Help me plan a surprise Caribbean 10 Year anniversary Trip!

Hi all,

I am trying to plan out a surprise anniversary trip for my wife for our 10 year wedding anniversary in October of 2022 somewhere in the Caribbean. She would like to go somewhere different than we have been so far (see below), and ideally wants to do all inclusive this time. We like doing a few excursions/adventures/things to see, but generally are content sitting on a beautiful beach. I have started looking at Antigua and Grenada, but wanted to open my search up to people who have more experience than I do. Ideas! Help!

Places we have been:
-St. Lucia (x2)
-Rivera Maya, Mexico
-Providenciales TCI

 

Never been there, but CONGRATS!!

 

I've been to St. John/St. Thomas, and absolutely loved it, personally.

 

Congrats,

Not sure if the Bahamas count as Caribbean but we went for our honeymoon to Sandals Royal Bahamian. It was great. If you spring for the butler it's even better. We ordered a pizza from the private island and about 20 mins later our butler was in a little boat bringing us our food.
Short ride to the Atlantis, the Straw Market, other beaches and local food.

 

This sounds great! I am going to check this out as well. May have some questions for you. Thanks!

 

Same here, went there for my honeymoon. The British VI were cool too.

OP, are you guys set on a cruise?

 

We are not looking to do a cruise. Not sure if you were asking, but would like to stay in one spot for the trip.

 

Sure thing. We looked a lot of places before we picked that one. The flight isn't super long from TX and the ride from the airport to the resort is about 20 mins. Our daughter went to San Lucia and was a little beat down when she landed and found out it was almost a 2 hour drive to the resort.

 

Anyone ever been to Antigua or Grenada?

 

Trunk Bay, St John

 

https://www.sandals.com/antigua/

Not sure if you have ever been, but Sandals does a good job. There are more expensive, and there are cheaper. All inclusive with great food, swim up bars, nice rooms.

We personally have been to Sandals 3 times and have been very nice and love them.

Their Antigua resort is supposed to be very good according to people I know that have been there.

 

We did Sandals St. Lucia for our honeymoon 10 years ago and loved it. Sandals is definitely still an option for us.

 

Check out sandles in exuma and the resort is adults only. Exuma is awesome it’s very laid back without much traffic at all. Probably our favorite island down there. You have great access to the swimming pigs and a lot of the locations they shot pirates of the Caribbean.

https://www.sandals.com/emerald-bay...5ey4Ru9VWmMLqPnnZO0aAmq-EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

Congrats on your Anniversary! Check out Costco all inclusive travel. We went to all inclusive Dominican Republic a few years ago it’s was the best experience. So relaxing and the food was good and all you can drinks. They have a lot options on fine dining restaurants that you need to make reservation for. Check it out if you interested.

 

I'm a fan of Aruba. We have been to may Caribbean islands and it's the place I always want to go back to. A few reasons why; very safe even if you drive around alone anywhere on the island. Its outside of the hurricane belt so little chance of your trip being interrupted. Beautiful beaches. If you look for places I recommend looking in the low rise section.

 

Barbados is fantastic, a little expensive though.

 

Steer clear of Haiti for now.

 

My concern there is with the travel time too. It takes a pretty good amount of time to get there doesn't it?

 

The A,B,C islands are nice. Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. I don’t know what you and your wife’s interests are but Aruba has a lot to do. Bonaire is only a snorkeling and diving island and curaçao is fun too, but all the beautiful beaches in curaçao it’s easier and cheaper to rent a car to get them.
Aruba’s airport can connect you to all islands and the prices were very cheap.
If you stay in Aruba, the Marriott downtown has a separate island that they take you via boat with pink flamingos on the beach. This hotel is away from the large cluster of them to the north. My wife and I liked it because it was quieter. We did a day trip on a catamaran that took you to different snorkel spots around the island, did a tour of the island via ATV’s. Aruba also uses US Cash as currency so no exchange is required.
Punta Cana is another one we have been to but I wouldn’t recommend it.

 

I second Aruba…it’s a very safe Island and you can go pretty much anywhere. The wife and I loved it both times we went. St Lucia is gorgeous but I wasn’t as comfortable there because it didn’t “feel” as safe. One afternoon I took my wife shopping and we were at this little touristy mall. I am scoping everything out as I always do and I see this Toyota pickup truck (Tacomaish) with four very young kids (early 20s) carrying AK47s in the bed wearing the full camo fatigues with ZERO markings…. That was enough for me, I took my wife back to the resort and didn’t leave until we took our flight home. It’s a beautiful place and ultimate to each their own. I never seen anything remotely close to that in Aruba. The police and military are clearly marked.

 

Personally - we like cruising…but no longer do the Caribbean for a few reasons (every port looks the same, heat).

Depending on what you want - there’s a cruise line that offers it. High end lux experience, toned down vacation with nice dining options and entertainment nightly, party boat full of bars or nursing home on water - it exist.

It’s nice as similar to an all inclusive - you pay once and can enjoy not worrying about cost the rest of the week if you don’t want to. You can also go overboard in “extras” if you wish.

Eastern is more scenic than western - but cost $$

As to all inclusive - haven’t done them myself but hear good things about the DR - scenic, clean and affordable. Jamaica is ok - but kinda lower end on a lot of offerings (older resorts) and PUerto Rico is easy to fly into and of course part of the USA (no passport needed).

 

We’ve done many Caribbean islands and for a nice couples, private, secluded getaway, Sandals Emerald Bay, Exumas was very nice. Not the commercialization and crowds of tourists that you’ll run into at other islands. I’ve also done live aboard drive trips in the Exumas and find it among my favorite places to dive.

 

Fly into Miami and stay at South Beach for a night then rent a car and drive down to Key West. Tranquility Bay Resort is nice. Awesome drive, lots to see and do, and the $ stays in the US of A.

 

Nobody has mentioned the Cayman Islands. Seven mile beach is one of my favorite places to be.

 

Though a two hour drive from the airport, check out playa las tortugas in Mexico (I know it’s not the Caribbean but…). You rent an entire house, pay for their transportation, it’s like having a private beach and the homemade food was delicious.
I’m mainly adding this cause it seems like there are great suggestions on this thread!

https://playalastortugas.com/

 

I’ll throw up another shout for Aruba.
Just got back.
Went 20 years ago for our honeymoon.
Went this time for our 20th anniversary.

Wonderful small island with friendly folks that are willing to help at any time.
The locals speak Papiamento.
It sounds like they’re singing when speaking.
You have to ask them to though. Most will be speaking Dutch or English regularly.

As mentioned before, it’s out of the hurricane belt.
There’s really no bad time to go.
The beaches are small and clean.
Go with a house or go all inclusive.

Rent a little 4x4 and tour the island.
All 6 miles x 20 miles of island.

Believe it or not, you can get completely alone on the North side of the island.

The diving is abundant and fun but watch that Gulf Stream current.

You really can’t go wrong with the A, B, Cs.
They get you out of the touristy traps of the Caribbean islands.

Fly to where you’re going.
Screw a cruise.

 

Your quote about gave me a heart attack.

 

what tha...
How did that happen?

 

I was scared I posted in this thread.

 

My wife and I will be doing the same thing in May next year for our 10 year wedding anniversary. Right now we are looking at Sandals Antigua. Looks pretty amazing but will be checking out Sandals Exumas after reading this thread.