Relaxing Island where you can bike around

Old Nov 23rd, 2011, 11:10 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Relaxing Island where you can bike around

I am looking for a warm caribbean island where you can rent a bike and bike to beaches, shopping, dining, etc. Like snorkeling too. Any ideas? I love St John but too hilly for biking.
maa27 is offline  
Old Nov 23rd, 2011, 12:32 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,957
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Most of the Bahamas out-islands (can be cool in winter), Providenciales (Turks & Caicos), Anguilla, Barbuda, Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao are all relatively flat islands that you can easily bike around.

Of those, Bonaire has the best snorkeling but lacks great beaches and shopping.

Anguilla has the best restaurants and outstanding beaches but lacks good shopping (you can easily take a day trip to St. Martin for your shopping fix). There's some limited snorkeling around the island.

Providenciales has a fabulous 11 mile long beach, some good restaurants and a few shops. Barbuda has exceptional beaches but few restaurants and no shopping.

Aruba has very nice beaches, lots of restaurants and a decent amount of shopping and some snorkeling.

Curacao has good beaches, OK restaurants and some shopping. Snorkeling just OK.

Most of the Bahamas out-islands are very remote and while they have great beaches may lack the restaurants and shopping you are seeking.

If you found St. John too hilly then most likely St. Thomas, any of the British Virgin Islands (except Anegada which is very remote), St. Martin, St. Barts, Nevis, St. Kitts, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, any of the Grenadines, Grenada, Dominican Republic and Jamaica will also be too hilly.
RoamsAround is offline  
Old Nov 23rd, 2011, 04:26 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 747
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What month of the year are you thinking of traveling? Also, what do YOU mean by "shopping"- personally, I am not a shopper so to me, shopping on an island trip might be for an interesting locally made item to take home or even shopping for homemade breads, local fruits or other items for the house while I am there. Clarify, please.
ishkribbl is offline  
Old Nov 25th, 2011, 02:16 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 12,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
runawayhill.com valentinesdive.com fun pretty small best beach

Stay with smaller flat islands for best experience...

Guadeloupe is where most cyclists go french vibe...

Grand Terre have done some touring there personally my choice

Very cyclist friendly lots of the big crowded islands are not

So choose carefully to avoid becoming road kill.

cheapcaribbean.com good deals...
qwovadis is offline  
Old Nov 29th, 2011, 10:13 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 350
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Anguilla is small and flat so easy for biking. When it comes to shopping, do like the locals - hop on the ferry to St Maarten - it runs like a bus service.
bajangirl is offline  
Old Jan 17th, 2012, 03:40 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,224
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thorough as always roamsaround - what do you think of the dining on Bonaire and Curacao?

Like the OP, I'm seeking bike-friendly, snorkeling, diving, and good food (local places to high end, but prefer the former). Some hills are ok, I see St Thomas was recommended in Biking Magazine but don't know much about it.
fishee is offline  
Old Jan 17th, 2012, 03:42 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,224
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Oh, and qwo -- does the french vibe also mean good food on Guadeloupe? How's the snorkeling and diving?
fishee is offline  
Old Jan 17th, 2012, 03:48 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Dining in Curacao is pretty good. Not the best but above average. You could easily bike to town, Willemstad and then shop or eat there. There are plenty of places to eat. For good local food try Plaza Bieu. I dont know much about Bonaire. I have been there many years ago.
Zachstickler is offline  
Old Jan 18th, 2012, 06:00 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,464
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi maa27

Grand Bahama Island was flat as a pancake, relaxing and had a cycling path on Midshipman Road (I even cycled to the island's highest point, maybe a few hundred feet tall?) right near the busy Port Lucaya Marketplace area which has dining & shopping. I wouldn't have felt safe cycling in Nassau, but Grand Bahama at the end of the Midshipman Road path (near Fortuna Beach) the roads were practically empty, so I felt quite safe cycling on the roads alongside turquoise waters of Fortuna Beach--lovely.

Grand Bahama can be chilly though during the winter months (Dec- March) but warm other times of the year. It was in the mid 70s F when I went around New Year's but right after I left it dropped to the 60s F.

Best wishes and have fun whichever island you choose,
Daniel
Daniel_Williams is offline  
Old Jan 18th, 2012, 06:48 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 476
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I think Barbados would be another good choice. I believe they offer bike tours too.
BellaClaire is offline  
Old Jan 12th, 2023, 12:35 PM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jan 2023
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Also interested in this

Hello, I know this thread is old, but the original author was looking for a similar experience, I think. My husband and I rented junky old bicycles on Isla Mujeres and had the time of our lives. Way more fun that renting a golf cart. We are mountain bikers, so we are accustomed to challenging terrain and quick reflexes.
We don't care so much about "shopping" but rather shopping at markets, grocery stores, and liquor stores. We love beaches, fishing, and snorkeling.
We usually travel with only a small backpack each and seek out local establishments and cuisine.
We're heading to Culebra in a few days. Lonely Planet said you can rent bikes there and that it is great. I found out that the bike shop is closed and a local recommended against bikes?!?!! We found a place that will rent ebikes, but they are EXPENSIVE to rent (compared to cruddy Mexican bikes) and really, we like the exercise.
So, if anyone wants to recommend somewhere tropical and warm that will check my boxes, I'm all ears... or eyes in this case.
NatureGirl247 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Kitkatkk
Caribbean Islands
15
Dec 23rd, 2014 10:53 AM
jodya
Caribbean Islands
5
Jan 21st, 2014 05:20 AM
pijeta
Caribbean Islands
10
Nov 5th, 2009 11:34 PM
lasvegasguy
Caribbean Islands
13
Feb 24th, 2007 12:25 PM
cordelia
Caribbean Islands
19
Nov 17th, 2003 10:27 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -