[JMcLellan]

My wife and I are planning a kids-free tropical trip with another couple. We are looking for a super chill, not lots of people, beach vibe vacay. Eleuthera keeps emerging as a place that would check those boxes for us.

Seems like there isn't much to do except for just chill on the beach which is what we want. We are planning for this coming February and looks like weather will be mid to high 70's. That is plenty warm for us as long it is sunny but could feel brisk if those temps are accompanied with wind and clouds.

Anyone on here even been there and wants to share their experience and provide advice?

[Alfisti]

[chassis]

You have described the Keys in my mind. Have never been to Eleuthera.

[floridaorange]

I was just at the Galley Bay Resort in Antiqua. If 5 star quality food is important, no kids allowed resort, superb friendly and professional staff, put that on your list. It's all inclusive. The rooms are newly remodeled and restocked every day with white, red wine, champagne, beer, sodas, water. Can't say enough good things about the food. You can sail on their cats, snorkel in front of Georgio Armani's island house and ride bikes all over the resort. They have tennis, ping pong, billiards, a really nice cafe and everyone speaks with a British Accent. Having been to BVI, St Lucia, Punta Cana, I definitely loved Antiqua. Punta Cana - Barcelo Bavaro Palace Deluxe is very nice, but massive. Galley Bay is 1/100th size. But Barcelo is nice too. The food not nearly as nice. Also Galley Bay has been family owned for a long time - they really know what they are doing there. They own another Island called Palm Bay Resort, if you want total exclusivity and a private island all to yourself (and probably a handful of other guests).

https://www.palmislandgrenadines.com...QaAkF-EALw_wcB

https://www.galleybayresort.com/?utm...8aAmC5EALw_wcB

https://www.barcelo.com/en-us/barcel...m_content=7397

[JMcLellan]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Ha ha! Fully admit that when I try to pronouce Eleuthera I just say "urethra"

[JMcLellan]

Originally Posted by chassis

You have described the Keys in my mind. Have never been to Eleuthera.

Yes and no. The keys are super chill but when I went there I felt like there wasn't enough beach and sand square footage. At least that is what we experienced the areas we frequented.

[JMcLellan]

Originally Posted by floridaorange

I was just at the Galley Bay Resort in Antiqua. If 5 star quality food is important, no kids allowed resort, superb friendly and professional staff, put that on your list. It's all inclusive. The rooms are newly remodeled and restocked every day with white, red wine, champagne, beer, sodas, water. Can't say enough good things about the food. You can sail on their cats, snorkel in front of Georgio Armani's island house and ride bikes all over the resort. They have tennis, ping pong, billiards, a really nice cafe and everyone speaks with a British Accent. Having been to BVI, St Lucia, Punta Cana, I definitely loved Antiqua. Punta Cana - Barcelo Bavaro Palace Deluxe is very nice, but massive. Galley Bay is 1/100th size. But Barcelo is nice too. The food not nearly as nice. Also Galley Bay has been family owned for a long time - they really know what they are doing there. They own another Island called Palm Bay Resort, if you want total exclusivity and a private island all to yourself (and probably a handful of other guests).

https://www.palmislandgrenadines.com...QaAkF-EALw_wcB

https://www.galleybayresort.com/?utm...8aAmC5EALw_wcB

https://www.barcelo.com/en-us/barcel...m_content=7397

Thank you. The Antigua place does sound like the exclusive and quiet experience we are looking for. Did you get a chance to see if there were other types of staying experiences on Antigua? We are leaning towards a non-resort trip this time and having our own house/villa. Just spent last week at Barcelo in Riviera Maya-- need a break from the all-inclusive this next one.

[floridaorange]

Like these? Btw - I really enjoyed the people of Antigua too. They have their heads on straight there, I am definitely going back there. You can stay on a nice island anywhere, but when the culture is healthy and the people are proud and kind, it just makes the experience that much better in my opinion.

Tamarind Hills looks like a nice value:

Villa's: https://www.google.com/travel/hotels...tm_source=htls

[Tommy-G]

I hate that I dont know how to relax or just chill anymore. I need stimulation and exploration.
Restaurants, bars, people watching, maybe a casino.....Ugh I used to be able to just shut down.

[chassis]

Originally Posted by JMcLellan

Yes and no. The keys are super chill but when I went there I felt like there wasn't enough beach and sand square footage. At least that is what we experienced the areas we frequented.

Yes, the Keys are not beachy in the sense of long, wide sandy beaches. They are super chill, which we like. It's more of a sit by the pool and watch and listen to the breeze in the palm trees scene. If you book a condo with an ocean view, even better.

