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Caribbean Travel Thread


Jhawk

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Well I just bought me a ukulele. 

Since "life on the boat" is going to be a big part of this here dealie, they encourage musicians to musicate.  However, fuck if I'm going to lug a full-blown D-35 on a plane.through customs etc., especially as they say "pack light, you ain't got shittons of cabin room."  So I figured that I can take a uke on the trip and onboard.  And like play on the deck a few times.  Plus hell, it's another instrument.

Can I play a uke?  Not yet, but have played guitar for a long, long, long, long, long time.  Most of the basic chords on a uke are easy, as long as I use the basic keys (avoid keys like G-flat, B major, etc.  (in time I'll get 'em).   This should be fun.  Or not.

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4 hours ago, phdhorn said:

Well I just bought me a ukulele. 

Since "life on the boat" is going to be a big part of this here dealie, they encourage musicians to musicate.  However, fuck if I'm going to lug a full-blown D-35 on a plane.through customs etc., especially as they say "pack light, you ain't got shittons of cabin room."  So I figured that I can take a uke on the trip and onboard.  And like play on the deck a few times.  Plus hell, it's another instrument.

Can I play a uke?  Not yet, but have played guitar for a long, long, long, long, long time.  Most of the basic chords on a uke are easy, as long as I use the basic keys (avoid keys like G-flat, B major, etc.  (in time I'll get 'em).   This should be fun.  Or not.

Sweet !!!!  When do we set sail ?

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Spent last week in St Croix. Wasn't sure what to expect but it was quite beautiful and super chill. Hike to the tide pools is highly recommended. Hike to the lighthouse was also pretty cool and there were some very nice deserted beaches on the road out there. Best meal we had was at Bombay in Christiansted. Leatherback brewing had some surprisingly good beers, especially after drinking Presidente all week. d2002a187d4852237c7f3fa8bc37b4e3.jpg494fa8fbd5afc696812117fe60f16196.jpg24b0dcbd4e7b3fe3763274bdc5bbdf4b.jpg7639313092bd00d1acea08f8fb6fc969.jpg

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  • 4 weeks later...
On 4/23/2018 at 1:08 PM, Jhawk said:

Since I vacation exclusively at beaches I figured I'd start a general thread for Caribbean travel.

First up... Nassau.  I'm headed down there in september.  I'm timid to stay at Atlantis even though it seems to be the only good casino.  What are hospitality recommendations for a early 30's couple with no kids?  Some background info on activities and dining around the hotel area would be nice if you have some insight.


Thanks!!

JHawk, how was Nassau?  Any recommendations?  

I'm headed on a cruise to Key West (Parasailing), Freeport, and Nassau in a few weeks.

Here's my question -

Freeport - from what I can tell a Jet Ski safari may be our best bet here.

Nassau - Either sailing (one of the small booze cruises with snorkeling, 50 foot boat with 12 people max, we have lots of fun when we do this in Mexico)

Is Atlantis really worth visiting?

Any other ideas?  Any can't miss restaurants or other attractions?

After reading this thread I really need to spend some time/money on a better trip to the Caribbean, but I what the hell at least I'm not going to be in the office that week.

Edited by BearSchlong
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St Lucia in February.  Recommendations on Food/Beaches/Sites?

I always enjoy the hot springs. You could also, go in search of ketchup. Last time the ex and I went to St. Lucia the hotel had some brand of ketchup in their restaurant that was only available there so we had to go to the store and buy a bunch of bottles to take back home with us.
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4 hours ago, BearSchlong said:

JHawk, how was Nassau?  Any recommendations?  

I'm headed on a cruise to Key West (Parasailing), Freeport, and Nassau in a few weeks.

Here's my question -

Freeport - from what I can tell a Jet Ski safari may be our best bet here.

Nassau - Either sailing (one of the small booze cruises with snorkeling, 50 foot boat with 12 people max, we have lots of fun when we do this in Mexico)

Is Atlantis really worth visiting?

Any other ideas?  Any can't miss restaurants or other attractions?

After reading this thread I really need to spend some time/money on a better trip to the Caribbean, but I what the hell at least I'm not going to be in the office that week.

Nassau

I truly believe that Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas is the best dive shop in the world.  Those people know what they’re doing. 

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  • 1 year later...

Any suggestions on where to stay in Turks & Caicos?  Open to small resorts or nice private rentals.  Feedback appreciated as I outsource most of my life decisions to this group (or at least those that were previously on Shaggy).

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We’ve stayed in a house near Sapodilla Bay, at Amanyara, and at what is now the Wymara. The  house near Sapodilla was awesome, but I would go for one of the gated communities. You have Sapodilla and Taylor right there which are the best beaches on the island, but there are limited food options nearby. If you go water front you can typically swim/kayak from the house and it was much more calm than the grace Bay Area. Amanyara was awesome but pricey. You have your own villa and pool, there aren’t many people there and you can explore the West End if you rent a Jeep. You’re a long way from everything but that’s what we prefer. The Wymara (formerly the Gansevoort) was a nice property with decent food, but there were more people around of course and you had the other resorts nearby. It was definitely rougher in that side of the island but you could snorkel the reefs right there.

