So, the kid and I have decided to hit up a beach vacay next summer ('23). Beach getaways were a pretty regular thing while she was growing up, and it will have been five years since we've done one next summer. We had decided we were going to hit up an active retreat in Utah complete with spa treatments and all that stuff, right up until I went to Mexico a few months back and sent her pics of the beach I was at which brought her to the decision that Utah can wait because she missed the beach so much. With that agreement out of the way, we have to decide WHICH beach to go enjoy. We both want to discover somewhere new, so that rules out Mexico, Jamaica, Bahamas, and the Dominican. I was eyeballing Aruba, one of the Saint islands (Lucia, Kitt, Maarten, Thomas), the Caymans, or maybe the Virgin Islands. All of these sound pricey on the surface, so I would love to hear some advice and stories of where you've traveled to go with the good and bad of the places! [Reply]
Originally Posted by Mecca:
I've been to a ton of places in the Caribbean..
Check out Roatan, it's part of Honduras but it's an island not attached to the mainland, really really nice place where everything is very affordable with lots of fun shit to do.
Also Utila next door is great for diving and much sleepier, if you're into that.
Big Corn / Little Corn in Nicaragua is a similar vibe.
Also Ambergris Caye / Caye Caulker in Belize.
In each case the smaller island doesn't allow cars, which changes everything about the vibe imo. Once I had a taste of that I wanted to try every island without cars. But I like being on islands where time slows way way down. That's not for everyone I know.
Isla Holbox in Mexico is the one I really want to check out. [Reply]
I'd rather do a million things than to go on a tropical vacation. The most boring places of all times to go on vacations, but Americans loooove em. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Bowser:
Have you ever done Turks and Caicos? I've never seen sand so white or water so blue quite like T&C. If you have and think the beaches in USVI are better, I'll definitely be interested (not that I'm not already).
This .
Went there last about 10 years ago when kids were in elementary school. Probably best beach vacation we ever did. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Bearcat:
I hear St Petersburg has the best beaches in the world. Fly to the Caribbean and then go there instead.
Originally Posted by mr. tegu:
This is easy. Grace Bay Beach in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. Best beach in the world. Laid back island that isn’t overly visited or busy because cruise ships can’t go there. You can go all inclusive or get beach front rooms for the price of an average Hilton.
Not so fast with this Grace Bay stuff, there's already a clear champion is the best beach category. [Reply]
Originally Posted by BWillie:
I'd rather do a million things than to go on a tropical vacation. The most boring places of all times to go on vacations, but Americans loooove em.
That’s cool, because nobody want a to hang out with a stick in the mud. And you seem the type who wouldn’t enjoy a vacation. I count the days down til my next one, the second my vacation ends. [Reply]
Aruba was awesome. I went June 2021 and stayed at the Hilton Resort and Casino, which was nice.
I'm the type of vacationer who is content to park my ass on the beach all day, eat some food, then do the same thing the next day. And that's what we did for most of the time we were there.
A couple things I'll note:
-The island had just reopened from COVID so that may have impacted my experience, for better or worse.
-I felt very safe the whole time, though I don't generally feel unsafe in foreign countries. I should say, I felt secure having my girlfriend with me.
-Aruba is a desert island. I had no idea. It's generally just beach activities, shopping and gambling. You won't find mountains to hike or lush jungles to zip line in, so keep that in mind. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Coochie liquor:
That’s cool, because nobody want a to hang out with a stick in the mud. And you seem the type who wouldn’t enjoy a vacation. I count the days down til my next one, the second my vacation ends.
Love love love vacations. Hate hate hate tropical vacations. Going to Europe exploring the sights and cities? Sign me up. Go to Montana and see mountains and wild life? Sign me up. Go on an Alaskan cruise to see some ice bergs and cool forests? Sign me up. Go to NYC to see Madison Square Garden and some Broadway acts? Yep. Go to Scottsdale to see the desert & amazing golf courses? Yep.
Go to some tropical place, do nothing, sit on a beach, stare at it ALL day. no thank you. [Reply]
Originally Posted by BWillie:
I'd rather do a million things than to go on a tropical vacation. The most boring places of all times to go on vacations, but Americans loooove em.
The best part is honestly, Island time. The fact that you can see lifestyles that aren't so fast paced and just how much more laid back it is. [Reply]
Originally Posted by BWillie:
Love love love vacations. Hate hate hate tropical vacations. Going to Europe exploring the sights and cities? Sign me up. Go to Montana and see mountains and wild life? Sign me up. Go on an Alaskan cruise to see some ice bergs and cool forests? Sign me up. Go to NYC to see Madison Square Garden and some Broadway acts? Yep. Go to Scottsdale to see the desert & amazing golf courses? Yep.
Go to some tropical place, do nothing, sit on a beach, stare at it ALL day. no thank you.
Well, I guess if you’re going o just sit still and watch the ocean I’d be out too. But I’m never gonna be down for Montana, Alaska, or anywhere I can’t be in just a swimsuit for 90% of my vacation. I like warm/hot places. Tropical is ideal for me. We always hang at the pool, have fun with the entertainment, always end up at the night club dancing until early morning. I hate cold weather, and to me cold weather starts at 70 degrees.
Always plan an excursion, and when in Jamaica we try to make a day to go hang at our friends house. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Coochie liquor:
Well, I guess if you’re going o just sit still and watch the ocean I’d be out too. But I’m never gonna be down for Montana, Alaska, or anywhere I can’t be in just a swimsuit for 90% of my vacation. I like warm/hot places. Tropical is ideal for me. We always hang at the pool, have fun with the entertainment, always end up at the night club dancing until early morning. I hate cold weather, and to me cold weather starts at 70 degrees.
Originally Posted by Coochie liquor:
Well, I guess if you’re going o just sit still and watch the ocean I’d be out too. But I’m never gonna be down for Montana, Alaska, or anywhere I can’t be in just a swimsuit for 90% of my vacation. I like warm/hot places. Tropical is ideal for me. We always hang at the pool, have fun with the entertainment, always end up at the night club dancing until early morning. I hate cold weather, and to me cold weather starts at 70 degrees.
Always plan an excursion, and when in Jamaica we try to make a day to go hang at our friends house.
It must be the people I've gone to tropical vacations with then. We just sit on the beach all day. Drink. After 4 hrs I'm always like -- uhmmm we gonna do anything? I guess we went scuba diving but other than that. Just staring at the ocean for 7 days in a row. [Reply]
Originally Posted by BWillie:
It must be the people I've gone to tropical vacations with then. We just sit on the beach all day. Drink. After 4 hrs I'm always like -- uhmmm we gonna do anything? I guess we went scuba diving but other than that. Just staring at the ocean for 7 days in a row.
Yea that's a choice, most of those places have things to do. There's Mayan ruins a over the Caribbean. [Reply]
We recently went to st Thomas. We stayed here https://www.villasunrose.com/ you will have to rent a car. Magen's Bay is close and was great, take the ferry to st John. [Reply]
