Hey all, my friends group is starting to look for a vacation spot for next year. One of them refuses to leave the US but we think we have her talked into the virgin islands or Puerto Rico. Anyone have any insights/thoughts? None of us have been so wondering if it's worth it/any recommendations. TIA.
Virgin Islands Trip
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Chuck Norris went to The Virgin Islands once.
After that, it was just called The Islands.
After that, it was just called The Islands.
You can spend several week in Puerto Rico and not get bored. There is a ton to do on the island. Beaches, mountains, rain forest. San Juan is really cool. The smaller surrounding islands are a bit more limited in what there is to do.
My wife and I spent a week in Puerto Rico together a few years ago.
Lovely. Lots to do. Easy to fly to SJU through one transfer from DSM.
Never been to the USVI.
Lovely. Lots to do. Easy to fly to SJU through one transfer from DSM.
Never been to the USVI.
My parents regularly go to St. John, we've been with them once prior to the hurricane in 2017. They love it, and go almost every year. Pros are that the beaches are absolutely beautiful, and we enjoyed the excursions we did. We stayed at the Westin on St. John, it was very nice. To get there, you will fly into St. Thomas, then you take a ferry over to St. John. Food is expensive on the islands, so most of the time my parents will bring snacks and food for their room in their bags so they don't have to buy that kind of stuff once they are there. It's worth getting and having a passport, it's really nice being able to go to St. Martin and do some of the excursions around there. The baths at Virgin Gorda are really cool. Wonderful snorkeling, and we had decent diving while we were there as well.
I agree with this assessment of PR. There's a lot to do and a lot of variety in what you can do.
I also enjoyed my visit to USVI. There isn't as much variety to what you can do but if you just want ocean, it is terrific. I can spend a lot of time just hanging on the beach with a drink watching the water but that may not be for everybody.
Having sailed/island hopped the VI three times in my life, I can say it's an incredible place to vacation and blow off some steam.
Beautiful water, lovely people, great restaurants, excellent shopping, white sand beaches, the list goes on.
There's a high percentage of Europeans there as well, both living permanently and vacationing, so you never know who your going to meet.
Can't recommend more.
Beautiful water, lovely people, great restaurants, excellent shopping, white sand beaches, the list goes on.
There's a high percentage of Europeans there as well, both living permanently and vacationing, so you never know who your going to meet.
Can't recommend more.
If you’re young and going in a group of young people, use caution when taking advice from old people. 2 completely different experiences and itineraries.
That's on our list:
St. Lucia - was freaking awesome, the best I've been to
Antigua - was awesome to just not as awesome as st. lucia
Dominican Republic - just a sliver below Antigua but still great
up next - Grenada and then Barbados after that
I have been to Grenada. Way more mellow than the other islands I've been to.
St Thomas for a week in August. Stayed at a timeshare "condo". Snorkeling was wonderful (first time for me), even snorkeled off Epstein's island on an excursion. But once was enough for me. Can't imagine owning a timeshare there. I like architecture/history, and USVI doesn't offer much in that regard.
Two totally different trips, as someone said. Highly recommend USVI over PR. No comparison in my book. There a lot of different Caribbean experiences and a great starting point would be the USVI. Highly recommend St. Johns.
Thanks for the advice, not young (39-43) if that changes anyone's recommendations. Mainly what we do on our yearly trips is eat good food, a few activities and a lot of drinking and hanging out at the pool/beach. Sounds like either would be up our alley. Thanks again everybody!
Definitely not the best beach (Pink Gin) I've ever been to but overall the cleanest/most laid back island.
Totally depends on what you like to do, if you are the beach crowd then do the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas is great to see and spend some time there.
PR is totally different, San Juan is one my favorite cities to stop and walk around, tons of history, visiting the Spanish Forts and the Red Gate, the old walled city is just a blast to walk around and check out. As others have stated, PR has a lot more different things to do, visit the rain forest, pretty beaches, but also more poverty. You do not need a passport to visit either one, and your cellphone if through US Cellarer will work there, just like making calls here in Iowa.
PR is totally different, San Juan is one my favorite cities to stop and walk around, tons of history, visiting the Spanish Forts and the Red Gate, the old walled city is just a blast to walk around and check out. As others have stated, PR has a lot more different things to do, visit the rain forest, pretty beaches, but also more poverty. You do not need a passport to visit either one, and your cellphone if through US Cellarer will work there, just like making calls here in Iowa.
