Turks and Caicos
 

Thinking about a family trip and I have never been before. Any recommendations as to resorts or which island? Looks really nice.

I was there for a few days getting ready to do a boat delivery.. The thing that struck me about that place was that there were hardly any trees. Quite an ugly island. Can't help you on resorts.

If I was to go on a vacation to the Caribbean, I'd go to carriacou.
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Grand Turk is a stop on our upcoming cruise in November. Stopped there once before several years ago so can only speak to the cruise port area as we did not venture out through the island. We had a blast in the port area bar (a margaritaville if I remember correctly).
We did do one excursion to swim with the sting-rays. Unforgettable experience so if you vacation there I would reccommend that.

I think outside the resort areas there is a fair amount of poverty and crime but that can probably be said for many of the carib islands...

I cant really comment, pics I have seen are really beautful. Have you been to St John?
It was the most beautiful place I have been, we are going back again this year. Laid back, easy access to beaches, american $, great snorkeling, great restaurants, the beaches are perfection. I cant think of a reason to go anywhere else in the carribean

I hadn't heard of Carriacou. My favorite so far is St John and we are heading back this week next year, but the only thing it lacks to me is the Caribbean culture. Carriacou goes on the list.

Do you mean Curacao?

No.
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Carriacou and Petite Martinique - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Never heard of it. I'm gonna google it.

Nevermind, you did it for me.

Another awesome island down there is Anagada. I've sailed to just about every Island down there and those two were my favorites. The snorkeling on Anagada was mind blowing.
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Nebe, got your message. Thanks, cannot wait to see it!!

I spent a few weeks at the T & C a few years ago. Unless you are 100% water and beach devotees. There is not much to do. Awesome beaches and gin clear water. Not much else though.
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stayed at Beaches resort few years ago when kids were smaller. Kids and wife a great time but never left the resort. Water is awesome beaches are awesome but then again, most places around there are

Well, are you going to focus more on the Turks or more on the Caicos? :hihi:

He means Curacao. And its great, if you enjoy 90 with 90% humidity every day.

Beaches is good for kids. And you can snorkel right off the beach as the reef that surrounds the islands comes in real close off to the left of resort.

I went when I was 15 and to this day it is still my favorite vacation I've ever been on. Not much to do on island, but the beach itself and the snorkeling/scuba is consistently ranked in the top 5 in the world. Incredible white sands, beautiful water that meets the sky...I would go back in a heart beat if I had the money.

No. I meant carriacou.
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Grand Turk can easily satisfy everyones needs. As stated above, the beach/snorkel/scuba is fantastic. Horse-back riding on the beach etc/// They also offer some good chartering opportunities (if you like to fish). Grand Turk has definitely stepped it up a bit in comparison to most other Caribbean islands that I've been to. VERY clean, no one begging on me...and Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville should definitely be on your list <if you decide on Grand Turk that is>. Massive pool area w/bar stools in the water, GREAT FOOD too!!...if I remember correctly, they even had a wake-board ride (if you call it that).
If you decide to charter something, make sure you get the fine details. We chartered a 35'er, didn't get all the details as we were just hard-up to get out and fish, ended up sharing it with 8 other guys. We did boat a 70+ # Bull-Mahi, but not everyone got to touch a rod.

Assuming you already know this, but Turks and Caicos isn't the cheapest of places, no matter which island you choose.

I just booked a charter in Bermuda. Supposed to be prime time for Wahoo when I go down. Doing your homework well before-hand pays off!!! Have fun and enjoy every moment, :fishin:

I think it's spelled Curacao.

Carriacou

different island :uhuh:

Not really looking for a secluded,undiscovered hotspot and fishing is certainly secondary. Just want an oceanfront resort with watersport activities and hopefully a direct flight from Boston. I have a friend who swears by St John. We usually go to Aruba but was hoping for something different. I was told direct flights are available to T&C which is huge for the family.

st john is pretty much the antithesis to the oceanfront resort style Caribbean, although there are a couple pretty nice resorts if you have minimum $500-600 a night to spend. It is really the place to go if you wanna rent a cottage and ride around in a jeep to snorkle one beautiful beach after another.

What zimmy said. You can get some great deals on vrbo.com for villas to rent. But you will most likely be up in the hills, which are beautiful. Just know you probably won't be "on the water."

Chris, if you are used to Aruba, just know that both St. John and T&C are the complete opposite. Aruba has a lot more going on, but it's hard to beat the beauty of the other two places you're looking into.

