What is the best resort in the Caribbean?
Dec 31, 2012, 4:57 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 10
What is the best resort in the Caribbean?
Hello -
I'm planning a 7 night trip to the Caribbean in April/May and would love to get feedback. Given this is a subjective question, here's a bit of info on what I'm looking for and a short list of some resorts I've been to.
Unfortunately I haven't had much luck in the past finding compelling Caribbean resorts. At this point the two I'm looking into are Jumby Bay in Antigua and Petit St. Vincent in St. Vincent & the Grenadines. Both resorts were renovated in the past couple years.
Here's what I'm looking for:
- An amazing beach, steps from the room
- Great snorkeling directly at the resort beach (and nearby scuba)
- Location relatively within reach (I'm in California so St. Vincent might be stretching it with kids..)
- Excellent food
- Excellent rooms
- Small resort
- Will be travelling with two small kids (1 & 3 yr old)
Notable list of destination resorts I've been to - for comparison (good and bad):
North Island (Seychelles)
Overall: 5
Rooms: 5+
Service: 4
Food: 3
Location: 5
Beach: 4
One and Only Reethi Rah (Maldives)
Overall: 5
Rooms: 5
Service: 5
Food: 4
Location: 5
Beach: 5
Singita Lebombo (South Africa)
Overall: 5
Rooms: 5
Service: 5
Food: 5
Location: 5
Explora (Atacama, Chili)
Overall: 5
Rooms: 4
Service: 5
Food: 4
Location & Activities: 5
Four Seasons (Chiang Rai)
Overall: 5
Rooms: 5
Service: 5
Food: 4
Location: 5
Soneva Gili (Maldives)
Overall: 4
Rooms: 5
Service: 4
Food: 4
Location: 4
Beach: 5
St. Regis Bora Bora (Tahiti)
Overall: 4
Rooms: 5
Service: 4
Food: 3
Beach: 4
Rosewood Mayakoba (Playa del Carmen)
Overall: 4
Rooms: 5
Service: 4
Food: 3
Beach: 4
Maroma Resort (Playa del Carmen)
Overall: 4
Rooms: 4
Service: 4
Food: 3
Beach: 5
Cap Jaluca (Anguilla):
Overall: 4
Rooms: 3
Service: 3
Food: 4
Beach: 5
* This trip was in '03, the hotel doesn't seem as compelling now.
Lizard Island (Great Barrier Reef)
Overall: 3.5
Rooms: 3
Service: 4
Food: 3
Location: 4
Palmilla (Cabo San Lucas)
Overall: 3.5
Rooms: 4
Service: 4
Food: 4
Beach: 3
Rock House (Harbour Island - Bahamas)
Overall: 3.5
Rooms: 3
Service: 4
Food: 4
Location: 3
Liku Liku (Fiji)
Overall: 3.5
Rooms: 3
Service: 4
Food: 4
Location: 4
Point Grace (Turks & Caicos)
Overall: 1
Rooms: 1
Service: 1
Food: 1
Location: 4
* This is probably the worst hotel (considering price) I've ever been to.
Looking forward to comments.
I'm planning a 7 night trip to the Caribbean in April/May and would love to get feedback. Given this is a subjective question, here's a bit of info on what I'm looking for and a short list of some resorts I've been to.
Unfortunately I haven't had much luck in the past finding compelling Caribbean resorts. At this point the two I'm looking into are Jumby Bay in Antigua and Petit St. Vincent in St. Vincent & the Grenadines. Both resorts were renovated in the past couple years.
Here's what I'm looking for:
- An amazing beach, steps from the room
- Great snorkeling directly at the resort beach (and nearby scuba)
- Location relatively within reach (I'm in California so St. Vincent might be stretching it with kids..)
- Excellent food
- Excellent rooms
- Small resort
- Will be travelling with two small kids (1 & 3 yr old)
Notable list of destination resorts I've been to - for comparison (good and bad):
North Island (Seychelles)
Overall: 5
Rooms: 5+
Service: 4
Food: 3
Location: 5
Beach: 4
One and Only Reethi Rah (Maldives)
Overall: 5
Rooms: 5
Service: 5
Food: 4
Location: 5
Beach: 5
Singita Lebombo (South Africa)
Overall: 5
Rooms: 5
Service: 5
Food: 5
Location: 5
Explora (Atacama, Chili)
Overall: 5
Rooms: 4
Service: 5
Food: 4
Location & Activities: 5
Four Seasons (Chiang Rai)
Overall: 5
Rooms: 5
Service: 5
Food: 4
Location: 5
Soneva Gili (Maldives)
Overall: 4
Rooms: 5
Service: 4
Food: 4
Location: 4
Beach: 5
St. Regis Bora Bora (Tahiti)
Overall: 4
Rooms: 5
Service: 4
Food: 3
Beach: 4
Rosewood Mayakoba (Playa del Carmen)
Overall: 4
Rooms: 5
Service: 4
Food: 3
Beach: 4
Maroma Resort (Playa del Carmen)
Overall: 4
Rooms: 4
Service: 4
Food: 3
Beach: 5
Cap Jaluca (Anguilla):
Overall: 4
Rooms: 3
Service: 3
Food: 4
Beach: 5
* This trip was in '03, the hotel doesn't seem as compelling now.
