carribbean resort recs

**Marshall Tucker** · 08-14-2020, 09:51 AM

sorta big anniversary next summer, fingers crossed covid lifts enough to do something. Do not mind spending some dough. What does the populace recommend?

Would love to go back to our honeymoon spot but its gone (Caneel bay). Loved how that resort sorta forced you out of your room, no TV, no phone, etc.). I LOVE diving,, she does not, both big tennis players.

I'm thinking either cozumel or Gran Cayman but am open to suggestions. Jumby bay looks interesting (antiqua) etc.
-thanks MT

**Skidog** · 08-14-2020, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by Marshall Tucker

sorta big anniversary next summer, fingers crossed covid lifts enough to do something. Do not mind spending some dough. What does the populace recommend?

Would love to go back to our honeymoon spot but its gone (Caneel bay). Loved how that resort sorta forced you out of your room, no TV, no phone, etc.). I LOVE diving,, she does not, both big tennis players.

I'm thinking either cozumel or Gran Cayman but am open to suggestions. Jumby bay looks interesting (antiqua) etc.
-thanks MT

Cozumel is a great dive spot, but kinda crowded if you ask me, and that was like 30 years ago, can;t imagine what its like now. I did my open water dive for certification there. I was like 14.

I'd go here for great diving. https://www.curacao.com/en/

**BmillsSkier** · 08-14-2020, 10:19 AM

What are you looking for? Rustic and laid back, posh as fuck, active or more pool and beach chillin, ability to island hop, ease of getting there (search "Winair" to read my rage filled rant about flying in the islands)...

Our family had a sailboat in the BVI for a long time and both my siblings and in-laws all taught sailing in the Caribbean for many years so we've been (very lucky) to get to just about every spot in the Leewards down to Mustique. Happy to toss out my 2c.

**Skidog** · 08-14-2020, 10:29 AM

Martinique was nice too, but its also been years..

Turks also good, but very built up now. When I went it was an airstrip and 2 hotels.

**Marshall Tucker** · 08-14-2020, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by BmillsSkier

What are you looking for? Rustic and laid back, posh as fuck, c.

Caneel sorta embodied both of these (we went under rockresorts and rosewood in it's heyday) and that would fit the bill. We got there with 6 pairs of her shoes in a carry on wtih all other luggage lost in 1991 but that's another story -

**Timberridge** · 08-14-2020, 10:53 AM

What's the current status of Little Saint James, USVI? Are they VRBO'ing the place?

**seano732** · 08-14-2020, 11:22 AM

Mrs. Seano and I spent our ten year at a Sandals resort in the Bahamas and it was pretty awesome.....

**2bjenny** · 08-14-2020, 11:31 AM

Hamanasi dive resort in Belize is very nice. Was supposed to be there last week diving, but alas, the covid. No tennis though.

**Toadman** · 08-14-2020, 11:41 AM

St John's is a great little island in the USVI. Really good snorkeling, and nice vibe with great beaches. Plenty of rentals, and I'm sure rates should be good for next year. Easy to do day trips to St Thomas, and BVI. Jost Van Dyke is good for hiking and exploring and a drink at the Soggy Dollar Bar where you can grab a Painkiller to easy the pain of all that fun in the sun. Last time there, did a boat trip to Virgin Gorda and then a snorkel off of Peter Island. Take the ferry over from St Thomas. So, if you are looking to do some touristy shopping and hang out in Charlotte Amalie that's good for an afternoon. Very heavy cruise ship presence at that port, but maybe not so bad with the COVID? Who knows?

**XXX-er** · 08-14-2020, 11:45 AM

I think the question will be in another year

whom will accept you ?

**Core Shot** · 08-14-2020, 03:43 PM

Belize was cool. But haven’t been in 25 years. Ambergris key is really built up from the pics.
Amazing diving still out at lighthouse atol. The blue hole a la Jacques Cousteau
Amazing wall diving. I’m sure the barrier reef dives are even more polluted these days. Meh compared to the lighthouse reef.

Plus you get to visit the rainforest on the mainland if they haven’t slashed and burned it already. Plus Mayan ruins are cool.

**Shredhead** · 08-14-2020, 03:54 PM

Cayman’s a lot nicer than Cozumel.

The out islands of the Bahamas are really nice. The Abaco’s got wiped out by Dorien. But Harbor Island and everything south is fine.

St. Bart’s nice, but astronomically expensive and French.

**schindlerpiste** · 08-14-2020, 04:44 PM

On the north shore of Grand Cayman there is a wonderful little condo resort called Cayman Kai. You can dive the north wall basically outside your room which is much better than any diving on 7 mile beach. Also there is great fishing there. Last time we were there we caught mahi, tuna, and a tuna that was built in half mid real and buy a shark. Diving we saw eagle rays and tuna swimming in the open ocean, And plenty of grouper ZHU fish and coral reefs lingering on the 6000 foot vertical wall. Dives were mostly 15 minutes and 130 feet

**BmillsSkier** · 08-14-2020, 10:34 PM

Originally Posted by Marshall Tucker

Caneel sorta embodied both of these (we went under rockresorts and rosewood in it's heyday) and that would fit the bill. We got there with 6 pairs of her shoes in a carry on wtih all other luggage lost in 1991 but that's another story -

Our old home base (flattened in Irma and still being rebuilt), Bitter End Yacht Club sounds like it would have fit your bill. Lux where you need it, rustic overall - no TVs or phones in your units... can’t wait till 2.0 is rebuilt. Anyway,

BVI (or St John) might be your jam. Small resorts like the newly reopened Little Dix Bay on Virgin Gorda (part of old Rockefeller preserve), captured much of that feel as BEYC, if only a bit more refined. Access to island hopping, food, diving, snorkeling, zero cruise ships, etc. Nearby Biras Creek and Peter Island Resort still are rebuilding which sucks as they are both great alternatives.

