Caribbean - Caribbean Island for Hawaii lover?

My family has been going to Hawaii every Feb for the last four years. We love the combination of friendly people, incredible views everywhere, fantastic snorkeling right from the beach, hikes to waterfalls, etc. We were especially impressed with Kauia. This year we don't have as much time so we're hoping to go somewhere closer. Are there any islands/areas in the Caribbean that come close to a Hawaiian vacation? Ideally I'd like to hear from people who can compare because they've spent time in both Hawaii and the Caribbean. Thanks!

I haven't been to the Caribbean, but I had a nice conversation with a couple on a plane once who had spent a lot of time in both places. I asked them which Caribbean island was most like Hawaii.

They said St. Martin. Their reason? Most Caribbean islands have a visible poverty class that can make one feel kind of guilty for having so much fun in so much luxury. St. Martin, they said, doesn't really have that.

For an all around nice experience that includes nice people, good dining, good water sports, I really enjoyed Barbados.

For beautiful sights, St. Lucia is very nice with the Pitons, and has hiking, etc. to go for. Certainly you will run into some poverty there if you get off the resorts.

Martinique is like a little piece of France plopped in the middle of the Caribbean, and is really beautiful with friendly locals. St. Barts is another really beautiful, friendly, and comfortable place, an easy ferry ride from St. Maarten.

For a great little place that is friendly, beautiful, has superb beaches, my favorite is a little island called Bequia a short ferry ride from St. Vincent. It is really small, though, so factor that in to your consideration.

I haven't been to the Caribbean, but I had a nice conversation with a couple on a plane once who had spent a lot of time in both places. I asked them which Caribbean island was most like Hawaii.

They said St. Martin. Their reason? Most Caribbean islands have a visible poverty class that can make one feel kind of guilty for having so much fun in so much luxury. St. Martin, they said, doesn't really have that.
That's interesting. I talked to someone last weekend who said quite the opposite about St. Martin. Can anyone confirm/deny from personal experience?

For an all around nice experience that includes nice people, good dining, good water sports, I really enjoyed Barbados.

For beautiful sights, St. Lucia is very nice with the Pitons, and has hiking, etc. to go for. Certainly you will run into some poverty there if you get off the resorts.

Martinique is like a little piece of France plopped in the middle of the Caribbean, and is really beautiful with friendly locals. St. Barts is another really beautiful, friendly, and comfortable place, an easy ferry ride from St. Maarten.

For a great little place that is friendly, beautiful, has superb beaches, my favorite is a little island called Bequia a short ferry ride from St. Vincent. It is really small, though, so factor that in to your consideration.
Doc Savage: thanks for the tips!

That's interesting. I talked to someone last weekend who said quite the opposite about St. Martin. Can anyone confirm/deny from personal experience?
It's visible, but not as bad as, nor as extreme as the other parts of the Caribbean. I found it to be more visible on the Dutch Side than on the French.

St. Martin is France, Sint Maarten is an independent country in the Dutch Kingdom. Plenty of poverty on both sides of the island, as well as most others in the Caribbean, as well as Hawaii.

I've been to Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Molokai and The Big Island, as well as the Bahamas, Bermuda, Aruba, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, St Thomas, St Maarten, St Kitts and Nevis so hopefully I can help.

The problem in recommending a Caribbean island that mimics Hawaii is that each Hawaiian island is so different from the other Hawaiian islands :)

If you are looking for a Caribbean island similar to Kauai, perhaps St. Kitts might fit your bill. It's not built up or touristy, has some beautiful views, good local flavor. The people could NOT be friendlier. The only 'name' hotel on the island is the Marriott. You can do a little snorkeling right off the Marriott beach. I didn't snorkel elsewhere on the island but St. Kitts is where the Caribbean meets the Atlantic Ocean so I am sure you could find other favorable snorkeling spots somewhere.

I've been to St. Maarten but that was only a day trip as a cruise ship passenger and, while the island was very pretty, I don't have enough knowledge of the entire island to compare it to Hawaii.

Grand Cayman was beautiful and has tons of great snorkeling, is not as commercial as the Bahamas or Puerto Rico, and has a small island feel. I would describe Grand Cayman as perhaps more commercial that Kauai but less commercial than Maui.

