Blane Posted September 24, 2007 Report Share Posted September 24, 2007 Might have to be in Antigua for work in November and am thinking about adding a week of holiday time on at the end. I'm not a fan of the "club med" style holiday, and am more into hiking, mountains, snorkling, etc. The better half wants beach, yoga and tranquility. Any islands that you think match those descriptions? Antigua doesn't look like it does ,but there are easy flights to neighbouring islands. My first impression was that Dominican Republic might be good, but I really have no experience in this region. Thoughts?Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AD Posted September 24, 2007 Report Share Posted September 24, 2007 you might be able to get good deals on islands that got smoked by that last hurricane, if price is an issue.i've only been to jamaica, so i can't really offer any advice re. a destination. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blane Posted September 24, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2007 price isn't really the concern, but basically i'm dead against the "frat party" experience and the "all-inclusive with pizza for the kids" experience, so I'll probably be relegated to more of a backpacker type scene anyway. just don't have any idea where you find that in the Caribbean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Posted September 24, 2007 Report Share Posted September 24, 2007 Havana is great. Last time Heather and I went we spent a couple of days at the beach/resort area and spent the rest of our time an hour or so away in Havana. Best of both worlds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StoneMtn Posted September 24, 2007 Report Share Posted September 24, 2007 Bonaire is fantastic, although not really in the same neighbourhood. It's over near Curacao. Totally chill place, and not at all overrun by corporate America. They don't even have a McDonald's on the island.That said, they also don't have too many sandy beaches. They have a few, but the island and surrounding waters are protected environment, so most of the beaches are covered with corral and shells. It is also a world-Mecca for SCUBA diving.I want to live there, frankly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.O.B.E Posted September 24, 2007 Report Share Posted September 24, 2007 Turks and Caicos. Hands down the best island after Saba Island off of St Maarten. I dont know if they allow tourists to stay overnight on Saba, all my trips there were day trips via Cessna flight costing $45 US. T&C isnt a tourist destination for the most part and is really quiet. The native island people we encountered there were fantastic, welcoming and friendly. One lady we met in a market even invited us to dinner when she found out I was a Chef. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StoneMtn Posted September 24, 2007 Report Share Posted September 24, 2007 Saba allows tourists to stay. It is very similar in most respects to Bonaire, from what I understand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bONES Posted September 24, 2007 Report Share Posted September 24, 2007 Jamaica is awesome if you go to the right spots!I'd suggest Great Bay on the south shore in the parish of St.Elizabeth. Quiet, nice beaches, good hiking, cheap and friendly check here Just off the coast of Antigua is Montserrat..not very touristy, small and recovering from a volcano in 1995 that did a lot of physical and economical damage.In July 1995, Montserrat's Soufriere Hills volcano, dormant throughout recorded history, rumbled to life and began an eruption which eventually buried the island's capital, Plymouth, in more than 40 feet (12 m) of mud, destroyed its airport and docking facilities, and rendered the southern half of the island uninhabitable. This forced more than half of the population to flee the island because they lacked housing. After a period of regular eruptive events during the late 1990s including one on June 25, 1997 in which 19 people lost their lives, the volcano's activity in recent years has been confined mostly to infrequent ventings of ash into the uninhabited areas in the south. However, this ash venting does occasionally extend into the populated areas of the northern and western parts of the island. As an example, on May 20, 2006, the lava dome that had been slowly building collapsed, resulting in an ashfall of about an inch (2.5 cm) in Old Towne and parts of Olveston. There were no injuries or significant property damage.View of the dome of Montserrat's Soufriere Hills Volcano, taken from MVO (April 2007).View of the dome of Montserrat's Soufriere Hills Long referred to as "The Emerald Isle of the Caribbean" for both its Irish heritage and its resemblance to coastal Ireland, Montserrat today remains lush and green. A new airport, opened officially by the Princess Royal Princess Anne in February 2005, received its first commercial flights on July 11, 2005, and docking facilities are in place at Little Bay where a new capital is being constructed out of reach of any further volcanic activity.The people of Montserrat were granted full residency rights in the United Kingdom in 1998, and citizenship was granted in 2002. Montserrat Volcano Observatory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimoe Posted September 24, 2007 Report Share Posted September 24, 2007 You can't beat Cuba for its culture, safety and relative cleanliness. The Dominican Republic is one of the poorest countries in the world and the three or four cities I visited were pretty scary - I wouldn't feel safe at all backpacking around the island. Also, I'd skip Margarita Island in Venezuela. