Thanks for your reply. We are quite adventurous and in good shape. We love scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, hiking etc. we love history and learning about the culture..

but, we work really hard in and only have a 10 day vacation, so we want to make sure we have the chance relax. beaches are a big thing for us. it is important that we are at a hotel right on the beach. ulta flashy people are not our scene, but we do like nice things and would like to be in a beautiful place.

we have been looking at young island but we are concerned that it is limited and the beaches are not great. mustique seems a little ritzy...any help is greatly appreciated.

Bequia offers all the things you are looking for by way of physical adventure (diving, snorkelling, great daysails, hikes) right on the island, as well as easy access by ferry to even more spectacular eco -adventures on the main island of St. Vincent (parrots, the waterfalls, volcano and so on).

Bequia has great beaches which St. Vincent does not. It does not have ultra-flashy or twee (no umbrella drinks!), but it does have creature comforts, fun bars and a good choice of restos (lahtough nothing really 'gourmet'). I'd not recommend Young Island if good beaches are important to you.

Most of Bequia's accommodation is the small hotel or guest house variety. The ritziest it gets is Friendship Bay Hotel and Plantation House, both in lovely settings. You might start there.

I stayed in Friendship Bay and didn't like it. No a/c, "funky" accomodations. away from the hub. I must say though, the owner was nice and tried to make me happy, it just wasn't what I was looking for. Look into Palm Island, you can hop around Tobago Cays, (spectacular!!) Mayreau, Union, Canoun. For hiking and culture, you can take a day trip to Grenada or St. Lucia. Palm has a beautiful beach, and the drinks you are looking for, plus American Airlines usually has some good specials tied to Palm Island.

Bequia accommodations more in 'the Hub' would be the Frangipani Hoel, a yachties favourite and social centre on the Belmont Walkway. And the Gingerbread, in the same area, is also very very nice.

Friensship Bay is too European for some and sometimes erratic in delivery...but the beach bar lunches and dinners have been outstanding for the past couple of years, thanks to a Swedish chef.

You might also consider the Bigsand Hotel on Union Island - I haven't stayed there yet myself but friends have enjoyed it.

Hi, we are Brits on assignment in Trinidad, been here 2 yrs, done most of Southern Caribbean. Grenadines lovely, generally unspoilt. Sailing trip great way to do it, if you can afford, get good a Cat and crew and just chill. Barefoot Charters(based St Vincent), The Moorings are companies worth looking at, be picky about the boat, need air con, ensuites. You can usually plan your own itinerary but the local guys will generally know best what you'll like. Drop anchor every night by the best areas, eat dinner ashore, sleep on board.

Tobago Cays(not close to Tobago) is fabulous, must do!! Mr Quality will come over to your boat, help you select fresh lobster and even cook it for you on your boat. Snorkle while he cooks, sunsets too die for. Eat dinner at famous Basils Bar Mustique (haha get the T-shirt/pole top from nearby shop if you're into that) its a great spot. Franzipani on Bequia great food in restaurant, very buzy bar, deff yachty crowd but casual, real thing..not stuck up, nice location to moor for the night. Canouan lovely spot, to dine and moor for night. Tamarajin lovely area, Raffles very upmarket(Donald Trump villas etc but set on different area of island). Grenada, although suffered by hurricane 04 (beware travelling during June-Nov, things can get bad in Caribbean) has fab hotels Calabash, nice setting, small quiet, maid cooks breakfast & serves on private patio/balcony. Gary Rhodes restaurant. LaLuna lovely restaurant/bar, right on beach, havent viewed rooms. Palm Island posh, they don't like casual moorings, but looks fab resort. Get on Internet check out this area, in my opinion it is the best the Southern Caribbean has to offer unless you are into high rise hotels, casinos, noise, entertainment etc. Don't even think of Trinidad or Tobago for that matter! Have a good trip.