Best Caribbean Vaca?

[Beckwith]

Please rate or share your experiences with any of the below spots. At a loss of where to go with two young kids that isn't a beaches or rah rah kids resort during off-peak December:

Riviera Maya - Grand Velas, Rosewood, Azul
Anguilla - CuisinArt
Aruba - Hyatt
St. Barths - Hotel Guanahani and Spa

any other help is greatly appreciated.

 

[rioni]

Barbados / Crane Beach Resort

 

[scraper]

I wouldn't call St. Barth's very kid friendly.

 

[Beckwith]

Thanks. Anyone have experience with the Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas? The residences?

 

[gdl203]

Grace Bay in Turks & Caicos is amazing. You can also buy day passes to Beaches if the kids want to do some of that stuff.

edit: this is where we stayed this xmas vaca and it was lovely (we rented a villa but there are several nice hotels on the bay)

 

[dtmt]

I've heard very good things about Martinique, don't know about kids though.

 

[Mark from Plano]

Originally Posted by Beckwith

Thanks. Anyone have experience with the Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas? The residences?

Only eaten dinner there. Not sure how kid-friendly the Ritz will be.

Loved St. Thomas. We rented a house for 2 weeks and ran all over the island in a rental car (they drive on the left). In the VI it's easy to island hop. Ferry from St. Thomas to St. John is about 15 minutes. Easy to catch cabs to all the beaches on St. John.

Ferry to Tortola takes longer (45 min to 1 hour I think), but is very doable for a day trip. You could even get to Virgin Gorda if you wanted, although we never made it over that far.

Most of the resorts on St. Thomas are either on the east end (Ritz, etc.) near Red Hook or on the north side. Wouldn't stay in Charlotte Amalie if it were me. It's fun to visit there to eat or shop, but I'd stay elsewhere.

Really loved it and love the aspect of being able to visit several islands during a visit.

Have a marine park there that is fun with kids. St. John's beaches are about the best anywhere in the Caribbean, IMO.

My kids were probably 10 & 12 when we were there and they loved it.

 

[darnelled]

We stayed at a great, private villa overlooking Dawn Beach on St. Maartin. It sat 100 yards from the Westin resort, has 2 pools with a great view and is 20 minutes from the gourmet restaurants of Gran Case.

 

[Beckwith]

Thanks for all the advice. I am pretty much done on the Ritz Carlton residences in St. Thomas. Well priced, direct from NYC, daily maid service, concierce, etc. I have heard about the island hoping and appreciate that as well. Have some kid activities, but my kids are young 4 & 1, so I am questioning how much of a vacation this will really be.

 

[JesseJB]

Any Carribbean locations recommended for a solo trip?

 

[Mark from Plano]

Originally Posted by Beckwith

Thanks for all the advice. I am pretty much done on the Ritz Carlton residences in St. Thomas. Well priced, direct from NYC, daily maid service, concierce, etc. I have heard about the island hoping and appreciate that as well. Have some kid activities, but my kids are young 4 & 1, so I am questioning how much of a vacation this will really be.

I love St. Thomas. A few recommendations, if I might:

Coral World is a preserve/water park on the north side of the island. Kids should really enjoy it. Lots of kid stuff to do. If you go, take your beach stuff, there's a really nice beach right next door to the park.

If you get up to the Magen's Bay area, seek out the Udder Delite Dairy. It's the working Dairy on St. Thomas and they have a store out front that sells amazing ice cream and milkshakes. Kids will love it after a day playing on the beach. As I recall you pass it on the road to and from Magen's Bay.

The Ritz has a great restaurant, but I would HIGHLY recommend trying out Craig & Sally's. It's in the Frenchtown area of Charlotte Amalie. Wonderful food. They have a daily menu, but make sure to try the Eggplant Cheesecake (it's an appetizer, not a dessert). So awesome!

MUST DO: Early in your trip, plan to take the ferry over to St. Johns for a beach day. From the Ferry Dock you can easily catch a shared cab ride to any one of a few different beaches on the north side of the island (Cinnamon Bay, Hawksnest Bay, Trunk Bay, etc.). Pick one, it doesn't matter, they're all amazing. Well...it might matter only in the sense that only one of them (I don't remember which one) has things like equipment and chair rental and a snack bar and that kind of stuff. If you want that, you'll have to figure out which one it is and go there. I wish we'd have spent more time on St. John that we did. If you don't go until the end of your trip you'll be sad you didn't go sooner. Best beaches in the Carribean, IMO.

Have fun. If I think of more things I'll try to post them.

 

[Beckwith]

^^ Great suggestions. Any restaurants that come to mind on St. John's? Did you visit the Westin there? With two kids under 5, I am not sure how adventurous we will be with the beaches but we will be going to the Marine Park and St. Johns for dinner. Thanks again.

 

[Metooxx]

Originally Posted by Beckwith

Thanks. Anyone have experience with the Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas? The residences?

Nice; but not special. I have stayed there a lot for business. Best hotel on the island.

St. Johns is better; I think it is a Westin.

 

[danilo]

I'm from Puerto Rico and I've had the privelage to visit many of the islands close buy, St. Marteen, St. Thomas, St. John, all very nice. I liked St. Marteen, seeing the planes come in and go out, as well as their cheap Heinekens

If you have the opportunity, it would be great to go to British Virgin Islands, specfically Virgin Gorda where you can visit 'The Baths'

 

[NH_Clark]

Ritz on 7-mile beach Grand Cayman

absolutely gorgeous water and beach.. fantastic service!