Family friendly Caribbean destinations?
Oct 15, 22, 1:13 pm
#1
Used to be 'g_leyser'
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Brandon Johnson International Airport (expect delays)
Programs: AA PlatPro, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold, IHG Plat, Reno Air MEGA Platinum
Posts: 9,974
Family friendly Caribbean destinations?
Anyone have any good suggestions on a Caribbean destination that would be good for a family (5 years old child)? Specifically we do NOT want to go to a resort and sit by the pool. Ideally somewhere we could rent a car and explore/hike/beach/etc. Maybe with an Airbnb or smaller hotel/lodge. We have been to Puerto Rico and would gladly go again, but that is our only experience with the Caribbean
Oct 15, 22, 2:21 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 218
Anyone have any good suggestions on a Caribbean destination that would be good for a family (5 years old child)? Specifically we do NOT want to go to a resort and sit by the pool. Ideally somewhere we could rent a car and explore/hike/beach/etc. Maybe with an Airbnb or smaller hotel/lodge. We have been to Puerto Rico and would gladly go again, but that is our only experience with the Caribbean
Oct 18, 22, 10:32 am
#4
Used to be 'g_leyser'
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Brandon Johnson International Airport (expect delays)
Programs: AA PlatPro, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold, IHG Plat, Reno Air MEGA Platinum
Posts: 9,974
Oct 21, 22, 10:37 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 218
Anthonys Key on Roatan. They had a great kids program teaching scuba & dolphin training.
the Jaguar Reef Lodge in Hopkins Belize. They had a lot of kid friendly hiking, snorkeling etc
Ian Anderson Cave Branch lodge had cave tubing & hiking.
the Jaguar Reef Lodge in Hopkins Belize. They had a lot of kid friendly hiking, snorkeling etc
Ian Anderson Cave Branch lodge had cave tubing & hiking.
Dec 4, 22, 3:03 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2022
Posts: 5
Aruba and Barbados are my two experiences. Both would be fine with a child.
Aruba -- It's a desert. There is some opportunity for driving and seeing something different than you are used to. Most of it is going to be desert and TALL cactus. Aruba has great roadways. I thought of it as what a lightly populated Southern California coastal town would be like. Nice beaches, warm weather, friendly people. I didn't get a feeling of old culture. Their food is a mix of Dutch and S. American with nothing that stood out on it's own. It's the melting pot of the Caribbean.
Barbados -- The roads are bumpy. They drive on the left. It's more densely populated than Aruba. Family ties are important in Barbados. Kids will live at home until they are married. Very deep, old, cultural identity.
I think you would find either place to be welcoming to a family vacationing on their island. They are very different places to me. It would depend on your personal preferences. Aruba is a nice place to relax. I found the public spaces better kept up than Barbados. Barbados has a lot of culture to experience. AirBnB, Flipkey, etc. will have plenty of options for either place.
Aruba -- It's a desert. There is some opportunity for driving and seeing something different than you are used to. Most of it is going to be desert and TALL cactus. Aruba has great roadways. I thought of it as what a lightly populated Southern California coastal town would be like. Nice beaches, warm weather, friendly people. I didn't get a feeling of old culture. Their food is a mix of Dutch and S. American with nothing that stood out on it's own. It's the melting pot of the Caribbean.
Barbados -- The roads are bumpy. They drive on the left. It's more densely populated than Aruba. Family ties are important in Barbados. Kids will live at home until they are married. Very deep, old, cultural identity.
I think you would find either place to be welcoming to a family vacationing on their island. They are very different places to me. It would depend on your personal preferences. Aruba is a nice place to relax. I found the public spaces better kept up than Barbados. Barbados has a lot of culture to experience. AirBnB, Flipkey, etc. will have plenty of options for either place.
Feb 6, 23, 12:07 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Northport, NY
Posts: 1,727
I find Aruba too sterile. Barbados is great, but my favotite is Saint Martin. I've been there a dozen times mostly with my children and other families with kids. You can go to a different beach every day. We went with a nanny to watch the children so the adults could go to dinner at the fine restaurants. There are plenty of dining options with kids too. A car is essential to explore the island. We usally stay at the Royal Palm which I think is a Hilton property. The full kitchen is great for breakfast. Be sute to try Lee's Seafood for lunch or dinner and Zee Best for breakfast or lunch.
