay Beach Resort on Tortola, BVI? Looks like it might suit us more than Peter Island (price-wise and dressing for dinner-wise - it is less expensive and more casual).
Have you checked flights on USAirways out of Charlotte? They fly non-stop to several places in the Caribbean, and it would be closer to Brevard. The only problem is that most of their flights are on weekends.
Also, if you decide on the road travel through NC to DC, I'd be glad to provide some suggestions, etc. Incidentally, have you ever hiked any portion of the Appalachian Trail?
Some Carribean desitnations (such as St. Croix) are only served on weekends by USAir but they seem to fly daily to Aruba, St. Thomas, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico. etc . Best to pick a destination and then check USAir or, of course, any carrier.
Hi Pauline, hubbie and I have been to several Caribbean islands, flying from Boston, and there's much to say! We've been to St John in the USVI 5 times, with several day visits to the BVIs which are a stone's throw from St John. We've also been to Jamaica (yuck, unless you like to be harrassed on the beaches by guys selling drugs), Anguilla (day trip, seemed nice), St. Martin on the French side (nice trip) and have had to land on St Thomas to go to St John (yuck again unless you like crime and shopping). I would go to St John again in a heartbeat (and we will) and maybe St. Martin. St. Martin is more developed and there are a ton of hotels on the beaches to stay at. Bear in mind that the Caribbean islands are mostly giant hills so your walking is actually hiking up and down hills, other than strolls on the great beaches. Also, the roads are usually quite narrow and windy so walking on many roads is a bit risky. I would search the web for hotels on either island, pick one on a beach OR search for villas where you'll have your kitchen. But many villas, depending on the season have to be rented by the full week so be aware of that. As far as the BVIs go, we loved our day trips to Tortola, Jost Van Dyke, and Virgn Gorda and as you know , there are lots of places to stay at least on Tortola. Jost and VG are very small, particularly Jost but are fun and incredibly relaxing places to visit. Getting back to the states takes time as you have to take ferries from some islands to the airport then wait for the planes, and on and on so it won't be a quick hop I don't think to get from some islands to Asheville. Have fun planning. We've also been to Asheville twice and loved that great little city and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Posts: 488 | Location: Massachusetts | Registered: 11 April 2006
Pauline, its true that many of the islands are not really conducive for walking--hiking, yes, but not really walking because they are very hilly and the roads are without shoulders.
May I suggest one that may not seem obvious--Puerto Rico! We loved our trip there last year. Fabulous beaches, friendly people, easy and familiar,and tons to see and do. You could fly into Ponce if you want to avoid a big city like San Juan, and concentrate on the south and west sides of the island. We stayed at the Copamarina and from there there are many walks, also within short driving distances there are beautiful beaches, lighthouses, etc. The only problem is that I'm not sure about food for you guys(at that resort)...they do have some villas with kitchens but they are hugely expensive.
However, I'd look into Puerto Rico generally. If you want more remote/less busy you could look at Vieques or Culebra, small islands that are reached by ferry from south of San Juan.
Originally posted by Pauline: Anyone have any opinion on Long Bay Beach Resort on Tortola, BVI? Looks like it might suit us more than Peter Island (price-wise and dressing for dinner-wise - it is less expensive and more casual).
I stayed there a long time ago (over 15 years so buyer beware). I liked it. It had an isolated beach and you could walk in the beach or nearby forests. The water was a little rough because it was exposed to the outside of the Carribean (Atlantic). The resort was not near Tortola's capital - Roadtown, but you can rent a cheap jeep to explore the other parts of the Island. There were also ferries to the USVI. There was a national park on St. John (???). You will meet interesting people there because more people get to Tortola by boat than by air. I ran into this couple from New Zealand who had traveled by there 19th century boat to rent it out as a charter service. I met them in a bar and next thing I know I had chartered this 90-foot classic yacht for about $50 for the whole day including lunch. We went from cove to cove snorkling and takeing turns at the helm ... drink's at bar the night before $10, Yacht rental with lunch $50, Carribean experience ... priceless!!!
Posts: 761 | Location: Palmyra, NJ, USA | Registered: 29 July 2003
This might interest you: http://www.travelgrenada.com/flamboyant. This was one of my favorite island vacations. This is not a "dress for dinner" kind of island. In fact we went in early July and had trouble finding many restaurants opened. I'm sure it's much better now and especially in April. There were marvelous hikes to spectacular water falls. We rented a self-catering cottage on the hill overlooking the spectacular bay.I haven't heard much about Grenada recently, but then that's always the kind of places I like to go to!
Posts: 485 | Location: York, Pennsylvania | Registered: 03 March 2005
Pauline -- I think everywhere in Carribean is nice. One look at the green sea, I was in love for life.
