Island hopping the Caribbean

Hello World,
I've been reading many posts in this newsgroup on the subject of
island hopping the Caribbean. Most of the posts were from the past and
I thought that I might just bring the subject back up to see if
anything has changed in regards to island hopping via ferries.

Here's the layout. I have two free tickets to fly anywhere in the
Caribbean. So the girlfriend and I have thought about a nice trip to
the Caribbean. We also thought that it would be cool to island hop. We
can fly into several locations that Delta Airlines services. Wouldn't
it be cool to Fly into Venezuala and start island hopping from
there??? LOL.... But from old posts I've read that there isn't ferries
between the different island chains. Some posts stated that the
travelers should stick to a specific chain of islands(usvi & bvi, svgi
& Grenada, Dominica & Martinique, etc...) and ferry between the
islands within that chain. That would be cool but also limits the
exposure to the many different cultures of the Caribbean.

I guess my first question would be if it is at all possible to
island Caribbean starting from Someplace south and moving up? For
instance start in Grenada and end in either PR or Dominican Republic?
If not which set of islands would be best for a couple that likes to
shop, eat, party, and lounge in the daytime? I wouldn't mind camping
out on some beaches during the course of this trip, which would last
18 days. I think that would be cool. Wouldn't mind doing some sight
seeing, bike/scooter riding. Just all out enjoying life with the
hassle of the everyday hustle and bustle that I would eventually have
to return to. LOL

I'm not trying to blow a fortune on this trip but since the airplane
tickets are free than we will have more to spend on the trip itself. I
anxiously await all replies.

Thanks

Curious <suneblack@m> wrote:

> Here's the layout. I have two free tickets to fly anywhere in the
>Caribbean. So the girlfriend and I have thought about a nice trip to
>the Caribbean. We also thought that it would be cool to island hop. We
>can fly into several locations that Delta Airlines services. Wouldn't
>it be cool to Fly into Venezuala and start island hopping from
>there??? LOL....

The previous recent threads have probably milked this one dry.
Anyway, AFAIK it isn't easy to move from Venezuala into the
caribbean, and flying to Venezuala isn't going to be direct
either. But you were kidding anyway.


Only thing I have to add to the previous posts is to consider
the LIAT island-hopper special airfares where you can stop on
several islands on one ticket. Often those have to be purchased
abroad. Perhaps other airlines like Caribbean Star also do the
same now (or perhaps they're out of business). But if you can't
find a ferry, a flight could work to bridge the bigger gaps,
like maybe Guadeloupe to Antigua. For short hops, also consider
chartering a plane, though for two people would be a bit pricey.
There are also some banana boats or mail boats that ply the more
southerly islands.

--
Ken Tough

Thanks for the replies so far....

I actually can fly into Caracas, Venezuala and start from there. A
possible trip could be:

Fly into Caracas (stay the day and then clear our in the morning!)
Ferry to Margarita Island
Ferry to Trinidad
Ferry to Grenada
Ferry to St. Lucia
Ferry to Martinique
Ferry to Dominica
Ferry to Guadelope
Ferry to Antigua
Ferry to St Kitts
Ferry to St Barts
Ferry to St Martin
Ferry to British Virgin Islands
Ferry to US Virgin Islands
Ferry to Puerto Rico

With all of these possibilities I need help! So I'm asking all to help
me to cut the fat from this trip. I would like to go some to places
that are fun! I don't want to go someplace where there isn't a night
life(LIke the Cayman Islands! From what I hear). Also if you could
please point out the places that aren't cool(I've heard that the
French part of St. Martin is full of stuck up people).

Also is there a chain of islands that would be better than the others?
I don't have to fly into any particular place and I also can purchase
a LIAT air pass to get from island to island.

I await your answers.


suneblack@m (Curious) wrote in message news:<162c0edd.0401172012.20f7648e@ com>...
> Hello World,
> I've been reading many posts in this newsgroup on the subject of
> island hopping the Caribbean. Most of the posts were from the past and
> I thought that I might just bring the subject back up to see if
> anything has changed in regards to island hopping via ferries.
>
> Here's the layout. I have two free tickets to fly anywhere in the
> Caribbean. So the girlfriend and I have thought about a nice trip to
> the Caribbean. We also thought that it would be cool to island hop. We
> can fly into several locations that Delta Airlines services. Wouldn't
> it be cool to Fly into Venezuala and start island hopping from
> there??? LOL.... But from old posts I've read that there isn't ferries
> between the different island chains. Some posts stated that the
> travelers should stick to a specific chain of islands(usvi & bvi, svgi
> & Grenada, Dominica & Martinique, etc...) and ferry between the
> islands within that chain. That would be cool but also limits the
> exposure to the many different cultures of the Caribbean.
>
> I guess my first question would be if it is at all possible to
> island Caribbean starting from Someplace south and moving up? For
> instance start in Grenada and end in either PR or Dominican Republic?
> If not which set of islands would be best for a couple that likes to
> shop, eat, party, and lounge in the daytime? I wouldn't mind camping
> out on some beaches during the course of this trip, which would last
> 18 days. I think that would be cool. Wouldn't mind doing some sight
> seeing, bike/scooter riding. Just all out enjoying life with the
> hassle of the everyday hustle and bustle that I would eventually have
> to return to. LOL
>
> I'm not trying to blow a fortune on this trip but since the airplane
> tickets are free than we will have more to spend on the trip itself. I
> anxiously await all replies.
>
> Thanks