Down island a bit I’d look into Anguilla, white, cold, sand and none of the crowds of St Martin. Great food and easy to get around. Great water too. The Four Seasons and Auberge resort there are posh as hell but don’t overlook Airbnb’s in all these islands. Travel restrictions abound and are constantly shifting though my sister tells me.

Ladera Hotel on St Lucia is pretty cool, up high, view of the Pitons. I like St Lucia a lot (from 20 years ago) as it reminds me a lot of the “old” Caribbean from what you’d expect in the 50s and 60s, like what you’d see in the movie White Squall. Chickens in the street and open gutters, jerk shacks, locals that will show you a good time... all of which still exist, just a bit buried behind the development boom that’s set in. Deep water. Beaches are a walk/drive/shuttle from most spots as the shore is steep which makes it cool when you land a small one to yourself for a bit.

St Barths; rent a house. Spend all your money. It really is wonderful but so insanely expensive.

Mustique; St Barths but more expensive and with 100% more Keith Richards. And Basils Bar which is a pretty gRest lifetime bucket list party.

Antigua: did Jumby Bay a while back for a wedding, very nice. We broke out of the property though to get some action other than pool/beach.

Can you do next April? Antigua Race Week is on and you’ll be hard pressed to find a better party. Neat island overall as there’s so many small pocketed beaches.

Same with Turks & Caicos; beautiful beaches, fun for a wedding, diving and snorkeling were the stars of the show though. Insanely overpriced compared to other island destinations. Gansevoort was nice though.

Cayman(s) are great dives but big tour stops. Aruba is the same with just more wind, less better diving, more casinos and Van der Sloots.

I’ll leave Caribbean Mexico to the seasoned pros here. TRs abound.

Bahamas? Consider Exuma or Eluthera? Both lovely, and when we haven’t gone with friends the Vrbo scene was very easy.

**m2711c** · 08-15-2020, 10:37 AM

Barbados seems to be open for travelers......

https://www.visitbarbados.org/covid-...uidelines-2020

**skiHOG** · 08-15-2020, 12:35 PM

Several good recs already listed(Jumby Bay, Anguilla, Mustique). On Antigua, I prefer Hermitage Bay. Anchor out front a lot there and they let me bring crew ashore to use their facilities, so I'll recommend them.

For the BVI, I'd check out Oil Nut Bay. Better than Little Dix, imo. Taken many crew there for an off day and they all rave about it.

Mustique is a special place, but in the Grenadines there's also Palm Island Resort, Canouan Estate and Villas and the Mandarin Oriental on Canouan.

I have a few hidden gems that aren't heavily advertised or talked about and can provide a couple of those, but I'm not about to post them on a public forum.

**Marshall Tucker** · 08-17-2020, 01:33 PM

Thanks all! Looking hard now at the four seasons Anquilla. Not suire how the fuck to get there but very, very interesting! Been to little dix and was extremely underwhelmed. Albeit 2001. Grenadines looking interesting as well!

**Marshall Tucker** · 03-15-2021, 01:06 PM

Has anyone here had any experience with Jade Mountain / St Lucia?

**Tor-tour** · 03-15-2021, 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by Marshall Tucker

Has anyone here had any experience with Jade Mountain / St Lucia?

We were in St Lucia in 2019. Didn't stay at the Jade Palace, but drove by it on a boat trip. Looked really cool from the water and our captain said that it is pretty baller. For the record, we loved St Lucia, it has a much more real feel than many other resorts we have been to.

**Benny Profane** · 03-15-2021, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by Marshall Tucker

Has anyone here had any experience with Jade Mountain / St Lucia?

Learn to scuba so you can experience the wall diving there. Exotic.

**Marshall Tucker** · 03-15-2021, 03:29 PM

^ Padi open water certi, which is how I came upon it - conaidering getting the next level cert. but undecided.

**skiHOG** · 03-15-2021, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by Marshall Tucker

Has anyone here had any experience with Jade Mountain / St Lucia?

I had better experiences at Ladera and Sugar Beach. The resorts are very nice, but the beaches are far from the best in the Caribbean.

**Crock** · 03-15-2021, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by skiHOG

I had better experiences at Ladera and Sugar Beach. The resorts are very nice, but the beaches are far from the best in the Caribbean.

Also recommend Ladera. Wife and I honeymooned there for a few nights and then went to Sandals. Sandals was fun, but we both wish we’d just stayed at Ladera the whole time. Awesome views, good food, quick ride to the beach for snorkeling and such. Hope to go back some day.

**Cruiser** · 03-15-2021, 05:21 PM

My buddy just got back from the hard rock in the Dominican republic and he said it was outstanding. I'm not a big all inclusive guy and he's usually not either but he said this place was excellent with very good food, plenty of beachy stuff to do, and fantastic scenery.

**BmillsSkier** · 03-15-2021, 09:45 PM

Last time we spent meaningful time in St Lucia it was raw and very “old Caribbean”; think chickens and goats roaming the streets, open gutters, ladies of negotiable virtues and morally casual attitudes roaming around the port, excellent food and people and the ability to wander pretty empty roads to even emptier beaches. It was fantastic. The resorts were just starting to build their footprints.

That said, it’s a deep water spot, and the beaches aren’t the best but that place holds a special spot in my memory.