Not exactly where you want to go, but I saw this on the travel channel over the weekend. Absolutely beautiful: http://www.palmarealparadisus.com

T, how about the South of France? Nice, Cannes or Monaco.

Lilbit: Fiji is beautiful but night life isn't really great from what I've heard....

Eric: I will check that place out but I think it's still close too close to the hurricane belt though, got to double check the location.

Clint: The South of France is pretty but not sandy enough and feels almost like home (I partly grew up in France).
Any other thoughts?

Canary Islands?

Tangier?

We like St. Barts and if we go in the late summer we buy travel insurance. Great beaches, no crime, loose dress code on the beach with infrequent Speedo wearers, and excellent shopping and food. BWI may have directs to Juliana in St. Martin.

What about Bermuda? Not exotic, but close and safe. I found it a little boooring, but appreciated the tidiness.

Thumbs up on Aruba. Yes, it is arid, (but humidity is the last thing you'll want) and only one area has beaches, but we enjoyed it. Bordering on the touristic, though. Shopping better in St. Barts or Bermuda.

I bet Fiji would be great, but with travel and recovery time you blow about five days' vacation. I just came back from a weekend in Sherman Island, CA and was wiped out for a day.

Hamptoons are nice, but if your cell phone works, it's not a real vacation.

If you really want to blow out the stops, book Cabo through http://www.oneandonlyresorts.com/flash.html I will have a fresh report on the Cabo resort this Friday.

ekaz' link looks beatuiful, but all reports I get from DR are that outside the resort compounds it is less than safe and a bit rough. I have some intrepid kite-surf friends who also say you have to be very careful off the beaten path, unlike Aruba or St. Barts (or Montauk).

Kiawah Island, SC. Charleston is a short drive and is beautiful.

(I "second" Accellas's suggestions).

My favorite Caribbean Island is St. Maarten/St. Martin ... ;)

I think Aruba is out of the hurricane belt. Haven't been there in over 20 years though. Tough time of the year for sandy beaches without storms.

I think all of these Islands in the south Caribbean are outside the Hurricane Belt: St. Lucia, Barbados, Aruba and Trinidad/Tobago.

Aruba, Curacao & Bonaire...
and T&T,
are all generally out of the 'Cane Zip Codes.

Long rides to all; been to all and they are good times
and great diving.
BR,mD

Aruba... or Kiawah Island off Charleston, SC.

Good luck! :thumbup: