Loading ...If you are looking to vacation someplace tropical with friendly people that is nice and clean, South Florida is definitely NOT NOT NOT the place to go.
We recommend instead other Caribbean destinations such as Barbados, Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, Saint Barts, the Turks and Caicos, Trinidad and Tobago, the British Virgin Islands, the Caymans (the Cayman islands are a lot like the Florida keys except the people there are nice and the water and beaches and reefs are clean and natural), and even places like western coastal Costa Rica.
And if you want to see a real live thriving coral reef, Belize has the second largest in the world behind the Australian Great Barrier Reef. We have also heard good things about the western coast of Costa Rica, said to have some small resort towns similar to what Key West was like decades ago (before it was glutonized).
Also consider Brazil: the Atlantic beaches from Salvador down to Rio are said to be a much better alternative than Florida for a number of reasons, one of which is a favorable exchange rate. Important point: when the U.S. is blanketed by blistering oppressive summer heat and stifling humidity, Brazil is experiencing nice, cooler weather, as that is their “winter” season there and the temps can be quite pleasant compared to the lower 48…
If you prefer to stay in the lower 48, North and South Carolina should be heavily considered.
Note that the Euro (the standard currency of European countries), has recently suffered steep losses in value against the American dollar, and consequently you might want to consider the beaches of southern European countries for a refreshing change to experience the culture of the “old country”…
At this point in time, this page is just a concise note of advice, but we intend to expand this out in more detail when we get back on the air…
Bonaire (diving is the major attraction, but not the only…)
Saint Martin (Northern French part of Island shared with Saint Maarten)
Saint Maarten (Southern Dutch part of Island shared with Saint Martin)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadine Islands
Utila A uniquely different experience…
The Island of Dominica (NOT the Dominican Republic)
The Islands of the British West Indies
Cuba? (“Health Tourism”)
Cuba? (for Canadians)
Cuba? (via Canada for Americans…)
Costa Rica Tourism – see precaution below
Caribbean Vacation Exchanges, aka “Time Share”
The Caribbean travel site for those on a Florida budget
Belize Tourism – see precaution below
Jamaica Tourism – see warning below
Puerto Rico Tourism – see warning below
Advice on Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Belize, and Jamaica: as with any region of South Florida, most tropical vacation destinations have not only “first world” accommodations but also tend to have “third world” impoverished areas that you should most likely avoid, and we have heard that this is the case in Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Belize, and Jamaica — check the “tripadvisor” site for further information regarding your destination…
Warning on Jamaica: as of late May 2010, “gang violence” has been reported in Kingston Jamaica, so we advise avoiding the island, or at least Kingston, until the area stabilizes…
Warning on Cancun and Mexico: as of April 2010, there have been reports of possible murders around a Cancun resort as well as on the mainland of Mexico; there is also was said to be a boycott of Cancun regarding the public officials laxity over recent rape charges; we advise avoidance of the Cancun regioin (or any area of Mexico?) until the issues are resolved (or even permanently given the corruption and “drug wars” going on there)…
Warning on Peurto Rico: as of July 2010, be advised that an outbreak of thousands of cases of dengue fever is said to have hit Puerto Rico. Also note that this mosquito transmitted disease, which is minimally serious but can also be deadly, is also becoming a problem in Key West (5% of residents now show dengue antibodies) and has now surfaced in Miami Dade county, and no doubt will work it’s way up into the entire state of Florida soon since the carrier, the Asian Tiger mosquito, is becoming prolific in the state and unlike native mosquitoes feeds on humans 24 hours a day and night…
Caution on Bahamas: we also have heard that the crime rate in the Bahamas is fairly high, and since the islands of the Bahamas are pretty much like the Florida Keys and also in the path of the gulf stream current carrying all of the pollution that the loop current picked up in the Gulf of Mexico, we would advise considering further south down in the actual Caribbean island chains for a safer, cleaner, more hospitable getaway…
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Our email address: avoidflorida@gmail.com
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