Best Caribbean holiday

[Janbuck]

Hi, My husband and I, 64 + 56 , are thinking of the Caribbean next year. It will be a 'once in a lifetime holiday' and we would like any help/advice on which island to choose. We don't want anything too energetic and we're not into water sports. We like good company, food and wine and want to relax in the sun. We would like a little sight-seeing - historic and scenic and boat trips. We don't mind trying new, local foods although nothing too outrageous. We are a little worried from the health point of view too ie. Aids, Hepatitis etc. Please help us make our choice. Thanks in advance

[Clanad]

May I suggest that you at least, check out the cost comparison on a Caribbean cruise? We've been to several of the islands and find that most are geared to a younger crowd and pride themselves on dancing and night life. Having said that, many of the islands on which the resorts are located, especially those comparable to Sandals (seen here) soon become boring since, unless your into golf or scuba there really isn't alot to do, except eat. Trips into Montego Bay, or its equivalent on other islands, soon jades one due to the over-commercialization along with the dire poverty that's always just in the back ground. A good cruise line will take you to many different islands and the onboard friendships are a lot of fun... in our experience at least...

[auntiebertie]

Why not take a cruise out of Miami and see several of the islands - Miami offers both the western and the eastern itineraries, or you could go to San Juan Puerto Rico [which is lovely] and cruise from there to the more souterly islands.....just a thought - means you could get a flavour of several of them instead of just one!

[auntiebertie]

Hey Clannad - SNAP! Great minds and all that..!

[jno]

I did a cruise on Ocean Village last year which went round about 10 islands in 2 weeks - sailing at night, anchored by day; you could stay aboard by the pool or go on shore excursions as you chose. They've got a second ship next year (this is the winter season) in the western Caribbean, but I don't know how they compare. You could also do a week or two aboard and a week at a resort

http://www.oceanvillageholidays.co.uk/content. aspx?id=3542

[bloggson]

I agree with all the previous answers. I've never been on a cruise but as an airline pilot I spend plenty of time in the caribbean and I don't really rate it. There is so much poverty and squalour outside of the all inclusive resorts and the people are, at best indifferent, bordering on down right rude in Jamaica for example. Try the cruise, I reckon you'll enjoy the regular change of scene and the food is supposed to be fantastic!

Have a good holiday.

[jno]

to be fair, Jamaica is worse for rudeness than anywhere else (but it does have the most interesting cuisine, music and culture). Smaller islands are more friendly and laid-back. They haven't got huge amounts of history - Nelson's dockyard in Antigua, various sugar plantations with slave quarters and so on. St Lucia has dramatic scenery but some, like Anguilla, are flat as pancakes. Most have good beaches. None is exactly cheap but there's a wide range of accommodation and eating. Evening entertainment often consists of loud music shacks, which you might not think very enjoyable (I didn't) or else whatever is laid on in resorts.

Have you considered Aruba and Curacao? Dutch influenced, richer and friendlier than most islands, with excellent beaches (especially Aruba).

[Boo Boo]

Personally I avoid the Caribbean at all cost, and opt for the Indian Ocean everytime - Mauritius, Seychelles, Maldives and also Zanzibar (although this is still fairly undeveloped and may not be your cup of tea!). Janbuck, I don't know if you have considered these as on option but definitely worth a look, and I would recommend them anyday over the Caribbean.

[Dassie]

My wife and I are both inside of your age span and must agree with all the comments posted so far. A Cruise will be the best holiday you've ever had. We have been twice, utilising Carnival and Princess cruise lines. Suggest you don't use Ocean Village as this is geared to the younger crowd.

Best islands?.....St Lucia, St Maarten, Aruba. As commented on above Jamaica and Trinidad to be avoided as the locals are rude and "in your face".

If you decide on a cruise be aware that UK travel agents charge rip-off prices despite all this 45% early booking discount. Use an American agent as they will give you better prices ( more competitive market ) however you will have to arrange your own flight to Miami or whatever port as the USA cannot do this part by law. We saved �200 each by doing it this way. You get far better and prompt efficient service from the Americans than you could ever hope for in this Country. Contact Alex at Cruises n More - I'll check the contact details and will post on here later today.

