Page 4 | Which Caribbean Island would you visit for a relaxing week and why?

RescueMeFromThisSilliness · 22/11/2025 18:12

Antigua. I'm writing a novel, and a couple of chapters are set on the island. I've never been to the Caribbean at all, so winging it a bit.

OhDear111 · 23/11/2025 08:00

@Beekman USVIs are generally busier. However I really like St John beyond busy Trunk Bay. The BVIs have a special character though.

Sundayafternooning · 23/11/2025 08:24

OhDear111 · 20/11/2025 12:09

@KilliMonjaro Hire a yacht! Otherwise choose an island that’s not mainstream. We like BequIa or Virgin Gorda. More effort to get to but better for it!

How to get to Bequia?

PhilHellene · 23/11/2025 08:25

I’m going to stick up for the DR - we had a great holiday there (in a very nice AI hotel) and went on a great tour with an excellent local guide who really knew her stuff. It’s a beautiful place but the roads aren’t great - this, however, is common to many Caribbean islands!

Jamaica’s obviously out for now but I’ve been in the past and tbh wouldn’t go back.

St. Lucia is somewhere I have fond memories of and have been several times. It’s a beautiful island and you can hire a car/Jeep to get around. Pick your accommodation carefully and check reviews of locations (eg Rodney Bay is tourist central so I’d avoid that if you’re after a quiet, relaxing time). But if you’ve only got a week you’ll be a bit jet-lagged and probably won’t want to do too much rushing around.

PersephoneParlormaid · 23/11/2025 08:26

.

OhDear111 · 23/11/2025 08:34

@Sundayafternooning Provably not the best suggestion for a week - via St Vincent! Take the ferry. It’s just that these Grenadine islands are much nicer than, say, Jamaica. Ideally have a longer holiday and explore but Brits like AI!

For 1 week long haul in the winter I’d look at East or South Africa. No jet lag.

Sundayafternooning · 23/11/2025 08:42

I’m really keen on east Africa as I was born there. I haven’t been to the Carribean or Africa but would be looking to go in the winter for a couple of weeks. I hate long plane journeys though and react badly to mosquitoes.

Flomingho · 23/11/2025 08:51

PhilHellene · 23/11/2025 08:25

I’m going to stick up for the DR - we had a great holiday there (in a very nice AI hotel) and went on a great tour with an excellent local guide who really knew her stuff. It’s a beautiful place but the roads aren’t great - this, however, is common to many Caribbean islands!

Jamaica’s obviously out for now but I’ve been in the past and tbh wouldn’t go back.

St. Lucia is somewhere I have fond memories of and have been several times. It’s a beautiful island and you can hire a car/Jeep to get around. Pick your accommodation carefully and check reviews of locations (eg Rodney Bay is tourist central so I’d avoid that if you’re after a quiet, relaxing time). But if you’ve only got a week you’ll be a bit jet-lagged and probably won’t want to do too much rushing around.

Whereabouts in Jamaica did you go to? Just curious as you said you wouldn't go back.

OhDear111 · 23/11/2025 09:38

@Sundayafternooning There are mosquitoes in East Africa. Take precautions!

PhilHellene · 23/11/2025 11:51

@Flomingho we were based just outside Montego Bay and also went to Kingston, but hired a car as well and explored a fair bit. We weren’t staying in an all-inclusive and felt astounded at some of the resorts we drove past which were like fortified camps, complete with wire fences and guards.

Nevertheless a lot of our interactions with residents felt transactional and abrupt - not that I blame them necessarily, it must be miserable to live somewhere that’s inundated with a lot of often-ignorant tourists. But we felt quite a lot of veiled hostility at times.

On the flip side, we did do some amazing things - hand-feeding hummingbirds at the home of a lady who’d made her garden into a wildlife sanctuary was something I’ll always remember.

TheChosenTwo · 23/11/2025 11:58

Just back from the DR and based on our experience I wouldn’t recommend it. We did have quite a relaxing time but all the tours were crazy expensive for really quite basic experiences, all geared to the American tourists and tipping required for absolutely everything. We were staying in a supposedly upmarket AI that we usually use as a base (AI in general, we haven’t been to this one before but whenever we go AI we tend to go off resort quite a lot), but it was difficult to get out and about ourselves. The food was truly abysmal, we are food people and nothing was good apart from when we ate off resort.
Weather was nice and we read a lot of books, the sea was beautiful and the time difference was only 4 hours so jet lag was honestly fine tbh.
But I wouldn’t return!
Went to Bermuda, Barbados and Jamaica a lot growing up (family based there) and had lovely stays but not really as a tourist so can’t comment.

Flomingho · 23/11/2025 21:25

PhilHellene · 23/11/2025 11:51

@Flomingho we were based just outside Montego Bay and also went to Kingston, but hired a car as well and explored a fair bit. We weren’t staying in an all-inclusive and felt astounded at some of the resorts we drove past which were like fortified camps, complete with wire fences and guards.

Nevertheless a lot of our interactions with residents felt transactional and abrupt - not that I blame them necessarily, it must be miserable to live somewhere that’s inundated with a lot of often-ignorant tourists. But we felt quite a lot of veiled hostility at times.

On the flip side, we did do some amazing things - hand-feeding hummingbirds at the home of a lady who’d made her garden into a wildlife sanctuary was something I’ll always remember.

This is interesting to hear, we had booked to go but have been cancelled due to the hurricane. I have always wanted to visit but it seems to divide opinions. Thanks for your insight.

Original poster

KilliMonjaro · 24/11/2025 07:49

TheChosenTwo · 23/11/2025 11:58

Just back from the DR and based on our experience I wouldn’t recommend it. We did have quite a relaxing time but all the tours were crazy expensive for really quite basic experiences, all geared to the American tourists and tipping required for absolutely everything. We were staying in a supposedly upmarket AI that we usually use as a base (AI in general, we haven’t been to this one before but whenever we go AI we tend to go off resort quite a lot), but it was difficult to get out and about ourselves. The food was truly abysmal, we are food people and nothing was good apart from when we ate off resort.
Weather was nice and we read a lot of books, the sea was beautiful and the time difference was only 4 hours so jet lag was honestly fine tbh.
But I wouldn’t return!
Went to Bermuda, Barbados and Jamaica a lot growing up (family based there) and had lovely stays but not really as a tourist so can’t comment.

This is exactly what puts me off AI.

OP posts:

thinkfast · 24/11/2025 08:04

For luxury, relaxation and romance try either the Jade Mountain in St Lucia or the Montpelier plantation in Nevis (it’s not on the beach but has a fabulous private beach they will drive you to).

letshavetea · 24/11/2025 08:20

We like Barbados, it’s relaxing and beautiful. Friendly people. Plenty to see and do and great food and live music. We stay on the west coast. If you’re thinking of Jan or Feb it’ll be expensive as flights will be more costly so close to departure and accommodation gets very booked up. It’s peak season that you’re looking to travel in. If you waited until after Easter you’d have more chance of getting a deal. We book 11 months ahead when flights are released. Our next visit is in March - can’t wait!
OP - have you found something you like now?