Merry Christmas everyone! NY doesn't have much in common just like you said smitee, the shovel is it!!! Thanks everybody for your helpfull inputs and experience with your tropicals. I hope everyone is safe in there travels. Wishing you and your families warm wishes! Andrew

I know parts of the Caribbean pretty well, and my main question is what kind of vacation do you want? What type of accommodation do you like? What kind of activities do you enjoy? If you want to relax on a white sand beach at a big resort with plenty of familiar food options try the big resorts in Cuba or the Mayan coast. Or Aruba. If you like shopping, casinos, nice beaches try St. Maarten, St. Bart's. If you like like to explore and get off the beach I *don't*recommend islands like Turks and Caicos, Grand Cayman, etc., they are just too small. If you want exclusive, high end, away from crowds, exquisite food try Mustique or some of the other small resorts in the Grenadines. If you like to sail , go snorkelling off catamarans in incredible blue water, visit hidden bays on seemingly undiscovered tiny islets, away from the main stream tourist routes, go to the Grenadines. Rent a small house/villa on Bequia and explore all the small islands of the Grenadines. If you love French culture go to Martinique or Guadeloupe. You asked about St. Lucia, I admit bias, I lived in St Lucia as a child and visit it regularly now. My favourite place on earth is a small resort on the west coast called Anse Chastanet (and neighbouring Jade Mountain). St. Lucia is a great choice if you want to explore the island and do all sorts of activities, if you want a verdant mountainous rain forested island dotted with coves of dark volcanic sand. As St Lucia is heavily mountainous there are not miles and miles of white sand beaches like in Cuba or Mexico. Go to St Lucia to see (arguably) the most beautiful island in the Caribbean, to snorkel or dive, to zip line over the rain forest, to hike up the famous Gros Piton, to moutain bike, or to just relax on the beach, swim and eat great food. There are big resorts in the north of the island (which is flatter and has better beaches) but I don't recommend them or that part of the island. Head to the south west, around Soufriere, for the beauty and the smaller hotels and a more uniquely old style West Indian experience. Can't resist, here is a pic of my favourite spot in St. Lucia: This post was edited by sochi on Wed, Jan 14, 15 at 23:32

Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year however you chose to celebrate to each and everyone that takes part in this forum. Thanks for your posts, pictures, help and advise....and above all, your friendship! I will also echo Tyler's comment above, please, stay safe considering what is happening around us yet again. Thoughts are with those innocent people caught up in the German Christmas market incident at the moment. Gill

Thank you for doing this ! it was so fun to recieve cards last year :)