What is the best island in the caribbean?

[suzanne]

Fat? Last time I looked in the mirror I didn't look fat and neither does my husband. We loved Aruba and will be going back there again. We do a take a break from all the activites we enjoy (scuba diving, snorkeling, horse back riding, sight seeing, sailing) to lay on the beach and have a few drinks. Afterall its our vacation, we're paying for it so we are entitled to lay on the beach and drink if thats what we want to do.

Suzanne

 

[gresmi]

Aruba has been my LEAST favorite destination thus far.

You must have been on another island that you were told was Aruba.

 

[Eric in McLean]

Hanging out in the hotel zone makes me feel like I'm in a cheaper version of Vegas, quite unlike being in St. Lucia, Guadeloupe or even Jamaica. It's more developed so that may suit some people but that's not my idea of the Caribbean. Also, I don't like being blasted by a 20 mph wind constantly.

The people of Aruba are by far the richest since there's a steady stream of visitors throwing money at them - I guess that means they should be nice.

 

[jme]

Isn't Guadeloupe a fruit? Why St. Maarten?

Sheesh, and I thought Guadeloupe was a fruit. And Sandy, now I know how you got your nickname! You head south entirely too much, so don't rub it in, please......I'm feeling quite inadequate right now. As for the consensus, it looks to me like St. Maarten is the winner, with Aruba a close, close second. (Unless you're a cute blond and hang out at clubs like Carlos and Charlie's.) Such a tragedy. And I've heard that Aruba is essentially a wasteland outside the resort area, so to me that does not sound very exciting. The beach does appear beautiful, tho. I've heard the Caymans are wonderful, both from timeshare owners and from well-to-do friends who go there and stay at nice resorts. As for the Virgin Isles, we've been twice, and they were heavenly, and there are awesome hotels there, too, like the Ritz Carlton on St. Thomas, the awesome resort at Little Dix Bay and also at Caneel Bay (two not-so-well-known places, but for the "rich and famous". ) Despite the difficulty of trading into the St. John Westin, that's a goal worth shooting for. Everyone has nothing but wonderful things to say about it! *****OK, so my question is: WHY St. Maarten? Tell me WHY. I'm looking for user-friendly beaches...the postcard-like, white sand, swimmable, floatable, GENTLE water at the beaches....not a big slope, but a < 10 degree slope......for kids and also adults who don't wish to surf, but just to linger and enjoy being in the water for hours at a time....maybe even walk in it while not getting knocked over. I've experienced that wonderful type of gentle surf in the American and British Virgin Isles (several beaches) and also at Atlantis, Paradise Island.....that was one refreshing and beautiful beach, with a most gentle non-breaking wave in which anyone cound relax and enjoy....kids or adults....the water was simply awesome....almost pool-like (I HATED Hawaii because there was absolutely no beach or surf that we ever found that had a mild, user-friendly non-traumatic surf......it was just too intense and dangerous.....I know it's not in the Caribbean, but was just comparing ...) So, explain, everyone! jme

 

[Kal]

*****OK, so my question is: WHY St. Maarten? Tell me WHY. I'm looking for user-friendly beaches...the postcard-like, white sand, swimmable, floatable, GENTLE water at the beaches....not a big slope, but a < 10 degree slope......for kids and also adults who don't wish to surf, but just to linger and enjoy being in the water for hours at a time....maybe even walk in it while not getting knocked over. I've experienced that wonderful type of gentle surf in the American and British Virgin Isles (several beaches) and also at Atlantis, Paradise Island.....that was one refreshing and beautiful beach, with a most gentle non-breaking wave in which anyone cound relax and enjoy....kids or adults....the water was simply awesome....almost pool-like (I HATED Hawaii because there was absolutely no beach or surf that we ever found that had a mild, user-friendly non-traumatic surf......it was just too intense and dangerous.....I know it's not in the Caribbean, but was just comparing ...) So, explain, everyone! jme

Why St. Maarten? Go HERE for my thoughts.

Drop dead soft sand? Go HERE and if that doesn't perfectly fit your desire, I don't know what does.

 

[jme]

Thanks, KAL.....

