| Planning an Island vacation... Any suggestions?
Posted: 6/18/2009 9:02:13 PM | I've never taken a real, travel somewhere for a week vacation, and I decided that next year I will do just that. I have decided that I will go to an island for a week, but I can't decide where!?
A perfect vacation for me would involve surfing, scuba, snorkeling, hiking, fishing, camping, laying out by the beach, and just relaxing. I don't want to go any place too touristy, where i will be shuffling around in a big group of people. I would really love some alone time.
Right now nothing is off the table. Can anybody make some suggestions on where to go and what is the best time to go? Any other "to do's" for my vacation would be awesome too...
Thanks! | |
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| Planning an Island vacation... Any suggestions?
Posted: 6/18/2009 10:51:36 PM | Sure, I have a few locations I can recommend.
I've been traveling most of my life a my favorite is beaches & islands.
Is anyone traveling with you?
What is the age group?
How non touristy do you want it?
Do you want a resort or do you want to get the real feeling of the location.
Is Thailand or Indonesia a problem or do you need somewhere cheaper to fly to?
Message me and we will chat more.
Talk to you later. | |
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| Planning an Island vacation... Any suggestions?
Posted: 6/24/2009 1:30:25 PM | | I would have to suggest Kauai, HI because it is the most desirable island in the USA in my opinion. ( I call it home so I’m prejudice) It has all the things you listed for wanting an island holiday. Good luck with your search! | |
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| Planning an Island vacation... Any suggestions?
Posted: 6/24/2009 2:30:16 PM | | hit Puerto Rico. it has all the benefits of a large island, lots of land for hiking, rain forest and then all the benefits of island beach play. In San juan there is a great resort that has their own private smaller island and has a boat going between the resort and the island several times a day, while there my self i went into the rain forest, toured some old castles, scuba dived, snorkeled, and more it was great. its been 10 years but i belive the name of the resort was the El' Con-quest-adore (never took Spanish so guessing on spelling) | |
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| Planning an Island vacation... Any suggestions?
Posted: 7/5/2009 8:30:12 PM | Bora Bora
Moorea
Fiki
Any island in the Maldives (especially for scuba / snorkeling / beach.
If you want to stay closer : Check out Columbus Island in the bahamas. ( club med)
awesome diving . | |
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| Planning an Island vacation... Any suggestions?
Posted: 7/5/2009 8:47:29 PM | sounds like a fun vacation that you are trying to plan, Aruba is nice as well as St Thomas. As mentioned in previous posts there are so many travel websites you could check but my favorite one for ideas and the best deals are www.ytbtravel.com/mfratt. Feel free to try it
good luck on your decision | |
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| Planning an Island vacation... Any suggestions?
Posted: 7/6/2009 3:32:40 PM | well I just got back from ARUBA....quite the pretty quiet island.
I stayed at THE RIU ..and I would not recommend choosing any other hotel thanthat.
I hear the CaymanIslands is quite pretty also....
these islans. St. MArten, Barbados, CAyman , Aruba...they are quite pricy...so shop around...
have fun where ever you go !!! | |
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| Planning an Island vacation... Any suggestions?
Posted: 7/7/2009 10:44:40 PM | Think Puerto Rico would be your best .. depending on which side of the island you are at .. it is so diversified and most speak English .. the rain forest is awesome .. the susrfing at Jaco beach is cool .. and close by in Isabela they have the coolest cheese .. they wrap it with banana leaves .. also off the southern part of the island is an island that is considered the Galapagos of the Caribbean .. Also have great areas where you can repell down the waterfalls .. just a great place .. And if ya crave an old city .. go into Old San Juan .. great food .. dancing and history ..
If you are into Islands just head for the Bahamas .. and take a fast ferry to one of the less known ones ..
Have a great vacation .. | |
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| Planning an Island vacation... Any suggestions?
Posted: 7/10/2009 2:25:16 PM | Altho' not really an Island, I just got back from my 5th trip to the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. It has all the things you mentioned and MORE. Either Puerto Viejo or Cahuita. Really cheap, pristine and very friendly natives. My airline tix was $270 R/T from LAX.
Andrew | |
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| Planning an Island vacation... Any suggestions?
Posted: 7/10/2009 4:28:11 PM | I can not reccomend Palau enough!
The best scuba diving in the world, no joke. AMAZING.
Snorkelling, beaches for miles, friendly people, a whole uninhabited island to hike through to a huge waterfall, all kinds of surprises (JellyFish Lake!) excellent food, especially seafood and fruits (and strangely enough, the hands down best pizza I have tasted anywhere in the world at the Rock Island Cafe).
And because so few people live there and it's so small, you can walk the whole main island in an afternoon and it's just like walking through a small town, and you can get a feel for how they live, then you can rent a car or get a tour and drive around the big island which is only inhabited by tiny old fashioned villages. So amazing.
