Caribbean Islands

Has anyone been to the Caribbean in recent years?  We're looking to make a trip but obviously there are so many choices of islands.
Fortunately, a number of them don't fall under consideration due to the cost of flying there from the UK.  For example, in late March, early April when we are considering going there are only a handful of islands that are roundabout £1000 or less - Martinique, Guadaloupe, Aruba, Curacao, perhaps 1 or 2 others.  Many of the islands have stunning beaches, some of them have volcanic or rain forest or interesting interiors while other seem to be described as arid.  Also, some of these places have fairly modern towns while other islands seem to be perhaps backwaters and secluded.
Anyway, if anyone has any good or bad experiences I'd love to hear them.  Btw, we've shyed away from Jamaica and Puerto Rico because of some things we've heard.  Also, I thought I read about some crime problems on Trinidad and Antigua.  I've also got a few bad vibes about The Bahamas and Barbados.  On the other hand, St Barthelemy and the Cayman Islands seem to be for the jet-set and yachting types.  I may be very wrong about some or all these things!

Thanks,
Matt

The only two places I have been in the Caribbean are Jamaica and PR!  PR, my family and I have been going to since 1993 with no problems at all.  Jamaica, I went too this past Nov.  If I had a choice I would pic either or, but not go to the same location in Jamaica as we did.  Both are gorgeous Islands with wonderful people.  Not sure what you "heard" but I've never heard differently for either.

my two cents in terms of the caribbean are the cayman islands and turks & caicos.  cayman's a bit more built up- but still quite rural and beautiful.  turks & caico's is a bit more upscale but very un-developed.  with that said- you can get some decent grocerries etc...

I love Guadeloupe!! It's less touristy and developed than some of the other islands, which I love. Actually, it's been a while since I was there, but my dad and his wife have been in the past couple of years and say it's still just as nice. What I love about it is going to local restaurants -- which are really nothing more than people's houses in the middle of nowhere, with a small dining room for the public. Instead of water, they bring you rum with your meal. They store it in jars with fruit in it, and the fruit gets so rummy!! There are usually a couple of dogs or cats roaming around under the tables while you're eating. Of course, there are the big resort hotels and restaurants too, if that's your thing.

I was speaking to my mom and she mentioned a friend of my brother who went to Jamaica on his honeymoon.  Basically they were armed guards on the way to and outside the hotel resort and he was scared to death to leave that little patch as there seemed to be a lot of crime about.
I guess you can always find a few examples of bad situations in most any place, though.  I'd heard that PR had a higher rate of poverty and crime than many other islands but this is all hearsay.  I've also seen some pictures of people's holidays in PR that looked beautiful.

Anyway, we realized this weekend that we had a guide on the Lesser Antilles so places like PR, Hispaniola, Caymans, Bahamas and Turks is not in here.  I'll need to pop over to the bookshop!

Yes, you hear that about most places.  But honestly, I felt safer in those places then in Guildford on a Sat night

We had no armed anything in Jamaica, maybe it was for show.

PR has come a long way, and in the 13 years we have been going they have really built the Island up.

My wife and I had one of the most fantastic holidays in St Lucia. The south side of the island is un-developed compared to the north. The landscape is rain forest,banana plantations and volcanic pitons. We stayed at Ladera before it was voted the best Carribean Resort.

http://www.ladera.com/

St Lucia does look beautiful and friends of ours went there for their honeymoon and raved about it.
The only problem is the flights cost quite a lot more than some of the other islands and the cheapest via
Air France goes through Martinique anyway.

I have friends who went to Aruba and to Curacao.  They loved both.  The photos were great.  Of course, now I don't remember which island it was, but one was quite arid and there were actually cacti inland. 
I enjoyed St. Maarten/St. Martin.  We had a lot of fun exploring there.  We saw all parts of the island.  I recall there being flights from AMS and from CDG.  It's also quite close to Anguilla, Saba, and St. Barth's, so you can take little day trips, too.

