Caribbean trip advice? (Kingston: price, airport, safe)

[Diane Giam]

Originally Posted by NatasNJ

I have NEVER been to any island area so I really don't get the "not much to do" comments. Don't they all basically have the same offerings? (Snorkel type trips, scuba, beaches, pools, kayak trips, some type of animal perserves, rain forrests, etc..) Give or take a few of these per location?

I am not MOVING to an island. So I am just looking for a nice place to relax and do some cool things for a few days. Not SET on Grand Caymans. I do plan to book trip Sunday and Grand Caymans is in the lead. So any OTHER advice is welcomed ASAP.

Thanks so much for all the advice so far.

All islands do not have the same. Some are lush with more to see. Caymen, still has major hurricane dammage. I was there last year on a cruise, and more storms have gone thru since. Its also expensive, and does not have much in the way of resorts. They are either a Marriott Type or a dump, which I would never vacation in. I would suggest an all-inclusive resort for your first trip to the Carribean. There are some that are not expensive. I've been to most of the Caribbean and Mexico either on a Land Vacation or a Cruise.
There are some good buys out there now. Sandals is running some great specials.

Diane G

[tahiti]

Originally Posted by Gessa

On what basis can you say Cayman tops Grenada? I mean ok, if you like to overpay and stay encapsulated at the Ritz in Cayman, then yeah - go for it...

Cayman is a low laying rock - which is why it has serious flooding issues when it rains. Which is why there is a mosquito problem - too many swamps and fetid pools (Barkers National Park for instance). Until I went there, I had never seen black mosquitos (which are the size of flies).

There is a reason why a country goes tax free, its because it cannot support itself any other way. There is no soil, so Caymananians cannot grow thier own food. EVERYTHING is imported, which is why all goods / food is 25% more expensive then the US.

Grenada, is a lush land - much more to do.

Obviously, if you like sterile plastic environments, where everyone thinks they have much more money then they have and dont mind being ripped off, then GC is the way to go...

(P.S the Marriot has closed down - it wouldn't pay the stamp duty from when it was purchased)

She's not looking to MOVE there, she's going on vacation, and you yourself gave the reasons GC to me, tops Grenada:

"GC is a watersports island, very scuba orientated, stingray city (swim with stingrays) and fishing."

They also have good shopping, parasailing, and some very good restaurants. IMHO Grenada does not compare, and you even admit being biased. I have no dog in this hunt.

Who cares that it's Christian and a low laying rock? If you've read my posts, I even said BVI tops Cayman in scenery - Cayman is flat, we know that, and so does the OP.

You didn't explain what there is to do in Grenada, other than "so much more". I'd actually be interested in learning!

Your complains seem to stem from living there, and if OP was going to live there, she'd be well advised to take your comments seriously. Vacationing and living are 2 different things, and you don't seem to be viewing this from the correct lens.

BTW, I was on the Marriott site and they have that hotel still there???

[tahiti]

Originally Posted by Diane Giam

All islands do not have the same. Some are lush with more to see. Caymen, still has major hurricane dammage. I was there last year on a cruise, and more storms have gone thru since. Its also expensive, and does not have much in the way of resorts. They are either a Marriott Type or a dump, which I would never vacation in. I would suggest an all-inclusive resort for your first trip to the Carribean. There are some that are not expensive. I've been to most of the Caribbean and Mexico either on a Land Vacation or a Cruise.
There are some good buys out there now. Sandals is running some great specials.

Diane G

Diane, with all due respect, as an agent, you should know better. That's about as false as any statement can be. Most condo complexes on the more remote end of 7 mile are VERY nice. Did you check out the link I provided.

Please, don't spread false information.

I personally do not like all inclusive. While you can venture out onto the island to do things and sample local cuisine, you tend not to as that will invariably drive your cost up and end up costing you more than if you were on your own anyway. Part of the charm of staying on an island is travelling around and viewing different sites. My 2 cents.

[Diane Giam]

Originally Posted by tahiti

Diane, with all due respect, as an agent, you should know better. That's about as false as any statement can be. Most condo complexes on the more remote end of 7 mile are VERY nice. Did you check out the link I provided.

Please, don't spread false information.

I personally do not like all inclusive. While you can venture out onto the island to do things and sample local cuisine, you tend not to as that will invariably drive your cost up and end up costing you more than if you were on your own anyway. Part of the charm of staying on an island is travelling around and viewing different sites. My 2 cents.

The Condos are fine, but most substained major damage after you were there in 2002. The Island was not the same I visited in former visits. The infastructure of the island will take years to rebuild. Alot of those Condos are not how you saw them in 2002, but as I saw them in 2007.
Even when I stay in an all-inclusive I take tours all around. I am not one to sit on the beach all day. Cayman does not have much to see.
I happen to love Jamacia, which you can't see in a day and a half. I'm rafted down the Rio Grande in Pt Antonio, I've toured Kingston, I've been out to Negril. I've climbed Dunns river falls about 6 times in Ocho Rios. I saw Sandals resort at Whitehouse Jamaica which has beautiful falls nearby to Climb. I also took a Nature Boat Ride down the black River. I've also swam in the Blue Lagoon in Pt Antonio, which is 100 ft deep. and the most beautiful water you can ever swim in. Of course all of this was not on the same trip. I've been there 7 times, Land(10 days each time) and I've cruised there a few times.

Diane G

[Gessa]

tahiti, as I said in an earlier post:

Has lots to see, working plantations, cocoa plants, monkey sanctuary, rain forest. Oprah has just bought an estate there.

Added to which there are sailing regattas, waterfalls, rumshacks, Grand Ainse beach..... oh, yes and watersports (actually as there is no real drop in the ocean bed until you are way out into the ocean, you don't actually get to see the full range of ocean life in Cayman unless you do go way out).

I understand that the OP is not going to live there, but being a

low lying rock

, I don't think the mosquitos will differentiate.

Seriously, just trying to help..

[tryingtomove12]

I would definitely suggest an all inclusive resort if you are looking for a relaxing vacation. They usually have a lot of nice restaurants and since you dont have to worry about paying, you can order all that you want. Many of them have staff on hand to entertain you 24 hours a day.

You might want to check with Sandals is their resort for couples, no children allowed.

[Diane Giam]

Originally Posted by tryingtomove12

I would definitely suggest an all inclusive resort if you are looking for a relaxing vacation. They usually have a lot of nice restaurants and since you dont have to worry about paying, you can order all that you want. Many of them have staff on hand to entertain you 24 hours a day.

You might want to check with Sandals is their resort for couples, no children allowed.

Also, all the Watersports, etc are included. Those can run into $ and on an Iland like Grand Cayman, big $. Food, is also expensive there, and if there is one thing I don't do on vacation, is cook. I like being served.
Sandals has a lot of beautiful resorts in, Jamaica, St Lucia, Bahamas, and Antigua.

Diane G

[NatasNJ]

Heading to Grand Caymans tomorrow. Trip report will be posted next week.

[todd72173]

Jamiaca - Most affordable and quick airflight. Ive been there about 3x.. Yes, its poor and run down - OUTSIDE the resort. But..nobody goes outside the resort anyway.

All inclusive is the only way to go. Who wants to pay for drinks and food? If I had extra money, I would go elsewhere, but Jamaica is all I can afford. Same weather as the other resorts..No issues here.

[cisco2007]

I am a woman age 42 and I have been to Jamaica 5 times....Flying into Montego then driving to Negril...Never have I feared for my life...I travel alone during the day but do use caution and travel with friends at night...there is extreme poverty there but it does not frighten me it saddens me..... You can find beautiful beaches all around the world. The people and the culture are the reasons I return.