usvi-on-line
o/t opinions on other islands
o/t opinions on other islands
I haven't posted much, but lurk daily. We made our first trip to St John in May. Stayed 11 days in Maho Bay's Harmony Suites, and totally loved it. Lots to see and do. Snorkled daily. All the good stuff. Totally "get it". Would take the chance to return in a minute. However,. . . We have traveled very little outside the continental U.S. So there's alot we haven't seen, but the bar has been set extremely high by seeing St John first. Everyone here seems so well traveled that I thought prehaps you could give some advise. Can anyone compare Anguilla, or Kawai, to St John? Or has anyone been somewhere else that has the same nature, off beach snorkeling, and ambiance as St. John?
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CShell1019
- Posts: 90
- Joined: Fri Feb 02, 2007 7:20 am
Will take on the Anguilla comparison and other than it's a wonderful island there really is little to compare to St. John. Anguilla is flat. more arid and the green you see is around the resorts with the landscaping. The beaches are absolutely stunning and long and lovely. No off-beach snorkeling to speak of, a quick ferry to St. Martin if you feel a need to shop "haute coutre" but don't know how that would work pricewise with the sinking dollar or explore for a day - there's a "grocery" in Margiot (where you catch the ferry) that's wonderful - I couldn't stop drolling with all the delights. Anguilla's restaurants are overall probably the best in the Caribbean but don't come inexpensively. It is growing with lots of construction on or near the beaches but there's great spots in all price ranges right on the magnificant beaches (there's 33 of 'em) so if I were opting for Anguilla, I'd go sooner than later because it has to loose it charm and pristeen feeling with all that's happening (don't yell - but I fell that's already happened to St. John). No town to speak of (best t-shirts and souviniers are at the drug store), a couple of the small cruise ships stop now and again, the islanders are lovely, warm and friendly. No hiking, no excitement - just beach and good food. (Can you tell I really really like it?)
Other than the Grenadines, I've found the closest thing to St. John is Virgin Gorda in the BVI's - just a hop, skip and jump. Lots of nice spots right on the beaches in all price ranges, a bite of hiking up the mountain, lots of sailing and traveling to other islands that is easy with charter or ferrys. Pretty good snorkeling and very nice beaches. Developement is happening there too but so obvious. Also no shopping like Cruz Bay - just a bit of a shopping center in SpanishTown, fewer restaurants. Really laid back and limin' is done like the professionals! Some say Tortola but the beaches don't compare but it is a great hub for visiting other spots for the day - VG, Jost, etc.
Cannot compare to HI at all - never been, much too long a trip for me!
Other than the Grenadines, I've found the closest thing to St. John is Virgin Gorda in the BVI's - just a hop, skip and jump. Lots of nice spots right on the beaches in all price ranges, a bite of hiking up the mountain, lots of sailing and traveling to other islands that is easy with charter or ferrys. Pretty good snorkeling and very nice beaches. Developement is happening there too but so obvious. Also no shopping like Cruz Bay - just a bit of a shopping center in SpanishTown, fewer restaurants. Really laid back and limin' is done like the professionals! Some say Tortola but the beaches don't compare but it is a great hub for visiting other spots for the day - VG, Jost, etc.
Cannot compare to HI at all - never been, much too long a trip for me!
Haven’t been to the places you mentioned, but here are a few places I have been to:
Jost Van Dyke – White Bay has the most beautiful beach I’ve ever seen.
Cayman Islands – good snorkeling and better scuba diving. Great wall dives.
Bahamas – again, good snorkeling and diving.
The last two place don’t have the mountains that STJ has, but are great destinations in their own rights.
Jost Van Dyke – White Bay has the most beautiful beach I’ve ever seen.
Cayman Islands – good snorkeling and better scuba diving. Great wall dives.
Bahamas – again, good snorkeling and diving.
The last two place don’t have the mountains that STJ has, but are great destinations in their own rights.
