mixedmedia

I've been charged with deciding between two vacation spots this summer:

St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands

or

St. Kitts in the Leeward Islands

I've done a little web browsing and both places look beautiful, but I thought I would throw the two names out here at TFP and see if anyone has visited these two islands and would like share any impressions they have of them.

My initial thinking is that St. Kitts will be less crowded and less touristy (therefore more attractive to me), but then I just don't know.

Anyone have any advice?

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PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

Supple Cow

I don't have any advice. I just wanted to know more about you moonlighting as a street-walker on the islands.

mixedmedia

Soliciting advice, sc, advice....I only moonlight as a streetwalker when on vacation in Vegas, duhhh.

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Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus
PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

Supple Cow

Soliticing advice, I know! I thought you were gonna have some good tips for me. Sheesh. You won't make a good woman of the night with that attitude.

Elphaba

M2, I went to both on a cruise several years back and both islands had been devastated by a recent hurricane. Kitt is much smaller and quiet, if you stay away from the port. (Cruise people arrive as a mob). Thomas has much more in terms of duty free items, but that doesn't sound like what you are looking for.

I think if you find the lodging that meets your needs, either island will suit you. I'm curious...why these two islands?

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Lucifer

I'm curious why those two islands? If you are serious about avoiding the crowds, and want a beautiful island to vacation on, might I suggest Bequia, in the Grenadines just south of St. Vincent.

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mixedmedia

god, I'm such a dunce...that went totally over my head

delayed

Elphaba and Lucifer, I believe it is because Marriott suggested these two islands.

My bf has accumulated a rather hefty amount of Marriott rewards from our getaways this past year and he has been discussing this with them. I'm not sure where else they have hotels in the Caribbean or whether they are giving him options. Truthfully, I will be thrilled to go to either one.


**************************

Using my new modlike powers I have modified the title of this thread so that it doesn't read as if I am to be pimped around the Caribbean this summer.

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Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus
PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

ratbastid

lurkette and I loved St. Martin. It has the touristy, and it has the non-touristy. We found a beach that can only be accessed by a fifteen minute hike. When we got there, we were the only ones there. Naturally, we did what came naturally.

The_Jazz

Personally, I prefer the British Virgin Islands, but that's me.

I'm not a fan of the US Virgin Islands, interestingly enough. They're literally 6 or 7 miles away (at the closest points), but its an entirely different feel. When I go to the Carribean I want to completely shut out the world, and I've never felt like I could do that in the USVI.

I've never been to St. Kitts, but I've heard wonderful things.

By the way, the BVI's offical currency is the US dollar, but the Queen's on all the stamps. Trivial, I know, but I'm just trying to plant a seed...

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roachboy

when i was out biking just now, i saw a local bidness that i hadn't seen before:
flamboyant headstart.

and so in keeping with the notion of the flamboyant headstart:

i'd go to trinidad and tobago

http://marriott.com/hotels/travel/po...port-of-spain/

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mixedmedia

Well, I truly appreciate everyone's suggestions but since I'm not picking up the tab on this one I'm just going to stick with picking between the two choices I was given. If things keep heading in the same direction they are now, this probably won't be the only trip like this we take together...

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Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus
PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

Leto

I just came back from Jamaica, where I bumped into a couple from Florida. I was astounded that people from Florida would only go to the Carribean for a vacation, rather than somewhere less accessible.

They said that the thought of other destinations (Portugal, Canary Islands, Costa Rica, South Pacific destinations) never crossed their minds, mostly because of cost.

If I were you, I would see how far the free holiday would take me from home, such as ones mentioned above.

greytone

I have never been to St Kitts, but I have stopped on St Thomas for a day twice on different cruises. It is very commercial and crowded, but it is a beautiful island. Megans Bay is one of best beaches I have ever seen. When you stay in a hotel, you probably have a completely different experience than you get walking around port for a few hours. St John's is easily reached by ferry and has a nice place to snorkel. The BVI's and St Croix are farther (a full days trip at least) and they have great diving.

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fatbob

just back from barbados and i can highly recommend it. we stayed on the south coast which didn't seem to have many tourists at all but had a great relaxed attitude and amazing beaches which all adds up to a pretty great holiday in somewhere just slightly different to scotland!

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Racer

I've been to both islands numerous times (for work), I would definitely choose St. Kitts. The people are much more friendly and it's not overrun with tourists. You can walk the downtown area in about 30 min, but like you would in any city, travel in groups. There used to be a great restraunt at the southern part of the bay that served freshly caught seafood at a very reasonable price. If you have a rental car, there's an interesting old fort at the southern end of the Island.

JonoAubrey

I lived on St Thomas for 6 months a couple of years ago.

I had a great time as a local, got to know some cool poeple, but I would definitely not recommend it as a holiday destination.

It seems like the whole place is set up to service the cruise ships - sometimes 5 or more at one time. The whole St Amalie area just clogs with traffic.

It's actually quite highly developed, not a 'tropical fantasy island' at all. Megan's Beach is pretty damn beautiful, but it's 100% sand so the snorkeling is poor. Better for me was Hull Bay, just round the headland, sand and reef - plenty of turtles.

St Kitts is a much nicer place. BVI is nicer than both!

(My first post!)

mixedmedia

Thank you, JonoAubrey for your insight and welcome to TFP!

...but we have already decided to to go to St. Thomas. I realize that it will be very crowded and touristy, but being that it's the first time I've gone anywhere off of the continental US, I'm sure I will enjoy it anyway. Besides, I've no interest in shopping or hitting the usual tourist spots. What I want to do most is take the ferry to St. John and visit the national park there. Otherwise we will probably spend most of our time just wandering around taking photographs, drinking cocktails on the beach at our hotel and, eh, relaxing in our room.

__________________
Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus
PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

JonoAubrey

Hey - it's still a fantastic place!

Not sure what you plan on doing, but if you guys SCUBA go see Mike/Dave? at Blue Island Diving in Crown Bay Marina (near airport). Some great spots for night/wreck diving nearby.
You'll get a nice bite to eat and a mean Painkiller from Tickles bar also in Crown Bay marina.

Craig and Sally's restaurant in Frenchtown is probably the best restaurant on the island - Craig keeps a really really good wine cellar and the menu is based on what's good from the markets that day. You can eat all the dishes in tapas-size servings too - suits us Brits anyway!

Bolongo Bay Beach Club does an all-you-can eat crab night mid-week - worth a trip and a great spot by the beach.

St John is a fantastic place for chilling out, some fantastic snorkelling too. If you like getting in the water you should definitely get a day ferry to Virgin Gorda from St Johns (BVI)- 30 feet high boulders piled up into the sea makes for an incredible diving/snorkelling experience (Google BVI and Baths).


Have fun!

mixedmedia

These are great suggestions! Thank you!!

__________________
Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus
PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

Sultana

I will be with you in spirit...watching, in a dark corner!

:naughty laugh:

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