Any thoughts on Caribbean Marriott properties? Planning a "kid friendly" award stay in late fall.

I've stayed 2 properties in the area. I don't have kids, so I can't really tell you how kid friendly they are....

The MC Grand Cayman, was OK, but the beach is very narrow and rocky. It's within walking distance to alot of places to eat, so that's a plus.

The RC in St Thomas is nice, but the low rise property is spread out over hilly terrain which means alot of walking to get to anything on property. The beach is nice, in a protected cove with no wave action. The property is far from anything, so you'll need a car or taxi to eat off property.

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Not sure where I'm going, but I'm gettting there fast.

If you consider the Bahamas to be in the Caribbean.....

I've been to the Nassau Marriott (and posted here about it in late Feb of this year)....for a Plat, we were upgraded to an oceanfront room. The rooms were nice, not fancy, with 2 queen beds.

Many kid friendly activities at the Marriott and nearby. You didnt give the ages of your kids, but the pool has a nice waterslide. There is parasailing, jetskiing and banana boating available right on the Marriott beach. Kiddie golf and other activites as well. The water is calm, without waves.

Keep in mind that hurricane season is in full force in the Caribbean now, and especially from mid August til the first of November.

We've booked the Grand Cayman Marriott for next February...tried to get the Aruba Marriott but awards were already gone.

Try the Marriott San Juan

thumbs up

Here's my two cents on the hotels I have stayed at:

I would choose the island/location you want to go to more than the hotel.

JW Cancun (although not technically in the Caribbean) is the nicest. Casa Magna Cancun is right next door and is also very good. Cancun has great night life and activities.

Aruba property is nice, but wasn't as crazy about the island itself. People are super-friendly, but it's not a tropical island and very windy. I found it hard to sit on the beach and had to sit at the pool or pool bar - not that that was a big problem. Aruba has gambling, if that's a plus.

St. Thomas Marriott and Renaissance are both nice. Do a search and you will see many of the comments. Not as much to do as Cancun, but I thought St. Thomas and day-trips to St. John/British USVI were much more beautiful.

Your response on the Nassau Marriott surprises me since most people seem to dislike this property. Did they do renovations? I have never been there myself.

Would recommend against Grand Cayman and towards Aruba. As bonzaiflyer notes, GCM doesn't have much of a beach and the pool is also pretty small and crowded. No shade in the afternoon either. No kids activities that I recall (although the hotel did provide a wonderful babysitter).

Aruba has a huge pool with a big shallow area for the little ones and lots of shade. There is a playground and kid's center that is shared with the adjacent timeshare resort. Hawkeye is right though - Aruba is not your typical green Caribbean island. Think California (very little rain, low humidity, and 82 degrees all the time) instead. We rather like it, but YMMV.

Haven't been to STT since DL, Jr. came along, but I seem to recall a lot of hills and cliffs that would make me nervous chasing a 2-year-old around.

flyaway,

yes, the Nassau Marriott surprised me as well, considering the bad reputation it has had both here and from others I know who have stayed there.

But we went on a last minute award over winter break and I was honestly not expecting that much. The hotel treated us well as Plats and overall I was satisfied with the stay. During February when we visited, the going rate was somewhere just under $200/nt and I think that had we paid that, we would have felt like we had gotten our moneys worth.

The rooms were average, not bad and not beautiful but yes, the hotel and casino have recently been renovated. If you have any Marriott status at all, request an oceanfront room. The view alone is worth the stay.

If you do a search on the Marriott forum, you will find my more detailed post, as well as other posts on similar properties.

Agree, Puerto Rico is (IMO) the best island in the Caribbean.

Really? Better than the Virgin Islands or even the French Islands?

Well, I am sure that when it opens in early 2003(?), the Marriott Nevis will be up there on many a list.

Agree generally on the description of the property, but definitely would not consider it "nice". Rooms are beat, in bad need of a facelift. Staff is anywhere from indifferent to rude.

Doc 2 Be,

Could you point me to where you learned that info on Marriott Nevis? I'd love to read about it for my travel planning?


Thanks

St. Kitts: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum63/HTML/001642.html

Everyone has their favorite, but for me PR has it all, I can pick and choose what kind of Island vacation I want to have.

Of the islands I've been to in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico is the best IMO. The reason I state this is I want both relaxed small town, off-the-beaten path beaches/areas, but a week at the slow pace is too much for me and my wife (so we need an island that has a great, exciting nightlife, a great amount to do outdoors is a plus. I also seek the local culture. Puerto Rico meets all our needs:

It is easy to experience/take in the local culture in PR, you may not understand what they are saying, but it is easy to find places where the locals hang out, festivals, bars/restaurants and you are accepted. Again, not so easy to do on other islands, very rarely do you find locals spots.

Besides the great amount of beaches, PR also has a rainforest and the center of the island is a lush forest. Great for hiking/exploring.

San Juan is a GREAT food city (and IMO all of PR is) and has exciting nightlife.

The slower side of PR is just outside San Juan and all over the island, just drive out.
Fajardo and Ricon are very "slow" areas as are Guanica on the SW side of the island.

I almost forgot to mention, no customs to go through and PR uses the US $.