Help with Babymoon Destination!
Sep 27th, 2006, 07:34 AM
#1
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Help with Babymoon Destination!
We would like to take a Caribbean trip the first week of January. I will be 7 months pregnant and this will be our last indulgence before the baby comes. Please recommend an island and hotel/villa/etc that could suit our taste: beautiful white beaches with waves (not huge like Costa Rica, but enough to have some fun), very good food where we don't eat only on-resort, small resort but luxurious, spa available, not all-inclusive. We'll be coming from Boston and are willing to make a little effort to get there. Thank you so much for your advice!
PS we have already been to St Thomas, St John, Vieques, St Croix, Bermuda. Will not consider Dominican. We'd like to try a new place. Budget is not unlimited, but we are willing to spend a decent amt for good taste.
PS we have already been to St Thomas, St John, Vieques, St Croix, Bermuda. Will not consider Dominican. We'd like to try a new place. Budget is not unlimited, but we are willing to spend a decent amt for good taste.
Sep 27th, 2006, 10:22 AM
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I'm no Dr. but you may want to get cleared first they usually aren't crazy about you flying in the third tri-mester. My wife was in about the same place (6-7 months in) when we visited PR. Your choice but if it's your first, I'd check first.
Sep 27th, 2006, 11:48 AM
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I echo SAnParis' comments about checking with your doctor before you travel. You also might want to get his/her advice regarding swimming in waters with "waves". Now to help answer your question -
Since you've eliminated the DR trying to find "beautiful white beaches with waves" is going to be a challenge. Traditionally white sand is found on the flatter coral based islands and they are usually ringed by an extensive off-shore reef system that break up the waves well before they meet the shore. Add to that the fact that most resorts are on the leeward side of the islands (because most guests prefer calm waters) and you can see why your request is difficult. That's not to say you might not encounter days at any resort when the surf will be active but it's just not the norm.
For white sand beaches check out any of the resorts on Grace Bay in the Turks & Caicos. The waves there can be active at times but just as often the waters are calm.
Anguilla has 35 beautiful white sand beaches, over 80 restaurants (some are among the best in the Caribbean) and several luxurious resorts (look at Cap Jaluca, Cusinart or Malliouhana). Most times, however, there's not a lot of wave action on any of Anguilla's beaches.
St. Barth's is another island with plenty of upscale small resorts and hotels, loads of gourmet restaurants (some say it's the gourmet capital of the Caribbean) and some very nice golden white sand beaches, a few of which have a bit of wave action.
Of course almost everyone knows Aruba has white sand but finding a small resort on that island may be a bit of a challenge since there are lot's of high rise reorts on the main beach areas.
If you would consider light golden sand beaches, you can expand your resort choices by a hundredfold. If "light sand" is acceptable look at resorts on Barbados (Sandy Lane comes to mind) as they might give you the combination of nice beaches and wave action you so crave.
One other point, planning your trip for the first week in January increases your chances of encountering "heavier seas" due to the phenomenon known as Christmas Winds. Often times during the latter part of December and most of January swells cause significant wave action on the northern shores of many islamds. While swells might not be evident at the beach in front of your particular resort you could easily visit another beach on the island to satisfy your need for waves.
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps.
Since you've eliminated the DR trying to find "beautiful white beaches with waves" is going to be a challenge. Traditionally white sand is found on the flatter coral based islands and they are usually ringed by an extensive off-shore reef system that break up the waves well before they meet the shore. Add to that the fact that most resorts are on the leeward side of the islands (because most guests prefer calm waters) and you can see why your request is difficult. That's not to say you might not encounter days at any resort when the surf will be active but it's just not the norm.
For white sand beaches check out any of the resorts on Grace Bay in the Turks & Caicos. The waves there can be active at times but just as often the waters are calm.
Anguilla has 35 beautiful white sand beaches, over 80 restaurants (some are among the best in the Caribbean) and several luxurious resorts (look at Cap Jaluca, Cusinart or Malliouhana). Most times, however, there's not a lot of wave action on any of Anguilla's beaches.
St. Barth's is another island with plenty of upscale small resorts and hotels, loads of gourmet restaurants (some say it's the gourmet capital of the Caribbean) and some very nice golden white sand beaches, a few of which have a bit of wave action.
Of course almost everyone knows Aruba has white sand but finding a small resort on that island may be a bit of a challenge since there are lot's of high rise reorts on the main beach areas.
If you would consider light golden sand beaches, you can expand your resort choices by a hundredfold. If "light sand" is acceptable look at resorts on Barbados (Sandy Lane comes to mind) as they might give you the combination of nice beaches and wave action you so crave.
One other point, planning your trip for the first week in January increases your chances of encountering "heavier seas" due to the phenomenon known as Christmas Winds. Often times during the latter part of December and most of January swells cause significant wave action on the northern shores of many islamds. While swells might not be evident at the beach in front of your particular resort you could easily visit another beach on the island to satisfy your need for waves.
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps.
Sep 27th, 2006, 01:15 PM
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Thanks everyone for your helpful responses. I'd been leaning toward St. Barths myself. We may move the trip to Thanksgiving week for comfort/safety. As for waves, to address your curiosity (!) while I love them, it's really more for my husband who tends to get slightly bored on a beach without them. Any suggestions for hotels on St. Barth's? I looked at the Village St. Jean which looks nice - any comments on that? Tops would really be $300/night if possible, if we go in November. Higher if we go first week in Jan, out of necessity. Thanks again.
Sep 28th, 2006, 02:05 PM
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There is a less expensive (than Ile de France) hotel also on Flamands beach called Baie des Anges. It is a small, family run hotel that is simple, but roomy and clean. We stayed there the first time we went to St. Barts and enjoyed it.
