Cayman Islands or Aruba

[luvflorida]

Aruba is a desert - Cayman is not.

I wonder if Aruba looks like The Bahamas. We thought The Bahamas looked pretty barren. The resort we stayed at was on a gorgeous beach with beautiful water, but when you left the resort area, the rest of the island seemed flat and sandy with not a lot of trees.

 

[LauraL]

Another vote for the Caymens from me! We've been there 3 times and I love it. The water is beautiful, and the snorkeling is great. I was sitting on the edge once while DH was snorkling and I had fish swimming around me. Unbelievable!

Now I want to go!

 

[RUDisney]

The nice thing about Puerto Rico is that you can make it as expensive or inexpensive as you want. Plus, Puerto Rican coffee is to die for!

We stayed in Isla Verde in a friend's condo when we were there in 2001. Condos go for very reasonable prices there. The condo was next door to the Intercontinental Hotel and that is next to the Wyndham El San Juan. The Ritz Carlton is a few more steps down the road. In these hotels are Ruth's Chris and The Palm. If you didn't want to spend so much for a steak, a short walk down the road to Outback will get you steak at a fraction of the price.

The beach was gorgeous and you can rent a car to go to the Wyndham El Conquistador for lunch before you explore the El Yunque rain forest. A short taxi ride will get you to Old San Juan for some good outlet shopping and so you can tour the old forts. Although we had rented a car for the entire time we were there, we didn't need it. Everything we wanted, except the rain forest and Old San Juan were within walking distance.

Plus, there are casinos for your DH.

 

[luvflorida]

The nice thing about Puerto Rico is that you can make it as expensive or inexpensive as you want. Plus, Puerto Rican coffee is to die for!

We stayed in Isla Verde in a friend's condo when we were there in 2001. Condos go for very reasonable prices there. The condo was next door to the Intercontinental Hotel and that is next to the Wyndham El San Juan. The Ritz Carlton is a few more steps down the road. In these hotels are Ruth's Chris and The Palm. If you didn't want to spend so much for a steak, a short walk down the road to Outback will get you steak at a fraction of the price.

The beach was gorgeous and you can rent a car to go to the Wyndham El Conquistador for lunch before you explore the El Yunque rain forest. A short taxi ride will get you to Old San Juan for some good outlet shopping and so you can tour the old forts. Although we had rented a car for the entire time we were there, we didn't need it. Everything we wanted, except the rain forest and Old San Juan were within walking distance.

Plus, there are casinos for your DH.

Actually, Puerto Rico is sounding pretty darn good! I'm going to spend some time researching it. Do you know how the snorkeling is there?

 

[pkrimier]

Yes there are crimes everywhere but in Aruba it seems that the authorities could care less about looking seriously into such ( Natalee Holliway case).

If you go to Aruba please watch out for the "boys" who like to drug young ladies and have their way with them.(as has been admitted to)
Because if it happens to you no one there will care and it will be just brushed off ....because God forbid that one of their own should actually be responsible.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I've only been to GC & Aruba on a cruise. DH & I left GC saying that we'd go back, if we booked a cruise that happened to go there. We left Aruba with plans to return on a land vacation. We both thought Aruba was the most beautiful place we'd ever been. The locals are very friendly, & not pushy in the least. (If you've been to some of the other islands, you know what I mean.) Locals in GC are very nice also, but it just didn't hold the same appeal to us.

 

[sharbear]

Cayman was hit hard by a Hurricane last year and is still in recovery. They are accepting tourists and rebuilding but most if not all of the trees on the island were destroyed and the plant life is not back to normal. They are very interested in having visitors to the island but just know that things are a little different at this point. Also things are very expensive. My MIL says that she has no desire to go back because of the prices.

April will be very hot in the Caymans, the best time to visit is Feb. or Jan.

 

[RUDisney]

I don't know about snorkeling on all parts of the island, but in Isla Verde, you could snorkel, but you'd probably just see sand. People played in the light surf more than they snorkeled in it.

When we were there, it was February and so many people from our town go there in February. We hung out with so many people whom we know. Their average age was 65+ and we were 34/35 at that point. We had a blast with them. It's amazing how surf, sun, sand and fine dinners bring the generations together.

We decided to start our adoption process in PR, too, after watching all of the parents with their children. From 8-months to 80, there was fun for everyone!

 

[DwarfMaster]

I went to Caymans last fall after the many hurricanes had been through. They were still recovering and you could really tell by the landscape. But it was still beautiful.

However, never having been to Aruba ~ I would prefer to go there.

No matter where you go you need to use your best judgement ~ not only in Aruba.

 

[gina2000]

Aruba in a heartbeat. I've been there several times and there is a ton to do. If you golf, they have a beautiful championship golf course. The water sports are a ton of fun and the casinos are also fun. The restaurants are very good and extremely varied. We used to go to the Natural Bridge every visit but it collapsed a few months ago. The islanders are extremely friendly and lovely people to talk to. And the beaches are magnificent - especially Eagle Beach.

Grand Caymen has a much more formal atmosphere. They also are still very much recovering from hurricane damage which is very apparent throughout the island. Seven Mile Beach is absolutely gorgeous, though, and if you are going purely for beach, that may be the spot for you. Hell is fun but can be done in an hour. Same with the Turtle Farm. I enjoyed them but I wouldn't base a vacation on either. I've not been to Stingray City though everyone raves about it.

 

[lil mermaid]

OMG!

Maybe she should have had more control over her own behavior. For all we know she went for a swim and drowned because she was so drunk.

Once again, people jump to conclusions before having all the facts.

Yes, they sure do....

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

My DH is convinced we are going to "Find Natalee" when we are in Aruba next February and collect the reward money

Just booked my airfare so we are good to go!

I think there are far more unsolved murders per capita in the US than in Aruba - it's just that Natalee's case got far more attention.