Yeah the 3k "budget" is negotiable. We are also considering a balcony on the Oasis of the Seas but I am worried about getting stuck on the ship if something happened to the baby and we needed to be home ASAP (she will be watched by my parents but likely go to daycare during the days).
You wont be stuck on the ship. In a true emergency they can helicopter you off of the ship can be rerouted or they will let you off at the next port. They have ample ways to deal with emergencies abroad. And as someone born and raised for 18 years in a few Caribbean Islands and whose aunt runs a hospital in the Caribbean still, you don't want to be in any of the hospitals with a true emergency any way. So if that is a big concern of yours you are are going to want to stay on the main land.
If my husband & I could travel to Antigua once every few years to just get away, have great food & cocktails - we'd go to Cocobay in a heartbeat I'm all for finding different places to stay & traveling to different islands...but that's one place we'd return for multiple trips! It is very relaxing
They have a great catamaran trip you can take, the Wadadli Cats - it goes around the island & has a break for snorkeling & a traditional Antiguan meal. It was a lot of fun and the cocktails flow on the return trip!
Private beaches are illegal in almost every Caribbean island. Puerto Rico, USVI, BVI, Barbados, St. Kitts and Antigua for a fact.
Your issue isn't a private beach issue. Your issue is picking a resort which is close to the docks or that the cruise charters use. Every island in the Caribbean has MULTIPLE beaches. Next time you can do some more research, call ahead and find out if the resort you are booking has a beach usually used by cruise ship charters.
If my husband & I could travel to Antigua once every few years to just get away, have great food & cocktails - we'd go to Cocobay in a heartbeat I'm all for finding different places to stay & traveling to different islands...but that's one place we'd return for multiple trips! It is very relaxing
They have a great catamaran trip you can take, the Wadadli Cats - it goes around the island & has a break for snorkeling & a traditional Antiguan meal. It was a lot of fun and the cocktails flow on the return trip!
Private beaches are illegal in almost every Caribbean island. Puerto Rico, USVI, BVI, Barbados, St. Kitts and Antigua for a fact.
Your issue isn't a private beach issue. Your issue is picking a resort which is close to the docks or that the cruise charters use. Every island in the Caribbean has MULTIPLE beaches. Next time you can do some more research, call ahead and find out if the resort you are booking has a beach usually used by cruise ship charters.
I think you meant to quote me and not lb2006.
As I said in my post, I was unaware of beach laws in the Caribbean before this post. I thought I was clear that I stood corrected on the public beach issue but it seems I was not. I stand corrected. I also thought I was clear from my first post that I don't think this was necessarily an issue with St. Lucia or even a chronic issue of our resort. My only point was to comment that this may be something to look into prior to traveling.
We read a ton of reviews before we went and nobody else mentioned this being an issue. Perhaps nobody else was as bothered by it, or we were there at a bad time, or nobody else thought to write about it in a review. I certainly wrote about it in my TripAdvisor review.
We would never have thought to call ahead about this issue because we did not know it would be an issue before we went. I am not needing any advice for my next vacation though, thanks.
By the way, the resort was nowhere near the cruise docks. People were shuttled in to our beach from the docks.
Private beaches are illegal in almost every Caribbean island. Puerto Rico, USVI, BVI, Barbados, St. Kitts and Antigua for a fact.
Your issue isn't a private beach issue. Your issue is picking a resort which is close to the docks or that the cruise charters use. Every island in the Caribbean has MULTIPLE beaches. Next time you can do some more research, call ahead and find out if the resort you are booking has a beach usually used by cruise ship charters.
I think you meant to quote me and not lb2006.
As I said in my post, I was unaware of beach laws in the Caribbean before this post. I thought I was clear that I stood corrected on the public beach issue but it seems I was not. I stand corrected. I also thought I was clear from my first post that I don't think this was necessarily an issue with St. Lucia or even a chronic issue of our resort. My only point was to comment that this may be something to look into prior to traveling.
We read a ton of reviews before we went and nobody else mentioned this being an issue. Perhaps nobody else was as bothered by it, or we were there at a bad time, or nobody else thought to write about it in a review. I certainly wrote about it in my TripAdvisor review.
We would never have thought to call ahead about this issue because we did not know it would be an issue before we went. I am not needing any advice for my next vacation though, thanks.
By the way, the resort was nowhere near the cruise docks. People were shuttled in to our beach from the docks.
No, I did mean to quote you and I am not being harsh. I really was just trying to "teach" (for lack of a better term) all the "secrets" of getting a good caribbean vacay.
And you mention that the resort was not next to the docks. I get that. That is why I said you have to call to make sure it is not used by a charter, charter implies being bussed in. The ship passengers pay btwn $30-$60pp to be bussed to various island beaches when docked. The charters 99% of the time use the same beaches so my tip was just showing you how to plan ahead in the future.
