Holidays

[Caroline]

Back to insects...my small son ran in from the garden once, complaining that it was " full of midgets!!"

[rocketmanjohn]

Much to my regret, I'm back from the Caribbean. We had a lovely time and I got in a lot of scuba, reefs and shipwrecks galore, it is so beautiful. St Martin is such a delightful place to visit, and the French side is not yet too commercial, the Dutch side is. My schoolboy French got a severe battering, and usually ended up with a lot of laughing. The cuisine is excellent, but very rich, both of us had to take it easy and take a day or so on salads.
I've taken a bunch of photos and can E-Mail to anyone interested,[Thornley] it's easier from work, so E-Mail me on
[email protected]

John

[noel]

John, are there any parts of the Caribbean you would not recommend?alternately any you would definitely recommend? I have a friend who honeymooned on an island St. Dominica i think ( i am no expert on the West Indies) and he was marooned in the hotel complex, virtually a prisoner because it was not safe to venture out. I would love to go out there but am a bit frightened to end up somewhere a) unsafe b) very expensive and c) out of season weatherwise. Any input would be very welcomed.

[rocketmanjohn]

Noel, I'll list my experiences. Alan should be able to help out as well.

Bahamas-Expensive, safe, good food, beautiful beaches, excellent diving. Really nice locals.

Cancun-Bloody awful, full of American students, medium prices, you will get 'Montezumas Revenge', and thats no fun, nice beaches but very busy, good tours [Chichen Itza, which is mind boggling], safe, apart from the students. Average diving. Nice locals.

Isla Mujeres-Cheap, only 5 miles off Cancun but another world. Safe. Not many beaches, but not too busy and well kept. Good diving. Average food. Good people. Good value-We've been twice.

Cozumel- see Cancun

Curacao- Excellent, average prices, good food, safe, super little beaches in little rocky coves, getting more popular every year, but still not too busy. World class diving, world class wind surfing [the world championships are held here regularly]. Really great people. The clearest water you've ever seen. We've been eight times, so that should tell you something.

St Kitts- Very good, average prices, safe, good food, average beaches but quite clean, good diving, good people. Good value for money.

St Martin- just got back from our second visit, Excellent, safe, excellent food, good diving but not the best. The Dutch side is a bit scruffy, the French side is really nice. Great people. Great value for money. Nice beaches.

Grenada- Not really set up for tourists. Only one strip of beach, which is where the hotels are. Constant harassment from hawkers. Not many places air conditioned. Good food. Excellent rain forest. Good diving. Not worth renting a car, there are'nt many roads. I never fealt threatened, but my wife was very intimidated by the fact that most men wear only shorts and sandals, and [u]all carry machetes.

Aruba- Very American. One beach 8 miles long, full of hotels. Not recommended.

Don't go to the Caribbean between June and September [inclusive], it's too hot and there's always a threat of hurricanes, which will really ruin your day. Last week in St Martin it was in the low 90's every day with a nice breeze, even so it was stiffling in the towns during the day. Breezy islands don't have a mosquito problem, they can't handle the wind. St Martin and Curacao are the best for this.
White Americans always seem to feel threatened by all Black islands, in my experience I've always found that if people are treated with respect they will treat me likewise. Sounds very basic but you'd be surprised how some people react.
The only island I've been told is dangerous is Jamaica, people stay in their hotel complexes, or go on conducted tours. I've not been, so I'm not speaking from experience.
I always rent a car and like to see the places and people [except Isla Mujeres, which is'nt big enough], I've never[/u] had a problem. Except for Grenada [see above], I've never had any problems walking around at night either.
You'll find that you can get to the Caribbean cheaper than we can from the 'States. Package tours don't exist as they do in the UK and we have to fly scheduled airlines. So root around a bit.
John
John

[noel]

Thanks for that John, Dominican Republic was the name of the place my friend honeymooned in. No English speaking people there was one complaint they had. I'll take note of what you say to book somewhere special for my wife and myself.

[Alan Marsden]

Noel, you will be appalled when taking the ride from the airport to Santa Domingo the capital of the Dominican republic, it must rank as one of the dirtiest places in the caribbean, trash everywhere, yet it could with a little care be so nice. Santa Domingo itself is interesting but again extremely scruffy, watch for pickpockets. I would suggest that on the Dominican Republic, you'd be better staying in a large all inclusive hotel compound !
I have spent several days there, not staying in hotels, but using Santa Domingo for embarkation, and also visiting when cruising. The other half of this island is named 'Haiti', it is possibly the poorest place in the Carib.and I have yet to hear of anyone visiting the place, it's oppresive history under 'Poppa Doc'and voodoo.has left the inhabitants in a sorry state ! Whilst on a Royal Caribean (Majesty of the seas) cruise in 98. we called at 'Labadee' an uninhabited island nearbye run for the day by the ships crew,a typical paradise sort of place,lovely beaches,hamocks between palmtrees, food, drinks, all provided by the ship and included! We took a boatride around part of Haiti, saw ( using binoculars) the distant fishermen clad in native attire, in their narrowboats clutching their spears, a remote, different world , absolutely authentic ! Back to the ship and civilisation !Incidentally, the island combining the countries of Dominican Republic and Haiti, were formerly known as 'Hispaniola', rings of Treasure Island and Long John Silver !

I believe that cruising offers much in the Caribbean especially when in doubt or of concern about iteneries, by cruising, you can get excellent accomodation and entertainment , you get to 'inspect' many places, arriving before breakfast and departing in the evening whilst experiencing the best of food , and later the carib. starlit skies !

