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Where in the Caribbean should I go ?

Go to Hell.

































The hell on the Cayman Islands that is :D

I was there, but it was a port of call on a cruise so it was less than a day, however, it was very nice. Plus, if you go see the rock formation they call Hell, then you can say you've been to hell and back :D
 
quigleybc said:
Wow,

A lot of great reply's and suggestions.

Thanks!

Puerto Rico is moving to the top of the list for me now...simply because it isn't just all beaches...there apparently is hikes and rainforest ect...so that will make my girlfriend happy, and me too....

To those that have been there, what do you recommend we do, stay, eat ect.

Thanks again everyone!

:D :) :)
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We went for an event, friends band playing at a festival so we had to stay near San Juan and were only there for 3 days.
We stayed at the Caribe Hilton because it was central, but it has it's own private penisula. Very close to San Juan, the rain forrest,nice place to chill for the pool but not much of a beach, just a man-made lagoon, but the water felt like a warm bath, very nice.

Also, there's a strip of hotels in the Condando area with nightlife and casinos, it's likened to South Beach in Miami, kind of upscale.

You might want to check out the island of Vieques. I heard it's beautiful, definitely next on my list.

Google Puerto Rico, there's lots of info out there. It really depends on how much time you have and what you want to do.
 
beatzfreak said:
We went for an event, friends band playing at a festival so we had to stay near San Juan and were only there for 3 days.
We stayed at the Caribe Hilton because it was central, but it has it's own private penisula. Very close to San Juan, the rain forrest,nice place to chill for the pool but not much of a beach, just a man-made lagoon, but the water felt like a warm bath, very nice.

Also, there's a strip of hotels in the Condando area with nightlife and casinos, it's likened to South Beach in Miami, kind of upscale.

You might want to check out the island of Vieques. I heard it's beautiful, definitely next on my list.

Google Puerto Rico, there's lots of info out there. It really depends on how much time you have and what you want to do.
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Thanks for the useful tips!

I think we'll have about 2 weeks to do whatever..

I'm going to look into the places you suggested..

Thanks again! :)
 
Piarco said:
I would say Tobago (with me being half T&T:D), but its a bit dodgy at the mo. So I'd say out of the other islands, St. Lucia gets my vote...
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i was goign to say tobago...last time i went was 2002. i bet a lot has changed since then. it's the ony caribbean island that i have been too, unless you include airport stopovers in barbados and antigua. :D

it was fantastic when i went. i wouldnt hesitate to reccomend it...but now this "dodgyness" has made me intrigued.....what exactly makes it dodgy?

S
 
Phat Elvis said:
Puerto Rico has everything that you are looking for. I've never been there but everyone that I know that has visited has loved it. There are supposed to be some great areas to hike and excellent beaches. I've heard that Old San Juan is pretty cool too.

St. Maarten is just beaches, restaurants, and shopping. There are no hikes and very little culture (that I could see). It is cheaper to stay on the Dutch side but the French side has better food.
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Puerto rico does have some very interesting battle forts and very rich culture and history. But if you go there I advise you NOT to take the tour of the Bacardi factory. They take oyu to a museum, and do not let oyu see any rum or any rum being made etc at all. waste of 40$.

AndyR said:
Would not recommened Barbados. Went there is 2003 on a late deal and would never go back. Got ripped of 3 times, some tried to nick my backpack with me attached to it, and got left in a taxi as the driver decided to stop at a cafe so he could get some food!

Actually the best part was the Bourne Identity style route taxi drive to Bridgetown, hell that was scary as hell at the time but looking back it was so much fun!
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Barbados is not for the sightseeing of cultural things museums etc. It is for straight up relaxing and kicking it on the beach. If you wat the city life go to puerto rico or the bigger more developed islands in the area. Even though I like barbados the most out of the region, most people would ask for more "stuff" on the island.
-dsm
 
IMHO, the caymans suck. Stingray city was cool... and thats about it.

Cuba, on the other hand, is the most amazing place I've ever been. I highly suggest it. Its incredibly safe, beautiful, and not affected by globalization.

