Where to take a sun holiday?

[CapitalGuy]

Any suggestions for a non-sex related holiday down south? Somewhere in the Carribbean or Central America over New Year's. Prefer not Mexico.

Never been to the Carribbean so I've no idea where to go. And, just had some minor surgery that will keep me from doing anything too sporty or physical, so I'm just looking for a place to hang around and not be in Canada for a bit. Prefer not to be stuck on a resort though. What cities are nice safe places to hang around, hit some pubs, see a couple sights, and are big enough not to get too bored over the course of a week (but not so big that personal security is a big issue or that I spend the entire time hacking up car fumes)? Essentially, a small English city on the coast! How hard can it be to find a place like that? lol.

Thanks.

 

[SirWanker]

Go to St. Maartin and stay in Marigot or Phillipsburg(sp?).
Food is excellent and you can be as wild or mild as you want.
Gorgeous french women on the beaches and if I recall correctly an interesting adult entertainment bar in Phillipsburg.

 

[LateComer]

You could consider the Virgin Islands - both the US Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands. I've been to St. Thomas and St. Croix of the US Virgin Islands. St. Croix was very quiet while St. Thomas was a bit more lively. The main city on St. Thomas only has about 20,000 people so it may be smaller than you were looking for. I've never been to the British Virgin Islands but I understand that they are even quieter than the US Virgins.

 

[danmand]

I had a great time in Honduras, La Ceiba.

 

[CapitalGuy]

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

 

[ilovearabgirls]

fortaleza

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

u might as well get sex while there.

 

[LateComer]

I have been to St. Thomas and would recommend it as well, but I am not sure of how safe the downtown area is at night. Maybe LateComer can fill you in on that.
TT1

Sorry, can't help there as I was only there during the day on a cruise stop. I remember that the town had a lot of shops (duty free) and a market. I also went to a beautiful beach a short bus ride from the downtown but I don't remember the name of it.

 

[drrogers]

COSTA RICA,
Great weather, lots to see and do, good resorts, reasonable by Canadian Standards, high level of education and health in country, fairly safe, easy to get to - NOT TOO MANY AMERICANS, mostly Europeans, South Americans and Canadians. A pleasant change!! And if you are looking for sex, it's legal - great whore house in capital city, ticas are beautiful and if you speak spanish (or Italian for that matter -and can make yourself understood in Spanish) the girls in the resorts can be very accomodating.

 

[LateComer]

COSTA RICA,
Great weather, lots to see and do, good resorts, reasonable by Canadian Standards, high level of education and health in country, fairly safe, easy to get to - NOT TOO MANY AMERICANS, mostly Europeans, South Americans and Canadians. A pleasant change!! And if you are looking for sex, it's legal - great whore house in capital city, ticas are beautiful and if you speak spanish (or Italian for that matter -and can make yourself understood in Spanish) the girls in the resorts can be very accomodating.

I too like CR but I don't think San Jose is what CapitalGuy is looking for as it is not small, English, or on the coast.

 

[CapitalGuy]

Actually, I'm grateful for each of the suggestions. I've tried to find flights to a couple of "English" towns down there, but the last minute travel sites are offering flights in January, whereas I'm looking for a couple days after Christmas. January doesn't seem so "last minute" to me, lol. I'll likely wind up wherever I can get a plane and a room.

 

[CapitalGuy]

Thanks for the tips. From my research, it seems the Caribbean is a dump! I might dabble later in the year for a couple long-weekend packages, to see first hand without having to commit an entire week, but the cities down there seem pricey to get to. If you're not booking a beach resort package, its an expensive vacation. So, I booked for Florida instead (Tampa/St. Pete's). I won't be tied to the hotel/compound, and there's lots of stuff to do in the area. Happy New Year.

 

[oldjones]

Check out the French Antilles—St Barts and St Matin, Guadeloupe and Martinique—for climate and beaches like everyone else, but an economy and social scene like Metropolitan France. Good roads, prosperous people and food as only the French can do it.

 

[Darkman5]

How about Turks & Cayos, Antigua. Grand Cayman. These are the best place in the Caribbean. I have been almost all the islands in the Caribbean.

 

[chijaman]

With all the fantastic and exciting feed back that you received, you chose Tampa?? "Seems the caribbean is a dump". It seems because you can't afford it, you choose to insult it. What a waste of time. Why didn't you provide your financial restrictions in your original post?

 

[S.C. Joe]

I went to Tampa-Clearwater, it was great. Its easy to drive around, Clearwater has a very nice beach. Tampa has full nude strip bars--no drinking or smoking in them-was fine with me.

The airport in Tampa was cool, not like the Miami airport thats so easy to get lost in.

I stayed at the Hamilton in Clearwater, was like $75 a night. Clearwater beach hotels are sky high, theres nice public beach's so unless you drink always theres no need to stay on the beach

 

[CapitalGuy]

With all the fantastic and exciting feed back that you received, you chose Tampa?? "Seems the caribbean is a dump". It seems because you can't afford it, you choose to insult it. What a waste of time. Why didn't you provide your financial restrictions in your original post?

chijaman, why the hostility?

Flights to some of the places recommended (Bridgetown, Martinique)were over $7 grand from Ottawa or Montreal!! Its late to be booking the non-packaged tours (ie. staying in a city hotel instead of a beach resort) so prices were high. As for the region being a dump, yes many of the resorts are spectacular. But I said I didn't want to be stuck in a resort. On doing some research many of the cities, in Jamaica, Cuba, DR, as it turns out, are pretty cruddy. Bridgetown and Bermuda looked clean and enjoyable but I don't think an unwillingness to pay $7 grand for a plane ticket is unrealistic. I'll hit the beaches and adventure resorts some other time when I'm healthier. For now, Tampa suits me fine. I'll bank the other recommendations for shorter trips later. The advice given wasn't a waste of time for me, and remains much appreciated.

 

[papasmerf]

Seattle

Seems the sun is on holiday there most of the year.

 

[gdog]

Runaway Bay Jamacia (Breezes is my #1 pick)

 

[danmand]

I am going to San Andres Island, Colombia, early January.

 

[CapitalGuy]

I am going to San Andres Island, Colombia, early January.

Not a lot of info out there on this place - how'd you find it? Pics look extremely nice, ideallic really. Packages to a 4-star are only $1K out of Montreal. Latin clubs in the town. The one site says you have to drink bottled water, though. Not a big deal, mind you. Done that before. Also, how big is the city itself, for when a guy might want to escape the beach resort? Thanks for the tip.