Where do you think is the best place to visit in the carribean? (from experience)?

What island/city/resort do you reccomend for a first timer? I would like to go for my 21st b-day (or before) with my boyfriend, money is not an issue. Any suggestions?...


What island/city/resort do you reccomend for a first timer? I would like to go for my 21st b-day (or before) with my boyfriend, money is not an issue. Any suggestions?



nena
Rating
Ok well honestly. I would say most of all the caribbean is great to visit. Most islands have tourist areas they all get great weather & have great beaches. Otherwise it just really depends on what you are interested in. My choice is Puerto Rico. I believe PR has something for everyone & so much to see & do.

San Juan is the capital of PR. This is the largest city on the island & the #1 tourist destination & where the main airport is. In San Juan there are tons of beautiful hotels & lots of casinos & nightlife. The drinking ae in PR is 18 so you will be able to drink. There are always parties & festivals in San Juan too. Lots of great shopping & great beaches like isla verde. You can also visit 'El Morro' which is a 500+ yr old war fort overlooking the ocean. There is also tons of history in San Juan, & not boring stuff. Everything is gorgeous to see. You can walk the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan & shop in the boutiques & local artisan stores. The food is delicious too. You can great great food from a local kiosk or a 5 star restaurant. In San Juan u will never run out of things to do.

Also There are 2 small islands off the coast of PR called Vieques & Culebra. Vieques has a small population & Culebra has none. They have some of the most gorgeous beaches anywhere. Culebra was rated one of the travel channels best beaches in the world. These are those white-sand beaches you can relax on all day with noone to bother you. You can take a small plane or ferry boat over very cheap. They are located half way betwwen PR & St. Tomas (St thomas is right next to PR). Here is the link for the airlines & ferries to these islands:

http://www.elenas-vieques.com/ferry.html

OK PR also has some other great towns. In Fajardo you can go to 'El Yunque' rain forest. This is a beqautiful tropical rain forest located in the mountains. you can see coqui frogs & endangered puero rican parrots. Then you can walk down a small trail to 'La Mina' waterfalls. & you can swim in it. It is like nothing in this world. The water is chilly & so purely fresh. Also unlike the Amazon, this rain forest has no poisenous animals to worry about, only some poisenous plants. Then you can go to Luquillo beach nearby. & at night you can go to the bioluminescent bay in Fajardo. Or from Fajardo you can take the ferry to Vieques & go to the bioluminescent bay over there. PR has the best 3 bio bays in the world. & there are only 5 in the world. The water glows in the dark when u touch it! Take a kayak tour for the ultimate experience. Fajardo also has great hotels so I would reccomend to spend a few nights in San Juan, then a few nights in Fajardo. You can rent a car or take a bus tour from San Juan.

Also I would reccomend staying a few nights in Dorado & go to see Camuy Caves (the 3rd largest caves in the world) & the Arecibo telescope(the largest radio telescope in the world- also in the movie Contact & James Bond Goldeneye). Or you can just take a tour here from San Juan. Nothing is too far away. U can also go to the House of Bacardi factory tour. That is a popular destination too & right outside San Juan. Even a drive through PR is gorgeous. In the central part of PR it is all lush green mountains w/ spectacular views. There are also anykind of watersport on any beach & world class fishing, boating, world class golfing, etc. Oh & on some beaches like Isabella they have horse back riding on the beach. I love beaches w/ hammocks to lay on. Great weather, great food, friendly people. & this is a US territory, so if u are a US citizen you DONT need a passport & they use USD money too. Just plan ahead to make the most of it.

--------------------------------------...
Here are some of the best hotels in San Juan, since u said money is no issue:

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ic/1/en/hotel/sjuha?_requestid=153703

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sjupr-san-juan-marriott-resort-and-stellaris-casino

http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/SanJuan/Default.htm

http://www.cervantespr.com/

http://www.caribehilton.com/

http://www.elsanjuanhotel.com/

http://www.sjcourtyard.com/index.php

http://www.normandiepr.com/

------------------------------------
Now here are some great fajardo hotels:


http://www.elconresort.com/

http://www.wyndhamriomar.com/home.html

http://www.fajardoinn.com/

--------------------------------------...
Here are some great Dorado Hotels:

http://embassysuites1.hilton.com/en_US/es/hotel/DORPRES-Embassy-Suites-Dorado-del-Mar-Beach-Golf-Resort/index.do?ctyhocn=DORPRES


