OT: Looking for suggestions:

[Lion84]

If you want less touristy we went to Exuma in the Bahamas last summer. Nice island and if you rent a car easy to get around in. Cool beaches and we were the only ones at many of them. Good snorkeling as well. Not a lot of reefs though so you won't see as many fish as you would in GC which I have been to as well and as mentioned is very nice, especially 7 mile beach area. Not a lot of high end restaurants but good local ones. We stayed at Grand Isle which if you saw the Frye Festival Documentary is right next door to where that disaster was.

 

[sluggo72]

Just a FYI... as I live in south florida and water temp here and Key West is currently around 80 degrees. To us locals its a bit chilly to everyone else visiting it feels like a bathtub.

yes according to NOAA it is 80-81 degrees, no doubt, but the question, is that typical for Key West, S FL this time of year?

 

[dontgojoepa]

I have to ask, why do you like the diving a little better in Turks? And what side of GC have you dove on? Just asking for a reference.

Just preference. I do underwater photography as a hobby and I prefer using wide angle. Turks has more sharks and dramatic walls for the wide angle. I also think the reef is a bit healthier (at least along the northwest point and West Caicos areas). I have dived all over GC (east end, north when it’s accessible and west). East and north are great (west nice as well), but just have had better luck in Turks generally. I seem to always miss the hammerheads that everyone swears to see in the north.

 

[sluggo72]

Just preference. I do underwater photography as a hobby and I prefer using wide angle. Turks has more sharks and dramatic walls for the wide angle. I also think the reef is a bit healthier (at least along the northwest point and West Caicos areas). I have dived all over GC (east end, north when it’s accessible and west). East and north are great (west nice as well), but just have had better luck in Turks generally. I seem to always miss the hammerheads that everyone swears to see in the north.

Lol!! I think I saw the back end of the hammer head!!! I shoot underwater as well I usually switch between wide angle and macro, which I like they don’t move as fast!!!
We’ve considered T&C but never pulled the trigger We head back to GC at the end of April for 10 days we will dive west or north depending on the weather and then east for a week
If u like the big stuff we did a live aboard in the sea of Cortez the Rocho Del MAr (sp) it was assume! Different than the Caribbean but spent a day with the whale sharks. Sea lions were wild. Just a great trip!!
Thanks for the info
Btw my sig pic is a turtle I shot off EE GC at a site 3 sisters

 

[dontgojoepa]

Lol!! I think I saw the back end of the hammer head!!! I shoot underwater as well I usually switch between wide angle and macro, which I like they don’t move as fast!!!
We’ve considered T&C but never pulled the trigger We head back to GC at the end of April for 10 days we will dive west or north depending on the weather and then east for a week
If u like the big stuff we did a live aboard in the sea of Cortez the Rocho Del MAr (sp) it was assume! Different than the Caribbean but spent a day with the whale sharks. Sea lions were wild. Just a great trip!!
Thanks for the info
Btw my sig pic is a turtle I shot off EE GC at a site 3 sisters

Thanks. Love liveaboards and I’ll look into it. Did one in the Bahamas and the Aggressor in the Galapagos. Best diving you will ever do if you get the opportunity. Enjoy GC. Went last year and had some nice dives (albeit didn’t make it out to the east end). If you’re interested in wrecks, the last hurricane tipped over the Kittiwake which made that one quite interesting (albeit a bit disorienting when you penetrate).

 

[sluggo72]

Thanks. Love liveaboards and I’ll look into it. Did one in the Bahamas and the Aggressor in the Galapagos. Best diving you will ever do if you get the opportunity. Enjoy GC. Went last year and had some nice dives (albeit didn’t make it out to the east end). If you’re interested in wrecks, the last hurricane tipped over the Kittiwake which made that one quite interesting (albeit a bit disorienting when you penetrate).

Here’s one for you. From off the Sunset house reef

 

[bwifan]

yes according to NOAA it is 80-81 degrees, no doubt, but the question, is that typical for Key West, S FL this time of year?

Yes...

 

[PSU_522]

I think it's going to be either Switzerland or Scotland, I know the wife really wants to go too Switzerland .. now just to figure out the time of year.

 

[Wesauking Lion]

I will put in a write in vote for Costa Rica. You can have beaches, rainforests, white water rafting, relaxing spa/resorts, hiking, fishing and surfing all in the same week.

I can not argue with PSURO on Costa Rica or his picture posting for that matter.... Im biased.....

I recently purchased a small hotel in Samara Costa Rica. Beach is great... full kitchens... walk out on the beach, pool.... great town..

www.fenixhotel.com or email me .. confenix@racsa.co.cr

 

[dontgojoepa]

Here’s one for you. From off the Sunset house reef

Awesome shot. Still prefer the large stuff, though. Here’s one from my last trip to the Bahamas in December.

 

[GregInPitt]

Off Topic from my original subject, but favorite European countries to visit?

My most recent experience in Europe was Budapest. Very beautiful city with a good bit to see. I was also in Kosice (Slovakia) and Belgrade, and both are interesting areas to visit.

But in the more common destinations we loved Rome, Switzerland, and southern Germany. The Alps, cable cars and just staying in "Zimmers", traveling leisurely and seeing the country and sites.

If you have not been to Rome it is a destination by itself. There is so much to see there that a full week in Rome would not be too long there. We were there 4 days and hope to get back there to continue exploring the sites, cathedrals and history. Florence is also worth a couple of days, to visit the museums, bizarre, .... purchase a couple of purses for your wife....

