best port to not need a tour or cab

[Cruising4ever65]

hello

will be on the jewel of the seas sailing out of Puerto rico in april. already have something set up for st Thomas and st lucia. was wondering if anyone knows the best island (out of st kitts, st johns Antigua or Bridgetown Barbados) is the best to just wonder off the ship and explore within walking distance. like the craft shops, old churches, forts. not museums. we are slow walkers... and also which islands a place or tour is a must out of these 3.

we love sightseeing, snorkeling and local shopping (cheaper stuff, not diamonds and expensive places) local crafts priced within reason. any and all suggestions welcome. thanks much

[Sky616]

The only island we've toured out of your 3 choices was St. Kitts. Antigua and Barbados we've just gone to the beaches and beach clubs. We did Boatyard on Barbados. It was fantastic. On the island tour on St. Kitts we used Royston tours. It was the best island tour we've done on any island that we've done a bus tour. He takes you where the other bigger vans don't go. It was a great price like $40 per persona and included lunch and drinks including beer. Check him out, nice guy also. He even showed us his house and his dogs.

[sail7seas]

Barbados has what to see and do it you WANT to leave the port area bugt you can stay in porrt area and spend time r in her flea market and in side the tereminal building wherre there arre lots of shops. If you dont't wish to tour or ttaxi, you couldd walk to the downtown and see Lord Nelson statue.........

Edited February 9, 2018 by sail7seas

[Keith1010]

I am not sure best but if you like to walk we do a lot of walking in Barbados.

 

A walk from the port to the downtown area is about 30 to 45 minutes. We walk first on the side of the water. In town we have visited the very historic church and also synagogue and look at other areas downtown.

 

On our return we walk on the other side and shortly before you reach the port there are craft stores to visit.

 

Keith

[sail7seas]

I am not sure best but if you like to walk we do a lot of walking in Barbados.

 

A walk from the port to the downtown area is about 30 to 45 minutes. We walk first on the side of the water. In town we have visited the very historic church and also synagogue and look at other areas downtown.

 

On our return we walk on the other side and shortly before you reach the port there are craft stores to visit.

 

Keith

 

 

 

Ditto, ditto, ditto ;)

[SuiteTraveler]

Here's some good information on Antigua including a map: https://www.whatsinport.com/Saint-Johns.htm

[sail7seas]

There are shops at the top of the docks in Antigua. There isi a nice Long champ store e fortthose that like that product.

[Floridiana]

We walked in Barbados, but we also took one of the plentiful taxis into town and walked back. The port building is a shopping mall where I got my bottle of rum, also bought a t-shirt there. All the port stores were open on Boxing Day.

 

On the other side of the port building, taxis and busses were waiting. A very efficient taxi monitor assigned us to a group taxi into town, worked well. All the shops in town were closed and we just wandered around, took a photo with the lone police man and heeded the warning of a local not to venture into a deserted narrow side street. On a busy weekday in Bridgetown, you will be fine.

[zqvol]

We were just in all three of those ports. IMO there is more to see walking in St. Kitts than in the other two combined. In Barbados, there are a few shops at the pier, but it is at least a 30 - 45 minute walk to town. St. John, just really doesn't have much other than a few chain stores.

[Cruising4ever65]

I guess another good question to ask is out of these 3 islands, which is a must do tour to see the scenery and interesting places on the island...? to bypass the shopping near the port, in other words....

[cb at sea]

A good resource for you would be a guidebook...libraries have them in the reference section....you can find out ALL about the places you'll visit....not limited to: Beaches, shopping, points of interest, transportation, food/drink, safety, etc....

[sail7seas]

That is their choice and if itg suits them, no problem

[sail7seas]

I guess another good question to ask is out of these 3 islands, which is a must do tour to see the scenery and interesting places on the island...? to bypass the shopping near the port, in other words....

OP asked for local craft shopping. Everyone has their own preference for how they wish to spend their time in OP implied they did not want to tour. We are all different in what we want to do and see.