where should we go? :)
Replies: 7 - Last Post: Nov 14, 2012 5:02 PM Last Post By: damiongraves
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where should we go? :)
Hello everyone!This is my first time posting here and i would like to thank you for reading this.
This January, me and my best friend are planning to travel to the Caribbean for part of our winter break from college. While we've both traveled before (mostly in western Europe), neither of us have to the Caribbean before so we're not exactly sure what country to look into. Safety is a big priority and that's one of my biggest concerns as to where to go. We'll be coming down from the northeast united states, and our total budget will be about $1200(including airfare) each. We're looking to stay in hostels and avoid the resorts if possible. We're looking to stay at least a week down there, possibly longer if our budget's can last. We're also considering central america. Any advice, suggestions, or tips would be greatly appreciated! :)
2
You've basically got a hundred dollars apiece per day (after paying plane fare). That's not a lot in the Caribbean, but it's enough to go somewhere for a week, tour around a bit, and stay comfortable as long as you don't want lots of organized activities--diving, sailing, guided tours, etc.If you want to stay longer, head for Central America, which is far cheaper.
I agree with #1 about safety. It's easy to get all wound up about it, but common sense and basic street smarts are 90% of the battle.
Hope that's helpful.
Mark
4
I've only been to a couple of Caribbean islands, so am no expert. I liked DR, and am headed for Cuba next. Jamaica also sounds like a strong possibility. I've spent plenty of time in Central America, so know more about options there.But....you haven't said anything about what you want to do with your week. I like getting out on motorbikes and wandering, and I like mountain scenery and people; you might be looking for cities, museums, nightlife, local culture...or maybe you just want to veg on the beach for a week. Get the point? There are dozens of possibilities, and all depends on how you like to spend your time and money. Asking specific questions tends to attract useful answers.
Hope that's helpful.
Mark
7
I'd guess that you'd want to be on one of the larger islands to maximize the nightlife possibilities, on a smaller one you might be restricted to a few nightclubs or happen to be there in between any interesting events. And I guess you'd want to be on one of the more mountainous ones for hiking purposes. In my experience, Jamaica does not disappoint on either count, and, for the record, it is not a place that I find difficult to be. Quite the opposite, in fact. I've never actually met anyone who went there and didn't have a good time.When are you travelling?
