Looking For the Perfect Option

[Bean]

You are a good ambassador Caribe

[Area 10]

Ok, well you clearly know nothing about me or my background, and have misunderstood my reason for mentioning the poverty in some places. I have friends who have enjoyed Barbados enormously, so maybe I was just unlucky. Or maybe they just lie on a sunbed in their tourist complex. It only takes a couple of rip-offs and your wife to receive aggressive sexual threats to spoil a holiday. But this was quite a few years ago now, so perhaps tensions have eased these days. We did meet a local who lived in a shack with just a couple of chickens and not much else, and he showed us around and during these times we were welcomed wherever we went.

[Caribsurf]

AREA 10 You are right I don't know you or your background, and I certainly didn't know the events of your trip and your wife's troubles, and for that I apologize.  There are a few bad apples wherever you go, and it only takes one to spoil an otherwise wonderful vacation.

Sorry you had to deal with all that, but don't give up on the Caribbean.

[PDLSFR]

Looks like Stoney is getting some waves and paddling in while on vacation in tropical paradise.

[stoneaxe]

Wow....so far my experience couldn't be more different. Friendly locals everywhere and I feel far more safe than I would in areas of almost any major American city. Surf has just been so so on this side but I went over to Brian Talmas today and got a great workout, caught a few waves, saw a pod of dolphins go by and enjoyed the vibe with some of the locals that were hanging there. Brian donated a painting to the CCBC too.  Very cool operation he has built there and he is all about giving to the community. Took the local bus service and had a fun conversation with a local kid on the way over and got to experience what it would be like to race F1 in a packed minibus on the way back......  :)

Sandals has been great for what we are doing...celebrating our 35th but not something I'll do again. Expensive, crappy standup gear, and a bit restrictive, (wouldn't let me keep a rental board here and they have to make sure they keep folks safe in the water so surfing the Imagine plastic rotomold near the jetty got me a warning from the Sandals lifeguard). But outstanding property, awesome food and service and we're enjoying ourselves immensely.

I've avoided it but I'm going to post something in the Trump thread related to this...eye opening....nah nevermind. I don't feel like being that nasty but it's made me realize just how full of shit someone is.

[Area 10]

I'm very glad you are having a great time Stoneaxe. As I said above, I guess I was unlucky - many of my friends have been to Barbados (in fact, one married a girl who lives there) and had a lovely time. I didn't realise you were just about to go to Barbados on a special trip when I posted about my experiences, otherwise I wouldn't have said anything. Have a lovely vacation.

[stoneaxe]

No worries A10 your experience could happen anywhere. I don't see it painting the people though. As to the poverty...sometimes i wonder if it isn't us that has it screwed up. Don't they have what we strive for....a simple life in paradise?

[Caribsurf]

Stoney glad you had some good fun  and welcome home...sitting in VIP lounge right now in St.Lucia awaiting my connecting flight to Bequia.
Can't wait to hear and see about your trip....

If the west coast was going off, you lucked out!

[Chaser]

Update.....

Not sure the Nicaraguan resorts below fit the bill for our long weekend getaway because they are difficult to get to but I plan on checking one or both out for a week long family vacation some time......hopefully soon.

1) Rancho Santana - https://ranchosantana.com/ - No golf and not sure about SUS rentals but looks to be pretty sweet

2) Mukul - http://www.mukulresort.com/ - Just south of Rancho Santana - Seems to have it all.  Not sure about SUS rentals.

Still searching for the perfect option for our group.....Costa Rica seems to be high on the list with all involved