Caribbean Islands

[Lord Duckhunter]

We have some well travelled posters, so was looking for some advice. The old snap dragon fancies The Caribbean for our winter holiday next Jan. We can’t be doing with AI and like to go out and about in the evening. We’re looking for somewhere relatively lively, but with a local feel, safe and good value for money. St Lawrence Gap Barbados looks about right, but quite pricey. Jamaica, cheaper but a bit dodgy. Looking at Grenada or maybe Antigua, but open to suggestions.

Anyone got any experience of different Islands and which areas would suit a couple of 60 year olds,who think they’re 40. No “romantic” suggestions  please….

[Farmer Saint]

19 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

We have some well travelled posters, so was looking for some advice. The old snap dragon fancies The Caribbean for our winter holiday next Jan. We can’t be doing with AI and like to go out and about in the evening. We’re looking for somewhere relatively lively, but with a local feel, safe and good value for money. St Lawrence Gap Barbados looks about right, but quite pricey. Jamaica, cheaper but a bit dodgy. Looking at Grenada or maybe Antigua, but open to suggestions.

Anyone got any experience of different Islands and which areas would suit a couple of 60 year olds,who think they’re 40. No “romantic” suggestions  please….

Oistins down to St Lawrence Gap in Barbados is great - we really enjoyed the Bougainvillea out there (and preferred it to Sandals). St Lucia is also great, The Landings is a lovely resort, as is the Windjammer. Antigua we loved Carlisle Bay but that can be a bit pricey.

All islands though I would suggest renting a car so you can see the island. Roads are piss poor, but people drive so slowly it's fairly safe. Also, make sure you don't eat all the time in your hotels, the people are lovely and the food is varied and great. We're early 40's that act like we're 60's, so would probably work well for you...

Edit: In Barbados the beach that has the Radisson on (Pebbles Beach maybe) is utterly incredible, you can swim out and see the turtles swimming underneath you, and when my daughter and I went swimming by the pontoon we swam over a reef shark, which was very cool. Great tortoise sanctuary as well on Barbs.

 

Edited Sunday at 19:31 by Farmer Saint

[trousers]

Apologies for piggy-backing your thread but we're contemplating Guadeloupe for our next main holiday destination, so will keep eyes peeled for any replies you get with people's experiences of this particular Carribbean island 👍🏻

(Yes, we are big 'Death in Paradise' fans!)

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

Only experience I have is of St Lucia, but If highly, highly recommend. Beautiful place, friendly people. Never once felt unsafe.

[Gloucester Saint]

Rockley Beach (the locals call it Accra) is decent value for Barbados south coast. Stayed there to watch an England Test. It’s the West Coast which is silly money comparatively and where the celebs hang out. St Lucia as others have mentioned is beautiful and fairly safe with the usual precautions you’d take here. If you can hack all of the Americans, Aruba has stunning beaches, not as much to do as Barbados but if you’re after beaches, turquoise seas and safe relaxation it’s pretty good. Grenada is beautiful and pretty much everything grows there. A little bit more petty crime but no worse than our major cities tbh. 

Edited Sunday at 20:07 by Gloucester Saint

[Turkish]

1 hour ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

We have some well travelled posters, so was looking for some advice. The old snap dragon fancies The Caribbean for our winter holiday next Jan. We can’t be doing with AI and like to go out and about in the evening. We’re looking for somewhere relatively lively, but with a local feel, safe and good value for money. St Lawrence Gap Barbados looks about right, but quite pricey. Jamaica, cheaper but a bit dodgy. Looking at Grenada or maybe Antigua, but open to suggestions.

Anyone got any experience of different Islands and which areas would suit a couple of 60 year olds,who think they’re 40. No “romantic” suggestions  please….

Been to Jamaica twice, it’s great there. Like anywhere it has its dodgy parts but as long as you’re not an idiot we never felt it was dodgy at all. January-March is best time to do. The hotel was fantastic but as with all the Caribbean the downside is it was full of Americans who were loud and obnoxious as fuck 
 

we looked at St Lucia which looked class and definitely on the list to do soon 

not been to Barbados but know quite a few people who have they all rave about it and say it’s the best and Safest of the lot. 