If you take an extended trip and drive around there are so many places to go in the northern Italy, Austria, Switzerland, southern Germany region. Sound of Music tour, Ludwig's castle,....

 

[jferretti]

If you are OK with resort style vacationing, the Dominican Republic is close, nice and relatively cheap.

When you say you went to Puerto Rico, I'm guessing you went to San Juan, but there are cool resorts to the east of San Juan (in between San Juan and Fajardo) and the two islands off the east coast (Vieques and Culebra) are both beautiful and less crowded (and less resort driven).

St. John (USVI) is also amazing, although like Puerto Rico they have not 100% recovered from the last hurricane.

You also didn't say where in Mexico. I liked the Riveria Maya (Tulum, etc) area when I was there. It is getting more developed but it is not as touristy as Cancun.

Don't go to Puerto Rico without extensive research on hurricane damage. We loved our stay at Royal Isabela on the Northwest coast but it was heavily damaged and is still only partially open.

 

[sluggo72]

Awesome shot. Still prefer the large stuff, though. Here’s one from my last trip to the Bahamas in December.

great shot! He's what? 6" from your dome?

 

[PSU_522]

Don't go to Puerto Rico without extensive research on hurricane damage. We loved our stay at Royal Isabela on the Northwest coast but it was heavily damaged and is still only partially open.

I honestly never want to go to Puerto Rico again, I didn't like any of the food .. It was like 115 degrees nobody spoke English all of the roads appeared to have 2 foot deep potholes the snorkeling where I was wasn't that great and the grocery store we stopped at had an suv driving around that said Urban Gang Unit on it. Oh and half of the things were closed due to a government shutdown..

 

[dontgojoepa]

great shot! He's what? 6" from your dome?

That's about right - if not less. All this talk has got me wanting to plan my next trip.

 

[sluggo72]

That's about right - if not less. All this talk has got me wanting to plan my next trip.

me too!! after the one I am taking!! I have a new 105 macro that needs to be tried out!!

 

[PSU2UNC]

I honestly never want to go to Puerto Rico again, I didn't like any of the food .. It was like 115 degrees nobody spoke English all of the roads appeared to have 2 foot deep potholes the snorkeling where I was wasn't that great and the grocery store we stopped at had an suv driving around that said Urban Gang Unit on it. Oh and half of the things were closed due to a government shutdown..

Obviously everybody likes different things, but I'm surprised by this. Puerto Rico is one of my favorite places in the U.S.

Obviously, it still has a ways to go to recover following the hurricane. Were you there pre-storm or after?

I'm not a fan of super stereotypical PR food (beans and rice etc), but the seafood there is fantastic.

115 degrees is unusual. The sun is more intense there than in the continental US (which can make it feel hotter) but the temperatures are usually not bad (similar to Florida) especially if you are near the water.

Where did you snorkel? The only noteworthy reefs are on the SW shore (La Parguera), so basically the exact opposite site of the island from San Juan. There are also some good reefs in Culebra and Vieques.

Your other comments (potholes, Gang units, no one speaking English) could be just as easily said about Los Angeles. ;-)

 

[PSU_522]

Obviously everybody likes different things, but I'm surprised by this. Puerto Rico is one of my favorite places in the U.S.

Obviously, it still has a ways to go to recover following the hurricane. Were you there pre-storm or after?

I'm not a fan of super stereotypical PR food (beans and rice etc), but the seafood there is fantastic.

115 degrees is unusual. The sun is more intense there than in the continental US (which can make it feel hotter) but the temperatures are usually not bad (similar to Florida) especially if you are near the water.

Where did you snorkel? The only noteworthy reefs are on the SW shore (La Parguera), so basically the exact opposite site of the island from San Juan. There are also some good reefs in Culebra and Vieques.

Your other comments (potholes, Gang units, no one speaking English) could be just as easily said about Los Angeles. ;-)

This was pre-storm, also it was in October which made the fact that it was 115 degrees even worse. I'm sure Puerto Rico is actually very nice I think that when I went it was just a perfect storm of things going wrong such as a record heat wave, government shutdown and just picking the wrong places to eat honestly.

 

[kps7987]

I have been to about 80 percent of the islands in the Caribbean and will give you my take on highlights. We go every winter.

My next island trip will be to St. Thomas. We were there in February on a cruise and did some nice snorkeling and beautiful beach. The reason why I would go back is because I would like to explore St. John and Tortola which are accessible from here and have a lot to do. I tend to get cabin fever if in one place too long so need variety.

Islands that are Americanized in my view:
St. Thomas
Aruba
Some of St. Maarten
Barbados

Less than developed but my favorites:
Grenada- Was there once and looked beautiful and need to explore more
Antigua- Beautiful beaches, very cultural and enjoyed myself
St. Lucia- Perhaps one of the more beautiful overall islands I have been to but also underdeveloped
Cozumel- We did a private tour which was incredible and took us to the eastern part of the island which is not developed. I am afraid that more than 2 days would get boring though.
Grand Cayman- Was only there for a day and would like to go back
Curacao- Would like to spend several days here as have not explored beaches but country was beautiful and cultural

No need to return
St. Kitts
Costa Maya

Indifferent
San Juan- Enjoy it very much, good food but have never been outside Old San Juan
Key West- Great for a 3 day trip. Stayed at a private resort so beach was quiet but ok but all to do at night is go to bars and gets old

Probably missing some. Best snorkeling from the beach was St. Lucia followed by St. Thomas. Barbados has great snorkeling with the turtles but pretty much need to go on an excursion. Cozumel, Aruba and Curacao had good snorkeling from the beach.

Hope this helps. Love the Caribbean