Ann Phelan "n...@..." wrote:
> Matt Beckwith wrote:
>
> > Never been to the Caribbean. Would like to take my whole family there
> > during Christmas. We will be departing from the Baltimore, Maryland
> > area. We will be 7 people, ages 68, 50, 50, 27, 21, 16 and 15.
A group of 7 travelling over a major holiday? You're wise to start
your research this early.
> > We'll
> > need 3 rooms. My wife and I will want a full-service hotel that is
> > somewhat luxurious. The children will want activities to amuse them
> > (that is, we won't want to go some place to get away from things,
> > we'll want a place that has lots of attractions). My wife and I will
> > want to learn to scuba dive.
What do you consider the "activities" to be for the kids (the
teenagers)? Are we talking about simply beach time, or amusement park
-types? Similarly, are you the oldest couple, or the 20-somethings in
the middle? (See my scuba statement below).
FWIW, when it comes to island picking, getting one of the large travel
agency books that cover virtually every island can be a useful tool:
you can go through and cross off things that you want to avoid
(casinos, topless beaches, etc) ... or do the oppostite ... and start
to narrow down your list.
> > It would be nice if there were good
> > Internet access, and a few nice cafes. And of course restaurants.
> > Nobody in our party drinks alcoholic beverages.
Many places have reasonable Web access these days. I suspect that
your comment about wanting a "full service" hotel infers an all-
inclusive, which makes 'on the economy' statements about being
interested in nice cafes a bit of a contradiction.
> > I'd prefer to be some
> > place where there's not a lot of poverty, because I think that would
> > depress me. Any suggestions appreciated!
Poverty also frequently leads to issues regarding crime, and in some
areas the all-inclusive resorts become figurative fortresses. I can
still recall my first caribbean trip where there were guard towers on
the resort's compound.
> Bonaire!
Gosh, amazing coincidence that Ann just happens to have a commercial
website that's selling that destination. Maybe Ann can fill us in on
the current status of Bonaire's recurring petty crime problems, as
I've not been following it recently: are the rental car agencies
still recommending leaving your car unlocked, windows down and with
*absolutely* nothing in it? Are there still the spare tires and car
battery scams still happening?
> Learn to dive/best Caribbean spot to learn perhaps...
Perhaps.
While I do think that Bonaire is one of the better places for novice
divers to gain some proficiency, as the shallow shore dive sites and
relatively gentle drop-off topology are forgiving. However, I would
not necessarily look favorably upon Bonaire's main sales feature of
"unlimited shore diving", since this incurs higher levels of physical
exertion (lugging gear) and the temptation to dive without as much
professional supervision early on.
If someone took me to "1000 Steps" (a shore dive; it only feels like
its 1000 steps down to the water) for one of my OW checkout dives, I
don't think that I'd still be a diver :-) In general, it is much
easier to catch a boat ride and "fall off the boat", particularly if
one isn't a young, fit 20-something anymore. If Matt's in the "over
40" crowd, I'd not be particularly inclined to recommend that he first
go to an island whose selling point is shore diving.
BTW, consider taking the scuba diving training at home and ...here's
the interesting part... do what is known as a "Referral" to finish the
certification, which requires a bit more effort & coordination between
the local diveshop and the remote diveshop...the payoff is that the
consumer is able to avoid days sitting in a classroom while on his
vacation.
> ...easy flights on Air Jamaica or AA from BWI.
BWI-BON on American Airlines is not a non-stop: it is via San Juan.
YMMV, but during the winter holiday season, I would be hard to
convince to fly anywhere out of the Northeast where a change of
flights is required.
> We are Dutch so not Third World. Tons for kids to do.
Yet there's still rebar-welded bars on the windows of businesses in
downtown Kralendijk. Most rooms come with a safe; use it 24/7.
> Ann Phelan www.bonairecaribbean.com
And which of the properties that you have listed would you suggest for
Matt, based on what he has said? They could go cheap by making their
own meals at Sand Dollar, but that's well outside of town for going
for a meal out. Harbor Village is closer, but $$$. The Flamingo's
within walking distance of downtown, but Ann (IMO wisely) doesn't have
it listed.
-hh
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