rede440

We'd like a fairly high-end but non-snobby resort with access to activities.

We will be traveling with our 2 sons who are 16 and 14. One likes to SCUBA and snorkel, the other needs other warm bodies to play with and loves the beach swimming tennis, etc. I love the beach! And need a place where I don't have to wake up at 7 and RUN to the beach to reserve a chair! My husband needs fishing near by. We like a few good restaurants that we can go to without the kids for a nice grown up night. We don't like all inclusive resorts. Have stayed at the Ritz in Grand Cayman and the Regent Palms in Turks and Caicos recently. Both were good experiences other than the lounge chair thing at the Ritz.

We're thinking about ST Barts??? But really could go anywhere.

Any ideas??? you guys never let me down!

Barthophile

Hmmmm...first let me say my moniker really says it all, I love St. barth's and generally would never steer someone away...but, well, here goes. As a general observation, i would not say St. barth's is the best place for families, especially families with teens. Do your kids speak French? If not, it will be difficult to make many friends, and that's hard enough even if you do speak French. On the bright side, there is scuba and snokling, there are chartered fishing excusions and you won't have to run to a chair for sunning. Someone will do that for you . The beaches are stunning, the food and wine fabulous, and the pace is slow. Have you looked into accomodations and flights? The week you speak of is High, high season, and hotel and villa rates will be doubled, tripled from the rest of the high season in some cases. You must take a stoll aircraft over from St. Marteen and those flights book fast around Christmas/New Years.

Good luck, and good travels.

Barthophile

Forgot to mention, the resort I would recommend for your family would be the Guanahani www.leguanahani.com. They have a lovely beach with watersports, and they do have tennis courts. I did look up availability for you, they are showing their two bedroom garden view accomodation at 2870E/night the week you are looking. Have a wonderful trip.

mrknowall

Barbados may be the best bet

J_R_Hartley

"St. barth's is the best place for families, especially families with teens. Do your kids speak French? If not, it will be difficult to make many friends,"

Not a problem, there will be tons of American kids to make friends with at that time of year.

iw

I love St. Barths! We rented a villa in July and were thrilled with it. I will do it over a hotel on that island again. The island is easy to navigate, the stores are easy to find to stock up on supplies and there are a plethora of wonderful restaurants. The kids should be fine. We had a fine time and language was not a problem. A rental car is a must here. The only thing that a villa does not have is an on site waitstaff. I really didn't miss it and the daily maid service was very nice along with a pool guy who came twice a week.

rede440

Holy Moly 2870E/night! It's a beautiful hotel but my goodness that's expensive! That's over 4000 dollars a night!

We've looked at the Villa option but they all seem to be in the cooler hills and we really want to be on the beach. The kids are more independent. I also don't want to cook!!