I recommend that you focus on finding a nice house or a B&B first. Personally, I'd go anywhere in the Carribean without any hesitation -- there's just so much beauty and great cultural diversities in this magic sea.
By the way, shouldn't this topic be in the North America forum since most other Carribean topics are there? Maybe you can ask a moderator to move it?
St. Martin is more developed and there are a ton of hotels on the beaches to stay at.
Pauline, I wasn't going to mention St. Martin/Sint Maarten because I had a feeling it wouldn't be your style. We have a timeshare there (Dutch side) and go there about every other year. Pluses (big ones): 1. Lots of gorgeous beaches, all open to the public. Some examples 2. Several very good restaurants, especially in Grand Case, though some new ones on the Dutch side. 3. It is small and easy to get around by car. 4. Some very good art. Minuses: 1. It is over-developed and getting more so, even on the French side. 2. Traffic can be an issue at certain places at certain times of day, but if you're on the beach relaxing, why worry?
Great info everyone thanks! Leslie sent me some info for St. Lucia also. We are dithering back and forth on whether it will be worth a full day of travel to have 5 nights there - and are thinking of saving the money to use on our summer Europe trip. I think we will decide in a couple of weeks.
Thanks for all the walking details - it does seem like it may not be the best for us for that. Puerto Rico would be much easier to get to.
What about Florida - can you swim in the ocean in late April?
I cannot remember how to spell CARIBBEAN and spelled it wrong on this thread. Maybe I need to think of it like a type of bean - carib-bean. Do they grow coffee beans in the Caribbean?
One of the nice things about flying to most of the Caribbean out of Charlotte or Atlanta, especially on a non-stop, is that it only takes a few hours. We really appreciated that last year, in contrast to the whole day it took from Kansas City, with - often - two changes!
Re coffee beans: Jamaica certainly does (e.g., Blue Mountain); also some other islands. Last year we found some Haitian coffee in a St. Martin grocery. We hadn't seen it before. It was very reasonable and very good. I hope it helps their economy.
Thanks for all the walking details - it does seem like it may not be the best for us for that. Puerto Rico would be much easier to get to.
What about Florida - can you swim in the ocean in late April?
Yes, that's one of the reasions why i suggested Puerto Rico--its non-stop (in fact, its the connecting point for almost all other flights to the Caribbean, so you'll need to go there anyway!) Also pluses--no hassling with immigration or customs in or out. So for a short trip its a good choice.
As for Florida...perhaps the Keys? You could possibly swim in April, although the water might be a bit chilly. And its in no way like the Caribbean. But April is beautiful in the Keys...spring is blooming and birds are coming through. There are some nice B&B's. Key West is fun and busy but if you wanted somewhere less touristy there are lots of less developed Keys. April won't be high season so shouldn't be crowded. Plenty of opportunity for walks. I'll try and remember the name of the B&B we stayed at on Big Pine Key.
{added} Here is where we stayed for a few nights one year. Deer Run B&B Funny, they are now vegetarian but I'm sure that wasn't the case back then so it must be new owners. The beach isn't really a swimming beach there, but they are minutes away from Bahia Honda state park which is beautiful. It was years ago and obviously different owners so I can't vouch for anything really, but it still looks nice. And the Key Deer are so cute.
If you're interested in the Virgin Islands per se, check out www.vinow.com. It's a message board similar to this one, with people who live in the Virgin Islands participating in the discussions, and is full of great info about airlines, airfares, accommodations, beaches, hiking -- EVERYTHING.
beth
Posts: 963 | Location: Southern California | Registered: 17 July 2006
Pauline, Steve and I love Tortola (British Virgin Islands) We've only been there once, but we decided it was the place to return to. It is beautiful and has a great atmosphere. It's very safe, and we found it friendly and relaxed everywhere. From there, you can easily take boats to other islands, and to snorkel. Rent a jeep for your stay there - its great fun to drive around and enjoy the views. We stayed in a downscale place that was fine for us, but I'm not sure I'd recommend to everyone. I have heard good things about the Sugar Mill, a small hotel. We got a good look at Peter Island and its resort from a boat, and its fabulous but as you already discovered, very costly. Linda
Posts: 940 | Location: Outlying area of Chicago | Registered: 15 September 2004
In my early twenties, I visited St John USVI a couple of times and loved it. The island is 2/3 National Park, with many hiking trails and sugary white beaches. The island is easily navigable by car, and is just a puddle-jumper trip away from the BVI, which are beautiful too.
The Caribbean is a unique place to visit and explore, and for Steve, the seafood is always fresh . Hope you get to enjoy it, either in April or one day.