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blane Posted September 24, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2007 thanks for some cool ideas folks! Definately saw some other mentions of Saba in my searches, and the cheap flights as well.Havana would be nice, but the girlfriend has already been to cuba so I'll have to check into it. never somewhere I'd planned on travelling so this is all pretty new terrain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drawbar Posted September 24, 2007 Report Share Posted September 24, 2007 St. Lucia has some great hiking. The beaches are a little small but the island and the people are fantastic. Really laid back atmosphere as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimoe Posted September 24, 2007 Report Share Posted September 24, 2007 I don't think you can really experience Cuba without staying in Havana. It's a crazy place and very safe. Try to book a hotel in Old Havana. You'll regret it if you choose a hotel away from the old part of the city. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaybone Posted September 24, 2007 Report Share Posted September 24, 2007 I thought Belize was pretty awesome! Not the cheapest option, but plenty of cool day trips and the diving is top notch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms.Huxtable Posted September 24, 2007 Report Share Posted September 24, 2007 I loved Belize as well. I would recommend Hamanasi Eco-Resort. Lots of adventure-type stuff, terrific food and it's very small (not touristy). Get a tree-house upgrade and you'll be glad you did. Everyone check this place out. We adored it. If you haven't been to Cuba Blane, it's probably worth going while it's still unique. With Castro's death pending, there's no doubt that 5 years from now it will begin to loose it's old-world, simplistic (communist) charm. I love traveling where there isn't a franchise to be seen. I couldn't really recommend a spot. We stayed at Barcelo Solymar in Veradero. A nice town but it definitely caters to tourists. Good luck. Don't be afraid to relax on a beach! It can be just as good for you as an adventure in the hills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Posted September 24, 2007 Report Share Posted September 24, 2007 I don't think you can really experience Cuba without staying in Havana. It's a crazy place and very safe. Try to book a hotel in Old Havana. You'll regret it if you choose a hotel away from the old part of the city. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimoe Posted September 25, 2007 Report Share Posted September 25, 2007 In the last few decades, Castro has hand-picked his inner cabinet with his death in mind, so I wouldn't be so sure that the country will quickly change into a capitialist cesspool once El Presidente meets his maker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
\/\/illy Posted September 25, 2007 Report Share Posted September 25, 2007 Definitely Havana. Been many times; going many more. Viva Fidel! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blane Posted November 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 thought I'd bump this back up now that I'm back. Ended up going to Jamaica, which, ironically, wasn't even on my list of places to consider. Still the girlfriend wanted yoga and they had a log of facilities, as well as a good variety of my types of activity. Ended up having a great time. Here's a couple photos: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meggo Posted November 19, 2007 Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 wowee!!! awesome pics! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gr8FuL Posted November 19, 2007 Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 the Red Stripe!!! love that stuff!! great pics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blane Posted November 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 the Red Stripe!!! love that stuff!! great pics oh yeah, I'm not usually much for lighter (blonde)beer, but damn is that stuff ever good! MUCH time was spent sipping one in this position: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PassedOutGuy Posted November 19, 2007 Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 (edited) Blane... for the time being I am going to live my life vicariously through you... so jealous brother.Thanks for the pics...edited to add.... I wouldn't change my life right now for anything in the world... Edited November 19, 2007 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c-towns Posted November 19, 2007 Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 did you post a picture of your girlfriend topless?cool pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blane Posted November 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 did you post a picture of your girlfriend topless?cool pics.Shit, does it really look like that? she's wearing a swimsuit, but when she looked at the photos she said "it kinda looks like i'm topless". I didn't think so, but I guess she's not alone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bONES Posted November 19, 2007 Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 very nice! where in Jamaica did you go? looks like the Black River in some of those pics did you make it down to Great Bay/Treasure Beach ? have any Dragon Stout while you were there?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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