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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 1300
Location: Madison, Wisconsin | Thinking about the USVI for our 30th. Anybody have any suggestions? Wouldn't pass up the Keys if anybody had a good recomentation. We're not very fancy and don't much care for luxury.
Thanks in advance. |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | A tropical vaction is high on my list, too.
If ya ever want a cabin in the smokies around Pigeon Forge I got a tip for ya.
I'm not much for the luxury scene either. I don't like people fussin' all over my doins' |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 1300
Location: Madison, Wisconsin | Brad,
I'll keep that in mind. Smokies in the fall would be nice but not in Feb. |
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Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Sanibel Island in Fl is kind of nice too. Right down the street from me...but kinda pricey. The Keys are nice. You can get just about any level of luxury there, from campgrounds on the water to luxury hotels on the water. Come to think of it, just about everything there is on the water. |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | The Keys. Go for it. |
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Joined:
December 2005
Posts: 1234
Location: Tidal Mudflats of Virginia | Get out of the US completely and head farther south. Visit one of the ABC islands, the Dutch are awesome hosts and you won't see the same bunch of neighbors you will find in the keys. Cost wise, your looking at the same amount either place...start getting your passports now...
Curacao was my favorite of the three, I stayed at a dive lodge on the northwest end of the island but Willemstad is just down the road :)
Curacao |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 1300
Location: Madison, Wisconsin | I was hoping to avoid the passport thing and stay within the us but it does sound interesting |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 1478
Location: Michigan | We seem to go to the Dutch Islands of Aruba & St.Maertan. Make sure wherever you go in the islands is to check with people who have been there recently or do it online under websites for the island you are interested in and check out the reviews by people who just vacationed there.Some of the islands that have been hit by hurricanes can sometimes take 5 years or so to get back to normal.Aruba is a safe bet but you better bring a good hat because the tradewinds never stops blowing. Bring lots of money to whatever island you go to because its expensive on any island but well worth it if you live in the North part of the states and its wintertime. Good luck to you on your trip.GWB |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 1132
Location: Parrish, FL | Willard,
I'd check this place out.
Seahorse Inn, Tobago
We've had lunch here and toured the inn 4 years ago. It was $78.00US /night back then. My wife and I have repeatedly said that this is where we would go back to for a quite time together. Very simple, but nice. Beautiful beach too.
Some back ground. We spent 2 years cruising the eastern caribbean on a sailboat and saw most of what there was to see, particularly the non-touristy points. Martineque was very nice and had the most diversity and best food. Dominique the most beautiful rain forests.
Actually another favorite spot was the island of Culebra. It is part of Puerto Rico, quiet and possibly the best beach we were on. (well, almost)
Given the present times, you will need a passport if you are planning on leaving the country. Yes, this includes the USVI's and Puerto Rico. Might as well get it now.
BluesSailor |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 1478
Location: Michigan | BluesSailor the Seahorse Inn resturaunt charges $25.00 for a cup of soup and $225.00 for a Ribeye steak & lobster dinner.
Someone must have to have a great income to afford this place.Im sure it is nice but
man that seems way to steep to me.GWB |
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August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | GWB - that's in Trinidad and Tobego dollars. I have no idea what the exchange rate is though. |
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Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | $1 US = 6.25 T&T dollars. So the prices are actually pretty good. |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 1132
Location: Parrish, FL | That exchange rate sounds about right. I recall a 7:1 rate when we where there.
So much for the good ole greenback. |
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Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 21
Location: Asheville, NC | St Thomas has good memories for us. We stayed at Secret Harbor (do a google search).
The condos are right on their own protected beach.
That's about the only place we stay on St. Thomas |
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Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 21
Location: Asheville, NC | Look here:
http://www.secretharbourvi.com/ |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | I'd go back to St.Martin/St.Maarten in a HEARTbeat!!
St. Thomas is equally nice (I particularly enjoyed Meaghan's Bay).
Spent one of the most beautiful afternoons of my life at "The Baths" on the island of VirginGorda(USVI). One end of the island consists of smooth, egg-shaped boulders(the size of 3-story houses) heaped on top of each other on a white sand beach.
T'get from one end of the beach to the other, you wade through knee-to-waist deep water UNDER the boulders. The boulders form a succession of "grottos" where the light filters in thru the stones and water forms flowing "pools" t'hang out in (hence the name "Baths"). Unfortunately, there's not a lot else ON VirginGorda, so it's a ferry ride/day trip (we did it from Tortola).
Islamorada (FlahKeys) is very nice!!
I personally prefer the Lower half of the Keys (between Bahia Honda and Key West).
Key West is a BLAST!, but it CAN be expensive, and the town itself IS "PartyCentral" at night).
I DO recommend the catamoran snorkel trips out of KewWest (either the Stars&Stripes or the Sebago). GREAT way to spend the afternoon! (sometimes, they'll bundle-in a KeyWest "sunset cruise" later in the day).
Bahia Honda State Park offers some of the most beautiful, secluded beaches in the chain.
Last time I was there, I ended up driving OUT of Key West t'go to Bahia Honda. I'd recommend finding a place "equidistant" & doing BOTH ends of the spectrum . . . |
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Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 3969
| Willard - what are you looking for? Dive trip, just relaxing in the sun, romantic getaway? I taught SCUBA diving for 12 years and ran trips to many Caribbean islands and the Bahamas as well as the Keys. Depends on what you're looking for - a good place for a romantic or relaxing beach trip may not be the best dive destination, and vice versa. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7222
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | What g8r said. Don't over-complicate, but at the same time, search for reviews online of places you might want to go. Look for reviews where people talk about what they did. If it sounds like fun to you... then do it too.
We've been on a few cruises in the Carribean and trips to the Keys as well. It's amazing how many times you find yourself listening to one group/couple/person who is so disappointed, and mad at everything with their vacation, and another is raving that it's the best thing they did in their life and they are at the same spot. Guess which one did a little research first.
Good example... Key West to me = YAWN!!!!! Key Largo, my favorite spot in the keys. I'll bet there will be several posts that say the exact opposite. I Dive.
Key Largo = no shopping, not too many tourists, ok food, GREAT Diving.
Key West - good Shopping, Good Food, Beach stuff, Entertainment, Toursits, etc etc etc.. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7222
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Oh Yeah, another tip... If you are going to any Islands or even the Keys, check to see if there are cruise ships. Now that is a different topic all together, but check their schedules anyway, and check the excursions they are providing or offering. Those are focused to give the passengers the "best experience" for their money, so you can get some really good tips of things to do. However, you might consider NOT going on the day those ships pull in. Three or Four cruise ships hitting the same Island at the same time could really make for some annoying delays and less than personal service at places that otherwise would be rather nice. As example I would have enjoyed and seen more of the Mayan temples with a few THOUSAND LESS people there on that day. |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 1300
Location: Madison, Wisconsin | This is great stuff! I appreciate the input. We are not divers, just want to relax and listen to the surf, eat some good seafood, read, be away from the crowd and maybe snorkel a bit. We're not much into shopping or night life but a night out or two might be nice. My wife and I answer phones and work on CRT's all day so no cell service might be a good thing. the way I work is to gather as many opinions as possible and then make a decision so please keep it up.
Thanks again, |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Bermuda.
(everyone should go there at least once.) |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 1300
Location: Madison, Wisconsin | Sorry, don't like the shorts or the knee socks. |
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OT:Island Vacation Info
