Good weekend getaway in the Caribbean?
I am just about to finish chemo therapy treatment, and I want to take my wife and I away for a mini vacation. Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions on Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands? Thurs-Sun, all inclusive, has to be US territory because friends of ours might come along who dont have passports.
Thanks
5 Responses
Cheyne M
19 Mar 2010
dmetoo@sbcglobal
19 Mar 2010
St John’s is a great island (of the US Virgin Islands) – not as crowded as ST Thomas or St Croix – much more relaxed. They have wonderful water — as do all the islands–and they have an underwater snorkeling trail which is good for people starting out. To get there, you fly into St Thomas and take a boat over. It is fairly casuall and has some good restaurants.
St Thomas can be very busy as can Puerto Rico when the cruise ships come in.
Puerto Rico is nice but the beaches are not as nice –brown sand instead of white sand, but have a large variety of places to stay — accordidng to what you want to pay and how active you want to be.
B P
19 Mar 2010
I live in Puerto Rico, and I’m sorry but there was only one all-inclusive place and it ran out of business because of it. Have you considered renting a beach house. They’re fairly cheap; $80 per night average. Hotels now are expensive at this timew of year people from the states come here to get away from the cold. It’s the most expensive season. Try http://www.endi.com classifieds section, the site for the best newspaper down here. Also try http://www.clasificadosonline.com and look around to see what you can find. Stick to the South and to the West sides of the Island they’re cheaper. San Juan and the rest of the Metro-Area will clean you out. However try these towns: Ponce, Cabo Rojo, Añasco, Lajas, Guanica. They’re beautiful and like I said, you won’t have to blow all your money like in the metro area. Good Luck! Enjoy your stay! Any questions k_ribbeandreamer at yahoo dot com
MOB
19 Mar 2010
I have to agree with the other posting…St.Thomas is crowded but Bolongo Bay Beach Resort is still on St.Thomas but it is run by really nice people…and the people who stay there tend to be very nice….it is an all-inclusive and they run specials – checkthe website. You can take the ferry to St.John for one of the days and go to the state park beach and spend the day there…you will feel like it was a very far away trip on the ferry going across those blue caribbean waters…..been there many times and can’t think of any other place I would go…except the British Virgin Islands but passports are needed.:0) Also, Wyndham in St.Thomas offers beautiful accomodations in St.Thomas….St.John – Caneel Bay is wonderful…but $$$$$ – check out some of the bed and breakfasts if you decide to stay there.
Skyauction.com sometimes has some great resorts to bid on
in the caribbean which may match your travel dates……in the
meantime relax enjoy…this sounds like a much needed break ..enjoy!
Bebe
19 Mar 2010
I have to agree completely with Cheyne about Puerto Rico. It is beautiful. The biobay is an amazing wonder that everyone should see in their lifetime, especially since it wont be there forever. & vieques & culebra are gorgeous more secluded beaches. & the first answerer said that PR doesnt have white sand, thats not true. All beaches in PR are not white, but some are, including vieques & culebra. Also If you go to Vieques by taking the ferry to Fajardo, you can stop at ‘El Yunque’ rain forest, if you have enough strength after your chemo. You can walk down a 0.7 mile trail to La Mina, a refreshing waterfall that u can swim in, the water is cold but feels great. There is even a ferry to ST Thomas but with only 3 days you will not have time b/c there is so much to do in PR. Just know that in PR & everywhere in the caribbean November starts high season & high prices. Thats why it is better to get out of San Juan, but to spend a day there you can see El Morro, the 500+ yr old war fort & old san Juan. Whatever you decide, all of the caribbean is beautiful, Enjoy & feel better!!
I hope all is well with you!! And you and your wife do need a great vacation.
Puerto Rico, is my suggestion…hands down!!! I took my wife on our honeymoon and it was amazingly beautiful!! We stayed on an island off the coast called Vieques. Now depending on what you prefer…you can catch a plane from San Juan to Vieques (I don’t know what tickets cost, if you go this route call the airports and see what the luggage weight restrictions are…because you are on a smaller plane that would seat about 10 people), or you can take a taxi from the San Juan airport to the ferry docs at Fajardo (taxi is approx $50, and about a 45 minute drive), and the ferry ride is also about 45 minutes to an hour out to the island.
We stayed at the Wyndham Martineau Bay Resort.
Absolutely amazing customer service, and everyone is so kind and willing to serve!!
There are lots of activities to do, just to name some that we did…1) this island has the largest Bio-illuminescent bay in the world (schedule around when there is a full moon) there are micro organisms that glow in the water, and you go kayaking on the lake at night…beautiful!!!
2) we got up early one morning to catch the ferry to another island called Culebra, a small island that you can rent a jeep and drive to the beautiful beaches. One of them (Flamenco) was ranked by the Travel Channel as one of the top ten most beautiful beaches in the world…and I can send you pictures if you’d like.
3) great snorkeling anywhere on the islands
4) if you are a chocolate lover, I’m hoping that they still have the Chocolate Molten Lava Cake and ice cream dessert…my wife and I have not even come close to finding anything like it since….and its been almost 3 years.
We definitely have plans on going there again!!