| Author | Message | ||
| Paul Wehmer (Pwehmer)
New member Username: Pwehmer Post Number: 17 Registered: 10-2002 |
Spent a week on St. John island. It was great. Most of the island was owned by the Rockefellers and they donated it to the US Park service in the 1950s. So 80% of the island is undeveloped and protected. This isn't a place overrun by tourists. Only a couple nice resorts- the Westin was very nice and great if you have kids. Beaches were great and the people were very nice. Don't go there looking for nightlife- place pretty much shuts down at 10pm other then a couple bars. Good restaurants. A very relaxing place. One note- the cars (Jeeps mostly) are left hand drive but they drive on the left. Confusing for about 10 minutes! | ||
| J. Grande (Jay)
Member Username: Jay Post Number: 897 Registered: 10-2001 |
Ernesto, I feel safe anywhere in the world, like you said, common sense. | ||
| Ernesto (T88power)
Member Username: T88power Post Number: 943 Registered: 2-2001 |
Jay, they'll be fine here in PR. It is like anywhere else in the world, there are a lot of good areas with some bad areas - some of which Will mentioned. As long as they stick to the principal metro area and not walk into any questionable neighborhoods they will be OK. Using common sense is the key. You guys can feel free to email me if you have any questions on PR. Ernesto | ||
| J. Grande (Jay)
Member Username: Jay Post Number: 889 Registered: 10-2001 |
I'm fortunate that I can pass as a local in almost any country (I'm not kidding!) I'm Italian but depending on where I am people think I am Mexican, Puerto Rican, Black, West Indian, Middle Eastern, I've been called everything and anything. That's a good thing at times! | ||
| Tim N (Timn88)
Intermediate Member Username: Timn88 Post Number: 1732 Registered: 6-2001 |
I would love to go back to mexico. i stayed in a not-so-tourist part, although there were alot of tourists. People were really nice there and they didnt care when i totally messed up their language at times. | ||
| J. Grande (Jay)
Member Username: Jay Post Number: 888 Registered: 10-2001 |
If you stay in tourist areas you'll be okay. I had a great time in PR and bought lots of Rum! Trinidad and Tobago are the best in my opinion. I've spent a month in Trinidad and a month in Tobago (for my honeymoon). You'll find trouble anywhere you go, just be smart. | ||
| Tim N (Timn88)
Intermediate Member Username: Timn88 Post Number: 1729 Registered: 6-2001 |
My family is going to puerto rico...at least all of them except me. I have to go to "college". The college i attend uses the trimester system, i have 3 10 week terms rather than 2 15 week terms. it sounds like there are some bad parts of puerto rico. Is it worse than the bad barios in this country? i dont mean to stereotype or offend anyone, but puerto rican gangs are known for fighting dirty, and jumping unsuspecting passer bys which makes me a little nervous, as its not hard to wander into a bad neighboorhood. | ||
| J. Grande (Jay)
Member Username: Jay Post Number: 887 Registered: 10-2001 |
I have "relatives" that are from Barbados. When I went to visit I found most people there to be snobbish. In the Caribbean community they think they are the best of the bunch...in general of course. The only nice people I met in Barbados were from Trinidad! Then again, I wasn't there as a tourist, so things are probably different. I'm just slanted that way when it comes to Bajains (people from Barbados)  | ||
| BobD (Bobd)
Member Username: Bobd Post Number: 834 Registered: 3-2001 |
