USVI-On-Line

I've been lucky enough to travel all over the Caribbean, but St. John is still my favorite. I think my second-favorite was Les Saintes, just off the coast of Guadeloupe. It is very small and reminds me a lot of St John. They have a little sandwich/crepe stand (how French) right where you get off the ferry that had the best turkey sandwich I have ever had. It reminded me of the old Dockside Pub - how I miss that place! They had the best sandwiches there. I think St John lost a little of its soul the day they tore it down.


What other islands are your favorites?

I loved Negril, Jamaica - could take or leave the rest of that island. Negril has a hippy laid back vibe that I just loved. We honeymooned there.

I also really enjoyed Bermuda though I would not characterize it as anything like STJ. Much more formal and british, but beautiful and very close for us! Just a short easy flight.

I also enjoyed St. Martin and St. Barths though I would not return to either before exploring some other islands or going back to St. John!

I have heard good things about Nevis and plan to try it if I can tear myself away from STJ.

Dominica!

It's not easy to get to, which probably has a lot to do with how unspoiled/undeveloped it still is.

A very pretty island, with mountains, rivers, rain forests, and some very varied and interesting beaches.

I did some scuba dives there last fall on what had to be the most pristine reefs I've ever seen!

We did a hike through the rain forest to a waterfall (Middleham Falls) that was just spectacular.

It's another island I vow to go back and visit..

We honeymooned on St Barth's (after getting married on St John!) and although I enjoyed it, I couldn't wait to get back to St John!

I've heard Nevis is nice, too but haven't been there yet. Went to the Dominican Republic a few months ago, but it was so big, it didn't feel like an island to me. I did fall in love with Presidente beer, so next time I go to STJ I'll have to stop by Caps and get one or two! It's a nice change from Caribe, which I also like.

Negril is fun, but still full of higglers. Anegada for a 5 day visit is great and JVD for 3 days does nicely. Add in St. John and that's a great 2 week trip. We did that, more or less, in 2004 and it was sweet.

Cheers, RickG

augie wrote:Dominica!

It's not easy to get to, which probably has a lot to do with how unspoiled/undeveloped it still is.

That sounds great - I'll have to put that one on the list. We sailed to Culebra and Vieques last year and my husband says Vieques reminds him of how St John was 25 years ago. (He's been coming down for 30 years now!)

I have looked into Vieques a couple of times but always chicken out!

Collective gasp please......

On our last 2 cruises we went to Roatan Honduras and just fell in love with the island and the people. If flights weren't so expensive we would be going there this year.

It is a bit 3rd world but it is a wonderful island that I will get back too sometime soon!

Xislandgirl wrote:Collective gasp please......

On our last 2 cruises we went to Roatan Honduras and just fell in love with the island and the people.

Actually, we fell in love with Belize on a cruise a few years ago and vowed to come back and visit. Not an island, but reminded me of one. The people were fantastic. I am looking forward to returning and seeing more of it. Cruises are a good way to see a little of a lot of places and figure out if you want to come back.

I agree.

Until we visited Belize on a cruise it's not somewhere that I would ever have had on my list.

Now, after a river tubing adventure and a great day of diving, it is definitely somewhere I hope to return to.

I am ashamed to admit that in an effort to find an island we are comfortable flying ourselves to, Matt and I have "cheated" on our beloved St. John. We have found another favorite, that does not equal St. John, but it's pretty cool.

It's Guana Cay in the Abacos (out islands of the Bahamas). Like STJ, you fly into the "big island" of Abaco and ferry over to Guana. Guana is tiny, does not have car traffic (you go everywhere by boat and golf cart), has one tiny village around a lovely harbor, only has about 5 restaurants, no real stores or hotels, a GREAT beach bar with the best island drink I've had to date (the frozen Nipper), is surrounded by other small cays and islands that you can easily boat to, and has amazing waters and snorkeling along the world's 3rd largest barrier reef, just off shore.

It's a great little place to run down to, although it hasn't sunk deep down into our soul the way St. John has. However, when I get the St. John "blues," I can run down to Guana for a few days (we can be there in about 3 hours) and it makes me feel better.

VickiH wrote:
It's Guana Cay in the Abacos (out islands of the Bahamas).

That sounds great! I had never even heard of Guana Cay before. That's what I love about the islands - there are so many to choose from - always an adventure.

Vicki.......Do you stop in Miami, or fly directly to Abaco from Tenn?? I've only been to Nausau and Paradise Island in the Bahamas and we took a little puddle jumper from Miami.

I would love to have a quick place to get to when we only have a few days and STJ is out of the question.

I haven't visited too many other places but from what I hear, I don't have to. STJ is the best.
My husband wants to go back to the Florida Keys though.

I'll cast a vote for Anguilla. Fabulous beaches, outstanding restaurants, friendly people. But very different from St. John, which will always be our favorite.

I agree that cruises are a great way to explore (albeit brief) several islands. We're doing one next March to the Southern Caribbean and will get to check out some new places like St Lucia and Barbados.

Meanwhile, Bongo Bongo in August!

SteveO.