Sorry. With everything we are going thru with Denise's injury I overreacted to Jeanette's comment. I had been in the process of planning our next vacation to St Barts when the injury happened. When I saw the post about all the places we were missing it hit me wrong. And there are other forums on this site to discuss other places.
After st barts can you really go anywhere else?
- Thread starter celesteA
- Start date
As a person who has spent a great deal of time in many places in the Caribbean, both as a créole specialist and vacationer since 1979, I have seen a lot change on multiple islands over time. I love other places, too, especially Positano and Capri, which I hold in equally high regard to St-Barth as a place to vacation. But honestly, if I only had one place to choose to vacation, it would always be to come to St-Barth. There is that je ne sais quoi that we have in St-Barth that is a microcosm of everything that I personally love: the water, the people, the food, the French everything, the groceries...I can't imagine another place where it feels like "home" as much as St-Barth and the memories of my trips here have gotten me through some difficult times. I imagine they always will. Dave, our son, has never been to St-Barth, but has been everywhere else with us. I am not sure if he would be bored or not, so we keep it for ourselves. I am waiting for my home away from home, The Guananani, to reopen, as that is my center of my own St-Barth universe. Once, we took another couple with us: big mistake. Nobody can love SBH as much as we do, especially me, so I will never try again. To get back to answering your question, Turks, I am sure would be nice, but it is emphatically not St-Barth. There is absolutely NO comparison to St-Barth, so you should enjoy everywhere you go, but as many have already said, don't compare places and you won't be disappointed. (True confession: I "compare" and St-Barth always comes up my winner!) That being said, travel is the best teacher. We just spent 2 weeks in Austria for the first time, and it was a delightful place. But nowhere will ever take the place of St-Barth. This is the best forum in the world for the subject of St-Barth and when we can't be there, it is always a refuge from the real world! Although I am not always on this site, apparently our names stay signed in; it is comforting to know that even if I am not on the blog at the moment, I am always thinking about it!! Many happy travel days, no matter where you go! xxoo from Davesmom
Jim A
Senior Insider
There is something special about St Barths and nothing in this area of the World compares to it IMHO. It has quickly become my favorite vacation destination on this side of the World and I agree with the comment that you shouldn't go somewhere else and compare it to here. If you go into a trip thinking like that it will be doomed to fail from the start. If you go somewhere else let it stand on it's own since every place is unique and can be great and none will be the same. There are millions of amazing places in this world and for me the joy is exploring as many of them as I can - unfortunately my schedule and wallet disagree. :sad1: Personally, If I had to pick a place to go with my kids St Barths would not be one of the top choices. I think there are many other places that for me (just me maybe so not trying to offend) fit that bill of a vacation with kids better. My kids like a lot of other kids to play with and a little more to do but there are all kinds of great vacation types. Some more mellow and some more hectic. Can kids have an amazing time here, of course, it's an absolutely amazing place!!! Will kids have such a great time that they want to come back, of course again!!! I suspect whatever you pick will end up being a great decision as you know your family best. But don't fret over your decision. You have many years to decide where to go. If not St Barths this year, then next year and the same for Turks:up:
kmk6435
SBH Member
Definitely St. Barth's. We had the same issue...our girls are now 5 & 12 and we took them with us for the first time in November. We will return with them again this coming November. We have traveled to many different places (Bermuda, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, St. Marten, St. Thomas) and we realized on all of our trips, why spend the money going anywhere else when we can go back to St. Barth's and truly enjoy the entire island without a worry or care in the world! People argue the fact that we should travel to other islands (Turks, Cayman, Aruba)...we just have no desire to do so other than St. Barth's.
amyb
Senior Insider
Jim A
Senior Insider
Anyone that argues what would be best for you is wrong. Only you know you and your family best.
I have friends that go about 3 plus times per year to Disney. I've asked them a few times why they don't go anywhere else (and I mean they have never gone anywhere else in the almost 15 years that I've known them) and for them they just don't want to. They have found their place just like you have yours. To me it sounds like you are both lucky :up:
jpa742001
SBH Member
Lol to your Disney comment. I have said the same thing in my head about a family I know who does the same thing. It is all about what works for you.
jpa742001
SBH Member
St Bart’s is tenth on this new list
https://www.travelandleisure.com/worlds-best/islands-in-caribbean
https://www.travelandleisure.com/worlds-best/islands-in-caribbean
As long as this thread is about alternatives to SBH, we are considering a trip to Eleuthera in the fall. I know it is completely different from St Barts., more primitive or rustic, not the restaurant scene, etc. It has 135 beaches and fantastic bone fishing and that is the draw. Has anyone on the forum been and how would you rate it? thankks
If you decide to go to Eleuthera, check to see which airport is closest to where you want to stay...my trip there was years ago, then flew from PHL to somewhere in FL then to ELH the most northern of the then 3 airports, yet where we were staying was at a now defunct resort at the southern end, so a long drive. Look into Harbour Island off the north end, fly into ELH. Another great place is Abaco where we rented house & boat/Whaler several times before St Barths...Elbow Cay, great beaches, snorkeling, some restaurants, not enough of them then, so defected to SBH forever ! Abacos have bone fishing & deep sea, for Elbow Cay fly into MHH then ferry across to Elbow or fly to Treasure Island on Great Abaco, ferry over to Green Turtle Cay & stay there, I think the beaches are better at Elbow. Laid back, clearest most beautiful water ever been in. 1 hr flights from south FL. PM me if need more info !
Dennis
Senior Insider
We spent 4 nights on Harbor Island in 2018 after 4 nights at Atlantis. It was amazing (HI, not Atlantis)
We stayed here: https://www.coralsands.com/
very cool trip. Drive around in golf carts. 4-5 good restos. Amazing pink sand beaches.
