Help me choose!!! Caribbean v. Indian Ocean?

[TiggyR]

Have to go Oct/Nov, before our airmiles expire! Can do 7-9 days.

We will be travelling sans enfants so we would (for once) like somewhere adult orientated, and calm. DH fancies Barbados, but I'm thinking Bahamas, or Turks and Caicos but don't know much about them - any thoughts? Been to Antigua, don't really fancy St Lucia/Jamaica/Dom.Rep. Anywhere else to try? It's the rainy season in the Caribbean I believe - is that Florida-stylee 20 minute downpour at 3 o'clock each day, then back to glorious sunshine, or is it lashing rain and hurricane-strength winds and bendy palm trees all day long?

Also will consider Mauritius, (I suspect the food is good! ) Goa, Sri Lanka etc. Any suggestions re: hotels/resorts?

I heard someone say on another thread that Indian Ocean resorts are overnight flights and easier on the jetlag. Is this true?

Want a lovely, elegant hotel with great food, or nearby to great restaurants. We are real foodies!
And yes, I know that I am (in comparison) a rich, spoilt, namby-pamby tourist, and I can handle seeing a bit of poverty and gritty real life, but I don't to go home feeling so depressed and guilty that I wish I'd never gone!

I would choose the Indian Ocean any time. I have been to the Caribbean quite a lot and think you get less for your money and service often seems to come with a snarl.

Food may be good in Mauritius, depending on where you stay. It can be pretty pricey, although prices are in Euro so if it is still struggling when you want to go you could get a bargain.

Lots of nice places in the Maldives if you want a beach holiday. I think you need to give us a clue as to what you like doing other than eating!

If you REALLY want to go somewhere beautiful with amazing food, I cannot overemphasise the loveliness of the Datai in Langkawi. Ok, it is outside of your chosen area but it rocks. Really.

I have never even heard of Langkawi! Where is it? TBH I'm happy to just chill, as after so many years racing around/slaving after the the kids on hols, doing nothing seems quite appealing! Though somewhere to visit/mooch/shop would be quite nice. The main criteria is sun, food, nice luxurious (but not stupidly expensive) accomodation.

I'm not the best flier, but we are lucky enough to be able to go business class, so an overnighter would be ok because I can sleep, stoked with plenty of gin and Nytol!

Want to go somewhere new - have been to Antigua, Florida and the Keys,
I love Arabic places (been to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Oman) would love to try Morocco, but DH wants to go further afield to make the most of the airmiles. However, with only a week, (plus maybe a couple of days to allow for long-haul flights) I don't want to be on a 16 hour flight to somewhere with horrendous jetlag.

Cape Town would be first choice but no flights available within our timescale. I'm leaning more and more towards Mauritius than the Caribbean since I trawled some other old threads. Agree about the service with a snarl, not to mention the 'so-what?' attitude and the snail's pace service . Making me wonder why I remember Antigua so fondly now!

What about Le Sport in St Lucia. I know you're not keen, but you get a treatment everyday. Although it is a bit prison camp like

Or a no-children resort in the Maldives (we went to one when I was 6m pregnant). You can chill, dive, have spa treatments.

Like Haliborange, I would go to the Indian Ocean rather than the Caribbean. I find the Indian Ocean far more chilled and interesting.

Langkawi is in Malaysia, a nation with fabulous food! Website for The Datai here. It is quite far though and iirc 7 hours ahead so the jetlag might get you. From that perspective Mauritius is always going to be a better bet.

When we flew to Mauritius a couple of years ago it was night flight out and day flight back which was a PITA, but you might be able to get something more convenient.

I haven't stayed there but reckon if I was going to Mauritius now and if I had the money I would want to stay here.

Dammit, Mauritius is out! Can't get flights! The downside of saving up your airmiles for ages so you can go pretty much anywhere, is that by the time you have enough all the flights are gone, this side of the expiry date! DH is pushing me towards Barbados. Just not sure...I'm sure it's lovely but I just want to since someone described it as Godalming on Sea I'm a bit . Don't know why, because safe, middle class and cosy sounds fine to me!

I live in the Caribbean and I'd do the Indian Ocean any day. If you can't get flights to Muritius, how about the Seychelles? Barbados is a bit blah, IMO. The beaches/sailing/diving aren't great and there are a LOT of UK people there.

Blahbados - I like it! It could stick!

Indian Ocean resorts are the best, no jetlag as we are only 2 hours ahead. Forget all that Barbados crap, if you love the Arabic influence you need to get yourself to Zanzibar, fantastic beaches, culture, history and amazing food.

Oooh yes Zanzibar, or Lamu! Both lush.

You could do worse than Sri Lanka. 4 hours' time difference, fantastic beaches and you could go for a 3 day trip to Kandy and/or Sigiriya. Both v interesting places.

One top consideration (for some) is flying time when you are on a short break (less than 10 nights) from UK approx
Approx 12 hours Mauritius
Approx 11 hours Seychelles
Approx 8 hours Caribbean - Barbados (non stop mostly)
Approx 7 hours to Dubai (so you know the score as you have done this)

Flying time eating into your holiday, relaxation time.

Mango Bay, Turtle Beach, Crystal Cove, or lovely cheap, self catering like Butterfly Beach. Also for the more £££ Colony Club, The House and Sandpiper..... forget sandy lane so last year and Xfator clientele.

Have just popped in to say thank you all so much, but it now looks like we are going to Sharm el Sheik instead! Couldn't get flights at suitable times to all the places we fancied, and couldn't stretch beyond eight days to go further afield. so no Indian Ocean and no Caribbean for Mr and Mrs Tiggy - not in 2010 anyway. But I am now determined to get to Mauritius and Langkawi eventually.

PS, any help on my new Sharm thread greatly appreciated. Honestly, like you haven't all got better things to do than be at my beck and call.