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Would you rather go to a tropical island or ski resort?

17 years ago

Would you rather go to a tropical island or ski resort?

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Comments (41)

chisue
17 years ago
Island. And we do.
susan_on
17 years ago
Even though I don't like the sun, I prefer a tropical island. I love the warmth, and I hate the cold.
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Can anyone recommend a great family resort in the carribean?
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Comments (6)
I'm not familiar with Aruba, but my brother & wife just got back from a week in Jamaica and, although they enjoyed their resort ok, they were more than a little turned off by the crime everywhere outside the resort, it seemed. I've heard the same thing from many people and so we've never gone there. What about looking into renting a condo of private vacation home instead of just a room? There are some great deals out there and more so this year. We like this route instead because it gives us more room to spread out, a living room to relax in and a kitchen for at least some of our meals. I like having a fridge to keep snacks, drinks and breakfast things in. It may run a bit more than a room, but the savings you get from breakfasts and even lunches in can make up for the difference. For me, though, the biggest advantage would be the extra space and not having to get little ones ready for restaurant breakfasts. Plus, when somebody needs a nap, there's abedroom or bedrooms with doors for quiet and the everyone else can be elsewhere in the home/condo enjoying themselves. Although not the Caribbean, we just reserved a condo for a Spring trip to Galveston Island, and found the selection to be priced very near or the same as that of a single room. The choice was a no-brainer for us. As for specific Caribbean resorts, I don't have many to suggest as, like I mentioned, we tend to rent homes or condos, but I can comment on some of the islands. Peter Island is nice, but was on the expensive side. It has a reputation of being very safe, though. Tortola, which is nearby in the British Virgin Islands is lovely, with a rain forest and mountain in the middle of it. I don't think there's a traffic light on the entire island, just roundabouts, but it's got beautiful beaches and is very laid-back. We especially like the north shore area, which has great vacation homes on the beach to rent. This would be the Long Bay, Apple Bay to Cane Garden Bay area. It's a very safe place to vacation. For a resort there, my choice would be The Sugar Mill, but probably not for small kids. The food is fabulous there, though! St.Thomas is fun and easy to get to. It's congested, though, and the traffic -and parking!- can be daunting at times. We rented a home there in the Peterborg Estates area overlooking Magen's Bay and it, like most there, came with its own gorgeous pool. The Coki Bay area is especially congested as is it's public beach. The two times we went, the air was redolent with the strong scent of pot . . . but the people are very nice. For resorts, the Marriott Frenchman's Reef Resort was very nice, although we didn't stay there. We had two lunches at the outside restaurant on the beach at Belongo Bay. It looked like a nice place, as well. St.John is flat-out gorgeous. Lush, green, tropical and it's very safe, from what we've seen and heard. We lovew it! The beaches are lovely and the water crystal clear. St. Martin/Sint Maarten: it may have just been us, but we weren't very impressed with this island. It came across as too crowded and a bit too commercial, but we did run across some pretty views and places. Puerto Rico, outside the cities you can find some nice places, but I wasn't crazy about it myself. Hope you find someplace that works for you. Let us know where you end up going. Lynn
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Where would you go for a tropical vacation in Feb.?
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Comments (10)
We've vacationed on St.John and St.Thomas in mid-January and the weather was lovely there then. We actually rented a villa on St.Thomas in Peterborg Estates. It overlooked Magen's Bay and was just down the road from the place President Clinton stays at. The place was very family-friendly (3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 6 patios, big gourmet kitchen, infinity-edge pool and drop-dead views) but it was a bit of a nightmare driving around the island to get anywhere. I swear, 95% of that place is on an incline! Parking and negotiating roads with no signs was a bit frustrating at times. Still, it was a fun place. We'd take the car ferry over to St.John's to snorkel and relax. For a family-friendly place, of the two, St.J's would be my first choice. It's drop-dead gorgeous and the water is great there. It's quiet, peaceful and looked to be very safe. No nightlife that I saw, though, but we weren't looking for any ;^D We had taken the kids (then age 18 & 8) on a week-long Caribbean cruise the year before. As Carole mentioned, it's a safe choice for kids and *some* cruise ships have a lot of things for them to do. We were on one of the Princess ships and booked two staterooms that connected by their private outside balconies, as we didn't want our 8 y/o DD to have to walk out in the hallway to get to our room. Our 18 y/o son had a great time and met lots of teenage girls on the ship. They hung out together, while on board. 8y/o DD got bored with the kids' camp and stayed with DH & I after the second day. The pools on board were very crowded and DH dislikes crowds, so he spent a lot of at-sea time reading on our room's balcony . . . which was lovely, BTW. We saw some shows on board. The kids liked the food and having their own stateroom. We never did hit the midnight buffets or their happy hours. At every port, we avoided the ship's island excursions and hired a private car & driver for the day. It honestly cost us about the same amount as 4 tickets on one of those open-air, jam-packed tour buses . . . and we could go where WE wanted, when WE wanted, for as long as we wanted . . . and it was air conditioned! Our drivers were great tour guides and avoided the congested, tourist-packed places in favor of some great shops, beaches and restaurants. Both our kids loved our island days, swimming and snorkeling, stopping at fun shops and restaurants. It's the only way I'd ever go on a cruise again. DH, on the other hand, thought the at-sea days were a waste of time, hence, our next trip back to the Caribbean was the (above) trip to St. T & ST.John. Another possible place you might want to check into is the island of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. As a couple, we stayed at a hotel resort, but next time (with kids)I'd definitely rent one of the small, private beach villas on Long Bay or Apple Bay. Great beaches, fabulous snorkeling; good food. The main town, Road Town, was fun the first day, but there's not that much to see. West End is fun and much busier, as it's the jumping off place for bare-boating in that part of the Caribbean. Crowded, though. The island is fairly small and had not one traffic light that I recall, just roundabouts here and there. To get to Tortola, we had to catch a plane in Puerto Rico that took us to their small airport on the connected, Beef Island. BTW, you definitely need to rent a car on any of the above islands. Lynn
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Where Would You Go?
Q
Comments (22)
To answer some questions & give additional info: We live in a pretty warm (most of the time climate) - coastal NC, near Wilmington. We're not sure about when we'll take the trip. Although it will be for our anniversary, which is in Oct, the trip can be any time. DH may be having elective surgery in mid-late summer. We are trying to decide if will take the trip before or after. We've talked about Scotland a lot because both our families are from there. We do want to go, but there are SO MANY other places both of us want to go. We'll never be able to travel to all the places we'd like to see. We'd love to go to Egypt (that is probably at the top of my list), but won't go because of the unrest there. I'm a little unsure about the political problems in Greece, but would love to go there. Italy and New Zealand have been serious considerations as well. We might enjoy some of the other islands (besides Hawaii) but want some place where there is at least some sightseeing. I prefer a very active vacation where I try to see as many sights as possible. DH is more relaxed and prefers to be on "vacation" time. We've learned to strike a happy medium on that. Thanks for the suggestions - you're giving us lots to think about!
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desperate for down time: private beach resorts??
Q
Comments (2)
Molaki (hawaii) is the only island I know of with no crowd. It only has 6 restaurants. My nephew and his wife stayed 2 weeks there and had a hut with a view of the ocean. I didn't say on th beach because it was rocky and muddy where they were. But they rented a car and found a 3 mile long deserted beach. There are hiking trails, bike paths, transportation to the other islands. I think also ocean excursions. I researched this Island found out it was more like the old Hawaii than the more commercial islands. I would like to go there, but hate the thought of going alone.
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kim_okla
17 years ago
I'd rather brush the sand off my feet than knock the snow off my boots.
Happy_Go_Lucky_Gayle
17 years ago
Give me sand and sun. Plus, I just ordered a new swim suit this morning. :)
grammahony
17 years ago
I agree. Tropical island.