I heard Turk and Caicos is a great place... esp if you're taking the kids. But we've never been there. BVI is beautiful.... the prettiest of the Virgin Islands. Virgin Gorda is georgeous. Richard Branson, the guy that owns Virgin Airlines and Virgin Records has his own private island just off Virgin Gorda. We enjoyed Carambola in St. Croix.... USVI.... did a lot of 4-wheeling in the hills in our rented beat-to-s&it Samarai. Pretty good golf course there too (when it rains). St. Thomas is 100% tourism but a decent place to visit if you're a Carribbean first-timer. St. John is a national park and still pretty deserted... very nice. Some fun bars there. St. Martin is great.... half French and half Netherlands (English). I remember crossing the French border and seeing nothing but Peugots with oval license plates.... and the island was only 30 miles around. Beaches were great... all the topless ladies were fugly though. There's a golf course there but leave your Driver at home. That was 10+ years ago. Stopped at an island off PR where the US used to test bombing... Vieques. American tourists didn't visit for many years due to the locals being pissed about the bombing. Vieques has the incredible "Bahia"... a bioluminescence bay.... you glow in the water when you swim at night. St. Kitts was so-so but Nevis is cool if you have a thick wallet and can afford the Four Seasons Resort... absolutely one of THE best resorts in the Carribbean. We couldn't so we stayed in St. Kitts and just visited Nevis. I mentioned this on another thread.... if you're looking for something different, GREAT fun... and have no desire for the GIGANTIC bull$%t cruise boats, consider a Windjammer Cruise. The boat in this picture has 130 berths (rooms).... after a week, you're good friends with everyone on the ship! http://www.windjammer.com/ These guys go to places where the tour boats don't... like Buck Island. When you take the big-boat cruises and stop at the ports, all you do is the same old trinket (t-shirt) shopping. All the ports look the same. Windjammer is different... you're involved! If you want to help raise the sails, have at it! The Captain tells his "tales" every morning just after breakfast while everyone sits out on the deck of the ship. He tells stories about the places you will be visiting that day. No matter where you go in the Carribbean, the Rum is great! Carib beer is pretty good too. | ||
| Jerry W. (Tork1966)
Member Username: Tork1966 Post Number: 321 Registered: 7-2001 |
Jay, what was it about Barbados that you hated? I was seriously considering this as a possibility for my next vacation. What did you think of the Saints, the Bahamas and V.I.? | ||
| J. Grande (Jay)
Member Username: Jay Post Number: 886 Registered: 10-2001 |
One of the best kept secrets in the Islands is Trinidad and Tobago. The bigger island of Trinidad is very modern, like Puerto Rico, clubs, restaurants ect. Tobago is quiet and small, lots of beaches and friendly people (I gotta say that cause my wife is from T&T) If you want to relax and do nothing but enjoy the beaches go to Tobago! I've also been to Grand Cayman, PR, Jamaica, St. Thomas, St. Croix and the Vigin Islands, Bahamas, all over Mexico, and Barbados (which I hated). Jamaica is only dangerous if you go to the wrong places, just like anywhere else. | ||
| William H (Countachxx)
Intermediate Member Username: Countachxx Post Number: 1647 Registered: 2-2001 |
I lived in PR for a year after my undergrad back around 86. Its nice the chicks Can be hot, not all are hot but hotties are there in force. There is a HUGE drug business & you Do NOT want to go into the Hood which is right next to the nicest part of San juan, called Isla verde, near the airport about 2 miles W of the Ritz hotel Old San Juan is very quaint & romantic & is very old world spain but its dangerous at night. There is a slum on the NW side down a slope near OSJ named La Perla, DO NOT go there under any circumstances. There r lots of nice hotels for tourists, the beaches are beautiful, you can reserve a yacht & go SCUBA or jetskiing, lots of nightclubs | ||
| Jerry W. (Tork1966)
Member Username: Tork1966 Post Number: 317 Registered: 7-2001 |
I thought that we could share some insight into different Caribbean islands where we have been to give some advice and guidance to others. I have personally been to Grand Cayman where I have a time share (beautiful and peaceful, very safe, yet very expensive, not much nightlife and no casinos), and St. Maarten (love it! casinos, natural beauty, nude beach (yee ha!), nightlife, great shopping, friendly people). I have heard that you have to worry about your safety in Jamaica and some other islands. Please share some opinions/reviews. Thanks, Jerry |