Lizard Island (Great Barrier Reef)
Overall: 3.5
Rooms: 3
Service: 4
Food: 3
Location: 4
Palmilla (Cabo San Lucas)
Overall: 3.5
Rooms: 4
Service: 4
Food: 4
Beach: 3
Rock House (Harbour Island - Bahamas)
Overall: 3.5
Rooms: 3
Service: 4
Food: 4
Location: 3
Liku Liku (Fiji)
Overall: 3.5
Rooms: 3
Service: 4
Food: 4
Location: 4
Point Grace (Turks & Caicos)
Overall: 1
Rooms: 1
Service: 1
Food: 1
Location: 4
* This is probably the worst hotel (considering price) I've ever been to.
Looking forward to comments.
Last edited by ddm1999; Mar 29, 2013 at 11:28 am Reason: updating hotel list
Dec 31, 2012, 6:23 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
accommodations, aman service including no signing and staffed residential villas, location
enjoying an Amanyara mojito at the bar while our son is on a nighttime discovery trek with Lindsay (the head of the discovery centre)...best activity my son had in a resort...lessons everyday from 10 till 12 and from 14 till 16 pm and he loves it and he is only 5. We specifically asked for this night trek since we saw it on the brochure and lindsay kindly arranged to go with him.
Since visiting Amanyara, we’ve learned that the Turks & Caicos is not really a snorkel destination. While the water is very warm and currents are few, the best aquatic life here is deeper than 40 feet. We did snorkel though - just off the Beach Club rocks and out on the Northwest Marine Park reef with the complementary snorkel boat. Both locations were OK but it’s really hard to get excited after recently returning from Amanwana.
The diving proved better, particularly for Mr. Ericka who is fully certified. I took the Discover Scuba course with Chester, a funny and patient guy that runs the dive shop. Chester is now a Big Blue employee who used to work for Amanpulo (long story). Mr. Ericka did some of the nearby Marine Park wall dives, of which his favorite was the Amphitheatre. He tells me the dive had good marine life diversity with different fish at different levels and lots of healthy corals. Best of all, each guest was given a dive computer to monitor depth, bottom times, decompression status, etc.
And to dispel the myth that Amans are stuffy…as we were pulling out for a dive one day, Chester noticed two heads bobbing in the water in front of the Beach Club. He hollered, “Hey Fritz, wanna go diving?” Fritz quickly collected his gear and jumped on the boat, and that’s how we ended up diving with the head chef. The other bobbing head was John the GM, so they were probably having a meeting…only at an Aman. LOL
The diving proved better, particularly for Mr. Ericka who is fully certified. I took the Discover Scuba course with Chester, a funny and patient guy that runs the dive shop. Chester is now a Big Blue employee who used to work for Amanpulo (long story). Mr. Ericka did some of the nearby Marine Park wall dives, of which his favorite was the Amphitheatre. He tells me the dive had good marine life diversity with different fish at different levels and lots of healthy corals. Best of all, each guest was given a dive computer to monitor depth, bottom times, decompression status, etc.
And to dispel the myth that Amans are stuffy…as we were pulling out for a dive one day, Chester noticed two heads bobbing in the water in front of the Beach Club. He hollered, “Hey Fritz, wanna go diving?” Fritz quickly collected his gear and jumped on the boat, and that’s how we ended up diving with the head chef. The other bobbing head was John the GM, so they were probably having a meeting…only at an Aman. LOL
parrot cay also has beachfront accommodations
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Jan 2, 2013 at 6:25 pm
Jan 1, 2013, 9:00 am
#7
Join Date: May 1999
Location: New York,NY USA
Posts: 1,480
If you like very remote, I highly recomend PSV. Jumby is nice but right over the path from the airport. While on its own island, Jumby is not remote. PSV- no phones, no newspaper, no TV. An adventure getting there but worth it.
Jan 1, 2013, 12:22 pm
#8
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Toronto
Posts: 426
One & Only in the Bahamas. The best beach and water I have seen anywhere in the world, and I've been all over. Just spectacular.
Pluses are that there are lots of great restaurants and entertainment nearby, yet the hotel is very serene. You can relax when you want and party when you want.
If you can afford it, book the 2 bedroom villa with the infinity pool. It is breathtakingly beautiful.
Pluses are that there are lots of great restaurants and entertainment nearby, yet the hotel is very serene. You can relax when you want and party when you want.
If you can afford it, book the 2 bedroom villa with the infinity pool. It is breathtakingly beautiful.
