So where to go for this years anniversary
01-24-2006, 05:53 PM
#1
Administrator
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Stuart, FL
Posts: 24,416
It's our 5th wedding anniversary and we are most likely going to try some place new, so far we are tossing around the following, anyone been to any of these places? Ideally I would like a destination that isnt completely over ran with tourists.
-Aruba
-Riviera Maya
-Turks and Caicos
-costa rica
-Cayman Islands
-Curacao
errr, i think that's it
-Aruba
-Riviera Maya
-Turks and Caicos
-costa rica
-Cayman Islands
-Curacao
errr, i think that's it
01-25-2006, 08:57 AM
#3
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 14
Originally Posted by boxrs4sale' post='796138' date='Jan 24 2006, 04:01 PM
caymen islands ! by far an awesome place. went there on a cruise and it beat the hell outta mexico and jamacia.
Well to each his own, I hate to be an ***, but if the cruise ship goes there I don't believe it is off the beaten path... we like a little more local than touristy.. although in 2007 yes we will be biting the bullet and going on a cruise for a friends wedding -- so we will eventually end up that route just not yet.
01-25-2006, 01:04 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 205
Aruba, Jamaica, oooo I wanna take ya to Bermuda, Bahama come on pretty mama, to Key Largo, Montego baby why don't we go down to Kokomo, the music's hot and the lights are low, that's where I want to go, way down in Kokomo.
Actually I've never been to the caribean, but Banzai keeps telling me, he's going to take me.
- Hand
Actually I've never been to the caribean, but Banzai keeps telling me, he's going to take me.
- Hand
01-25-2006, 02:46 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: WA
Posts: 1,312
Belize isnt over ran with tourists and its very very beautiful.
Its less developed than costa rica, which means less tourists, but less conveniences for tourists.
The people are nice for the most part, the weather right now is beautiful, the cayes are awesome, lots of sport fishing, tons of diving, kayaking, jungle exploring, etc, etc... I spent a month there a couple months ago and honestly out of all the places in the world I've traveled to, Belize is on my list to go back for an extended period of time.
It also houses the worlds 2nd largest barrier reef. Which might I add is full of sharks, rays, tropical fish out the ***, cool glowing coral, barracuda, etc, etc and makes one hell of a snorkel trip when you rent sea kayaks and just go out by yourselves.
TONS of mayan ruins within a very short distance. Guatamala isnt very far either and Tikal is an amazing place, huge sky scraper temples and such. That place is usually filled with tourists, but you kinda forget that when youre climbing a 300 foot temple staircase with howler monkeys screaming at you from the trees all around.
now let me break down the spots you listed.
-----------------
Aruba: this place is like jamaica in the sense that it was an old island used for slave trade. Lots of angry black folk there, they dont like whities too much. People are generally rude to you, rip you off in stores, hotel prices, etc. You are also stuck on aruba unless you pay a somewhat hefty price to leave.
Riviera Maya: This is basically your cancun style area. In the off season its usually pretty clear of tourists, yet it is a touristy place so lots of hotels, restaurants, things like that. Lots of stuff is catered to you. Spanish is the native language, not sure how fluent you are in spanish, but a general rule of thumb is that if you cant speak the language you will get ripped off a lot. Lots of cool stuff to see here though because it is by a lot of the mexican mayan ruins not far from the coast. The water is pretty as well. But again, might be too touristy for you (if youre looking for a more ... kinda rugged, less traveled path)
Turks and Caicos: I've never personally been here so I dont have much first hand info to give you. That ones on you
costa rica: Costa rica is a nice nice place. Lots of animal life, lots of beaches, lots of tourism. Most stuff is layed out in front of you, if you dont like to explore the rugged path then costa rica would be great for you. Its got great tropical fishing, water is nice to swim in, lots of sharks to see, tons of monkeys everywhere, just a ton of wild life. I recommend costa rica, its just a bit touristy in a lot of spots.
Cayman Islands: Havent been here either, might be pretty cool. The problem I have with those carribbean islands is that there is no big reef. The water is pretty open, which means once you get past about 200 yards out the water turns a big deep and dark/murky. With the exception of a few of the smaller islands in the middle of nowhere with shallow underwater beach line extending for a couple hundred yards.