Leslie
teresava
17 years ago
Tropical island.

Skiing is fun and great exercise, but lounging in the sun, with a good book, nice breeze and some fruity coconut drink sounds wonderful to me!!

Calgon take me away...
glenda_al
17 years ago
Cruiser, so I love tropical isles.
Jodi_SoCal
17 years ago
As much as I love going to cold, cold places, I don't like skiing so tropical island for me.

Jodi-
pattico_gw
17 years ago
Neither one...I hate the heat and I'm not liking the cold as much as I used to...

I'd rather stay right here where it's much cooler than in town...we always have a nice breeze here...and my own bed is here...and I'm not leaving it..LOL

I'd just like to take some "Day Trips"

Or I'd like to have a camper.

patti
lynn_d
17 years ago
Neither, I like temperate climates.
stephanie_in_ga
17 years ago
Island. I think I'd pass up the ski if it were free. You'd have to pay me to "vacation" in snow. But I'd love to go to a tropical island!
rthummer
17 years ago
Ditto Patti for me. I am a home girl. Younger? Island girl-- and was. Well, sorta, before I was married, that is.
Toni S
17 years ago
tropical island for sure..
Palm trees on the beach, cool breezes off the water, sitting on a beach recliner with my iced drink in one hand and a good book in the other. yes, that's the life.
I used to live near a beach different times in my life, it was such a serene place for me.
redcurls
17 years ago
The only good snow is looking at it in a picture on seeing it on a mountain-top FAR AWAY in the distance.
Jasdip
17 years ago
Ski resort.....inside by the huge fireplace, drinking hot whatever, and enjoying the colourful skiiers.