...and will the girl always be there on that lounge chair? (I've already put in my request) best regards, jme

 

[2hokies]

...opinions as to the best island and resorts in the Caribbean.....and why?

The best one is the one I'm on with the ones I love! Make the most of wherever you go and it will be wonderful!! We've only been to one and we had a great time!

 

[Kal]

...and will the girl always be there on that lounge chair? (I've already put in my request) best regards, jme

What makes it more interesting is when a person like her is laying on a beach chair RIGHT NEXT TO YOU! And let me tell you, that was just the beginning of an unforgetable day!

 

[jwq387]

best island in the caribbean

Mexico, Bermuda and the Bahamas are not in the Caribbean. Aruba has no Caribbean feel. It's packed full of fat tourists who do nothing but sit on the beach and drink. The Natural Bridge collapsed and I heard the golf course went to hell. Not that I had any inclination to go back before.

UH.... Cancun is in Mexico. It has an Atlantic Ocean side(that's the vertical part of the "7", and a CARIBBEAN SEA side, (the top of the "7".) As for Aruba, the tourists were not all fat, and the golf course, Tierra Del Sol, certainly did not go to hell, at least not in December, 2005. I would give Tierra Del Sol about an 8.5 out of 10, ten being Pinehurst N0.2, Harbour Town, and the Ocean Course at Kiawah. BTW, Tierra Del Sol is less than half the price of all those above mentioned golf courses. To each his own.

 

[Island_Hopper]

Mexico, Bermuda and the Bahamas are not in the Caribbean. Aruba has no Caribbean feel. It's packed full of fat tourists who do nothing but sit on the beach and drink. The Natural Bridge collapsed and I heard the golf course went to hell. Not that I had any inclination to go back before.

So you think Mexico's not in the Caribbean? Check again:

http://www.stcroixtriathlon.com/images/America_Caribbean.jpg

But don't spend too much time looking at maps instead of the real world...because reading a map wrong will tell you that the Turks & Caicos islands aren't in the Caribbean either, even though they've got some of the most gorgeous Caribbean beaches anywhere.

As for the topic at hand, I think it's silly to ask what the "best" island in the Caribbean is. And I think it's even more silly (and that's about as nice as I could describe it) to say that Aruba doesn't have a Caribbean feel because it didn't meet your personal expectations of what a Caribbean island should be.

 

[Sandcrab]

Very subjective question, but while in the Carib, I don't want cruise ships (unless I'm on one). Also don't want "spring break atmosphere (anymore). We like St Croix, USVI and Antigua.

Sandcrab

 

[Kal]

...And I think it's even more silly (and that's about as nice as I could describe it) to say that Aruba doesn't have a Caribbean feel because it didn't meet your personal expectations of what a Caribbean island should be.

Aruba DOES have a Caribbean feel. Matter of fact you feel it 110% of the time as the CONSTANT 20 knot winds (due to its location on the planet) will sand blast your skin during ANY beach time.

 

[gmarine]

Aruba DOES have a Caribbean feel. Matter of fact you feel it 110% of the time as the CONSTANT 20 knot winds (due to its location on the planet) will sand blast your skin during ANY beach time.

Been there many times and never had an issue with sand blowing.

Since Aruba has the highest percentage of repeat visitors in the caribbean it must be very soft sand that bothered you but doesnt seem to bother other people.

 

[Kal]

ANY sand being blown by the constant 20 knot winds on a beach is a HUGE problem. Even wind blown rain stings.

Here's what a friend had to say about her September 2005 trip:

"...I had a hard time getting used to that wind but as long as you anchored down everything it was not bad."

 

[ripshion]

Coche Island

If you want peace and quiet and crystal clear water then I suggest Coche Island. It is just a short boat ride from Margarita Island, Venezuela.

 

[Sandcrab]

Extremely STUPID question! Oh no, not really the question, but from the answers you're going to get. Very subjective answers based on first trip, first kiss, first snorkel...etc. etc. There are no bad Carib Isles. Personally, have some bias towards Curacao, Antigua, and St Croix, but others think Aruba, and St Martin/Marteen are the greatest thing since sliced bread. Pick one, enjoy, think of it as YOUR experience, and judge from there. You can't go wrong.