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  • 2 months later...

Going to bring back to life this thread.

Am on a 5 year plan to cash out and move to a Caribbean island.  Right now, looking at places like Roatan, Ambergris Caye, etc.

Willing to spend up to $300K on a house, preferably right on the beach.

Away from the turistas for the most part. (for example, if I could afford St. Maarten, the Dutch side would rarely see me).

Going to spend whatever time I have left, writing, a few talks would love to find an ex-pat bar to part time tend bar in, snorkel, eat the local food, etc.

Don't need extravagant things.

Thoughts?

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Belize has their QRP program that is pretty good for expats.  We've actually looked into it and are thinking of maybe doing that when we retire (while keeping our base on N Padre Island).

Last Christmas, we looked at some condos in Sint Maarten that were pretty close to Maho/Cupecoy and looked like they might be promising.  I'll dig and see if I can find the info we got from that.

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6 hours ago, Lidig8r said:

Going to bring back to life this thread.

Am on a 5 year plan to cash out and move to a Caribbean island.  Right now, looking at places like Roatan, Ambergris Caye, etc.

Willing to spend up to $300K on a house, preferably right on the beach.

Away from the turistas for the most part. (for example, if I could afford St. Maarten, the Dutch side would rarely see me).

Going to spend whatever time I have left, writing, a few talks would love to find an ex-pat bar to part time tend bar in, snorkel, eat the local food, etc.

Don't need extravagant things.

Thoughts?

I’d look at something with low hurricane risk.  I go to St Barth for two weeks every year.  But I wouldn’t really want to live there due to hurricane risk.  If it hits bad and you’re there, it really sucks. 
 

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1 hour ago, Johnny Sack said:

I’d look at something with low hurricane risk.  I go to St Barth for two weeks every year.  But I wouldn’t really want to live there due to hurricane risk.  If it hits bad and you’re there, it really sucks. 
 

Meh...I know Hurricanes are seen as a huge risk, but only a few have hit St Bart's (or most of the Caribbean) in recorded history.

It's kind of like here in Corpus.  Only 6 in recorded history and only 1 did major damage.  Harvey DID fuck up Port A and Rockport though....

Compare that to living in Tornado Alley (I lived in DFW for 30+ years) where you know you're getting hail and tornadoes EVERY year.  PLUS, with hurricanes, you've got DAYS to make plans to evacuate.

Now, you WOULD have to have a long term plan to stay away if it gets hit by a hurricane...

Basically, a low hurricane risk place would be the Colorado, but it's not very beachy.🙂

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7 hours ago, Lidig8r said:

Going to bring back to life this thread.

Am on a 5 year plan to cash out and move to a Caribbean island.  Right now, looking at places like Roatan, Ambergris Caye, etc.

Willing to spend up to $300K on a house, preferably right on the beach.

Away from the turistas for the most part. (for example, if I could afford St. Maarten, the Dutch side would rarely see me).

Going to spend whatever time I have left, writing, a few talks would love to find an ex-pat bar to part time tend bar in, snorkel, eat the local food, etc.

Don't need extravagant things.

Thoughts?

$300k for a house on a beach in the vast majority of the Caribbean is a huge stretch. The other islands I wouldn’t live on. 

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17 hours ago, Ag with kids said:

Belize has their QRP program that is pretty good for expats.  We've actually looked into it and are thinking of maybe doing that when we retire (while keeping our base on N Padre Island).

Last Christmas, we looked at some condos in Sint Maarten that were pretty close to Maho/Cupecoy and looked like they might be promising.  I'll dig and see if I can find the info we got from that.

Thank  you

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Going to bring back to life this thread.
Am on a 5 year plan to cash out and move to a Caribbean island.  Right now, looking at places like Roatan, Ambergris Caye, etc.
Willing to spend up to $300K on a house, preferably right on the beach.
Away from the turistas for the most part. (for example, if I could afford St. Maarten, the Dutch side would rarely see me).
Going to spend whatever time I have left, writing, a few talks would love to find an ex-pat bar to part time tend bar in, snorkel, eat the local food, etc.
Don't need extravagant things.
Thoughts?
With St. Maarten coming back online after the hurricane that wiped out half the island I hear there are some deals to be had. Went last spring and loved the island.
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7 hours ago, Chewbacca said:
8 hours ago, Both Tacos said:
With St. Maarten coming back online after the hurricane that wiped out half the island I hear there are some deals to be had. Went last spring and loved the island.

I would only buy on French side of St Martin. Dutch side is way too crowded.

Agree with that. I am not the "cruise ship, hanging with tourists from Nebraska type dude."

Roatan is looking mighty intriguing.

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 6/6/2020 at 4:53 PM, Chewbacca said:
On 6/6/2020 at 4:12 PM, Both Tacos said:
With St. Maarten coming back online after the hurricane that wiped out half the island I hear there are some deals to be had. Went last spring and loved the island.

I would only buy on French side of St Martin. Dutch side is way too crowded.

The Cupecoy area is pretty nice and not very crowded.

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  • 1 year later...