I find beaching incredibly boring. I would never spend the money on a beach vacation. Went to Aruba, and on a Hawaiian cruise. Didn't enjoy either one. Give me sight-seeing anyday!

Go for a drive around the ski resort and see the town. Yep, that would be my choice.
czech_chick
17 years ago
Tropical island, if it has shade!
williamsburgjane
17 years ago
Tropical island. We love Jamaica!
shellm
17 years ago
Tropical island,anyday.

Shelley
mrsmarv
17 years ago
If I had to choose between the two, I'd pick the ski resort. Tropical climates do nada for me...like jasdip I prefer sight-seeing and tropical isles don't offer much outside the occassional tourist trek.
Where I'd really prefer to go would be to a lake resort. Fishing, kayaking, hiking, town-hopping, antiquing, good restaurants. Sign me up!
chisue
17 years ago
We find plenty to do on Maui. Not just beaches and snorkeling. Lots of restaurants. WHALES in season (while we're there). Kayak. Hike -- even into Haleakala. Fish. Surf. Resort-hop. A little history. Largest choice of lodgings and restaurants in Hawaii outside of Honolulu.
FlamingO in AR
17 years ago
Tropical Island! And we're going later this week for 12 days, I'm excited. I don't tolerate the cold very well, so I prefer warm destinations.
carol_in_california
17 years ago
No question.....I dislike snow and cold but love tropical islands.
gemini40
17 years ago
Ski resort... as stated before...snow, fireplaces , incredible scenery, great food. books, ..love it. I don't ski either. Just love being in that environment.

June
nan_nc
17 years ago
Tropical island for sure! I have never liked cold weather, ever in my life. But I would like some amenities..just sitting on the beach would be WAY too boring!
dorothy_oahu
17 years ago
I LIVE on a tropical island and I wouldn't want to go anywhere else. I LOVE it here. I'm not much of a beach person but I love the weather(most of the time), the food and the people. I could never live in the cold again.
gingertn
17 years ago
Island for me too!
grinch_gut
17 years ago
Well let me be the odd ball here....I love snowskiing and boarding (not so good at boarding yet but learning) but give me that anyday over laying in the sun.....I can read a book at night after I finish skiing in the hot tub at the resort...but I do not like just laying around.....but I will take the first lift to the top of the mountain and the last run of the day....Stacy
Marilyn Sue
17 years ago
I like cold weather better than the really hot weather, but I would not be skiing, so guess I will just stay where I am. The beach would not do anything for me.

Sue
Lindsey_CA
17 years ago
Tropical island, specifically Kauai. Second choice is Maui.
lindyluwho
17 years ago
Tropical Island. Don't like snow.

Linda
clubm
Original Author
17 years ago
Tropical Island with shade. Noooooo snow!!
Kathsgrdn
17 years ago
Tropical Island, as long as I could do something other than lay in the hot sun on a beach and fry. Swim, walk along the beach, go out and see the marine life, that would be fun.
joann23456
17 years ago
If I had to choose, I'd take the ski resort, because I hate the heat and the sun. But I'd rather go to Paris or Prague ...
wildchild
17 years ago
Tropical Island.
zeetera
17 years ago
I prefer bad weather and hate the sun so it'll be a ski resort for me.
FlamingO in AR
17 years ago
*snork* That's kind of funny, coming from the person who LIVES on an island! Does it get old after a while, Zee?
zeetera
17 years ago
YES MingO, it does. It's called island fever and it's nasty. Don't like the beach, don't like boating and my airconditioner runs all summer.
jel48
17 years ago
I've never been to either... but I'd take the tropical island any day! I can see enough snow (and even ski if I want) right here at home!
FlamingO in AR
17 years ago
I had a friend who lived in HI for about 10 years and she had it bad, too. She said she missed being able to get in the car and just drive and drive....

I never liked the beach when we lived 4 miles from it, we had sand everywhere all the time, no matter what... but I love to vacation on it, I guess it's different when you have to work and live there vs just have fun there.

I do miss your pink sand, though, I was there when I was 7 and I will always remember how balmy and beautiful and fragrant it was. I'm sorry you're not thrilled to be there, Zee.
zeetera
17 years ago
You need to come again. It's not the same but the beaches are still nice. Can't guarantee that there won't be sharks though. Nevermind, forget I said that. Just come. You're not too far away on the map.
cate52
17 years ago
Island... always -- live in the cold... like the heat... is this a contest? Will I win a trip??? :)

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