Surprisingly, the Caribbean was by no means a spot that I appeared to go to after I was youthful. Though it’s handy to go to from the East Coast of the USA, there have been all the time different locations that I ended up visiting. However issues modified as soon as I visited Grand Cayman on a press journey.
I used to be instantly in love with the fantastic individuals, the fabulous Caribbean resorts, the scrumptious meals, and the beautiful seashores. Visiting the Caribbean with youngsters turned a trip precedence.
Since then, I’ve visited various Caribbean islands for household holidays – each individually and as a part of cruise line itineraries. We’ve all the time loved our visits.
As a result of I haven’t been to all the greatest Caribbean islands with my youngsters, I requested some fellow household journey bloggers to advocate their favorites. Right here’s the place we advocate visiting the Caribbean with youngsters.
Observe: I’ve visited a number of of those places as a part of complimentary press journeys or with a reduced price. A few of the journey bloggers quoted might have additionally acquired free or discounted charges. All opinions are our personal.
We advocate that you just analysis any location for safety considerations earlier than touring as issues can all the time change. This put up accommodates affiliate hyperlinks. A purchase order/click on by way of considered one of these hyperlinks might end in a fee paid to us.
The Finest Caribbean Household Holidays
(Sure, we all know a few of these places aren’t technically thought of within the Caribbean, however we’re nonetheless together with them as a result of they’re typically considered Caribbean islands).
Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman is the place it began with us. This stunning, kid-friendly island presents a number of nice actions for households, together with the Cayman Turtle Farm and Stingray Metropolis. There are a number of beautiful seashores – we usually keep on Seven Mile Seashore after which go to Rum Level for a day journey.
Most of the resorts on Grand Cayman supply family-friendly actions, together with water sports activities, youngsters applications, and exquisite swimming pools. Whereas I really like spending time on the seashore, it’s all the time good to have another actions to take pleasure in. For a break from the seashore, go to Camana Bay, a waterfront complicated that gives actions, outlets, and eating places. There, you’ll discover an commentary tower and a movie show. With all of those implausible actions, we expect that Grand Cayman is among the greatest Caribbean holidays for households.
Advisable resorts embody the Westin Grand Cayman and the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman. The Sunshine Suites, throughout from the Westin, is a good, inexpensive choice.
Turks and Caicos
The primary time I noticed a photograph of the gorgeous turquoise Turks and Caicos water, I knew I needed to go to. I’ve since been 3 times, and seeing that stunning sea by no means will get outdated.
Turks and Caicos is made up of a number of totally different islands, though you’ll more than likely be flying in by way of Providenciales. If you’re taking a cruise to Turks and Caicos, you’ll in all probability go to Grand Turk.
On Providenciales, you’ll discover fantastic household resorts, together with the favored Seashores Turks and Caicos all inclusive resort. Seashores presents youngsters’ golf equipment, leisure, a water park, a lazy river, parades, and a lot extra.
When you’d fairly not keep at an all-inclusive, there are different choices as nicely. We loved a keep on the West Bay Membership, which is positioned on the seashore and presents beautiful rooms and a pleasant pool.
Roatan by Desert Chica
West Bay Seashore on Roatan is the right slice of heaven for households that take pleasure in each rest and enjoyable. You may lease a beachfront apartment and spend your days swimming, snorkeling, constructing sand castles on white sand seashores. When you want slightly extra motion, e-book a fishing constitution boat, parasailing journey or scuba diving journey proper from the seashore.
Close by you possibly can swim with dolphins at Anthony’s Key Dolphin Encounters or zip line and see different animals at Gumbalimba Park. And don’t move on the contemporary banana donuts from the well-known ‘Banana Donut’ man strolling up and down the seashore. They’re scrumptious!
Aruba by Youngsters are a Journey
Aruba is an ideal selection for households seeking to take a Caribbean trip. This Dutch island is a part of the Lesser Antilles, and is a straightforward flight from the US. The climate in Aruba is fairly excellent, with typical days seeing temperatures within the mid 80s. The nation lies outdoors the hurricane belt, so that you don’t have to fret about this when planning a go to.