FlaGeorge
"Swim Against The Current - Even a Dead Fish Can Go With The Flow"
"Swim Against The Current - Even a Dead Fish Can Go With The Flow"
Despite my love for STJ, I do try other places. I can comment on a few I have enjoyed. However, lovely as these places were, none of them have the "magic" that St. John has. Not even close.
Kauai is pretty awesome. I don't think you can compare Kauai to St. John. I think both are amazing in very different ways. Kauai has a beauty that is difficult to describe and as the "low key" Hawaiian island, it has the same lack of huge mega hotels and cities that St. John has with the same laid back vibe. It's a place I think everyone should go once. That said, I only went once and don't really feel a need to go back.
St. Lucia is very interesting too, depending on the areas you visit. The southeast coast between the Pitons is simply awesome. The northeast coast is very beautiful as well. However, the beaches are black sand and very different from St. John.
Out islands of the Bahamas are nice as well, mainly because of proximity to US. No mountains or lush landscape, but the waters and beaches can be quite beautiful.
Kauai is pretty awesome. I don't think you can compare Kauai to St. John. I think both are amazing in very different ways. Kauai has a beauty that is difficult to describe and as the "low key" Hawaiian island, it has the same lack of huge mega hotels and cities that St. John has with the same laid back vibe. It's a place I think everyone should go once. That said, I only went once and don't really feel a need to go back.
St. Lucia is very interesting too, depending on the areas you visit. The southeast coast between the Pitons is simply awesome. The northeast coast is very beautiful as well. However, the beaches are black sand and very different from St. John.
Out islands of the Bahamas are nice as well, mainly because of proximity to US. No mountains or lush landscape, but the waters and beaches can be quite beautiful.
We really enjoyed Provo, Turks and Caicos. A much flatter island and the water and beaches are beautiful.
Because of the work permit restrictions and lack of taxes, the islanders enjoy a very nice standard of living and they really seem to enjoy sharing the island with visitors. We talked to people everywhere we went, residents struck up conversations at the bar, in restaurants, at the grocery store. My husband was invited on a construction job site by a contractor who wanted to show him how they do things on the island. (The fact that hubs gets a charge out of talking to plumbers on vacation tells a lot about what type of travellers we are!)
The positives (in addition to the above mentioned) is accessiblity, many beachfront accomidations, nice reef snorkelling off shore.
The negatives food and drink were very expensive, no real town like Cruz Bay, and lots of construction.
Because of the work permit restrictions and lack of taxes, the islanders enjoy a very nice standard of living and they really seem to enjoy sharing the island with visitors. We talked to people everywhere we went, residents struck up conversations at the bar, in restaurants, at the grocery store. My husband was invited on a construction job site by a contractor who wanted to show him how they do things on the island. (The fact that hubs gets a charge out of talking to plumbers on vacation tells a lot about what type of travellers we are!)
The positives (in addition to the above mentioned) is accessiblity, many beachfront accomidations, nice reef snorkelling off shore.
The negatives food and drink were very expensive, no real town like Cruz Bay, and lots of construction.
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LandLockedBeachLover
- Posts: 374
- Joined: Mon Nov 06, 2006 9:16 am
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Been to the following:
Bahamas
Dominica
St. Martin
Aruba
Jamaica
Martinique
Puerto Rico
BVI's
Mexico - numerous locations
Other US "Islands" like Hilton Head, Sanibel, etc etc
None of 'em compare to STJ for beaches/snorkeling/water color except for the BVI's - - and that's only because it's so close. Then again, I would love to go to the Caymans, Turks & Caicos and Hawaii...
Bahamas
Dominica
St. Martin
Aruba
Jamaica
Martinique
Puerto Rico
BVI's
Mexico - numerous locations
Other US "Islands" like Hilton Head, Sanibel, etc etc
None of 'em compare to STJ for beaches/snorkeling/water color except for the BVI's - - and that's only because it's so close. Then again, I would love to go to the Caymans, Turks & Caicos and Hawaii...