As I said in my post, I was unaware of beach laws in the Caribbean before this post. I thought I was clear that I stood corrected on the public beach issue but it seems I was not. I stand corrected. I also thought I was clear from my first post that I don't think this was necessarily an issue with St. Lucia or even a chronic issue of our resort. My only point was to comment that this may be something to look into prior to traveling.
We read a ton of reviews before we went and nobody else mentioned this being an issue. Perhaps nobody else was as bothered by it, or we were there at a bad time, or nobody else thought to write about it in a review. I certainly wrote about it in my TripAdvisor review.
We would never have thought to call ahead about this issue because we did not know it would be an issue before we went. I am not needing any advice for my next vacation though, thanks.
By the way, the resort was nowhere near the cruise docks. People were shuttled in to our beach from the docks.
No, I did mean to quote you and I am not being harsh. I really was just trying to "teach" (for lack of a better term) all the "secrets" of getting a good caribbean vacay.
And you mention that the resort was not next to the docks. I get that. That is why I said you have to call to make sure it is not used by a charter, charter implies being bussed in. The ship passengers pay btwn $30-$60pp to be bussed to various island beaches when docked. The charters 99% of the time use the same beaches so my tip was just showing you how to plan ahead in the future.
Thanks for clarifying. I apologize for misreading your tone. I felt a little attacked but perhaps that's because I am hormonal and sleep deprived after some 4-6 AM fun with my 2.5 year old. Seriously, sorry again and thanks for the advice... I will for sure keep it in mind for my next Caribbean getaway... which is not in the foreseeable future for now, sadly!
No, I did mean to quote you and I am not being harsh. I really was just trying to "teach" (for lack of a better term) all the "secrets" of getting a good caribbean vacay.
And you mention that the resort was not next to the docks. I get that. That is why I said you have to call to make sure it is not used by a charter, charter implies being bussed in. The ship passengers pay btwn $30-$60pp to be bussed to various island beaches when docked. The charters 99% of the time use the same beaches so my tip was just showing you how to plan ahead in the future.
Thanks for clarifying. I apologize for misreading your tone. I felt a little attacked but perhaps that's because I am hormonal and sleep deprived after some 4-6 AM fun with my 2.5 year old. Seriously, sorry again and thanks for the advice... I will for sure keep it in mind for my next Caribbean getaway... which is not in the foreseeable future for now, sadly!
It's OK! No offense taken! I want US Mainlanders to come to the Caribbean and spend their money So I want to give people tips so they are happy and come back and bring their friends and bring more $$$ LOL
Post by jillboston on Jan 30, 2013 11:01:10 GMT -5
Just a thought - but Vegas is beautiful in October. Still very warm/hot so you can do the pool and the spas in the hotels (Mirage for example - are amazing) - tons of stuff to do or not do if you just want to lounge
Thanks for clarifying. I apologize for misreading your tone. I felt a little attacked but perhaps that's because I am hormonal and sleep deprived after some 4-6 AM fun with my 2.5 year old. Seriously, sorry again and thanks for the advice... I will for sure keep it in mind for my next Caribbean getaway... which is not in the foreseeable future for now, sadly!
It's OK! No offense taken! I want US Mainlanders to come to the Caribbean and spend their money So I want to give people tips so they are happy and come back and bring their friends and bring more $$$ LOL
So...just so i'm clarifying....not directed towards me?? I was like, "wait a minute...i don't think i mentioned private beaches!?"
It's OK! No offense taken! I want US Mainlanders to come to the Caribbean and spend their money So I want to give people tips so they are happy and come back and bring their friends and bring more $$$ LOL
So...just so i'm clarifying....not directed towards me?? I was like, "wait a minute...i don't think i mentioned private beaches!?"
We stayed at Ti Kaye in 2010 but didn't have any of the issues Carmen had with cruise people on the beach there. I maybe saw one boat with 15 people pull up but that was it. I liked St Lucia but the beaches and water are not as pretty there. There are a lot of activities though if you want to stay active. I don't know that we would ever return but I would recommend Ti Kaye. I really liked the resort.
In st John you could easily rent a small villa for a week. I've stayed at the Westin several times because my parents own a timeshare there but food and stuff is so pricey we would always eat in town somewhere. Not a lot going on in st John other than beach hopping. You can also take a day trip to the BVIs on a large catamaran that leaves from the Westin and that was a lot of fun. STJ is one of my favorite places on earth!
Post by wanderlustfoodie on Jan 30, 2013 15:12:04 GMT -5
Bonaire and Curacao are both outside the hurricane belt. Bonaire is terrific if you like to snorkel/dive. Very tiny island (no stop lights), really relaxing. Curacao is a bigger, busier island with good food and a terrific resort: www.baoase.com/<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>