Readers Take Another Spin Around Their Favorite Islands

Jamie French

Arlington

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Aruba is definitely one of the finest islands; we have been there eight times. The weather is guaranteed sunny, with 82- to 88-degree days, rare rain and no hurricanes. It's safe and easy to get to and get around, and it has many casinos and great walkable beaches.

Best diving and snorkeling by far, as you stated, is Bonaire. Next is Grand Cayman, which has great snorkel trips, followed by Belize's Ambergris Cay.

One place, however, that I felt was not stressed enough was Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, which we have visited five times. It is easy to get to, very affordable, has the most upscale resorts of any that we have seen and has the best beaches we have found. If you just want to rest, relax and be pampered, this is the place.

In both Mexico and Punta Cana, the Riu Palace resorts have the most plushness, offering great value for the money.

Bob Geier

Kensington

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My wife and I recently returned from Nevis. While there, we had dinner two nights in a row (not our usual habit) at Bananas, which we agreed was the most beautiful restaurant we had ever seen, anywhere, at any price.

To get to Bananas, one must leave the main island road and travel for about a half-mile on a twisting, rutted, thoroughly unpleasant road, past a few beautiful villas set high over the sea, past the upturned refrigerator used as a garbage can by an island family, until you come to a small hand-painted sign pointing you to the parking lot. A uniformed attendant parks what's left of your car.