On 19 Jan 2004 13:52:52 -0800, suneblack@m (Curious) wrote:

>Thanks for the replies so far....
>
>I actually can fly into Caracas, Venezuala and start from there. A
>possible trip could be:
>
>Fly into Caracas (stay the day and then clear our in the morning!)
>Ferry to Margarita Island
>Ferry to Trinidad
>Ferry to Grenada
>Ferry to St. Lucia
>Ferry to Martinique
>Ferry to Dominica
>Ferry to Guadelope
>Ferry to Antigua
>Ferry to St Kitts
>Ferry to St Barts
>Ferry to St Martin
>Ferry to British Virgin Islands
>Ferry to US Virgin Islands
>Ferry to Puerto Rico
>
>With all of these possibilities I need help! So I'm asking all to help
>me to cut the fat from this trip. I would like to go some to places
>that are fun! I don't want to go someplace where there isn't a night
>life(LIke the Cayman Islands! From what I hear). Also if you could
>please point out the places that aren't cool(I've heard that the
>French part of St. Martin is full of stuck up people).
>
>Also is there a chain of islands that would be better than the others?
>I don't have to fly into any particular place and I also can purchase
>a LIAT air pass to get from island to island.
>
Most of those ferries don't exist!

If you want fun, then the Spanish Caribbean is the liveliest - like
Cuba, Dom Rep, Puerto Rico. Bear in mind that much of the British
Caribbean is quite quiet, with much entertainment provided by the
hotels and resorts. Barbados, though, has lots of bars and
restaurants, but is pricey.

I personally liked San Juan, and won't mind returning.

Roger Chung-Wee <roger@chung-wee.com> wrote
> On 19 Jan 2004 13:52:52 -0800, suneblack@m (Curious) wrote:

> >Ferry to Guadelope
> >Ferry to Antigua
> >Ferry to St Kitts
> >Ferry to St Barts

> Most of those ferries don't exist!

Ditto... Guadeloupe->Antigua, Antigua->St.Kitts, Antigua->St.Barths
ferries I have never heard of. You have missed ones like
St.Maarten->Anguilla, St.Maarten->St.Barths etc.

>With all of these possibilities I need help! So I'm asking all to help
>me to cut the fat from this trip. I would like to go some to places
>that are fun! I don't want to go someplace where there isn't a night
>life(LIke the Cayman Islands! From what I hear). Also if you could
>please point out the places that aren't cool(I've heard that the
>French part of St. Martin is full of stuck up people).

For the most fun, you should plan your trip according to the
local carnivals and festivals. Even little Statia is fun during
carnival time. If you're willing to go far south you should not
miss Trinidad carnival, and the one in Curacao was also good.
Dominica had a very spirited carnival parade, and jump-ups
across the whole caribbean will be great. Many carnivals tend
to start around Mardi Gras, and fortunately get later as you
move north.

--
Ken Tough

also you can take a ferry from st lucia to martinique to dominica to
guadeloupe. carnival in dominica is in february. a real treat.
ken@objectech.co.uk (Ken Tough) wrote in message news:<8c14eda9.0401192331.60e0ed9a@ com>...
> Roger Chung-Wee <roger@chung-wee.com> wrote
> > On 19 Jan 2004 13:52:52 -0800, suneblack@m (Curious) wrote:
>
> > >Ferry to Guadelope
> > >Ferry to Antigua
> > >Ferry to St Kitts
> > >Ferry to St Barts
>
> > Most of those ferries don't exist!
>
> Ditto... Guadeloupe->Antigua, Antigua->St.Kitts, Antigua->St.Barths
> ferries I have never heard of. You have missed ones like
> St.Maarten->Anguilla, St.Maarten->St.Barths etc.
>
> >With all of these possibilities I need help! So I'm asking all to help
> >me to cut the fat from this trip. I would like to go some to places
> >that are fun! I don't want to go someplace where there isn't a night
> >life(LIke the Cayman Islands! From what I hear). Also if you could
> >please point out the places that aren't cool(I've heard that the
> >French part of St. Martin is full of stuck up people).
>
> For the most fun, you should plan your trip according to the
> local carnivals and festivals. Even little Statia is fun during
> carnival time. If you're willing to go far south you should not
> miss Trinidad carnival, and the one in Curacao was also good.
> Dominica had a very spirited carnival parade, and jump-ups
> across the whole caribbean will be great. Many carnivals tend
> to start around Mardi Gras, and fortunately get later as you
> move north.