Aruba has loads of youngsters actions for households, from using a jet ski alongside the coast, to browsing and wind crusing, to taking a snorkeling journey with a SeaBob. The SeaBob tour permits guests to go underwater with their motorized scooters and see creatures like sea turtles, lion fish, and eagle rays and even go to a shipwreck.
It’s one thing you’ll all be speaking about for years to come back. Youthful youngsters will benefit from the Aruba Butterfly Farm, taking part in within the shallow waters of Child Seashore, and Philip’s Animal Backyard the place they’ll pet and feed rescued animals.
The locals are a number of the friendliest individuals you’ll find within the Caribbean and so they all the time greet you with a smile. “One Blissful Island” will enchant guests and dwell as much as its repute as among the finest locations to go to within the Caribbean!
St. Thomas – Magens Bay
I used to be solely on St. Thomas for a day as one of many ports of name on the Disney Fantasy. However I actually cherished our tour to Magens Bay – a good looking public seashore on St. Thomas. On the seashore, you’ll be capable of swim, do water sports activities, eat, and extra.
Puerto Rico
Keep proper in the USA with a go to to Puerto Rico. Throughout our go to a number of years in the past, we stayed on the El Conquistador Resort, positioned about an hour and a half from Previous San Juan close to the El Yunque Nationwide Forest. The El Conquistador presents a personal island (with a water shuttle that runs all day), a water park, actions, and eating places.
When you’d favor to remain nearer to San Juan, there are many household pleasant resorts. You may see critiques of resorts and resorts in Puerto Rico right here.
Grenada by Wandering Wagars
The small south Caribbean island of Grenada has lengthy held the title of the “Spice Island.” This mountainous paradise is positioned simply northwest of the extra fashionable vacation spot, Trinidad and Tobago. Grenada acquired the title of The Island of Spice attributable to its manufacturing of fragrant nutmeg and mace spices.
Spice excursions are one of many many unforgettable actions on the island. The Grenada spice excursions supply an opportunity to step again in time and see how spices equivalent to cinnamon, and delicacies like chocolate are dried, floor, and ready.
You can even expertise a number of the island’s magical historical past. Head inland to discover the partitions of Fort George. Peer out at some of the stunning bays within the Caribbean whereas studying about how the fort was constructed to guard town from invaders.
Within the middle of the nation is Grand Etang Nationwide Park, a rainforest which presents stunning mountain climbing trails by way of the mountains and a big crater lake. The hikes are pleasant even for little ft. The park can also be dwelling to a household of Mona monkeys, which aren’t shy about going as much as people and on the lookout for snacks.
Similar to its neighboring islands, Grenada is dwelling to many stunning seashores. Grand Anse Seashore has a two-mile stretch of white sand lining calm blue water. You may lease kayaks and be part of different water sports activities or simply chill out and benefit from the clear, heat waters.
Learn extra right here.
Curaçao, by Lillie Marshall of Across the World “L”
When individuals consider the “ABC Islands” of the Caribbean, they typically gravitate in direction of Aruba due to its extremely efficient promoting and direct flights. I’d strongly urge households to contemplate Curacao, nonetheless. Why? Curacao has a vibrant, pleasant, colourful, and various vibe that completely charmed me and made it my favourite journey vacation spot of all the yr!
For teenagers and adults alike, there are limitless issues to do, from a number of the most stunning seashores on the earth (with a variety of shallow-ness for littler youngsters), jolly candy-colored buildings, enjoyable public artwork (equivalent to the enormous yellow fowl sculptures in Willemstad), and a variety of meals types and worth ranges.
Nassau/Paradise Island
I’d visited Nassau a couple of occasions as a port of name on the Disney Cruise Line however hadn’t stayed there for an extended go to. A number of years in the past, I used to be capable of go to the Nassau/Paradise Island space on a press journey, and my son and I actually loved our go to.
