Advice on Caribbean get-aways....

[5fromabove]

Hi! DH and I are hoping to celebrate our 10th Anniversary with a 4 day/3 night trip to SOMEWHERE in the Caribbean. My Mom has offered to watch the kids, but I don't think I'd want to be gone more than 3 nights. It would be in October '09. I've been advised against the Eastern Caribbean due to hurricanes. We're looking for someplace tropical (palm trees, beaches, sunshine). I was told Aruba is dry like a desert..not tropical. We had considered Belize, but it looks like airfare is $710 pp from Boston. I was hoping for something semi-affordable, since we'll be doing Disney in April of that year as well. We have never been to any of the islands at all. We spent our honeymoon in Maui, and it was cheaper b/c we lived on the west coast then. Hoping to find a good deal or something and I'm looking for some great ideas. A couples only place would be great! THANKS SO MUCH for any help.

[trennedy]

If you want couples only, you can never beat a Sandals resort. My DH spent our honeymoon ages ago at the Sandals Antigua and absolutely loved it. We are planning on returning someday!

[Ed]

If you want couples only, you can never beat a Sandals resort. My DH spent our honeymoon ages ago at the Sandals Antigua and absolutely loved it. We are planning on returning someday!

He went alone? And you're still with him??

I'll second the motion for Antigua, even though it's in the Eastern Caribbean. We spent 10 days there a few years ago, and loved every minute of it! In fact, we're planning a trip back next Spring.

[trennedy]

He went alone? And you're still with him??

Yes, I went too...He might say he'd enjoy going it alone some days....14 years and 2 kids later, we're still together...we definately need another vacation like that!!

[5fromabove]

Thanks for the tips. Would you avoid Antigua in October ?

[trennedy]

It's hard to say...some year's it's fine, other's you could have problems. The nice thing about going to a Sandals resort is their Hurricane Guarantee. If you have to leave early because of a storm, you get the exact trip free. I'm sure you'll have a great time wherever you go!!

[pink]

We usually go to Turks and Caicos in the Carribean and it's a Beaches resort. As others have said, the Sandals resorts are great too.

[MidnTPK]

Actually, I think the only place that is reasonable, given you only can go for 3 nights, is the Bahamas....and that's even pushing it.

The thing about the Caribbean is that flight times are not friendly to quick trips. Only a few islands have direct flights from the U.S., and even those are not the best.

The way it works in most places is that you have to leave from your home city early in the morning. If you're not on a direct flight, you'll arrive mid to late afternoon....so more than half of day 1 (of 4) is spent travelling.

But on the way back it worse: you'll almost certainly have to leave your resort in the morning, if not VERY early to catch a flight that will get you back to you home city that evening. So more than 50% of day 4 (of 4) is spent travelling back....so a 4 day trip you may spend half the time travelling.

My advice would be to go to one of the northern islands. yes, there's a threat of hurricanes....but if there isn't a storm aimed at your destination, October is a very nice month. Hurricanes aren't a constant thing that are always happening....they are a random thing that rarely happen but you have to get out of the way if one is coming.

If you are still monitoring this thread, let me know, and I'll provide some specific suggestions.

[5fromabove]

If you are still monitoring this thread, let me know, and I'll provide some specific suggestions.

Hi! I'm still here. Thanks so much for your advice. I see you are from D.C...yet another place I was going to ask about, LOL. I went there YEARS ago when I was a little kid and I am trying to convince DH to take a 2 day trip there this summer. We are about 8 hours away driving. I'd like the kids to see the Capitol, the monuments/memorials and maybe the National Park Zoo. My brother said the museums are all free. I have a hard time booking rooms because we require 2 of them in most places (2 adults, 5 kids). I'm looking for the cheapest available, but clean. Do you have any suggestions on any of this too?! Thanks so much

[MidnTPK]

Regarding DC: I always advise people to stay on or near Capitol Hill....but the nice hotels there are expensive - The Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill is walking distance from most of the important stuff.. You can spend a lot of time in traffic if you don't stay in the city, so anything you can find in the tourist/business areas is probably the best bet.

Regarding the Caribbean: I'd really suggest going somewhere you can fly direct...which means flying out of Logan. Which likely means Nassau in The Bahamas. Which both JetBlue and USAir have direct flights to.

There's Atlantis, which is one of the most awesome places in the world, but it's not cheap and your kids would kill you if they found out that you went without them.