[JMcLellan]

Originally Posted by floridaorange

Like these? Btw - I really enjoyed the people of Antigua too. They have their heads on straight there, I am definitely going back there. You can stay on a nice island anywhere, but when the culture is healthy and the people are proud and kind, it just makes the experience that much better in my opinion.

Tamarind Hills looks like a nice value:

Villa's: https://www.google.com/travel/hotels...tm_source=htls

Yes, stuff like that. That place looks amazing! Now I have research to do on Antigua as a potential option.

[floridaorange]

The island prides itself as having 365 public beaches to access. So if you like the beach, that is certainly 1 option

[JMcLellan]

Originally Posted by Tommy-G

I hate that I dont know how to relax or just chill anymore. I need stimulation and exploration.
Restaurants, bars, people watching, maybe a casino.....Ugh I used to be able to just shut down.

Everyone recharges their batteries differently. Doing those things doesn't mean you're not chilling or relaxed. For me, after dealing with work, 2 kiddos, and other BS week after week, for vacay I want to be away from all the noise and more alone vs in crowds.

[JMcLellan]

Originally Posted by chassis

Yes, the Keys are not beachy in the sense of long, wide sandy beaches. They are super chill, which we like. It's more of a sit by the pool and watch and listen to the breeze in the palm trees scene. If you book a condo with an ocean view, even better.

Agreed. We stayed on Duck Key at a nice resort with a townhouse right on the water. We ventured to Curry Hammock state park, and some other beach areas and it was a great time. We will go back and try some different spots.

[Dino GT]

Originally Posted by JMcLellan

Everyone recharges their batteries differently. Doing those things doesn't mean you're not chilling or relaxed. For me, after dealing with work, 2 kiddos, and other BS week after week, for vacay I want to be away from all the noise and more alone vs in crowds.

I agree. Everyone chills differently.
I almost always look for resorts with 100 rooms or less.
I like a relaxed quiet environment when I`m on a resort vacationing, not a party kind of resort. But everyone is different.

[floridaorange]

I think it's both - some downtime and some adventure that makes the best vacations. All of it would contribute to a sense of chill - that should stay with you for months or longer if you let it.

[OkieSnuffBox]

The water is going to be to cold to enjoy in February. Which to me, kind of defeats the purpose of going to the beach. I'd go further south. There are literally DOZENS of different adult-only resorts on basically every island in the Caribbean.

YMMV.

[JMcLellan]

Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox

The water is going to be to cold to enjoy in February. Which to me, kind of defeats the purpose of going to the beach. I'd go further south. There are literally DOZENS of different adult-only resorts on basically every island in the Caribbean.

YMMV.

Yes very good point. Water temps will be around 74/75 fahrenheit. We are looking at some places in Antigua as a plan B. If its high 70's and sunny it will be fine. If it gets cloudy, windy and low 70's then not good swimming weather.

[OkieSnuffBox]

Originally Posted by JMcLellan

Yes very good point. Water temps will be around 74/75 fahrenheit. We are looking at some places in Antigua as a plan B. If its high 70's and sunny it will be fine. If it gets cloudy, windy and low 70's then not good swimming weather.

Even with 80s air temps, that water temp is cold.

With my-ex, we took our honeymoon to the Bahamas, barely got in the water the week of Thanksgiving (that's when we always went to the Caribbean.)

After that we always went to Jamaica, air temp and water temp just a bit warmer made it so you could actually enjoy being on the beach all day.

[JMcLellan]

Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox

Even with 80s air temps, that water temp is cold.

With my-ex, we took our honeymoon to the Bahamas, barely got in the water the week of Thanksgiving (that's when we always went to the Caribbean.)

After that we always went to Jamaica, air temp and water temp just a bit warmer made it so you could actually enjoy being on the beach all day.

The other variable here is that we are from Minnesota and we are used to swimming in 70 degree lakes-- we are a bit crazy that way. My kiddos went swimming in 55 degree water this past spring as an example. We have targeted Eleuthera because of the vast exploration and freedom you can experience there and willing to accept the trade off it might not be really hot that time of year.

[OkieSnuffBox]

Originally Posted by JMcLellan

The other variable here is that we are from Minnesota and we are used to swimming in 70 degree lakes-- we are a bit crazy that way. My kiddos went swimming in 55 degree water this past spring as an example. We have targeted Eleuthera because of the vast exploration and freedom you can experience there and willing to accept the trade off it might not be really hot that time of year.

Hahaha, yes. That is an important variable!