NBR- Fav/Best place to go in the Caribbean?!

Brittany373 · April 2011

Im starting to plan a vacation for the family, LO will be coming along. We have never been to the Caribbean, and I am super excited to go! I want to do an all-inclusive. Ive been looking at websites and reading about the different places, but I wanted to see where you have gone/loved/hated/heard was great?!

TIA

lauti · April 2011

If you're going with LO, I'd recommend Beaches Turks and Caicos.

p092907 · April 2011

Aruba is without a doubt my favorite island in the Caribbean, but I never been there with LO, so I don't know much about it from that perspective.

MJ5678 · April 2011

Jamaica is great. The people are really friendly and there is a lot to do and see. It's also not crazy expensive either. We stayed at the Riu in Ocho Rios and had such a good time. We are actually planning a trip back this summer, but I think we are going to stay in Negril this time.

Punta Cana is beautiful. There are a lot of all inclusive resorts to choose fom. The water is a little rougher than some of the other islands. It may just have been the time of year we went. We have traveled there in both August and September.

Lisadf1230 · April 2011

This. We went to Aruba for our honeymoon and it was SO nice.

islandgirl79 · April 2011

lauti:
If you're going with LO, I'd recommend Beaches Turks and Caicos.

I have also heard really good things about this Beaches. There aren't too many all inclusives but Puerto Rico is beautiful and easy to travel to since it is part of US territory.

MWoodside · April 2011

p092907:
Aruba is without a doubt my favorite island in the Caribbean, but I never been there with LO, so I don't know much about it from that perspective.

This! I've been there 7 times & we got married there, too. It's awesome!

On a side note though, I would not recommend all-inclusive for most places in the caribbean. Most countries are very safe and trying local restaraunts is part of the full experience. Some exceptions to this would be Jamaica & Dominican Republic, but I wouldn't go there w/ a baby anyway.

I've traveled to lots & lots of caribbean countries. Some other favorites are St. John & T&C.

Meggybear · April 2011

DH and I travel a lot, especially to all inclusives and prefer those in the Riviera Maya Mexico region to those on some of the islands. For us it's a short flight to paradise and I would suggest looking at the Iberostar resorts, specifically the Iberostar Paraiso complex near Playa Del Carmen. It's a compound of 4 or 5 hotels with central access to a cute little plaza with shops and eateries. The beaches are gorgeous and it's a very good value when compared to somewhere like the Beaches resorts. I wouldn't take my child to Jamaica if I was offered a free trip, but that's just me. Oh and at your Childs age I wouldn't worry too much about childrens programs or anything at the resorts, in most cases she will be too young for any of the activities.

DMCinderella · April 2011

Dh and I took a cruise to a number of Caribbean Islands. We loved Turks and Caicos...as well as everyone else we went with. I can not wait to go back there one day.

MrsMommyQ · April 2011

I agree with PPs. Aruba is AWESOME but don't do an all-inclusive.

Last year we went to St Thomas and St John on our babymoon and they beaches there were the most beautiful I've ever seen.

I also love the Riviera Maya but I worry about mexico with a baby bc of the water quality. Yes I know the hotel water is relatively safe, but I wouldn't chance that with a 1 year old. Not yet...and not when there are SO many other wonderful and beautiful places to go first.

Brittany373 · April 2011

Thank you everyone! You have been very helpful! I am very nervous planning this trip, since safety is my top priority, and I don't want to call a travel agent and them not be honest with me, since they are just trying to make a buck. I just thought all-influences would be easiest.. But good to know! Anymore advice about anywhere tropical would be great!!!!! Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

l0613p · April 2011

Definitely Jamaica.

iristony · April 2011

We love a lot of the smaller islands such as Mustique, Anguilla, and a few other less known Grenadine islands for relaxation. We really liked Barbados and Jamaica too for more touristy locales. I am not a fan of Nassau (Bahamas) - although the Paradise Island side is nicer and we did not love Puerto Rico. One of the best all inclusive resorts we have stayed at was the Palma Real Paradisus in Punta Cana. We have never been with kids to any of these places.