Re, John's comments on Cancuun, the hotels are very close together there, far too noisy,ghetto blasters are the norm, but just a few miles south is an excellent 5 star all inclusive hotel in it's own grounds,that I used in 97, the 'Moon Palace',and perhaps 10 miles again south is Playa del Carmine, here several well spaced out hotels run down to the excellent beach, Iv'e stayed at the gorgeous 5 star RIU Palace there, it's an all inclusive (in 2001, my eldest son was married in the lovely hotel chapel), it has several superb restraunts and a beautiful ornate watergarden within the hotel,it also has two more moderate adjacent sister hotels RIU nearbye.

Iv'e met several Brits at nearby Xcaret an ecological theme park, several were insistant that this was the nicest place that they had ever seen ! They were all on two week packages from the UK.
Magnificent Tulum with its ancient pyramids is just perhaps 10 miles down the coast as is Akumel, both lovely places, with the warm turquoise sea as a bonus . Chichen Itza is inland ,again magnificent, but ever so hot there ! I'm told that Shellhigh is a divers paradise, not been there myself, but I enjoyed the snorkelling at both Xcaret and the island of Cozumel. If you go to Cozumel you must take in 'Pancho's backyard',for absolutely the best guacamole , shrimps and Marguaritas you ever tasted, free tequila from the barrel and a mariachi band too !
I would think that the one of best places and certainly the most convenient for Brits visiting the Carib, would be Barbados, it has everthing , including direct flights from UK ,and they drive in the left too ! I'd avoid hiring a car at the port, try the town ( Bridgetown) instead it cost me $70 for a banger for the day ( as against $25 for a new car in Aruba !).

Likewise St Lucia, we spent a remarkable day there on one of our cruise day visits there, we booked a tour on board ship ( Celebrity- Horizon),it started at 8 am. at Castries the capital and port, took us on an 8 hour trip more than half way around the islands lush forrests and beaches and humble villages of waving pleasant obviously happy residents ,to the sulphur hot springs etc, then the memorable Pilons ( familiar twin volcanic mountainous landmarks), for an included superb luncheon incorporating many local foods (flying fish, plantains etc ). We were then taken to the beach at Soufriere where two large catamarans were awaiting ,including a large free bar! Once offshore and partaking of ample rum punch, the Pitons looked even better, we sailed to the delightful Anse Chastenet beach and Marigot bay ( featured in the film Dr. Doolittle with Rex Harrison), the stairway between the twin hulls was lowered for swimming and snorkelling in the warm turquoise waters. Later we sailed back to our ship for a hot shower, appropriate dress a gourmet dinner with piano music, and later a superb show,followed with a stroll around the starlit decks ! What a day, what could be better ?

Antigua, more arid but another superb place to visit,again as St Lucia and Barbados with a strong UK historical influence, it claims a different beach for each day of the year!
Admiral Nelsons dockyard and English harbour are 'must visits'.When visiting one wonders at the achievment of the British Navy, in just travelling from the UK to Antigua in 1784 under sail, and setting up such a fortress !
Sleepy St John's the capital, it's cathedral and it's cobblestone sidewalks, corrugated iron roofs, verandas and wide streets make for an excellent days walking and exploring , observing the beautiful local children dressed in their smart school uniform is a sight to behold, no jeans sneakers and reversed baseball caps here !

One place that I have no desire to return to is Jamaica, or at least the area around Ocha Rios Dunns river falls ( James Bond ), walking the falls is like walking thru Woolworths on a saturday afternoon, with the addition of being offered drugs at every juncture !
I have not stayed on Jamaica, but my sons have, they tolerated the place, but they said drugs are for sale everywhere, especially at the airport . Jamaica has the highest crime rate in the Carib.,it exports many criminals too, so watch out if you go there , Jamaica is definetly a place where an enclosed secure hotel is a must !

Perhaps that is enough for now, if there is interest I will continue with other Carib. notes !
Alan M

[rocketmanjohn]

Goodness me, between Alan and I, we could write a book. Just a few further comments that I'm sure arent new, but here goes. I've always found it to be a good idea to take a phrase book and learn a few phrases of the language, people bend over backwards to help if you do, plus, it surely must be the polite thing to do. Don't be put off by your lack of knowledge, it's a lot of fun, and breaks the ice instantly. We usually end up laughing a lot as well. Do try local food and restaurants, it's amazing the new dishes you'll enjoy, fiery jerk chicken and goat curry are usually excellent whichever island, Curacao has a dish made from a small hollowed out Gouda cheese filled with a spicy mix of rice, peas, raisins, chicken and some of the cheese-delicious. The Dutch islands usually have a few Indonesian restaurants where the norm is the Rijstaffel, this is a 'Rice table' which consists of many [at least 15] different dishes. Of course, everywhere has a big selection of every kind of fish dish, cooked in allsorts of ways. St Martin has a good selection of French restaurants and can be relied on to serve the best cuisine, it's not just food.
A language common to a lot of islands is Papiamento, which is a mix of many European languages plus African dialects as well, it's a riot.
Alan's comments on Chichen Itza are quite correct, we travelled for 3 hours on a bus [no A/C] through the jungle to get there, stiffling heat. The misery is worth every minute when the pyramids are suddenly sighted, absolutely mind boggling, it burned a big impression in my mind. We stopped at a little cafe on the way back where I tried some chocolate pudding, except that it was refried beans, a nasty shock.
Bon Bini [goodbye in Papiamento]
John

[noel]

I Think you 2 have written a book Alan/John. Re The Dominican Republic, our friends did stay in the hotel complex. They were warned it could be dangerous to stray outside. This was my main reason for asking about the Caribbean to find out what you two have been there would recommend. I could think of nothing worse than planning the holiday of a lifetime to find out when you get there it's an island inhabited by cannibals<g> or at the best not very friendly people. Your input is greatly valued. Thankyou. I'm glad you told me what the language was, I had thought it was English with a strong accent. Shows what I know!!