Ptsd Forum Goes Caribbean - 2012/2013?

[Deleted member 541]

St John's is not really inhabited...It's like a state park, sort of. There is only about 1500 people that live there year round, and that's basically people that work to keep the place running.....They do have places to stay, but it's sort of *roughing it*

St Thomas is fully inhabited, lots of hotels, restaurants, history, tourist traps, shopping, ect, ect........Going from St Thomas to St John's is fairly easy...You just take the ferry from Red Hook, it takes about 20 minutes to get there....

 

[Deleted member 541]

I just did a search on St John's, and apparently the island has changed quite a bit, since I was there. It has hotels/restaurants, and upscale resorts now.....

Sorry for the misinformation before......

 

[catjudo]

I am NOT a self-catering/camping sort of girl. So if that were the option, you could definitely count me out. I don't need a fancy resort, but I am not a camper. I'm glad to see that everyone is remembering to consider hurricane season (June-November)!

Personally, something in December/January would also not work for me. I have a young daughter and need to be with her for her birthday, Christmas and school winter holiday. This gathering is not something I would bring her along for. So, IMO, I think February - May would be an ideal time. This time of year also has very mild, pleasant weather if we're considering anything in Florida or the Caribbean.

I think St. Thomas is a great suggestion. Even though I live in Florida, I would not mind if that was the decided location. I do live in the Tampa Bay area and love it here, but think there are better options in Florida for this sort of gathering. My first thought is Key West...but that might be a bit too crowded and crazy for a PTSD group. ??? There are beautiful beaches up in the panhandle...Pensacola, Ft Walton Beach, Panama City.

I think to help decide on a location it would be important to know what types of activities people would want to do while on this vacation?

 

[Nicolette]

I think to help decide on a location it would be important to know what types of activities people would want to do while on this vacation?

Ok....I'll make a poll. Good idea Cat.


See first post in this thread for link to the second poll thanks.

 

[anthony]

This event is not going to suit every single person. There are people who may not be able to afford this, there are people who just don't want to go, there are people who want to go but have other things going on at that time, etc etc. We are not going to be able to please everyone with this.

This is meant to be something in a tropical location and isolated from mainstream cities or the like, a true vacation destination with beaches and water we can swim, etc... outside of what we all have in our own countries. Florida has beaches, so does Australia... does that mean we should holiday on the Gold Coast in Queensland? No. Something tropical, resort, relaxing, away from the general everyday hussle, traffic and so forth. I don't want to holiday in Disney Land, where you spend an entire day and maybe get on three rides because of the sheer crowds and volume of people. I can do it, but I don't want too.

This needs to be an independent location that I would suggest every person has to travel too, so we are all away from home.

 

[JohnnyM53]

Living in Canada, with its cold winter during the December-March period, I'd be happy meeting just about anywhere it's warm just to get away from the cold.

I was in St-Pete's in Florida in February and it does have gorgeous weather and beaches. I've also been to St-Thomas and it is gorgeous.

I agree that it should be a real holiday for everyone, so I vote for a tropical place like St-Thomas, outside of hurricane season.

I'm also more of a hotel than a camping kind of person.

 

[anthony]

There is a new poll for location selection for those that are attending. Everyone should have a notice appear with the details.

Or here is the link [DLMURL]http://www.ptsdforum.org/poll.php?do=showresults&pollid=160[/DLMURL]

 

[trapped]

I am so excited- I definitely want to go if this happens! Hmmm... it does mean my butt having to get on a plane though...

 

[maria]

I'd like to go too. But I think we should bite the bullet and not go during off season. I've been to Florida during the off season. It's way too hot to do anything outdoors, (people go from the air conditioned house to the ac car to the ac store), hurricanes can occur and the insect population is in full bloom. Plus I've found that during off season accommodations and service can be skimpy. The pool at our hotel had been drained and finding staff was an adventure.

maria

 

[pandora]

What a great reward for all of us. Keep saving everyone! I know it is going to be amazing!

 

[kriskats]

I'm in for this as well! A tropical island is just what I need to get away and destress...warm sun, sandy beaches, understanding people...what could be better?!?

Thanks for organizing this!

 

[maria]

Any thoughts on where in the Bahamas? Any guess as to the cost minus airfare?

I'm getting cheered up just thinking about it.

maria