Bumping this thread to get some ideas. Wife, 4 yr old and myself are looking to book something for late January or February. As a family we’ve done Isla Mujeres, Punta Cana and Nassau. With the kiddo in tow, we’re not looking for anything difficult to get to or too far off the beaten path. Most likely a hotel vs a home rental. Somewhere to eat, drink, relax and maybe play golf and/or fish. 

One place that has peaked my interest is Curaco if anyone has experience there. 

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  • 1 month later...

Recently back from a week in BVI on a chartered cat.  Awesome place.

Housekeeping before the pics:  USVI requires a test within 5 days of travel, BVI is 2.  (They accept rapid antigen so no sweat.)  To get back into USVI from BVI is also 2 days - as long as travel is marine and not air - this is an exception to the 1 day international travel requirement.

Home for the week, Lagoon 450. Very comfy.

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Cooper Island

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The Baths

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Bitter End Yacht Club reopened the day before we arrived

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Saba Rock opened month earlier

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Anegada Bamboo Beach

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Anegada Cow Wreck Beach

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Kids tooled around in a Moke, I solo'd on a scooter.

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Lobster capital of BVI

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Monkey Point snorkelling

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Had to stop in Tortola to clean my clogged toilet.  I didn't put any paper in, just clogged it with an impressive turd.  Of course no one else believed me.  They thought I should be embarrassed.  Hell, I was proud, the thing had at least 3 rest rings and still stayed in one piece.

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Christmas Day at Soggy Dollar, prettay, prettay, prettay good

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Dove for fresh Conch

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We moored next to this.  I tried to sneak away from the fam for a handy, no dice.

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The Indians.  One of the best coral snorkelling spots I've visited.

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Wrapped up the trip with a dive off the replacement Willy T's

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Good times

 

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You hit great spots.  Brings back a lot of memories.  Annie is the bartender at Cow Wreck Beach.  I’m pretty sure her mom owns the place.  Pam cooks the best breakfast on Anegada.  It’s the little restaurant to the left of the dock when you arrive. 
 

Willy T looks sedate. WTF?  No one naked or doing board shots with shitty tequila?

Edited by VABuckeye
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18 hours ago, VABuckeye said:

Annie is the bartender at Cow Wreck Beach.  I’m pretty sure her mom owns the place. 

Willy T looks sedate. WTF?  No one naked or doing board shots with shitty tequila?

Mom was bartending when I was there, pretty sure.

Yeah we went to Willy's for happy hour at the suggestion of our captain.  He said it's almost 100% locals at night on holiday weekends.  And he said it in a way that I took as "You won't be welcome."  When we left there were a bunch of cigarette boats coming in from Tortola.  Loud as hell.

I had my 16 year old son, so I was okay going at a time that wasn't too crazy.

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  • 2 weeks later...

we just got back from BVI for thanksgiving - bitter end had yet to open back up.  saba rock was fantastic.  white bay was great, soggy dollar IMO is way overrated though the sunset over USVI was spectacular.  sailing was euphoric (first time on our own on any ocean waters).  we scuba dived on our own (no dive master) at the three indians and another spot near peter island I think when we had the captain but once we booted him off we chose not to dive with the boat unattended, especially in case we needed assistance getting back to the boat. soper's hole was a nice spot to end the trip.  we also stayed on Long Bay for 3 nights after our sailing trip was done, that was a great way to relax and recharge.  we didn't get to go to anegada but we will next time.  going back with the kids as soon as school is out. next time we will also check out the newly opened bitter end and oil nut bay I think.  I could see going there 2-3 more times.  very interested in moving past that to other islands, thinking in a few years St. Vincent and the Grenadines, we met some life long sailors that say that's solid sailing grounds.

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  • 4 months later...
  • 2 weeks later...

Anyone got anything on Anguilla?  Anything at all?

Current issues are:

 

Rent a car or nah?

Make reservations?  Where?

Is there a such thing as a family friendly beach bar?

what is a can’t miss/gotta do it excursion?

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 6/11/2022 at 3:49 PM, VABuckeye said:

Anguilla has beautiful beaches.  Stop by Sandy Ground one day and hang out with Brent at Elvis' Beach Bar.

We go to St Martin every year.  On more than one occasion we've had a local there tell us Anguilla has the best beaches in the Caribbean...

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9 minutes ago, VABuckeye said:

St. Kitts is beautiful with friendly people.  The beaches are decidedly average with the exception of the beach at the Marriott property.  Nevis is really cool and has better beaches than St. Kitts.

The stay would be at Nevis I suppose. The Four Seasons there.

At St Barth's it would be the Hotel Villa Marie

At St Lucia, it would be between St. James Club and the Royalton Saint Lucia, both of which are all-inclusive.

Edited by naija
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27 minutes ago, naija said:

At St Barth's it would be the Hotel Villa Marie

I wouldn’t think of Villa Marie as necessarily being “kid friendly”. In fact, I wouldn’t really think of anywhere in St Barth being all that kid friendly. Not saying you can’t do kids there (lots of people do), it just doesn’t seem to be a place that really caters to them. It’s pretty grown up across the board 

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