As for hotels, the Arai View is good, but the Palasia is better.
Just remembering it - the air smells like fruit sugar.
Best vacation I ever had. | |
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| Planning an Island vacation... Any suggestions?
Posted: 7/12/2009 3:20:50 PM | Go to Maui. I lived there through 2008 and it and Kauai, are the most natural places out there. if you really want a lazy treat of a trip go to molokai. it is a short boat ride from maui and is a small island with no buildings over 3 stories and absolutly no traffic lights. also has a 2.5 mile white sand beach where in some spots you can set up and not see another soul all day. but if you ask me
Maui No ka Oi
Peace
Brad  | |
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| Planning an Island vacation... Any suggestions?
Posted: 7/14/2009 7:15:06 AM | | Hawaiianluau - I was there in February 04. Except for the one big modern hotel it was not commercialized at all. Also, there is no development allowed out on the rock islands where most tourists spend their time taking boat tours, snorkelling and so on. | |
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| Planning an Island vacation... Any suggestions?
Posted: 7/14/2009 12:16:18 PM | | Where to go is anywhere tropical, the best time is now as summer crowds are smaller...I'd go to Mexico maybe riviera maya, cancun, or the cayman islands are a good choice. You can snorkel till your sick of it, fish, camp, lay on the beach, cheap or free alcohol, plenty of sites to see, old mayan ruins, the jungle, and there are plenty of adventures too, like ziplining through the jungle, cenotes snorkeling and scuba diving. | |
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| Planning an Island vacation... Any suggestions?
Posted: 7/20/2009 11:58:53 AM | if you want surf.....the Bahamas and Caribbean only have big enough waves when its a storm.......but if you take away the waves....Cat island in the Bahamas is about as peaceful as it gets..........beaches are empty and gorgeuos white sand, no commercial stuff like most of the Caribbean, you can wander for hours.
But if you want to surf the day away, id guess somewhere in Hawaii .....I have not been to the phillipines but have friends who live there and they swear by the place.......but remember in 1 week you are limited to what you can do.
I live in Croatia on one of the 10 most beautiful islands, Hvar, as listed by national geographic......if you came in may or september its a paradise, but july and august its a zoo.............but again everything you want , but sadly no surfing. | |
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| Planning an Island vacation... Any suggestions?
Posted: 8/8/2009 5:23:39 AM | Just a suggestion, this is trully off the beaten path, as a matter of fact, the only way to get to this island is by boat....it is the Cocos Island of Costa Rica, pacific ocean side. Once there, you will arrive in a small lagoon where you will see sharks, sea turtles and a ton of fish. This island was once used as a ballast station for old wooden ships that needed to change out their ballest rocks....so, on the shore, you will the see old rocks that have been carved over the years from all the ships that have been there. Not allowed to take the stones, as there is a ranger and his family that live on the island, to collect the small fees to visit. Beach is ok, but you will be the only one on the beach....very beautiful there. If your looking to do something more in line with everyone else, then go Palawan....cant go wrong with the Philippines....over 7000 islands there....and the exchange rate will allow you to have a bloody good time there. I spent over a month and a half this past april and may there, doing a walk-about. | |
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| Planning an Island vacation... Any suggestions?
Posted: 8/9/2009 10:32:46 AM | A few options pop into mind...
For scuba, snorkeling, beach and simply relaxing... Thailand can't be beat... Islands off the east coast are great--Koh Samui, Koh Phangan (my first choice) and Koh Tao (probably the prettiest water)... Best times in my opinion are Jan thru early March... The Perhentian Islands off the northeast coast of Malaysia are great waters too, with a little later peak season than their northern cousin... March to April For hiking and camping options, although not island, northern Thailand is great for this as well, more referred to as trekking. The Chiang Mai region is without limitations...
Hawaii is a great option of course if you want to include the camping...
Now for closer to home, you won't find the snorkeling or beach activity, but if hiking or especially camping and kayaking is among your ideas of fun, the Manistee-Huron National Forest area is superb, and around Labor Day time frame can't be beat!!! Small towns in this area are Baldwin, Irons, Wellston, Mesick, Manton, etc... nearest town of any size is Cadillac!
Wherever you decide, enjoy!!!
And PS... if hiking is a prime goal, just go to Switzerland, you'll be in heaven!! | |
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| Planning an Island vacation... Any suggestions?
Posted: 8/9/2009 12:38:34 PM | | Just returned last night from St. John/St. Thomas. All that you mentioned can be done on these islands, can choose from tent camping to exclusive hotels, resorts, private villas, low budget motels. Most of St. John is National Park so that's a great clue about what it is like. While driving saw numerous animals in the wild and while in the water saw everything from brightly colored tropical fish to turtles! Had picnic on an island that is only inhabited by animals, privacy galore! I prefer the water around St. John because the clarity is much clearer than places I have been in Mexico and Bahamas! Have a great time exploring!! | |
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