If you were going on a tropical vacation were would you go?

[2bfree]

We are wanting to take a vacation to someplace tropical and would like some input. We have never been to the Caribbean and would probably stay for 4 nights and don't want to spend too much. We want beautiful beaches, would love to stay in cottages by the water instead of a high rise hotel and would like to be able to take some excursions to the mountains and forrest areas for birding and wildlife. We want nice but are more interested in local flavor instead of a spa experience or resort and are not interested in cruises either. Thanks!

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

1. The U.S. Virgin Islands

St. John was spectacularly beautiful. I wasn't impressed by Jamaica or Puerto Rico. I also liked the Grand Caymans a lot, especially swimming with stingrays, but they are a bit pricey.

[RebelOne]

2. I would suggest Barbados or Jamaica.

They both have beautiful beaches. St. Thomas in the Virgin Island is also a beautiful place.

[miss_american_pie]

12. I'll second Barbados

Our cruise went to St. Thomas, Barbados, Martinique, St. Lucia, and Antigua. If I could only ever go back to one it'd be Barbados.

[malta blue]

3. The Dominican Republic gives you

lots for your american dollar! I go there regularly (my mom now lives there).

[Initech]

4. That's an easy one - St. Maarten

[CabalPowered]

5. Check out the Na Pali coast on Kauai

If you like to backpack, I would highly reccomend the Kalalau Trail. http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dsp/NaPali/na_pali.htm

It's a rigorous hike but definately worth it. Secluded beach, coastal cave, shower under a waterfall, great day hikes, fresh fruit..

[TahitiNut]

6. D'uh!?!

Guess. :dunce:

If I were to choose something closer, these days I'd consider Aruba ... if only because it might be avoided by reichbots - that's a "feature" for me.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

10. My brother says that Aruba is not particularly beautiful

:shrug:

Personally, I've always been strangely attracted to pictures of Bora Bora and Moorea, but they're not exactly close.

In the Caribbean, I'd go for one of the French islands like Martinique or Guadeloupe for an extra bit of foreign atmosphere.

[TahitiNut]

18. In the Caribbean, I've only been to Jamaica and Turks & Caicos.

I think I'd share the preference for Martinique or Guadeloupe in terms of above-water scenic beauty. Jamaica is quite pretty, as well. Turks & Caicos are all flat sand bars - rather uninteresting if it wasn't for the diving and swimming and snorkeling. I've usually placed a highest priority on the quality of diving. Moorea is beautiful and Bora Bora is drop-dead gorgeous. The smaller, uninhabited islands can be so beuatiful it hurts. I spent a full day on Tetiaroa and it made those full-color posters of a South Seas Island look dull in comparison. Bright coral sand; clear, electric blue ocean, a clear, blue sky with a few bright, white clouds; tropical vegetation in full bloom -- the kind of stuff that makes you want to use Windex on your eyeballs and gape open-mouthed. Literally awesome.

[av8rdave]

7. I'm heading to St Lucia on Saturday...

Of course, I'm going for work, but hey...a 24 hour layover there isn't a bad workday.

Nice island, several beaches where you can get a small place to stay. We stay at the Carribean Jewel on Rodney Bay. Very private, with your own covered balcony overlooking the bay.

I'd put it pretty high on my list.

[kay1864]

8. If you don't want to spend too much...

on St. John there are cottages on Cinnamon Bay, Maho Bay and Concordia, and rustic cabins at VIERS.

St. John is the most beautiful of the Caribbean islands that I have seen. St. Thomas, OTOH, was a mixture of expensive resorts and tin shacks. We got bored on St. Thomas and left a couple days early. But St. John (which we had only a day visit for, while on a cruise) looked like you could explore for several days.

Hint: since you would be flying into St. Thomas and ferrying over to St. John, see if it's cheaper to rent an SUV on St. Thomas than on St. John. (I'm pretty sure you need a 4WD SUV to do any decent exploring)

http://www.cinnamonbay.com/
http://www.maho.org/
http://www.islands.org/virgin/viers/

[qnr]

9. Trinidad and Tobago was lovely. As were the Turks and Caicos Islands. n/t

[seemunkee]

11. St John in a heart beat

Been there twice and would go again. 2/3 of the island is national park, beautiful beaches. No cruise ships, no high rises, very little night life but still some good restaurants

[donheld]

13. tahiti

Sounds fun

[XNASA]

14. Puerto Vallarta

[no name no slogan]

17. Seconded

get a condo on the cliffs above town if you can-- the sunsets are spectacular

[pitohui]

15. only 4 nights?

i would say guanacaste, costa rica, it's cheaper than the caribbean and has the beaches and the mountains, flights land in liberia every day and 20 minutes after the plane touches down you're on the beach

[Tikki]

16. Easter Islands....

....also know as "Rapa Nui" and "Isla de Pascua".


...then I'd hop over to the SW coast of Peru to do some
amateur archeology....


Tikki