Winston_the_Great_Dane

Hi,

We're moving to Ohio this year - 2 kids under 3 YO. We just had a nice holiday in Mallorca and we know we'll miss the Mediterranean. We like beach and mooching around villages/towns - where have people vacationed for that kind of experience?

Any Carribbean suggestions which feel (relatively) safe?

Thanks

W

Awesome Welles

You'll love Cleveland then.

scrubbedexpat091

Saint Martin


There is a dutch side and french side.

Winston_the_Great_Dane

Saint Martin does look nice - have you been? Do you have a preference on side?

Hiro11

There are several beaches in the US, FYI. More than ten, actually.

Winston_the_Great_Dane

I know there are lots of beaches, I've been to several I'm looking for the combo of nice beach and nice town to grab dinner and other things to do. Key West was quite nice - that kind of thing

HDWill

There are so many islands, resorts etc in the Caribbean that it can be hard to choose. I'd suggest getting a guidebook such as Lonely Planet's Caribbean Islands and peruse the options.

scrubbedexpat091

I've not been, its on my bucket list.

I have only been to Jamaica and Puerto Rico.

Gordon Barlow

The Caribbean has a lot to offer besides beaches, of course. Each island is a little bit different from its neighbours, and my recommendation is to spend a few days on as many as you can comfortably fit into your vacation time. Families with young kids could do a week at each stop. My wife and/or I have been to maybe twenty, between us, and have lived in Grand Cayman for 41 years, after coming for a three-year working contract. It's difficult to identify our favourites. My wife might choose one of the Bay Islands off Honduras (English-speaking, from the days when they were settled by fishermen from nearby British colonies). I have a soft spot for Grenada and Cuba, and we would both recommend some of the Out Islands of the Bahamas. We loved a visit to the Florida Keys many years ago, but I don't know if they're still as charming as they were then.

scrubbedexpat097

Depends on how much vacation time you have. You might find a difference from your UK allocated time to your US!

Winston_the_Great_Dane

I am not going to the US blind, having lived and worked there for several years previous.

I'm after recommendations for places people have visited with a nice beach town feel.

Thanks for the negative spin on the vacation allowance though

civilservant

I love Myrtle Beach (SC) personally, Charleston and the smaller North Carolina towns are in easy reach. Even in late October it's 75F or above most days.

Winston_the_Great_Dane

I visited Myrtle beach last year in October and had a very pleasant time, mainly around Pawley's Island. Myrtle was nice, although a little Blackpool in places.

My fave USA beach so far was Stinson Beach in CA, just not much town to go with it.

Hiro11

As you know, many places in the US qualify for your broad guidelines, everywhere from Sanibel and Captiva to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. I've also been to the Outer Banks, Hilton Head and Destin, all are unique and all have their high points. Of course the best beaches in the US are likely in Hawaii. California is entire topic in itself.

The Caribbean can be nice and can be a tourist trap, I'm not a huge fan. If you want a nice, quiet beach vacation, Bermuda is nicer than anything I've seen in the Caribbean. Key West is too touristy for me.

michaelr711

Get used to it. I'm surprised nobody has started prying in to your visa status or anything like that yet. I understand people wanting to be helpful, but when people ask simple, direct questions - i'd expect or at least hope for people to respond in similar ways. Maybe that's just us.