Looking for a good vacation spot!!!

[btkrausen]

Have been thinking about St. Thomas this year, has anybody ever been? We have a 5 year old an is pretty content at looking for sea shells on the beach, but I'm afraid an entire week in St. Thomas might be a tad boring for him.

Any other suggestions? We went to Orlando last year and while it was fun, I'd kinda like to get away from the hustle of everything.

 

[CJO]

I've been going to the US Virgin Islands since I was a kid. St. Thomas is very nice, but it's gotten a bit too commercialized for me. Another couple of options in the area are St. Johns and St. Croix.

We have a time share in St. Croix that we try to get to every year. The hotel itself is OK, but not great. However it's pretty neat because it's on its own little island and there is only one boat on and off, so we don't worry about our kids as much as we do in other areas. Also, the island is surrounded by a coral reef which is fun to swim. It's also calm enough on the beach side that your 5-year old would be fine snorkeling.

Here's a picture taken out of our window looking toward the fort on Christiansted:

CJ

 

[btkrausen]

Awesome, thanks. Beautiful pic...I'm sort of aiming for a vacation where we can relax instead of wait in lines, drive everywhere, etc. Going to the forts and stuff like that is really something I want to explore as well.

Any tips for doing stuff while we are down there? Snorkeling is something I def. want to do. Any hotels you recommend or any that I should stay away from? haha. I don't think I'll mind the commercialization as long as we can easily get to all the others places all week.

 

[63vette427]

I just went to Turks and Caicos in November. It has good snorkling and a very relaxing vacation. The beaches are very nice for walking on and for shell collecting. There is even beaches that you can walk out a couple hundred yards and your still only in about 2-3 feet of water. The Conch here is wonderful and you can even snorkel for it yourself..

I'm in Ko Olina, Oahu now with the kids. This is a great place for kids. There is a Disney resort here. It's away from the busy part of the island which i wanted where i have 2 small kids. They have 4 large lagoons that are great for the kids. Of course it's hawaii so the snorkling is far better than even Turks and Caicos.

If you have any more questions on either let me know. It may take me a little while to get back to you where i'm still on vacation now..

 

[harley]

i love taking my boy to islamorado in the keys! Some real cool stuff for kids there, theater of the sea, bird, dolphin and turtle rescues, 1 1/2 hours to key west! plenty of bars on the water too!

 

[btkrausen]

Thanks guys. I'm almost stuck on wanting to go to St. Thomas but still would love to hear suggestions and your experiences.

 

[CJO]

Awesome, thanks. Beautiful pic...I'm sort of aiming for a vacation where we can relax instead of wait in lines, drive everywhere, etc. Going to the forts and stuff like that is really something I want to explore as well.

Any tips for doing stuff while we are down there? Snorkeling is something I def. want to do. Any hotels you recommend or any that I should stay away from? haha. I don't think I'll mind the commercialization as long as we can easily get to all the others places all week.

That's exactly why I like St. Croix. We're at Hotel on the Cay, which is a very small island with the one hotel, a small bar/restaurant, a beach and surrounded 3/4 by a coral reef. It is a short (3 minute) and free boat ride to Christiansted, which is where you are an easy walk to the restaurants and shops. It's where most of the boats leave to take you to Buck Island, which is the largest underwater National Park in the US. There is also a sea plane and helicopter that leave there for island tours.

Some of the other hotels on the island are nicer, but you have to drive everywhere and/or they don't have a beach. If you want to do any island exploring for the rainforest, sugar mills, beer drinking pig, Cruzan rum factory (!), you will need to drive or take a taxi.

On St. Thomas, there are quite a few options for hotels. Some of them are near to the shopping and restaurants and others are near the beach (Megan's Bay is very nice). I haven't stayed there in probably 20 years, but I don't remember any that are convenient to both. If you do go to St. Thomas, I highly recommend you taking the 30-minute boat ride over to St. Johns as well.

CJ

 

[btkrausen]

That's exactly why I like St. Croix. We're at Hotel on the Cay, which is a very small island with the one hotel, a small bar/restaurant, a beach and surrounded 3/4 by a coral reef. It is a short (3 minute) and free boat ride to Christiansted, which is where you are an easy walk to the restaurants and shops. It's where most of the boats leave to take you to Buck Island, which is the largest underwater National Park in the US. There is also a sea plane and helicopter that leave there for island tours.

Some of the other hotels on the island are nicer, but you have to drive everywhere and/or they don't have a beach. If you want to do any island exploring for the rainforest, sugar mills, beer drinking pig, Cruzan rum factory (!), you will need to drive or take a taxi.

On St. Thomas, there are quite a few options for hotels. Some of them are near to the shopping and restaurants and others are near the beach (Megan's Bay is very nice). I haven't stayed there in probably 20 years, but I don't remember any that are convenient to both. If you do go to St. Thomas, I highly recommend you taking the 30-minute boat ride over to St. Johns as well.

CJ

Thanks for the great information. I've been looking for an "insider" or somebody who has been many times for just this type of info. I've actually never been outside the Continental US (although I've been all over it) so I'm pretty excited.

 

[btkrausen]

CJ, so for a family of three, with a 5 year old, which island would you recommend? It looks like flights are at least $100 cheaper each person going to St. Croix right now, and only has one stop to get there from Louisville.

I assume that we'd need to rent a car while down there?

 

[CJO]

Do you have an idea of all the things you want to do? If it's just relaxing on the beach, you could go to any one of them and be fine. If it's shopping, St. Thomas is the clear winner. If it's more of a laid back atmosphere, either St. Johns or St. Croix. Snorkeling- I really like St. Croix, but haven't snorkeled the other two for a LONG time.

CJ

 

[btkrausen]

Thanks CJ. I think we might end up going to St. Thomas, and then try to head to St. Johns for a day or two before heading out.

Any places that we need to check out on either island? Is it easy to catch a boat from St. Thomas to St. John?

 

[CJO]

Again, it's been quite a while since I've been there (except for a stop on a cruise), but catching the boat to St. Johns should be easy. Magen's Bay is great, but try to see if you can plan to go when there is not a cruise boat in port so that you have some space. Charlotte Amalie is where all the shopping is done, mostly for jewelry.

I think you'll have a great time.

CJ

 

[btkrausen]

Thanks. I actually booked my flights last night, now I just have to pick out a hotel and rent a car, haha.

 

[CJO]

Have fun!

CJ

 

[Salty Dog]

puerto rico, west side of the island, Its lie Gilliagans Island

 

[Dashiki]

Turks and Caicos FTW!

Been there 5 times with my wife and son (9) he has been going to the Beaches resort since he was 4.

Great kids program all sesame street themed.

The best diving in the caribbean hands down.

Me an the wife love it so much we started looking at property there in October.