Jamaica has waterfalls and areas of the island are very pretty but the local feel may NOT be what you are looking for in a vacation and would not remind you of what you've probably experienced in Hawaii.

Bermuda, while not technically in the Caribbean, is very pretty and has a small island feel; beautiful beaches as well....and may be closer for you in terms of travel.

Hope that helps a bit :)

I've been to Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Molokai and The Big Island, as well as the Bahamas, Bermuda, Aruba, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, St Thomas, St Maarten, St Kitts and Nevis so hopefully I can help.

The problem in recommending a Caribbean island that mimics Hawaii is that each Hawaiian island is so different from the other Hawaiian islands :)

If you are looking for a Caribbean island similar to Kauai, perhaps St. Kitts might fit your bill. It's not built up or touristy, has some beautiful views, good local flavor. The people could NOT be friendlier. The only 'name' hotel on the island is the Marriott. You can do a little snorkeling right off the Marriott beach. I didn't snorkel elsewhere on the island but St. Kitts is where the Caribbean meets the Atlantic Ocean so I am sure you could find other favorable snorkeling spots somewhere.

I've been to St. Maarten but that was only a day trip as a cruise ship passenger and, while the island was very pretty, I don't have enough knowledge of the entire island to compare it to Hawaii.

Grand Cayman was beautiful and has tons of great snorkeling, is not as commercial as the Bahamas or Puerto Rico, and has a small island feel. I would describe Grand Cayman as perhaps more commercial that Kauai but less commercial than Maui.

Jamaica has waterfalls and areas of the island are very pretty but the local feel may NOT be what you are looking for in a vacation and would not remind you of what you've probably experienced in Hawaii.

Bermuda, while not technically in the Caribbean, is very pretty and has a small island feel; beautiful beaches as well....and may be closer for you in terms of travel.

Hope that helps a bit :)
flyerwife: thanks! St. Kitts sounds perfect. I just applied for the Marriott card with the 70,000 mile bonus, so maybe I can stay there for free too!

one big difference. the carrib is hot. hotter than the sw coast of maui. diving and snorkel is much better in C. eating much better in H. H is urban, wall to wall hotel. C does not have many hotels. C has great isolated places(e.g.peter island) , beach resorts and beach rentals.. H has very few. C has a lot of really crummy and ugly places. H has very few. people do not rent cars in C ...and drive to local costco .

one big difference. the carrib is hot. hotter than the sw coast of maui. diving and snorkel is much better in C. eating much better in H. H is urban, wall to wall hotel. C does not have many hotels. C has great isolated places(e.g.peter island) , beach resorts and beach rentals.. H has very few. C has a lot of really crummy and ugly places. H has very few. people do not rent cars in C ...and drive to local costco .
Everything you just said about Hawaii can be said about Puerto Rico...

Been to Hawaii 19 times, to the Caribbean over 200 times.

That said, Puerto Rico is out. While the Dorado Beach area is quite similar to Hawaii, until the old Hyatt Dorado Beach there is turned into a new Ritz Carlton Reserve in two years, no decent place to stay.

Surely Grenada, St. Vincent, and Tobago are the most incredibly lush islands of all, with Jamaica a close 2nd to any of the three. However realize unike Hawaii you will find poverty on any of them so be prepared for that.

Truly the most spectacular resort in my judgement in the Caribbean is the Canouan Resort, (formerly Raffles) on Canouan Island which is part of the Grenadine Islands. As close to Paradise as anywhere on earth. Ask Bill Gates, his yacht anchors off there regularly.

Worldspan

We are Hawaii lovers, too, and also enjoy St. John, especially staying at Caneel Bay.

That said, Puerto Rico is out. While the Dorado Beach area is quite similar to Hawaii, until the old Hyatt Dorado Beach there is turned into a new Ritz Carlton Reserve in two years, no decent place to stay.

Ouch.

I take you haven't been to the W in Vieques.

I forgot to mention that our son, who would be with us, gets seasick on bumpy ferry rides. So, we would prefer a location we can fly to or has a known smooth and short ferry ride.

one big difference. the carrib is hot. hotter than the sw coast of maui. diving and snorkel is much better in C. eating much better in H. H is urban, wall to wall hotel. C does not have many hotels. C has great isolated places(e.g.peter island) , beach resorts and beach rentals.. H has very few. C has a lot of really crummy and ugly places. H has very few. people do not rent cars in C ...and drive to local costco .