We really enjoyed Virgin Gorda last year. The south side of the island, with its huge boulders, is a landscape not seen on St. John. The off-beach snorkeling was very good; and if you explored, you could find a lot of it. You can also find more (and not too expensive) accomodations close to the beaches.
No real town like Cruz Bay; and we found the restaurants to be inconsistent (but not bad).
As Vicki says, Kauai is awesome, but not to be compared with St. John. For a small island, it has varied weather - it has the wettest and dryest spots of the Hawaiian islands. It's been awhile, but I remember very good snorkeling off Po'ipu beach. My favorite town was Hanalei; I think it was on the north shore. (It's been awile). We also found some very good off-beach snorkeling on the Big Island, just south of Kona. If it weren't for the long flight (and my inability to quickly recover from jet lag), we'd travel to Hawaii more often.
No real town like Cruz Bay; and we found the restaurants to be inconsistent (but not bad).
As Vicki says, Kauai is awesome, but not to be compared with St. John. For a small island, it has varied weather - it has the wettest and dryest spots of the Hawaiian islands. It's been awhile, but I remember very good snorkeling off Po'ipu beach. My favorite town was Hanalei; I think it was on the north shore. (It's been awile). We also found some very good off-beach snorkeling on the Big Island, just south of Kona. If it weren't for the long flight (and my inability to quickly recover from jet lag), we'd travel to Hawaii more often.
janet
One place I would recommend is Harbour Island in the Bahamas (just off the coast of Eleuthera). Small island, traversed mostly by golf cart, gorgeous pink sand beach. A collection of smaller, charming inns. Not a great place for snorkelers though. I keep wanting to go back to Harbour Island, but I like to go to Caribbean in the dead of winter, when its below zero here in Iowa, and the Bahamas are not quite warm enough then.
---Jim
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naturegirl
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sapphirecat
- Posts: 246
- Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2007 2:43 pm
- Location: Turtle Bay, NYC
deejayjay,
Some of the southern Caribbeans offer what I call wild snorkeling: you can see lots of good stuff off of Barbados (in 4 feet of water) or Curacao or Bonaire.
I'm not sure what it is -- that the waters are warmer or the visitors fewer, but there's an abundance of exotic ocean life just steps into the water: fire worms, peacock flounders, scorpion fish, barracuda, a huge manta ray, other rays, octopus, eels. You can see just about everything (except, in my case, starfish and seahorses) just snorkeling.
I thought the Bahamas were beautiful for their coral and Bermuda has stunningly gorgeous parrot fish that you can even see from shore.
At Grand Cayman you're better off diving. I found most stuff was in deeper waters. The trouble is, it's such a dive island that there are fewer fish per capita
(note: on my second to last day I finally twigged that the dive shop I'd signed up with was going out too early in the morning and the fish were still asleep. You're not going to find that info in any dive book. It's one of my unique facts.) However, if you do go to Grand Cayman as part of a cruise, make sure you sign up to snorkel either Stingray City or Sandbar and you'll catch the thrill of your life.
Have fun!
cat
Some of the southern Caribbeans offer what I call wild snorkeling: you can see lots of good stuff off of Barbados (in 4 feet of water) or Curacao or Bonaire.
I'm not sure what it is -- that the waters are warmer or the visitors fewer, but there's an abundance of exotic ocean life just steps into the water: fire worms, peacock flounders, scorpion fish, barracuda, a huge manta ray, other rays, octopus, eels. You can see just about everything (except, in my case, starfish and seahorses) just snorkeling.
I thought the Bahamas were beautiful for their coral and Bermuda has stunningly gorgeous parrot fish that you can even see from shore.
At Grand Cayman you're better off diving. I found most stuff was in deeper waters. The trouble is, it's such a dive island that there are fewer fish per capita
(note: on my second to last day I finally twigged that the dive shop I'd signed up with was going out too early in the morning and the fish were still asleep. You're not going to find that info in any dive book. It's one of my unique facts.) However, if you do go to Grand Cayman as part of a cruise, make sure you sign up to snorkel either Stingray City or Sandbar and you'll catch the thrill of your life.
