I hate all inclusive resorts. Where in Mexico/Caribbean/South America should I go?
Posted on Oct 30, 2009 under South America Beaches | 6 CommentsI went to Tulum, Mexico and loved it. I like to get a taste of local culture rather than experience the artificial environment of an all-inclusive resort. Safety is important and I am a fan of beach vacations. I’d appreciate any tips!
Have you ever tried to rent a villa/house and explore a island? Check out the USVI. In particular the island of St John. It’s a small island of less than 6,000 people. You fly into St Thomas and take the ferry over to St John.
Laurence Rockefeller purchased 5,000 acres of land in 1956 from a Danish West Indies Company. He gave it to the US to preserve the land and designated the land to be a National Park. About 2/3rds of the island is park land. The island is stunning with it’s beautiful white sand beaches and Caribbean water.
Rent a villa high in the mountains with a pool and hot tub. provision it yourself from local markets.
Explore the island and go to a different beach every day.
It’s an American owned island and very safe. If you want to explore further you are a ferry ride away from the British Virgin islands.
Only 2 big resorts on the island Westin and Caneel Bay. The rest are villa rentals and B & B type places or condos.
Check it out. http://www.usvi.net
Good Luck)
October 30th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Have you ever tried to rent a villa/house and explore a island? Check out the USVI. In particular the island of St John. It’s a small island of less than 6,000 people. You fly into St Thomas and take the ferry over to St John.
Laurence Rockefeller purchased 5,000 acres of land in 1956 from a Danish West Indies Company. He gave it to the US to preserve the land and designated the land to be a National Park. About 2/3rds of the island is park land. The island is stunning with it’s beautiful white sand beaches and Caribbean water.
Rent a villa high in the mountains with a pool and hot tub. provision it yourself from local markets.
Explore the island and go to a different beach every day.
It’s an American owned island and very safe. If you want to explore further you are a ferry ride away from the British Virgin islands.
Only 2 big resorts on the island Westin and Caneel Bay. The rest are villa rentals and B & B type places or condos.
Check it out. http://www.usvi.net
Good Luck)
References :
October 30th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Chiloe, Chile
Dominica, Caribbean
Anguilla, Caribbean
Nevis,Caribbean
Bonaire, Caribbean
St.Vincent, Caribbean
Out Islands, Bahamas
Tobago, Caribbean
References :
Natl.Geographic Traveler "World’s Best Islands"
October 30th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
You should know also central america beaches, specially of Guatemala and Honduras. Both have great beaches, amazing weathers, really great food and both have really amazing ruins of Mayan culture. But if you wanna see kind of the same you also can go to Belize.
References :
October 30th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Caye Caulker in Belize, maybe? Or Roatan? Rum Point in Grand Cayman [it's on the other side of the island from the cruise ship port in Georgetown]. St. John is beautiful [there are some enhanced campsites there - Cinnamon Bay Camp [I think that's the name] and Maho Bay.
Try TripAdvisor.com and homeaway.com. I know the former is reliable – I’ve used it many times and never been disappointed; the latter is a new site to me, but it lists apts/condos/homes all over the world.
References :
October 30th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Try St. Lucia. It is a very beautiful and friendly island. Like you I don’t like AI’s, and found that St. Lucia had a lot of various hotel options. There is always something going on and the locals really make you feel welcome. I prefer to stay in the Rodney bay area as it has great nightlife, but you can find great non AI places all over the island.
References :
http://www.stlucia.org/
October 30th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
I agree with you – the Shangrila Caribe in Playa Del Carmen is a nice balance of being near the action n Riviera Maya without being the all-inclusive crowd and atmosphere.
Anguilla is a fairly undiscovered Carribean jewel – no crowds, amazing beaches, beautiful hidden coves. Cap Juluca and Cuisinart Resort are both wonderful, and as far from an all-inclusive atmosphere as you can get.
For change, check out the Seven Lakes area of Patagonia – fly into Buenes Aires, spend a day and night there, then take a puddle jumper out to Patagonia and drive the road from one pristine lake resort to the next – the views are so amazing they look fake. The natives are friendly welcoming, the local food is great, and the prices are ridiculously low.
References :
http://www.patagonias.net/excursion/bariloche/seven-lakes-excursion.htm