Caribbean Travel Thread

[RPM 26356]

5 hours ago, phdhorn said:

Yup, we booked the Windwards trip last night on this ship:

We're piss-yched!

Pick one of the crew and call them Little Fish. See if they get the reference.

[phdhorn 6224]

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.

[VABuckeye 2472]

Will you play Tiptoe Through the Tulips?

[bluto 4942]

Just tell em your specialty is playing the skin flute and diccolo 

[phdhorn 6224]

9 minutes ago, bluto said:

Just tell em your specialty is playing the skin flute and diccolo 

I think this is the line you're looking for.  Bon voyage!

[Onboard 2.0 9083]

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 ?

[phdhorn 6224]

I think you need to look one post up from yours, you and bluto will have fabulous time!  I'm sure you guys can think of a lot of cool things to do with that uke!

[RPM 26356]

So no jazz flute?

[Anastasis 23487]

On 10/17/2018 at 10:08 AM, G650 said:

One of these days when I stop being a dumb ass that races, I'm going to get a big ass Swan to retire on.

 

Does it come with the brunette as standard equipment?

Edited October 19, 2018 by Anastasis

[G650 14278]

5 hours ago, Anastasis said:

Does it come with the brunette as standard equipment?

Any color you want.

[T’Boo Ted Marshall 2740]

those couches are uphauling though.

[G650 14278]

I'm sure they can be omitted, but they seem like a nice place for nailing Eastern European chicks.

[stc 1466]

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.

[VABuckeye 2472]

Love that beer drinking pig.  I took a video of it and people crack up watching it.

[TheAuditor 1040]

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

[BearSchlong 8114]

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 November 16, 2018 by BearSchlong

[NeverMarryAStripper 21928]

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.

[VABuckeye 2472]

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. 

[BearSchlong 8114]

Thanks.  Holy cow!

 

Edited November 17, 2018 by BearSchlong

[Bodhi 1124]

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).

[Brew 3049]

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.

[Lidig8r 1874]

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?

[Ag with kids 581]

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.

[Johnny Sack 8397]

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. 
 

[Ag with kids 581]

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.🙂

[VABuckeye 2472]

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. 

[Lidig8r 1874]

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

[Both Tacos 1806]

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.

[Chewbacca 7787]

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.

[Lidig8r 1874]

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.

[Ag with kids 581]

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.

[3adays 454]

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. 

[Mach 1 1677]

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.

Cooper Island

The Baths

Bitter End Yacht Club reopened the day before we arrived

Saba Rock opened month earlier

Anegada Bamboo Beach

Anegada Cow Wreck Beach

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

Lobster capital of BVI

Monkey Point snorkelling

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.

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

Dove for fresh Conch

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

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

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

 

Good times

 

[VABuckeye 2472]

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 December 29, 2021 by VABuckeye

[Mach 1 1677]

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.

[VABuckeye 2472]

My new best friends I met that day and me doing board shots at the Willy T.

[troph 24911]

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.

[VABuckeye 2472]

2 hours ago, troph said:

thinking in a few years St. Vincent and the Grenadines

High on our list as well.

[troph 24911]

Obligatory pics… cross posted from the boat fanatic thread.

 

 

[Ag with kids 581]

So...did our yearly Christmas trip to Sint Maarten.  Stayed in Cupecoy because we get a great deal here every year - $200 for 2 weeks.

 

 

Went to Mullet Bay on our first full day.  Awesome as usual.

 

Edited January 10, 2022 by Ag with kids

[CoTex 1162]

Just booked Anguilla.  I bet they don’t know good cheese enchiladas from the hole in their asses down there.

[VABuckeye 2472]

We're heading to Jost van Dyke for a week at the end of July.  We haven't been since 2019.  Can't wait to get there.

[CoTex 1162]

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?

[VABuckeye 2472]

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

[naija 2869]

Deciding btw St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Barth's.

Thoughts? Would be with wife and kid (4.5 year old).

 

[VABuckeye 2472]

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.

[Ag with kids 581]

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...

[naija 2869]

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 June 26, 2022 by naija

[VABuckeye 2472]

4 minutes ago, naija said:

The Four Seasons

I haven't been there but I have been told it's a beautiful property.

[Landomatic 3813]

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