Caribbean

black & white

Thinking of trying the Caribbean next year and looking for some advice. Ideally a beach but other things to do as well, somewhere that is safe to travel around, don’t want to spend the whole time in a resort and lastly, somewhere not overrun with Americans.

Will have a decent budget and could go anytime May - September

thank you

Caranica

You're looking at traveling in hurricane season, which is risky.

I'd imagine the British Virgin Islands are less American. I've been to St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Probably more other stuff to do in Puerto Rico eg Bacardi distillery but I preferred St Thomas.

ted1

I go to Saint Lucia a lot. It’s a nice island, not to many Americans as it’s far down, yet attracts Canadians. It also tends to avoid hurricanes. It’s a Fairly quiet island

swimming in a sea

I went to Saint Lucia back in 2011 and it was amazing, it was very quiet but I presume that was to do with the financial crisis. I went in August so it was a mix of sun and tropical rain(which was also amazing to see for the first time)

endofrainbow

Cuba won't be overrun with Americans :)

black & white

Thank you for the ideas, will have a look.

cdeb

Montserrat?

Strong Irish connections makes it interesting for a start (only other country in the world where St Patrick's Day is the national holiday)

Never far from a beach (the island is 10x7 miles). Plenty of hiking and scenery too. Highest point is the height of Carrauntoohil.

Capital has a population of nil - buried under volcanic ash. There's tours available.

Easy access from Antigua, which has direct flights from London I think. Had mad covid restrictions the past two years but they're starting to ease now.

No idea how much time it'd fill - it's somewhere I'm only starting looking at myself. But said I'd throw it out as an option and see if anyone else had any views.

Munsterbhoy

Wife is 50 next year so heading to Guadeloupe. Plenty of choice of flights from Paris and Charleroi. Not a big destination for Americans. We were in the Domincan Republic in 03 for our honeymoon , lots of poverty and armed security on our gated resort.

black & white

A family member was in Dom Rep about 10 years ago and I got the same feedback. Thank you

castletownman

Anyone any feedback of Cuba and Jamaica?

We have narrowed down our honeymoon to somewhere in the Caribbean, but don't want to go too resorty either. I'm thinking Cuba would have some history to it compared to the other islands.

Caranica

Jamaica used to have a very bad safety reputation, not sure if it's improved recently. Girl I worked with went there on honeymoon and woke up to find a man with a gun standing over their bed, and that's one of many Jamaica stories I've heard.

My sister went to Cuba on their honeymoon, didn't love it, but friends raved about their trips there. Sister was there during a hurricane so being confined to their room when they had activities booked had an impact. They did Havana and Varadero.

ted1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118944652#Comment_118944652

Jamaica wouldn’t have a great reputation, you can’t really leave resorts. As it’s a crime hot spot

Many who go to Cuba don’t leave the resorts