If possible sail from Fort Lauderdale as it is less hectic than Miami ( about 20mins north of Miami )

[Dassie]

Hi again. website is www.cruises-n-more.com

contact Alex [email protected]

[jno]

just to add to Dassie's post, I am also within your age range and still enjoyed Ocean Village (in fact I went back to do a Mediterranean cruise and hope to do the new Caribbean one some time). It actually covers all age ranges from babies to grannies, and a full social range - not just Butlin's on sea. There's slightly too much jollity - loud music on deck by the pools etc (you can always go lie in the sun on one of the rear decks), but I simply avoided the discos and so on at night. My only other minor grumble was that smoking is permitted, but again it's easy to escape. I liked the casual atmosphere - no black-tie dinners - but the real reason I went was simply the opportunity to get a taste of a wide range of Caribbean islands. I think it would meet your requirements, Janbuck, and like a resort holiday it means you only have to unpack once. But I've also had enjoyable stay-and-relax holidays at resorts.

For best cruise prices: well, you've just missed them, there are usually huge discounts in the newspapers in November (half or more); for the summer season, look again in 6 months but remember that summer is hurricane season. There's actually minimal chance of encountering a hurricane, but I know some people worry about it.

[Dassie]

Just a note on best prices. jno says huge discounts in the newspapers but this was my earlier point in my post. They appear to be huge discounts, but are actually nothing of the sort when you ask a US agent to quote on cruises, especially with the Pound being so strong against the US$. For example we have just booked a world cruise segment in 2008 from Los Angeles - Pacific - Australasia - Dubai 60 days with this USA agent, which excluding flights costs �4900 each. Same cruise, same cabin also excluding flights with UK agent............................�6800 !!!!! What a rip off.

[jno]

Dassie's quite right: you should hope for about half the brochure price on cruises.

[Janbuck]

Thanks very much to everyone on the advice etc for the Caribbean. It's given us plenty to think about. We want to travel in May when most of the cruises have finished I believe, so we may opt for one the smaller Caribbean islands or even go East to the Indian Ocean. Also a friend said that Mexico was a nice place to try.

[Rod83]

Jan any queries on the caribbean then i may be able to help, I am a travel agent and can honestly say that the caribbean is definatly the place to be find a lovely relaxing hotel maybe Barbados or St Lucia and Relax for a couple of weeks sipping coctails and enjoying local cusine

[neviglen]

Just back from Barbados I would recomend the southern Palms hotel in St Lawrance Gap 15mins from airport &
20mins to Bridgetown . You can drink the water plenty of food &wine very very relaxing

[JK2]

You should go onto the Tripadvisor website for ideas. I'm in your age group and I'm off to Grenada in the Caribbean for a week at New Year - on my own. It's quieter than other islands, has historic sites in St Georges - supposedly the most attractive harbour town in the Caribbean - spice growing estates, ferries to other islands & also has a rainforest reserve - Grand Etang - where I hope to see monkeys etc. Have a look, it looks really nice. I'll let you know when I get back on the 8th Jan what it was like. I'm staying in a small hotel at Lance Aux Epines on a quiet beach next to an expensive hotel - The Calabash - that has a Gary Rhodes restaurant where I might treat myself one night!

[auntiebertie]

More on the cruise topic - I agree that we in the UK are ripped off - suggest you look at www.vacationstogo.com - great cruise prices. And if you are going to take a cruise I would suggest that you go with one of the better lines like RCL, Norwegian or Princess rather than with Ocean Village - who are a bit 'down market'. Just IMHO. RCL and Norwegian cruise the Caribbean all year round. Avoid Aug - Nov which is the hurricane season whatever you decide to do!

[colinrobert]

If you are not keen on a cruise,then i would highly promote Cuba,every Caribbean island combined will fit into Cuba,needless to say it offers all of the Carib in one.People are as warm and friendly as anywhere we have visited but more importantly it must be the safest island out there.Yes you can go beyond the hotel boundaries and feel totally secure unlike a lot of the other islands and you do not get the Black/White thing either.

[Janbuck]

colinrobert I did consider Cuba but was a bit worried about the political situation there - isn't it a Communist country? I thought the people were opressed and that it was a bit third-worldy. Obviously that's not your experience - could you recommend a specific resort/hotel please.

[marvinmoon]

hedonism !!!!!!!!!!