Completely disagree on Caribbean food - - it is much better than Hawaii IMO. Lots of great local places, and a lot of really quality restaurants in places like Anguilla, St. Martin, St. Barts, Barbados, etc. And I always rent a car.

Some of the real benefits of the Caribbean over Hawaii are:

- less crowds
- local culture
- friendlier people (in most cases)
- warmer, calmer water
- better beaches
- "island time"

You might enjoy St. Kitts (with a side trip to Nevis). St. John (with daytrips to the BVIs) also would be a good choice.

St. Martin is France, Sint Maarten is an independent country in the Dutch Kingdom. Plenty of poverty on both sides of the island, as well as most others in the Caribbean, as well as Hawaii.

Depends on what you consider to be "poverty". Yes, plenty of people in the Caribbean living on very little, but a lot of those people just live very simple but happy lives. There are notable exceptions, however, where there are larger areas of true poverty and people who are truly in need (D.R., Haiti, Jamaica).

Anguilla

I have to completely disagree with you on this one. There is good food there, but nothing I would dare to compare with the other islands on the list. Anguilla IME is as rustic as the Caribbean gets without dipping into the third world.

Regarding ther OP's request, and as a big fan of Kauai, I suggest checking out St. John. Two-thirds of the island is a national park.

Thanks everyone! It sounds like there are several votes for St Johns. I'll have to check that out

Ouch.

I take you haven't been to the W in Vieques.

No, I have not been to Vieques to be honest. That said, I disagree completely with previous remark posted about Anguilla. The beaches are truly outstanding and the choice of 5 star resorts there is outstanding with the Viceroy in my mind being the best. Anguilla is also know for truly outstanding restaurants separate and apart from the hotels

I am less enthusiastic about St. John than others. Very lush island no argument from me but the US Virgin Islanders are a pretty ambivalent bunch in comparison to the much friendlier locals found on most other Eastern Caribbean islands.

Worldspan

I'm in total agreement with Worldspan's view.

I have to completely disagree with you on this one. There is good food there, but nothing I would dare to compare with the other islands on the list. Anguilla IME is as rustic as the Caribbean gets without dipping into the third world.

Have you spent much time on Anguilla? Just off the top of my head I can think of 5-10 restaurants that compare favorably (or better) to any restaurant in the Caribbean (granted, not French fine dining).

And what part of it is "rustic"? Honestly, I have never heard of Anguilla described in that way. :confused:

I'm in total agreement with Worldspan's view.



Have you spent much time on Anguilla? Just off the top of my head I can think of 5-10 restaurants that compare favorably (or better) to any restaurant in the Caribbean (granted, not French fine dining).

And what part of it is "rustic"? Honestly, I have never heard of Anguilla described in that way. :confused:
I live in the region, and go several times a year on day trips from our boat in transit, or from SXM next door. Having said that, I will admit I avoid the resorts, since as a quasi-local, I dislike the air of inauthenticity that large resorts bring to the region.

Great conversation everyone! It sounds like I need to go sample some islands to make up my own mind!

Great conversation everyone! It sounds like I need to go sample some islands to make up my own mind!
That's the best statement in this thread :D

Great conversation everyone! It sounds like I need to go sample some islands to make up my own mind!

Glad you said this. Have you thought about a cruise? I know your son gets seasick but Caribbean cruises are usually quite calm, and you'd get to sample many of the islands mentioned above in one shot :)

Glad you said this. Have you thought about a cruise? I know your son gets seasick but Caribbean cruises are usually quite calm, and you'd get to sample many of the islands mentioned above in one shot :)
Great idea!

Best thing about going to the Caribbean, you have several islands in close proximity that can be traveled to via boat or small plane rather cheaply. If you don't like an island, leave for another. But I have not known anyone who has not liked going to the Caribbean.

As far as Hawaii, I live on the west coast and the flight for me is only 5 hours. I would much rather sit on a plane for a full day to go to the Caribbean. For me Hawaii, is to crowded, overbuilt, has no individual feeling.

Take a chance spend a week in Tortola there and around some of the other BVI. That would be a good recommendation IMO for a newbie.