JAM
Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic
Turks & Caicos
Jamaica


ctelly22
Rating
I would recommend Puerto Rico or St. Lucia. Both are very beautiful and have lots to do. In St. Lucia I prefer to stay in the Rodney bay area, bay gardens beach is a good hotel. In puerto Rico, I prefer to stay in old San Juan. The Sheraton old San Juan is a really good hotel. Marriott and embassy suites have nice beach resorts there.


keagkid101
Rating
The Dominican Republic is really nice. I would recomend not going in the summer. Try going in the fall or winter. The Majestic Colonial Punta Cana is an all incluisive package.


Molten Orange
If money is not an issue, go to St. Kitts and Nevis. They are two little islands about an hour's flight from St. Maarten. There are plenty of resorts on St. Kitts, but for the real luxury, try the Four Seasons resort on the island of Nevis. It's expensive, but worth it. Every single beach on either of the islands is gorgeous, and there are many things that would be enjoyable for a history buff, such as Brimstone Hill Fortress on St. Kitts. There are ferries and catamaran trips between the islands several times a day. Oh, and don't miss the Circus in Basseterre, the capital of the country. I have plenty of pictures posted on my webshots page...just send me a private email if you want the link to it. We went here on our honeymoon, and the best part about it is that nobody has really heard of it. We say we went to St. Kitts and Nevis, and people say, "Where?" It's much less commercial of a place than anywhere you would find in the US or British VI, or on any island of the Bahamas. You won't be disappointed. Have fun wherever you decide to go, though.


Julie
Rating
My mother and her friends went on a cruise to Jamaica and Grand Cayman. They spent more time on the boat than on the ports because they were DISGUSTING! Lots of drugs and panhandling in Jamaica and its dirty.

My aunt and uncle went on thousands of cruises to the eastern carribean(st thomas, st martin etc). They loved it. We were supposed to go on one there but could not make it because of a sudden death in our family.

You said you are a first timer, I am a first timer going on a cruise in january and my parents got a 4 night cruise in the bahamas.

You don't want anything too long because you don't know if you are going to like the idea of being on a boat for 7 days. Start with a 3-4 day cruise at first and then in your future vacations if you like it .. take the 7 day cruise in the eastern carribean(western carribean(jamaica, grand cayman, cozumel i heard is so unenjoyable), but i havent heard anyone complain about the eastern carribean


trini empress
Rating
Castries, St Lucia
Barbados
Nevis
Tobago
Anguilla


ghost
St Thomas U.S. Virgin Islands. It's a part of America in the southern Caribbean.


MomSezNo
Rating
If money is not an issue, I'd go for St. John USVI or Grand Cayman. You can find guest reviews of hotels/resorts at TripAdvisor.com, as well as forums about various destinations.


Sugar S
Rating
If your going with your boyfriend and money no object I would suggest Barbados - Beautiful

Lay on the beach splash in the clear waters of miami beach with school of fish swimming around your feet

Don't miss the Friday night Fish fry at Oistins which has recently been redeveloped for the cricket

Quad biking up in St Andrews and cruisies on the Habour Master (usually they have private parties)

And you must go to a rum bar - entertainment theree is much better than the TV.

Plenty to do and if you really want easy to go island hopping

Easier to go around on your own without any one bothering you - take your driving license and pay $10BBD for a permit hire a tourist buggy and get lots - love the fact when you go to the petrol station someone fills up for you.

I have been to many islands and Barbados has got to be one of my favs so much so I am thinking of moving there - second would be Jamaica but thats a place to go when your leaving your Boyfriend at home and going on a girls holiday

Where every you go I hope you have a fabulous time and get a great tan!!!!


diddlemyskittle
Rating
definately Jamaica. The people are very freindly, the parties are very good, the beaches are first class. No place like it.


stella39
St Maarten/St Martin
US Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands
Providenciales Turks and Caicos
Barbados
Antigua
Dominican Republic

Cancun and Riviera Maya are good places to visit.

Any place in the Caribbean is great to visit. Go to this site and check out some of the reviews and candid photos of some of the resorts.
http://www.tripadvisor.com click on Caribbean or Mexico
A list of islands will come up and check them out.

Enjoy)



Rating