Belize. Tiny country next to Mexico and Guatemala. I was there in August for scuba diving. Population under 200,000.
It's British Commonwealth so everyone speaks English; has Mayan ruins and extensive caves; it's next to the second largest reef system in the world and has fantastic scuba diving.
I've been to Jamaica and Dominican Republic.
Jamaica is beautiful and, in my experience, has more to offer if you're going off the resort. But for a lone traveller, especially the first time, I can't recommend it as the safer or more relaxing option, sadly.
DR felt a lot more touristy and the resort was much larger than the Jamaican one I stayed at. When I think typical beach vacation, this nails it. I would feel safe travelling there alone.
As for time of year I can't say. Both my visits were around July.
Thanks, everyone, for all the advice! I have to say, it's pretty friggin' cool to post a question like this and have so many people chime in :)
I'll keep you in the loop on where I end up, and what I end up doing!
Mexico is a nice time, and you can get good deals on all inclusive places. In general, Cancun is more about partying and Playa del Carmen is more about chilling and/or shopping. My wife and I have been to The Reef 28 in Playa del Carmen twice which is adults only and all inclusive with access to their sister resorts nearby and it was a great time. If you book through them directly you can get a bundle that includes flight and transportation to and from the Cancun airport, and they'll work with you to get deals on snorkeling or whatever you wanna do. Just don't pay for anything in the airport, they're scams.
Most importantly, have the vacation that you want and have the time that you want. You can see the sights, do adventures, or loaf, and it's your call what you want to do with your vacation.
Go to Cuba, have nice rum and food, and spend lots of money.
Cuba : runs out of electricty and has a total grid shutdown
@TheOubliette@lemmy.ml : Visit sunny Cuba!
Yes, instead of going to a soulless tourist trap with a private resort beach, go to a place where you can directly support the people there and have cultural exchange. Cuba could use the support, will provide less of a tourist trap experience, and will meet OP's criteria.
If you want to avoid rolling brownouts/blackouts you will need to rule out the entirety of the Caribbean. It is very poor and exploited. Jamaica had weeks of blackouts in July. The DR had blackouts so intense a few years ago that they had mass protest movements. They still have rolling blackouts this year. Puerto Rico, a US colony of US citizens, is notorious for blackouts and experienced several this year. Trinidad and Tobago also face blackouts, though they have been improving for the last year.
The main way that tourists avoid these things is by staying at an aforementioned soulless resort that has massive backup generators.
A quick stop over by Aruba would be pretty. I've also heard good things about Martinique. I haven't been to either myself yet. I heard that Aruba also has a huge Carnival celebration, so that season around February would be super fun.
looking to slow right the F down? any of the family (meaning not primary islands) islands in the Bahamas, but particularly abaco, eleuthera, long island or andros. 100% totally different way of living than you are likely used to.
visited many times and wanting to go back before its all gone due to climate change.
edit: tagging @espentan@lemmy.world cuz I did a dumb and subcommented.
Speaking of andros, the new show on Apple TV Bad Monkey takes place half in Florida and half in Andros, and was a really fun watch.
I just finished watching that show, and it is in part what made me decide it's about time I explore the Caribbean.
I've been to southern Florida, and Key West, a couple of times and I suppose I'm looking for more of that feel/vibe.
The book was excellent, by the way
ok, now thats just a slice of awesomeness! thank you, kind friend. will look for the show.
I'll throw Grand Cayman on the list. Specifically, I'd recommend visiting Stingray City. Just a really neat experience to feed/pet stingrays while wading around on a sandbar.
My stupid america brain forced me to read that as "Grand Canyon" at least three times before getting it right, I was rather confused
Seeing Arecibo is on my vague todo list... why? Because I'm the generation that grew up with golden eye.
I'm that generation, too. Well, to be frank, I was 19 when Goldeneye hit the big screen, so I suppose I was already grown up? Although, considering how much I've changed, I guess not..
St. Thomas and particularly Gladys Cafe, especially if you like hot sauce.
I lived in Grenada for a couple of years. It's a chill, safe place. I had my family there and we always felt safe, as long as we kept an eye out for speeding buses when crossing the street. It certainly checks the boxes you specified. Night life is limited. I'm planning to go back for a vacation in February.
As I recall there is a time of year that gets very windy. I think that's in winter, but my memory is fuzzy. The internet says February is the windiest, and that matches some of my memories. In any case it's always warm. I wouldn't worry about rain. That's tapered off by December. If it does rain it's a warm rain, and it's likely to come in short showers so I don't think you'd be stuck inside all day.
If you want to be in walking distance to amenities I'd recommend staying near Grand Anse. You can also get public buses there. (They are actually vans.) There are resorts close to the airport, but in those places you'd be dependent on taxis to get away from the resort - which might be fine if you want to be somewhere quieter.
Thank you oh so much, this means a lot, it really does. Grenada just made it onto the list.
Well you could catch the West Indies vs Bangladesh Test match at Sabina park! Thats the first week of December.
There's also that marathon in Jamaica which might be in December (not sure).
Also Sabina park is in Kingston. Forgot to mention that previously.
I'm sure you'll find some cool Christmas related fairs too. And new years too obviously.
If you're into aviation, definitely Sint Maarten because of its airport where planes land very close to the beach.
Ah, that's right, Sint Maarten and that crazy runway, that's definitely worth a visit.
A related but not very fun fact; "Sint" means angry, in Norwegian, and double A is how you write the letter ร (if you don't have access to a keyboard with that letter) and ร is pronounced like the O in the Scandinavian name 'Morten', and so Sint Maarten sounds very much like "Angry Morten" to a norwegian, and a Dane.
Yet another reason to visit.
The st Kitts train!
Ooooh, nice! Thanks!
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