Thanks for the coninuing replies. I sure appreciate the responses.

It is safe to assume from most of the replies that 3 weeks would not
be enough to enjoy many of the different island chains fully in one
trip. So how about this, 21 days - 4 islands with 5 days/nights
dedicated to exploring the current island and any interesting
surroundings. I will purchase an island hopper pass from LIAT so I'm
covered there. Now I just need to know which islands to select. Here's
what I like:
Parties
Beaches
Sightseeing
Culture

So if it were up to you which 4 island combination would you select?
This is what I'm thinking of so far:

USVI & BVI (St.Thomas, St. John, and Virgin Gorda)
St. Martin & St. Maarten
Antigua
Puerto Rico

I'm looking to party, shop, eat, sleep on a beach(nude beach that is),
see the sights and then move on to the next island. Point me in the
right direction

Thankx



suneblack@m (Curious) wrote in message news:<162c0edd.0401191352.42aa5104@ com>...
> Thanks for the replies so far....
>
> I actually can fly into Caracas, Venezuala and start from there. A
> possible trip could be:
>
> Fly into Caracas (stay the day and then clear our in the morning!)
> Ferry to Margarita Island
> Ferry to Trinidad
> Ferry to Grenada
> Ferry to St. Lucia
> Ferry to Martinique
> Ferry to Dominica
> Ferry to Guadelope
> Ferry to Antigua
> Ferry to St Kitts
> Ferry to St Barts
> Ferry to St Martin
> Ferry to British Virgin Islands
> Ferry to US Virgin Islands
> Ferry to Puerto Rico
>
> With all of these possibilities I need help! So I'm asking all to help
> me to cut the fat from this trip. I would like to go some to places
> that are fun! I don't want to go someplace where there isn't a night
> life(LIke the Cayman Islands! From what I hear). Also if you could
> please point out the places that aren't cool(I've heard that the
> French part of St. Martin is full of stuck up people).
>
> Also is there a chain of islands that would be better than the others?
> I don't have to fly into any particular place and I also can purchase
> a LIAT air pass to get from island to island.
>
> I await your answers.
>
>
> suneblack@m (Curious) wrote in message news:<162c0edd.0401172012.20f7648e@ com>...
> > Hello World,
> > I've been reading many posts in this newsgroup on the subject of
> > island hopping the Caribbean. Most of the posts were from the past and
> > I thought that I might just bring the subject back up to see if
> > anything has changed in regards to island hopping via ferries.
> >
> > Here's the layout. I have two free tickets to fly anywhere in the
> > Caribbean. So the girlfriend and I have thought about a nice trip to
> > the Caribbean. We also thought that it would be cool to island hop. We
> > can fly into several locations that Delta Airlines services. Wouldn't
> > it be cool to Fly into Venezuala and start island hopping from
> > there??? LOL.... But from old posts I've read that there isn't ferries
> > between the different island chains. Some posts stated that the
> > travelers should stick to a specific chain of islands(usvi & bvi, svgi
> > & Grenada, Dominica & Martinique, etc...) and ferry between the
> > islands within that chain. That would be cool but also limits the
> > exposure to the many different cultures of the Caribbean.
> >
> > I guess my first question would be if it is at all possible to
> > island Caribbean starting from Someplace south and moving up? For
> > instance start in Grenada and end in either PR or Dominican Republic?
> > If not which set of islands would be best for a couple that likes to
> > shop, eat, party, and lounge in the daytime? I wouldn't mind camping
> > out on some beaches during the course of this trip, which would last
> > 18 days. I think that would be cool. Wouldn't mind doing some sight
> > seeing, bike/scooter riding. Just all out enjoying life with the
> > hassle of the everyday hustle and bustle that I would eventually have
> > to return to. LOL
> >
> > I'm not trying to blow a fortune on this trip but since the airplane
> > tickets are free than we will have more to spend on the trip itself. I
> > anxiously await all replies.
> >
> > Thanks

x-no-archive:yes


suneblack@m (Curious) wrote:

>Thanks for the coninuing replies. I sure appreciate the responses.
>
>It is safe to assume from most of the replies that 3 weeks would not
>be enough to enjoy many of the different island chains fully in one
>trip. So how about this, 21 days - 4 islands with 5 days/nights
>dedicated to exploring the current island and any interesting
>surroundings. I will purchase an island hopper pass from LIAT so I'm
>covered there. Now I just need to know which islands to select. Here's
>what I like:
>Parties
>Beaches
>Sightseeing
>Culture
>
>So if it were up to you which 4 island combination would you select?
>This is what I'm thinking of so far:
>
>USVI & BVI (St.Thomas, St. John, and Virgin Gorda)

Well *I* would select this one and not go any farther (to any other
islands) because USVI and BVI are two different countries, with
possibly also Puerto RIco, but these are all closely tied to the US in
different ways.