We have been to St. Martin and stayed on the French side at Grand Case Beach Club and we loved it so much that we are going back there for a week in May. The beach is just outside your doorstep and there are many excellent restaurants within a five-minute walk in Grand Case (well known in the Caribbean for its great restaurants). The beach at Grand Case is very calm and there is great snorkelling right off the beach. We don't even rent a car - just walk to the restaurants for our evening meal and take the local bus if we want to go to the nearby town of Marigot for supplies. The units have kitchenettes so you can prepare meals if you want to. The website is gcbc.com
There are direct flights from Charlotte every day on USAir - about a four-hour flight. April/May is off season so it's not crowded, and the last time we visited we said it was the most relaxing vacation we have ever taken!
Just happened to come across this thread. Tom and I have visited Tortola a number of times. Needless to say, we do love the island. Other than our first trip, we've travelled with other couples so we have shared a villa rental.
Long Bay Beach Resort has a lovely beach; however, since it is receiving bad reviews I'd be cautious about staying there. I did find this other hotel on trip advisor that had wonderful reviews - Icis Villas. The beach it is located on, Brewer's Bay, is Tom's favorite.
Basically, Tortola is a long skinny island with a ridge running down the middle. The side where Road Town is located really does not have any decent beaches. The other side of the island has incredible beaches. So, bottom line, if you want to stay near a beach it will not be near the town and visa versa. It is about a 20 minute drive to town over hills with switchbacks from Long Bay, Cane Garden Bay or Brewer's Bay (which are probably the three prettiest beaches to stay at). You would want to rent a small jeep. Other than our first trip, we've always stayed in the Cane Garden/Brewer's Bay area. There are plenty of restaurants along that side of the island in all price ranges. The only thing lacking is a large grocery store.
There is a wonderful hike up Sage Mountain and great snorkeling right off the beaches. You can take ferries to both Jost Van Dyke (a quirky little island with great beaches) and Virgin Gorda (home of "The Baths" - incredible sight).
If you decide to go, I can provide you with additional info on some good restaurants, etc.
In Florida for a laid back vacation(where you can walk to a different restaurant evry night) we loved Captiva Island but we were there in July so I don't know about the sea temp in April.
Posts: 1231 | Location: UK | Registered: 12 June 2005
Puerto Rico would be great for a few days. We went there for a week and found lots to do. We rented from www.ownerdirect.com and had a 3bed, 2 1/2 bath condo on the beach for a total of $170/night. It was about 1/2 hour drive from San Juan. For hiking there are the beaches and rain forests (lots of trails) - one trail took us to a swimming hole in a regional park. San Juan is quite crowded with traffic to match. And, you don't need a passport, US dollars are the currency so no conversion, English is generally spoken - overall a great place.
Thanks for all the great information everyone, but I will have to file it away for another trip. In the end we decided to do a North Carolina/Virginia tour - 3 nights Asheville (go to the Brevard GTG), 3 nights Charlottesville, 3 nights Chapel Hill/Raleigh/Durham. Flying into Atlanta, out of Raleigh.
We have not traveled in this part of the US since the late 80s and, since we had a few weeks of fabulous weather here and winter is gone, decided we don't need a beach vacation right now.
Thanks again - one day we will make it to the Caribbean!!
Hey Pauline...a great way to see the BVI's is to charter a yahct. We did this for a week and it was great fun and got to see the island from the water point of view!
I will probably be able to mention this to you in person before too long, but anyway -- If you will be taking the Blue Ridge Parkway out of Brevard or Asheville north, make sure to stop at the Allanstand Craft Center on the Parkway, just north of Asheville. It's the premier location of the Southern Highland Craft Guild and has some of the most fabulous crafts of all kinds (wood, fabric, glass, ceramic, metal, etc.) that you could find anywhere. It's certainly worth a stop just to look even if you don't buy anything, but it's hard not to - buy, that is.
We stayed at Long Bay in September on a 3-day jaunt to the BVI from St Thomas. We had great waterfront rooms with a discount since we were with USVI residents who are in the hospitality business, but I do think that the prices are reasonable, anyway. All of the units are quite lovely...in fact, the ones up by the pool area would be nice, too. The resort does need some work and the restaurant is just OK. Actually, breakfast is probably the best meal of the day. We were traveling with a professional chef, so, of course nothing was good to him! The pool is wonderful. And a swim up bar is always a good thing! The main thing I didn't like was that the resort is not on the Caribbean side and it was not at all calm - and with decent wave activity - not what we want when we go to the Caribbean. The front desk staff was great - better than most...very accommodating and friendly. We spent one full day on Jost Van Dyke - not a place to stay, really, but one must never give up an opportunity to take the ferry over to one of the most gorgeous and fun beaches (White Bay) anywhere...and we've been around.
I will probably be able to mention this to you in person before too long, but anyway -- If you will be taking the Blue Ridge Parkway out of Brevard or Asheville north, make sure to stop at the Allanstand Craft Center on the Parkway, just north of Asheville.
Thanks Ann - I am putting together my travel notes today and will add this.
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