And there's Cable Beach, which has a Sandal, a Breezes, and a large complex of Starwood hotels and a casino. They're nice places in the process of being renovated, and you should be able to get a good deal for October travel.

Puerto Rico might also be an option...most airlines use it as a hub for Caribbean travel, so you might find good flights.

And I've never been, but Freeport in the Bahamas is also relatively close and has some nice resorts that should be reasonably priced.

Have you looked into flights and seen what I am talking about? I suggest doing so and then seeing which islands are really options. Just buy travel insurance that cover cancellation due to weather. If you book solely on the premise of avoiding a potential storm, you'll end up spending way too much of your time on this trip in an aluminum tube 5 miles in the air...or waiting to get on it.

[MidnTPK]

I was just looking at a globe....not to sound like a broken record (ore skipping cd) there's rally no avoiding the hurricane zone unless you go all the way down to Aruba...which is off the coast of Venezuela....meaning 1000 miles south of Cancun...meaning a very long way away.

[ckaranassos]

Hi I don't know if you still need ideas but we just got home yesterday from the most amazing vacation in Puerto Rico. We had a direct flight into San Juan and stayed at the El Conquistador Resort and Spa. It had a casino, water park, private island with amazing water sports, seven pools, 23 restaurants ranging from casual to fancy, beautiful spa and the most amazing views ever. Food was expensive, but you did not have to leave the resort for anything (hotel has it's own shuttle to and from airport) No passports!

[DDBird]

There are direct flights all the time to Bermuda from the Esat Coast. We are not part of the Caribbean and are unique to ourselves. we have pink beaches (no kidding the sand is pink from all the coral reefs) and turqiuoise waters. We have great golfing, dining and snorkeling/swimming. We are a little bit more than the Caribbean but really worth it. Another option would be to take a cruise here.
October the weather is still hot and sunny and we tend to fair any hurricane better than the caribbean. Our standard of living is better and therefore we tend to be built better and safer. hurricanes really don't phase us

[mickeytravel]

We love the Paradise island in the Bahamas. From Boston you can get direct flights about $300 or less. We stay at Comfort Suites. The best thing is you have full rights to the Atlantis Resort. Everything...... It is also half the price. Great getaway for 3 or 4 nights

[Spaceship Tigger]

We just booked a 4 night cruise to the Bahamas in July as a getaway without the kids. It seemed that the Bahamas was really the best place to get to for the money for a few days. It is so expensive to fly anywhere from Knoxville that we decided to just drive to Cape Canaveral (not much farther than WDW) and take a cruise from there.

We really wanted to go to Atlantis so we picked the full day excursion there while in Nassau. I actually looked at simply flying there and staying at a resort, but it was much more expensive than driving to Florida and taking the cruise.

[SCbelle]

Check out "Couples Resorts" in Jamaica!!!

My DH and I went to Couples Ocho Rios for our 10th and had the BEST TIME w/o the kids (they are NOT allowed)

This is a TRUE ALL INCLUSIVE resort (there are four of them to choose from). I mean EVERYTHING from food, drinks, activities on and offsite.

You will be treated like royalty from the moment you step into the Couples lounge at the airport.

For the best info, go to their website www.couples.com and visit the message board for anwers to all your questions.

[Kidsmom]

I would stay away from the Caribbean in Oct. Maybe you could push it off juntil Jan or Feb.'10 when you are sure the weather is good.

We went a couple of years ago Oct. 13th and we told that it was basically the end of the Hurricane season and not to worry. When we left for a 5 day trip....nothing on the radar., just some rain. That rain developed into a Tropical Storm (later a hurricane that hit Cancun) that sat on top of us for 5 days! We had literally 20 minutes of sun. Lots of flooding.

I still had fun as we didn't have our kids and it was couples from our college days, but I wouldn't chance it again.

In this situation you wouldn't get your money back as there was no evacuation, but just horrible weather.

Also travel time will be an issue for a 3-day trip.

Enjoy whatever you do....it is nice to have grown-up trips every so often!

[thejens]

I think old San Juan is absolutely beautiful, my favorite stop in the Caribbean. I understand Jamaica is not very safe to venture off the resorts. I do not personally like to spend all my time at the resort and I enjoy exploring the culture of where I am. My other favorite place is Puerto Vallarta Mexico on the Pacific Coast. The water is not the same Caribbean blue and the sand is not as white, but the people, food, gorgeous ocean side walkway and beautiful architecture won me over. This might be better for a longer trip since there is plenty to do and see. We stay at Fiesta Americana which is very kid friendly if you ever decide to take them.