The only islands I have been too are Trinidad & Tobago, Grenada and Barbados. I would admit that Grenada is very rustic and primal. You can drive around the entire island along the coastline and it makes for a very scenic tour. You can also explore the interior where the landscape is more moutainous and the forests are very breathtaking. There are also some very nice beaches to visit, and lots of boat tours you can take. Tobago is also very nice for vacation purposes but you pretty much have to stay in the resort areas to enjoy the best beaches, etc. The rest of the island is ok to explore, but personally I think Grenada has it beat in that category. I was pretty young when I visited Barbados so cant offer too much info there. I have heard Antigua is very nice as well, and would like to visit there someday.
Independent Island Hopping
The first thing that probably comes to mind when you imagine a vacation in the Caribbean is a white sand beach with warm turquoise water and swaying palm trees. The second thing is probably an all-inclusive resort with expensive yachts and retired expats. For independent travelers, the latter is mostly a deterrent for a beach vacation on a Caribbean island. With some small considerations and thoughtful planning, you can turn what you might think to be a standard Caribbean vacation into an adventurous taste of island life.
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