Have fun!
cat
We've been to 15 different islands and STJ is truly unique as the others have said in terms of beaches, snorkeling, and natural beauty. Here are a few thoughts.
Bonaire had super fantastic snorkeling (coral and sea life) unlike anything I have seen since, but we were there 20 years ago and before Lenny, so I don't know if its still great now. Island is flat and desert. We had great local food there.
Bay Islands, Honduras - also super fantastic snorkeling and incredibly clear waters, but we were there prior to the devastating hurricane Mitch. Not sure how it is now.
Nevis - We love the feel of this small island and have been several times. Very laid back, nice atmosphere, friendly people, very West Indian (unlike STJ), excellent restaurants, great hiking, scenic with Mt Nevis visible from everywhere, and a few nice beaches. But the water is not the turquoise like STJ (darker color sand) and the snorkeling is just ok.
Dominica - This is truly a "nature island" with mountains, rivers, waterfalls, lots of interesting hiking, great bird watching, very scenic. Not built up much at all, very West Indian. But, no nice beaches nor decent snorkeling that we found.
St Lucia - wonderful scenery with the Pitons; some great (high end) places to stay; great hiking. Very good diving and snorkeling, but not as good as STJ (IMHO). Has interesting features of a "drive-in volcano" and a boiling lake.
Tobago - Really enjoyed this island - had very friendly people, small town atmosphere. Had its own island culture and not US-like at all. Diving was great - not sure about snorkeling because we were divers then.
Feel free to PM me if you are interested in more info on one of these islands.
Bonaire had super fantastic snorkeling (coral and sea life) unlike anything I have seen since, but we were there 20 years ago and before Lenny, so I don't know if its still great now. Island is flat and desert. We had great local food there.
Bay Islands, Honduras - also super fantastic snorkeling and incredibly clear waters, but we were there prior to the devastating hurricane Mitch. Not sure how it is now.
Nevis - We love the feel of this small island and have been several times. Very laid back, nice atmosphere, friendly people, very West Indian (unlike STJ), excellent restaurants, great hiking, scenic with Mt Nevis visible from everywhere, and a few nice beaches. But the water is not the turquoise like STJ (darker color sand) and the snorkeling is just ok.
Dominica - This is truly a "nature island" with mountains, rivers, waterfalls, lots of interesting hiking, great bird watching, very scenic. Not built up much at all, very West Indian. But, no nice beaches nor decent snorkeling that we found.
St Lucia - wonderful scenery with the Pitons; some great (high end) places to stay; great hiking. Very good diving and snorkeling, but not as good as STJ (IMHO). Has interesting features of a "drive-in volcano" and a boiling lake.
Tobago - Really enjoyed this island - had very friendly people, small town atmosphere. Had its own island culture and not US-like at all. Diving was great - not sure about snorkeling because we were divers then.
Feel free to PM me if you are interested in more info on one of these islands.
Thank you all for your information and advise. This is such a well traveled group of friendly people. You've given me lots of info to look into further. Tentatively trying to plan for our 30th anniversary in May. (We were of course married when we were 9 ):) Maybe someday I'll have my own personal experience to share these exotic places.
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LandLockedBeachLover
- Posts: 374
- Joined: Mon Nov 06, 2006 9:16 am
- Location: St. Louis, MO
Naturegirl - I agree with B&J in Va about Dominica. We were only there for a cruise ship stop, so I'm definitely not the best to comment on the island from just one day! We went on a white river raft (of sorts) and drove through practically the whole island. So many pretty waterfalls, rainforest-like mountains, streams - - but no beaches. The poverty that we passed through was almost overwhelming. But they are a very proud people - - I remember our guide being so enthusiastic about every little landmark and building (I think he even said "here is the bank that we all go to to deposit our checks"). I don't think I could spend an extended amt of time here though, but we had a wonderful day here! We also bought a bunch of souvenirs (and beer 
) here since we felt so sorry for all the vendors...really very sad.
) here since we felt so sorry for all the vendors...really very sad.