I went to several islands in 2003 on a cruise and St Martin was my favorite........but did LOVE Barbados...didn't like Dominca..Grindada was ok......love Antigua...Sandals in Antigua was fab......

Interesting, there's a St. Martin (French) next to St. Maarten (Dutch).
The flight to St. Martin is via Guadaloupe but the flight to St. Maarten is direct from Paris.
Anguilla is a bit crazy to get to, New York, then Puerto Rico, too much changing!

Oh wait, my guidebook says the island is half French half Dutch so I guess St. Martin & St. Maarten are just the French and Dutch names.

I'm surprised that you say that about Dominica and Grenada, they describe them as mountainous, volcanic, rain forest islands, they seem like the typical paradise, but maybe there was something else about them that didn't suit?

I like the idea that you can go from one island to the other and that they're close.  What did you like so much about St Martins/Maartens, MeShell?

StuzMrs, I've heard good things about Aruba.  But I also get the idea from reading some reviews that there's arid areas with cactus and such.  Maybe that'd be really cool, I don't know?  But I get this idea in my head of a tropical, rainforested, beautiful beach type island.  My mental image of Aruba and Curacao are some nice beaches with a big, dry, flat desert with cactus spattered around, probably nothing what it's like!
The other thing I read on tripadvisor was a chap who went to Aruba and he said it was getting overrun with American diners and fast food and such.  Maybe there's that on these French and Dutch islands but I get a picture in my head of these Caribbean and fine European dishes at restaurants there.  Again, probably my skewed take on what I've read and not actually how it is.

I did read a bit on Barbados, it seems like England in Caribbean form the way they describe it.  I'm sure it's vastly different apart from the names!

Thanks for all your input, it's really helping us to decide where to go.

I'm surprised that you say that about Dominica and Grenada, they describe them as mountainous, volcanic, rain forest islands, they seem like the typical paradise, but maybe there was something else about them that didn't suit?

A friend of mine lived in Grenada for a couple of years while she was at vet school. She adored it and loved the natural life there. However, she had to leave after Hurricane Ivan hit in 2004 as there was too much damage to the university for any of the students to continue. I know she'd have loved to go back, though.

This sounds really horrible, but you may be able to get a good deal to Grenada because of the hurricane damage. Hotels and resorts may really be offering great deals to try to bring back the tourist trade. The first time I went to Guadeloupe was back in 1990 after Hurricane Hugo had hit the previous year. Not all the hotels were up and running again, but those that were were pretty inexpensive and were very pleased to have tourist money coming in again.

There is a very small hotel on a caribbean island that was in one of our new suppliers and it looked so fab and very romantic.....

I am off sick today and can't think of the name but it was really kewl this hotel.......

I will find out what it is and let you know........

Interesting, there's a St. Martin (French) next to St. Maarten (Dutch).
The flight to St. Martin is via Guadaloupe but the flight to St. Maarten is direct from Paris.
Anguilla is a bit crazy to get to, New York, then Puerto Rico, too much changing!

Oh wait, my guidebook says the island is half French half Dutch so I guess St. Martin & St. Maarten are just the French and Dutch names.

Yep, St. Martin/Sint Maarten is indeed one island.  It's half Dutch and half French.  There is no "border" on the island, though.  The Dutch side has golf and shopping and casinos.  The French side has French food and nude sunbathing.  The island has one international airport -- SXM.  I know AA flies direct non-stop from JFK, so you could theoretically go LHR-JFK-SXM.  I recall lying on the beach when the huge transatlantic Air France and KLM jets were coming in.  The waves went crazy.  In the capital, Philipsburg, there were a lot of jewelry shops.  St. Martin/Sint Maarten's close proximity to other islands makes it a good place to stay and go for day-trips by speedboat or small plane to other islands that are significantly more expensive.

It all depends on what you're looking for.  I'm sure you'll have a great time wherever you decide!

Good friends of mine were in Aruba last month and loved it.  I can't remember where they stayed (i.e. touristy or off-the-beaten-path), but I'd be happy to shoot her an email and ask if you'd like.