Edited Sunday at 20:08 by Turkish

[Gloucester Saint]

1 hour ago, Farmer Saint said:

Oistins down to St Lawrence Gap in Barbados is great - we really enjoyed the Bougainvillea out there (and preferred it to Sandals). St Lucia is also great, The Landings is a lovely resort, as is the Windjammer. Antigua we loved Carlisle Bay but that can be a bit pricey.

All islands though I would suggest renting a car so you can see the island. Roads are piss poor, but people drive so slowly it's fairly safe. Also, make sure you don't eat all the time in your hotels, the people are lovely and the food is varied and great. We're early 40's that act like we're 60's, so would probably work well for you...

Edit: In Barbados the beach that has the Radisson on (Pebbles Beach maybe) is utterly incredible, you can swim out and see the turtles swimming underneath you, and when my daughter and I went swimming by the pontoon we swam over a reef shark, which was very cool. Great tortoise sanctuary as well on Barbs.

 

 🐢 sanctuary in St Peter’s is great there, and some superb snorkelling 🤿 places. Oistins fish fry is fantastic. Harbour Lights beach bar and nightclub is a great night out, IIRC it’s where Freddie Flintoff got in trouble with the pedalo. The local restaurants have to put ‘not flipper’ on the menus for dolphin fish for the American tourists. 

[skintsaint]

Saint Marie looks quite nice on the TV.

[Whitey Grandad]

We've been to most of them but not Jamaica. Antigua used to be my favourite and we stayed at the Rex Halcyon Cove on Dickenson Bay a few times amongst others. It has now been bought out and is being reconstructed which has destroyed a few of my wonderfully happy memories with my wife.

Barbados had lately become our favourite and I would agree with Gloucester Saint about Rockley Beach. There are several restaurants around there and the Reggae Buses run regularly into town. Barbados is perhaps more built up with three times the population of Antigua. 

When I get a few moments I shall try to post some photos and videos.

[Whitey Grandad]

11 minutes ago, skintsaint said:

Saint Marie looks quite nice on the TV.

I've been there a few times on a day visit. It’s filmed in the town of  Des Haies on the west coast of Guadeloupe. We even hired a car there and drove around the west half. It’s a French Department of course and hence part of the EU. I don't think there are any direct flights from the UK. 

[trousers]

25 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

I've been there a few times on a day visit. It’s filmed in the town of  Des Haies on the west coast of Guadeloupe. We even hired a car there and drove around the west half. It’s a French Department of course and hence part of the EU. I don't think there are any direct flights from the UK. 

Correct. Need to fly via Paris.

Trailfinders (who we tend to book with when doing a package) do a twin-island option with Guadeloupe and St. Maarten. So that's Heathrow -> Paris -> Guadeloupe -> St. Maarten -> Amsterdam -> Heathrow

Given what @Turkish mentioned above about loud obnoxious American tourists (who tarnished our trip to the Riviera Maya region of Mexico a tad last year), one would like to think that they would be less prevalent on two Carribbean islands that were still in European hands...?

Edited Sunday at 21:28 by trousers

[Turkish]

22 minutes ago, trousers said:

Correct. Need to fly via Paris.

Trailfinders (who we tend to book with when doing a package) do a twin-island option with Guadeloupe and St. Maarten. So that's Heathrow -> Paris -> Guadeloupe -> St. Maarten -> Amsterdam -> Heathrow

Given what @Turkish mentioned above about loud obnoxious American tourists (who tarnished our trip to the Riviera Maya region of Mexico a tad last year), one would like to think that they would be less prevalent on two Carribbean islands that were still in European hands...?