>St. Martin & St. Maarten
>Antigua
>Puerto Rico
>
>I'm looking to party, shop, eat, sleep on a beach(nude beach that is),
>see the sights and then move on to the next island. Point me in the
>right direction
>
If you want to party and sleep on a nude beach then the BVI or USVI is
not where it is at. And PR may not be it either. So the nude beach
thing would be on only St. Martin or maybe Antigua.

If you want to shop, probably the places the cruise ships go would be
best.


>
>
>suneblack@m (Curious) wrote in message news:<162c0edd.0401191352.42aa5104@ com>...
>> Thanks for the replies so far....
>>
>> I actually can fly into Caracas, Venezuala and start from there. A
>> possible trip could be:
>>
>> Fly into Caracas (stay the day and then clear our in the morning!)
>> Ferry to Margarita Island
>> Ferry to Trinidad
>> Ferry to Grenada
>> Ferry to St. Lucia
>> Ferry to Martinique
>> Ferry to Dominica
>> Ferry to Guadelope
>> Ferry to Antigua
>> Ferry to St Kitts
>> Ferry to St Barts
>> Ferry to St Martin
>> Ferry to British Virgin Islands
>> Ferry to US Virgin Islands
>> Ferry to Puerto Rico
>>
>> With all of these possibilities I need help! So I'm asking all to help
>> me to cut the fat from this trip. I would like to go some to places
>> that are fun! I don't want to go someplace where there isn't a night
>> life(LIke the Cayman Islands! From what I hear). Also if you could
>> please point out the places that aren't cool(I've heard that the
>> French part of St. Martin is full of stuck up people).
>>
>> Also is there a chain of islands that would be better than the others?
>> I don't have to fly into any particular place and I also can purchase
>> a LIAT air pass to get from island to island.
>>
>> I await your answers.
>>
>>
>> suneblack@m (Curious) wrote in message news:<162c0edd.0401172012.20f7648e@ com>...
>> > Hello World,
>> > I've been reading many posts in this newsgroup on the subject of
>> > island hopping the Caribbean. Most of the posts were from the past and
>> > I thought that I might just bring the subject back up to see if
>> > anything has changed in regards to island hopping via ferries.
>> >
>> > Here's the layout. I have two free tickets to fly anywhere in the
>> > Caribbean. So the girlfriend and I have thought about a nice trip to
>> > the Caribbean. We also thought that it would be cool to island hop. We
>> > can fly into several locations that Delta Airlines services. Wouldn't
>> > it be cool to Fly into Venezuala and start island hopping from
>> > there??? LOL.... But from old posts I've read that there isn't ferries
>> > between the different island chains. Some posts stated that the
>> > travelers should stick to a specific chain of islands(usvi & bvi, svgi
>> > & Grenada, Dominica & Martinique, etc...) and ferry between the
>> > islands within that chain. That would be cool but also limits the
>> > exposure to the many different cultures of the Caribbean.
>> >
>> > I guess my first question would be if it is at all possible to
>> > island Caribbean starting from Someplace south and moving up? For
>> > instance start in Grenada and end in either PR or Dominican Republic?
>> > If not which set of islands would be best for a couple that likes to
>> > shop, eat, party, and lounge in the daytime? I wouldn't mind camping
>> > out on some beaches during the course of this trip, which would last
>> > 18 days. I think that would be cool. Wouldn't mind doing some sight
>> > seeing, bike/scooter riding. Just all out enjoying life with the
>> > hassle of the everyday hustle and bustle that I would eventually have
>> > to return to. LOL
>> >
>> > I'm not trying to blow a fortune on this trip but since the airplane
>> > tickets are free than we will have more to spend on the trip itself. I
>> > anxiously await all replies.
>> >
>> > Thanks

grandma Rosalie

suneblack@m (Curious) wrote

> This is what I'm thinking of so far:
>
> USVI & BVI (St.Thomas, St. John, and Virgin Gorda)
> St. Martin & St. Maarten
> Antigua
> Puerto Rico
>
> I'm looking to party, shop, eat, sleep on a beach(nude beach that is),
> see the sights and then move on to the next island. Point me in the
> right direction

Nudity is far more accepted on the french islands (like St.Martin)
though there are some on Antigua and you might find them on the
others. It's a fair piece from the other islands to Antigua.
I wonder whether you might also enjoy something on the south end,
say Trinidad, Martinique, Dominica, Guadeloupe. Maybe depends a
bit when you go, as well, and whether you're willing to work in
French. date-wise, when?

--
Ken Tough