There were direct flights to T&C 15 years ago when I went, when it was still a little under the radar, so I'm sure they still have them now. Enjoy, whatever you do!

dangles, we stay at the westin st john, on the beach, but the beach is man made. Less that 10 mins on a beautiful ride is Trunk Bay, Hawksnets beach. We rent a jeep. I cant tell you how beautful and secluded it is. We've been on beaches and had the entire beach to ourselves. I have pics of giant tarpon and permit 20 yards offshore while snorkeling. Its amazing. My family commited to going there every 3 yrs if the budget allows. I cant imagine a nicer place in the world. I leave again in 18 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you lucky, lucky bastid. enjoy...

few cell phone pics from caneel bay. we had the entire beach to ourselves on this day.

Stayed at Turks and Caicos club several years ago. Small, terrific place. Great snorkeling, good local restaurants, packs of wild but friendly dogs (not kidding, it's an issue for them). We loved it.

That's because everyone goes down there in the winter :P
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breakfast on the patio

ugh, you're killin' me...

St John is nice, but I'm in no hurry to go back. It's a little Americanized for me. I like the beaches, but there are other places with great beaches, too. And last time I was there, there was a shooting over at Trunk Bay about a week before we arrived. Not as bad as the crime on St. Thomas, but keep your belongings in your site when you're at the more secluded beaches where the tree line is really close to the water. There's a lot more property crime than you'd expect from a place that's considered a laid back tropical paradise.

If you really want to check out something quiet and relaxing besides Turks and Cacos, look into Virgin Gorda. Would have been the best vacation I ever had if I wasn't with a crazy bitch.

Yikes ... that water looks terrible! ...:rotf2:

Interesting view. All we go for is the beaches and restaurants. It was very secluded and mellow. Mostly hippies and some islanders. I never saw any sign of crime. It was absolute heaven to me.

you are going there in the off season.. that is like saying newport is so quite, quiet and quant in february.

i cant say enough good things about carriacou... they are not a touristy place. Its the cuttyhunk of the Caribbean.

Checked it out Nebe, There is a Sandals opening in Grenada that looks nice. You can find crime anywhere; Aruba, Brockton or St John. My oldest leaves Tuesday for 3 weeks in Ecuador for some cultural enlightenment and an American boy just vanished there last week. Virgin Gorda sounds nice.

St. John is awesome. A long time ago stayed at Maho Bay in tent tree houses, it was eco friendly and all radios were off at 8:00 so you could hear the jungle at night. It has just recently changed owners and is now called Concordia and I don't know what changes they have made. Island was donated by the Rockerfeller family and 3/4 of the island has to stay a national forest. Flew into St. Thomas and then made a little adventure out of it doing some island hoping via small water ferries to St. John and Tortolla. Never made it to Jost van dyke where sailboats would come from miles around to Jimmy Buffets New Years Eve parties, only thing on the island was a bar. I have been to a few islands and Saint John is one of our favorites.

Most Americans remember Grenada from Reagan's invasion in 1983 but I have heard it is one of the most beautiful islands of them all. If you go I would be interested in hearing about it. Thanks, and where ever you go enjoy!!!

I have been there 4 times. (Provo) The first when I was single I went to the club med (this was in 1981 I think). The island was hardly developed, no homes no golf course just club med and a diving operation. It was an awesome vacation for a 23 year old... did lots of bone fishing which was off the charts good, and one day of offshore which was OK but not great. The babes were amazing as back then it was kind of a singles scene. The rest of the trips were post marriage and had a different vibe. Last trip was last year. Went to beaches or sandals resort there. Mainly because I wanted to keep my teenage son occupied. The island is much more developed now. It is still cool and there are not a lot of lush trees (it gets mowed by a lot of hurricanes the flatten the place on a regular basis)

The water and the beaches are among the best you will find. Visibility is 200'+, great diving and snorkeling. Serious Wall diving within a couple miles of shore if you are into that. Great numbers of fish on inshore reefs. sand is like superfine white sugar.

I have to say I think it is overdeveloped. You can still find remote places and some of the islands are are sparcely populated but it is a lot different now.

The resorts are nice and the food is very good and the people are nice. Fuel is 7.50 /gal. down there. It is a good place to take your family on a holiday but if it was just me and a lady...I would find a more lush place. Don't get me wrong it is a great place to vacation but if you want Hawaii like scenery, you will not find it there.

There can be great big game fishing at times very close to shore. where it drops off to something like 7000' within a few miles from the shore...I chartered a boat with some other guys I did not know and I had a good time but the fishing was fair. The captain was a hoot though.

I like to snorkel reefs with my wife and this is probably the best place I have seen for that including Hawaii. The life the visibility and warm water are amazing.