If you to go to the caymans, there is some wonderful jerk chicken on cayman brac. Its a little yellow stand in a parking lot (don't remember which one, but hey, the island is only so big!)
 
j26 said:
Varadero in Cuba is a lovely chill out spot for a resorty type holiday, and is only 2 hours from Havana.

There is considerable poverty in Cuba (due in large part to certain countries blockading it) but the people are fantastic and were the highlight of my holiday. They're a really proud people, although consumerism is starting to make inroads.
Thee architecture in Havana is fantastic, if very run down, but the public buildings are amazing - El Capitolo is a replica of the Capitol Building. Baseball is the national sport - have you ever noticed the similarity between the Cuban flag and the US one? At one point Cuba was trying to become a US state.
It's extremely safe there, but you will get annoyed by a lot of touts for various things.

If you want chill out for a few days I'd recommend Varadero, and then some immersion in the culture of Cuba in Havana

I was there 5 years ago, so much could have changed since then though.
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For US citizens:

Forget about if you are traveling from the US. It is now very hard to legally do trips to Cuba in the last 6 years. The "cultural/educational/artistic visas" are hard to come by.

Travel to Cuba through another country can subject you to harsh financial penalties. To the best of my knowledge, no jail time. Just your hard earned dollars.

Such a shame since there is much to enjoy in Cuba, what ever your interest. A photographers dream from the pictures I have seen.
 
Chip NoVaMac said:
For US citizens:

Forget about if you are traveling from the US. It is now very hard to legally do trips to Cuba in the last 6 years. The "cultural/educational/artistic visas" are hard to come by.

Travel to Cuba through another country can subject you to harsh financial penalties. To the best of my knowledge, no jail time. Just your hard earned dollars.

Such a shame since there is much to enjoy in Cuba, what ever your interest. A photographers dream from the pictures I have seen.
Click to expand...
My uncle actually just returned from cuba 2 months ago. He flew form portland, or to somewhere in mexico, then flew directly to havana. He said when you get into the country and you show your passport, they give you the option of recieving a stamp or not. This is how he entered and left. It is perfectly simple and easy to do. And plus you can bring back up to one box of cuban cigars for your personal use!
-dsm
 
Hope this is not hijacking a thread....

Me and my sister are taking a Western Caribbean cruise in October. It is my wy of thanking her for her help last year in my "divorce".

I gave her a choice of doing what ever cruise she wanted. She choose do do an "affinity" for the Quacker Factory (of QVC fame). 7 days doing the Western Caribbean. If this does not get me a pass in to Heaven, then I am sunk. :eek: :D

The ports of call are:

- Princess Cays 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM (I know that this a private island, but any "fun" tips)
- Ocho Rios 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Grand Cayman 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Cozumel 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

I am hoping that with two separate days sailing, and Quacker "stuff" going on - that I might have some free time in the ports to seek out fun (photography is my BIG thing).

I mentioned to my sister that I would love to "swim" with the dolphins. Her statement was, but what if they had something for "us" (as Quacker guests)?

As an aside, I am in hell right now. She has a "Quacker" friend doing a shirt or two with ducky logos on them. :eek: Add to that, I was looking forward to this trip for us to both share in our own personal interests. To enable us to learn more about each other. It has been a rocky past between us. We both have VERY different views of our lives with our parents. :eek: :D

Just to clear the air. If you all hear of a missing woman on the Caribbean Princess from Oct 7 thru 14th, I had nothing to do with it. :D

Otherwise with the ports we are visiting, some thoughts would be nice.
 
I don't get it....

What is a "quacker"?? QVC? isn't that the channel where you buy stuff?

I'm confused...


Anyway...

Thanks for the tips

-Cuba is sounding nice, we would be leaving from Canada so, none of that Cuban missile USA drama for us....but it's looking like Puerto Rico for now...

-Thanks for the warning on the RUM factory, that's something I would have done potentially....

-I think I'm pretty much sold on Puerto Rico, with Cuba running a close second...

Maybe I'll create a poll:

Cuba vs. Puerto Rico....

Cheers!
 
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