Sandcrab

 

[Island_Hopper]

Aruba DOES have a Caribbean feel. Matter of fact you feel it 110% of the time as the CONSTANT 20 knot winds (due to its location on the planet) will sand blast your skin during ANY beach time.

I've never experienced anything like that. In fact, I'm posting from Puerto Rico right now and it's far more windy here than it was on my last trip to Aruba...and yet I'm still enjoying the beach daily.

 

[ripshion]

I've never experienced anything like that. In fact, I'm posting from Puerto Rico right now and it's far more windy here than it was on my last trip to Aruba...and yet I'm still enjoying the beach daily.

That's why Aruba is known as a great windsurfing/kitesurfing destination. People travel there from all over the world to sail at Fisherman's Hut.

 

[Kal]

I've never experienced anything like that. In fact, I'm posting from Puerto Rico right now and it's far more windy here than it was on my last trip to Aruba...and yet I'm still enjoying the beach daily.

Given its location the winds blow at a constant rate from the horse latitudes to the tropics at a speed up to 20 knots always from the same direction. Although this makes for good wind surfing conditions, you get a constant sand blasting on the beach. This is also why all the trees on the island (what few there are on a desert) permanently lean over in the same direction.

Go Here for the reason why those winds never stop.

 

[Island_Hopper]

Given its location the winds blow at a constant rate from the horse latitudes to the tropics at a speed up to 20 knots always from the same direction. Although this makes for good wind surfing conditions, you get a constant sand blasting on the beach. This is also why all the trees on the island (what few there are on a desert) permanently lean over in the same direction.

Go Here for the reason why those winds never stop.

I don't know what to tell you here...I've simply never been sandblased at the beach. I think the wind thing is way over-hyped. It's a breezy island but I pesonally find it very refreshing. When the wind stops blowing in the Caribbean, I start sweating.

I actually had eye surgery 7 days before my first trip to Aruba...having booked the trip last minute...before I heard any horror stories about the wind. If half of what certain people told me about the wind was true...the flaps on my corneas would have been blown clean off...lucky for me it wasn't.

 

[chrisnwillie]

I have never been "sand blasted" on the beach in Aruba either. I think the constant breeze is blown way out of proportion (no pun intended).

 

[silverfox82]

tough question

My 1st trip to the "little latitudes", more than 30 years ago, was for 28 days on a Eastern Airlines special excurision ticket ($300, as many destinations as you wanted for 30 days). I picked up 1 of the soft cover caribbean guide books, Fodors or Frommers, and did the homework, had a great time. St Maarten, St Barts, Antigua, Fl Keys. Now with 3 passports full of stamps which is the best island? What was good when I was in my 20's might not be so good now, but I've never had a bad vacation. Rode out a minor hurricane on St Kitts and as a result, met a british couple who have become lifetime friends. Went to SXM when there was no traffic, stayed away for 20 years, now it's my favorite (I think)again, islands change but so do people. Went to Grenada after the "intervention" not knowing what to expect, had the best Italian food ever, go figure. Met a bartender on Carricou, named redhead, although he was completely bald. Gave him my Jimmy Buffett tapes and now have a free pass at his bar, went on a boat ride with "sir Cuthbert Snagg, knighted by Princess Margaret. But back to the question, what is the best island? for me it's the one on the board at the airport that matches the one on my ticket. Just do the homework and you will be on the "best" island every time.

 

[quince]

Sxm

Lots of Gold Crowns to choose and excellent variety of restaurants in St Maarten, French influence if you like that cuisine. Wines not bad either. Lots of different beaches, watch out if topless and even some nude bothers you.

 

[Kal]

Friends of ours have travelled extensively in the Caribbean and based upon my recommendation just returned from their first visit to St. Maarten. After only a few days on the island they decided this was it and bought 2 deeded weeks at La Vista. They own multiple weeks at Hyatt Sunset Harbor in Key West, but can't stop raving about how fantastic St. Maarten is.

 

[caribbeansun]

Very small point but La Vista doesn't have deeded weeks they are RTU.