First time in Jamaica they weren’t too bad,  we went to River Maya also in 2024 and they also weren’t too bad there aside from One or two evenings screaming and hollering loudly. However last year in Jamaica they were horrendous. Lots of overweight women dressed very trashy at night, loud arrogant blokes who loved the sound of their own voice. The most irritating night was when we were in one of the hotel restaurants a big group  of Americans on the table two down from us, one of the blokes kept clapping his hands for no real reason and bellowing absolute shit. There were quite a few young kids with them and so it wasn’t like it was a pissed up group of early twenties, he was simply a very loud, irritating cock. The Americans didnt seem to be able to have a conversation without the volume turned up so everyone else could hear it. After two years going to the Caribbean area looking forward to a European holiday this year 

[Lord Duckhunter]

Has anyone been to Grand Anse Beach area of Grenada . I put our requirements into AI (good value, safe, walking distance to beach & nightlife, friendly, lively for 40+ ) and it came back with that. 

[Gloucester Saint]

18 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Has anyone been to Grand Anse Beach area of Grenada . I put our requirements into AI (good value, safe, walking distance to beach & nightlife, friendly, lively for 40+ ) and it came back with that. 

I have, it’s lovely. Quite safe and good amenities with beach bars, the spice and craft market (Grenada is known as the Spice Island and first time I saw a cashew growing was there). More popular with the cruise ships stopping than it was when we were there late 00s and the beach gets busier at weekends with students but that’s true of many of the islands.

https://sandee.com/grenada/saint-george/grand-anse/grand-anse-beach

[Tamesaint]

In the Caribbean I have only been to Barbados but know it well as we live there for 4 months every year (our place is 5 mins walk from Pebbles Beach, Farmer 😁).

You have been given some  good advice already on this thread. The  places in Barbados which have been recommended are all good. It is (relatively) safe, hire a car, eat outside of the hotels etc. A good thing is that there are very few Yanks here. Just loads of Canadians. Same sort of accent. Completely different people. 

I would definitely recommend Barbados. The sun, sea and beaches are great. It is the most easterly Caribbean Island and benefits from a warm fairly constant breeze from Africa. Very nice when the temperature is 30 degrees. 

Unless you have money to burn avoid the west coast and aim for the south west . Lots of bars, restaurants and music there. St Lawrence Gap and nearly all the other places mentioned on this thread are there. A decent hotel where we once stayed is Butterfly Beach. Heard good things about it and know people who have had good deals when staying there.

Rum is nearly the same price as milk and you can get some decent ales from a couple of craft breweries. The people are friendly and welcoming - it is definitely a hit with us. 

PS. It is also fairly easy to keep in touch with Saints matches. Sometimes not a plus, sometimes it is. 😁

Edited 23 hours ago by Tamesaint

[SaintNate]

Antigua was beautiful, but too many fucking septics. Everywhere with their backwards caps, oakley sunglasses and horrendous accents.

[Lord Duckhunter]

Thanks for all the recommendations & advice. Normally I take weeks to make my mind up, but I'm concerned the situation in the Middle East will probably drive prices up. Firstly people who would normally head that way for winter sun may look in the other direction, and secondly, the price of flights going up with fuel increases. 
 

Went with a mixture of AI & Gloucester, so booked Grenada. 

[Patrick Bateman]

On 08/03/2026 at 21:57, Turkish said:

First time in Jamaica they weren’t too bad,  we went to River Maya also in 2024 and they also weren’t too bad there aside from One or two evenings screaming and hollering loudly. However last year in Jamaica they were horrendous. Lots of overweight women dressed very trashy at night, loud arrogant blokes who loved the sound of their own voice. The most irritating night was when we were in one of the hotel restaurants a big group  of Americans on the table two down from us, one of the blokes kept clapping his hands for no real reason and bellowing absolute shit. There were quite a few young kids with them and so it wasn’t like it was a pissed up group of early twenties, he was simply a very loud, irritating cock. The Americans didnt seem to be able to have a conversation without the volume turned up so everyone else could hear it. After two years going to the Caribbean area looking forward to a European holiday this year 

I'd have gone all Billy Bright in Football Factory when he takes his missus to the pub ... "OI, keep your fkn noise down" 😂