Jan 1, 2013, 8:34 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, Marriott Plat, Hertz Pres
Posts: 3,649
Actually really glad to find this thread....Just watched the 2nd Pirates of the Caribbean on TV last night with my roomates and started lusting over those white sand beaches, and so am now planning a trip someplace like that!
Jan 2, 2013, 10:35 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Canada
Programs: Virtuoso TA, Four Seasons Pref Partner, Rosewood Elite TA, Ritz Carlton STARS TA
Posts: 4,734
OP, snorkling off Jumby or Pasture Beach is really not memorable. Then boat you over to another smaller island for snorkling trips.
Jan 2, 2013, 11:39 am
#11
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: BNA
Programs: Virtuoso, FSPP, RC STARS, Rosewood Elite, Bellini, SPG LP, Dorchester Diamond, PenClub
Posts: 357
For a room on an amazing beach and great snorkeling my top pick would be Caneel Bay. However, I don't know that it will fit your room and dining requirements. I was concerned when we stayed that it would be too rustic and hands-off from a service perspective. It ended up being one of our all time favorite vacations. It truly is a magical place.
A photo tour from our stay last July.
Jumby Bay is another solid choice. You might also consider Round Hill in Jamaica.
A photo tour from our stay last July.
Jumby Bay is another solid choice. You might also consider Round Hill in Jamaica.
Jan 2, 2013, 11:46 am
#12
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Here there and everywhere
Posts: 6,303
Having spent 18 nights on Jumby Bay Island over the last 12 months I really don't find the aircraft such a deal breaker. There are maybe 3 or 4 jets per day that either fly near the island or directly over (but directly over is really rare) It feels very private and remote, while being very close to the airport, thus avoiding a long transfer on Antigua's poor road network.
OP, snorkling off Jumby or Pasture Beach is really not memorable. Then boat you over to another smaller island for snorkling trips.
OP, snorkling off Jumby or Pasture Beach is really not memorable. Then boat you over to another smaller island for snorkling trips.
Jan 2, 2013, 9:57 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 10
Thanks for the feedback everyone. Here are my observations so far regarding the various hotels mentioned:
Caneel Bay: The beach looks awesome. However the rooms (especially the bathrooms - from the pics on their website) looked terribly dated - in a 70's motel sense. Can someone having been there comment on the rooms?
Carlisle Bay: Looks great. Would that be the hotel to go to vs Jumby Bay if going to Antigua?
O&O Bahamas: Too close to Disneyland...
Eden Rock: Looks great; but to the extent I need to take another flight from St. Martin, I may as well go to PSV... also seems a bit unclear if it would be good with young kids...
Amanyara: Thanks for the additional feedback Kagehitokiri. As much as I said I'd never go back to the T&C, this is probably worth considering given the ease of access to the T&C. Funny though regarding your message from PinPin; I asked a close of friend of mine who visited Amanyara a couple years ago whether he would take his kids - he said no - thought it wouldn't be very kid friendly.
Peninsula House: The hotel looks nice, but it doesn't seem any of the rooms are on the beach. Any other decent options in the Dominican that compare with the best of the Caribbean (and meet my criteria)?
Caneel Bay: The beach looks awesome. However the rooms (especially the bathrooms - from the pics on their website) looked terribly dated - in a 70's motel sense. Can someone having been there comment on the rooms?
Carlisle Bay: Looks great. Would that be the hotel to go to vs Jumby Bay if going to Antigua?
O&O Bahamas: Too close to Disneyland...
Eden Rock: Looks great; but to the extent I need to take another flight from St. Martin, I may as well go to PSV... also seems a bit unclear if it would be good with young kids...
Amanyara: Thanks for the additional feedback Kagehitokiri. As much as I said I'd never go back to the T&C, this is probably worth considering given the ease of access to the T&C. Funny though regarding your message from PinPin; I asked a close of friend of mine who visited Amanyara a couple years ago whether he would take his kids - he said no - thought it wouldn't be very kid friendly.
Peninsula House: The hotel looks nice, but it doesn't seem any of the rooms are on the beach. Any other decent options in the Dominican that compare with the best of the Caribbean (and meet my criteria)?
Jan 3, 2013, 3:32 am
#15
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Fairfield County, CT USA
Programs: AA PLT+2MM / DL DM+1MM / A3 *G / Fairmont LT Plat / Ritz Gold / SPG Gold
Posts: 4,077
@ddm1999 - Welcome to FT. Great to see such a thoughtfully prepared question. I think you'll find regulars in this forum to be extremely helpful; lots of first hand experiences.
My Caribbean experiences are filled with strike outs (St Regis, several RC properties), so I don't have much to add to this discussion unfortunately other than places to avoid!
May I ask one question of you: Where will you be traveling from?
My Caribbean experiences are filled with strike outs (St Regis, several RC properties), so I don't have much to add to this discussion unfortunately other than places to avoid!
May I ask one question of you: Where will you be traveling from?