Nassau is dwelling to a number of enjoyable museums that children will love, together with the Pirates of Nassau Museum. In fact, the realm is most recognized for Atlantis Bahamas, the large family-friendly resort positioned on Paradise Island.
Atlantis presents so many implausible household actions and facilities, together with the Aquaventure Water Park, a number of seashores, animal encounters, water sports activities, pottery portray, and extra. There are additionally a number of eating places and seashores on website.
Key West, FL
I’d heard a lot about Key West through the years, however hadn’t visited till I used to be on the Disney Magic earlier this yr. This US island, which is the Southernmost level within the continental United States, is a enjoyable and handy place to go to with youngsters.
There are many issues to do in Key West with youngsters, together with the Ernest Hemingway Home (youngsters will love seeing all the cats on the dwelling) and the Conch Trolley Tour. The entire island has a enjoyable relaxed vibe, and because it’s within the US, you gained’t have to fret about customs, passports, or change charges.
Martinique by All Over the Map
Martinique is a pleasant little piece of France within the Caribbean. Not a territory or a forgotten outpost, both, however an precise integral division of France, with all the advantages that go together with that. The roads are good and you’ll find good cheese and butter and baguettes throughout. The meals is distinctly French, however with contemporary Caribbean components.
Work off all that scrumptious meals by mountain climbing Mount Pelée, a dormant volcano with a wide range of path choices to its 4000+ foot peaks. When you’re not up for a summit hike, the Grande Riviere path will take you partway up and deal with you to a 30-foot waterfall alongside the best way.
Youngsters may take pleasure in listening to concerning the eruption that flattened the close by metropolis of St. Pierre in 1902, leaving one sole survivor: a prisoner in a cell so safe it stored its inhabitant secure from lava, ash and fireplace from the eruption. You may go to the ruins and see the sturdy cell that continues to be.
The volcano can also be chargeable for the black sand seashores of Anse Couleuvre and Anse Noire. Snorkeling is spectacular at each seashores, however the latter has the added bonus of day by day visits from inexperienced sea turtles.
The historical past of the island is wealthy, from the indigenous Caribs, to the arrival of Columbus, to colonialism and slavery underneath French rule. La Savane des Esclaves is a kind of fantastic locations that secretly educates your youngsters whereas entertaining them.
It’s a recreation of a slave settlement, with shows displaying the hardships confronted in day by day life by slaves and former slaves on the island. Excursions are in French solely, however shows are written in English.
The Dominican Republic by Strolling on Travels
The Dominican Republic is among the best Caribbean islands to go to with youngsters. Households can get discover journey, historical past, and seashore life multi functional journey. There are quite a few all-inclusive resorts on the japanese shore of the island in Punta Cana that cater to households at numerous worth factors, together with the Nickelodeon Resorts and Resorts Punta Cana.
The seashores supply white sand, clear blue waters, and a great deal of actions, from kayaking to crusing and a number of the greatest snorkeling round. Adventurous households can head to the north shore of the Dominican Republic, the house of kite boarding.
Head to Cabarete to surf, kite board and windsurf all day. Don’t understand how? There are a number of colleges that may educate you. For these on the lookout for a pleasant hike, you possibly can e-book a tour to see the Damajagua 27 waterfalls outdoors of Puerto Plata. It is a favourite for cruise day-trippers, nevertheless it’s even higher if you’re staying on the island as a result of you should have time to discover all 27 waterfalls, as a substitute of simply twelve.
Households on the lookout for slightly island historical past gained’t be upset in Santo Domingo, positioned on the south facet of the island. Colonial buildings, such because the El Alcazar de Colon and Cathedral Santa Maria La Menor, are stunning examples of the early European historical past on this island.
It doesn’t matter what you selected, you gained’t be sorry if you fly all the way down to this stunning island, full of pleasant individuals, nice meals, and sufficient journey to maintain the children entertained, however sufficient rest time to maintain dad and mom glad.
Earlier than you go, take a look at our Caribbean packing listing right here.