Curacao: I've always wanted to stop by here when going through venezuela. It used to be a dutch colony if im not mistaken and is still technically owned by the netherlands. Not sure on it though... but I know it used to be. The only problem I would say with this is the current geopolitical climate in that area. The US and venezuela are in very tense times right now. And infact there were a few travel warnings about the area not long ago. Not saying you'd get killed, but I'm sure youd get treated very poorly and make for a kinda lousy time.
If you can handle the people being dicks, I'm sure its a wonderful place.
The area is very cool!
and my choice Belize: Reasons listed above ... I will say though, belize city is like an old war zone. You dont want to stay there... ever. Get out as fast as you can. Goto the cayes or goto the interior like san ignacio. Other than belize city, the place is amazingly cool. Again, for the more rugged travelers ... not a ton of fancy hotels and stuff like that, its very personal with the actual life style of belize.
Its less developed than costa rica, which means less tourists, but less conveniences for tourists.
The people are nice for the most part, the weather right now is beautiful, the cayes are awesome, lots of sport fishing, tons of diving, kayaking, jungle exploring, etc, etc... I spent a month there a couple months ago and honestly out of all the places in the world I've traveled to, Belize is on my list to go back for an extended period of time.
It also houses the worlds 2nd largest barrier reef. Which might I add is full of sharks, rays, tropical fish out the ***, cool glowing coral, barracuda, etc, etc and makes one hell of a snorkel trip when you rent sea kayaks and just go out by yourselves.
TONS of mayan ruins within a very short distance. Guatamala isnt very far either and Tikal is an amazing place, huge sky scraper temples and such. That place is usually filled with tourists, but you kinda forget that when youre climbing a 300 foot temple staircase with howler monkeys screaming at you from the trees all around.
now let me break down the spots you listed.
-----------------
Aruba: this place is like jamaica in the sense that it was an old island used for slave trade. Lots of angry black folk there, they dont like whities too much. People are generally rude to you, rip you off in stores, hotel prices, etc. You are also stuck on aruba unless you pay a somewhat hefty price to leave.
Riviera Maya: This is basically your cancun style area. In the off season its usually pretty clear of tourists, yet it is a touristy place so lots of hotels, restaurants, things like that. Lots of stuff is catered to you. Spanish is the native language, not sure how fluent you are in spanish, but a general rule of thumb is that if you cant speak the language you will get ripped off a lot. Lots of cool stuff to see here though because it is by a lot of the mexican mayan ruins not far from the coast. The water is pretty as well. But again, might be too touristy for you (if youre looking for a more ... kinda rugged, less traveled path)
Turks and Caicos: I've never personally been here so I dont have much first hand info to give you. That ones on you
costa rica: Costa rica is a nice nice place. Lots of animal life, lots of beaches, lots of tourism. Most stuff is layed out in front of you, if you dont like to explore the rugged path then costa rica would be great for you. Its got great tropical fishing, water is nice to swim in, lots of sharks to see, tons of monkeys everywhere, just a ton of wild life. I recommend costa rica, its just a bit touristy in a lot of spots.
Cayman Islands: Havent been here either, might be pretty cool. The problem I have with those carribbean islands is that there is no big reef. The water is pretty open, which means once you get past about 200 yards out the water turns a big deep and dark/murky. With the exception of a few of the smaller islands in the middle of nowhere with shallow underwater beach line extending for a couple hundred yards.
Curacao: I've always wanted to stop by here when going through venezuela. It used to be a dutch colony if im not mistaken and is still technically owned by the netherlands. Not sure on it though... but I know it used to be. The only problem I would say with this is the current geopolitical climate in that area. The US and venezuela are in very tense times right now. And infact there were a few travel warnings about the area not long ago. Not saying you'd get killed, but I'm sure youd get treated very poorly and make for a kinda lousy time.
If you can handle the people being dicks, I'm sure its a wonderful place.
The area is very cool!
and my choice Belize: Reasons listed above ... I will say though, belize city is like an old war zone. You dont want to stay there... ever. Get out as fast as you can. Goto the cayes or goto the interior like san ignacio. Other than belize city, the place is amazingly cool. Again, for the more rugged travelers ... not a ton of fancy hotels and stuff like that, its very personal with the actual life style of belize.
