ccalhoon

I have been to Cancun twice and loved the beaches. We had all inclusive hotels each time and I liked that also simple because my idea of a vacation is to do as little as possible and just lay on the beach and eat whenever I want. I don't want to worry about choosing a great rest. and getting dressed up to go out. SO, my question is this: can you compare some of the caribeean islands to cancun for me since that is the only thing I have to compare it too. I have also been to the big island of hawaii and maui, so you can use those islands to compare as well. We are planning our next vacation and we will also be bringing our 13 month old along. Are you safe in mexico or the caribbean with a 13 month old? Thanks!

Diana

Hello,
We have been going to Mexico (Cancun and environs) every spring for 12 years and to the Caribbean every fall for 14 years.

If you liked Cancun, you will LOVE the islands.

I think that Negril, JA and Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos, and Anguilla would all compare well to Cancun as far as the beaches.

Negril has some very nice AI's. Provo has one or two, and I don't think Anguilla has many/any.

Another option would be to fly into Cancun and travel less than an hour south and go to the Playa del Carmen area. Lots of nice AI's around there too.

Also a choice would be Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. MANY AI's there, but the beach is not QUITE as nice as the other places.

One other option is Aruba. VERY similar to Cancun in a lot of aspects.

You would be as safe on any of these islands as in Cancun.

KVR

We've been to Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel and Maui/Oahu as well as a few Caribbean Islands.

Not all Caribbean Islands offers such good AI resorts as Mexico. For comparison of Maui, I would look at St. Lucia and St. John, however, neither have good AI resorts especially with a baby. Sandals in St. Lucia is good, but they don't allow children.

For exceptional beaches, I would look at Grand Cayman, Turks and Caicos, and Aguilla. However, they don't offer good AI resorts either. We are going to T & C in May and unless you can afford around $7,000 for an AI at Beaches or Coral Gardens that's as far as it goes for AI resorts. Unfortunatley, we can't.

For something comparable to Cancun that has AI resorts, good beaches and allows children, look at Jamaica, especially the Beaches resorts, Nassau, Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Aruba and Curacao.

In our opinion, nothing compares to Mexico. It's still our favorite beach vacation with Grand Cayman coming in second, but we haven't completed our list of all the Caribbean Islands we want to see yet.

ccalhoon

I think my husband is scared that our baby is going to be kidnapped in Cancun! Unless it happens on the beach, we hardly venture anywhere else! So as far as beached go, can I assume that you all think the beaches in Cancun are nice even compared to other caribbean island? I'm not a huge Jamaica fan, we stopped there on a cruise and I felt unsafe! Grand Caymen was nice and beautiful! But I think I am sold on the all inclusive because it is so easy. I know it isn't the best food, but I like how easy it is. We aren't big drinkers either. Cancun is probably the biggest bang for our buck! I can't even imagine paying for Beaches on T&C.

KVR

If you like Cancun, try Playa del Carmen or Cozumel. Mexico is one of the least expensive beach destinations.

Aruba offers some really nice hotels with AI plans and is supposably the safest Island in the Caribbean. Look at the Holiday Inn or La Cabana in Aruba. Also look at Breezes in Curacao. Nice family orineted AI hotel right next to the Aquarium.

I have never felt unsafe going off the property in Mexico or any of the other destination we've been to. We love guided Island tours, which is a good way to see the Island we are visitng and feel safe doing it. However, we don't have children.

ccalhoon

ttt