Change Forum
Several girlfriends (35 years+) and I are trying to plan a trip to the Caribbean. We are all married with kids and want to take 3 days away from it all. Where should we go? We are looking for beautiful beaches, fun night life, great restaurants and pools with cocktails. We don't need the most expensive place. Any advise is appreciated!!
Which Caribbean Island?
Recent Activity
View all Caribbean Islands activity »
- 1 St. Johns vs. Barbados
- 2 Turks & Caicos
- 3 Aruba Local Groceries
- 4 Last minute family trip to Cuba - need ideas!
- 5 Windstar cruises
- 6 Grenada versus Abaco..
- 7 Caribbean honeymoon during hurricane season
- 8 Any one been to Compass Point Beach Resort?
- 9 Saving money while staying at Radisson Blu in Anse Marcel, St. Martin
- 10 A Little bit of Honeymoon here and some More over Where??
- 11 Vieques Ferry. Is it up and running? Still choppy?
- 12 The Ritz, St. Regis or El Conquistador??????
- 13 St Lucia, non beach, non party, non honeymoon...
- 14 Fine Dining in Bermuda
- 15 Bermuda Railway Trail
- 16 Planning Honeymoon in St. Lucia
- 17 Atlantis to Nassau
- 18 Help! Island travel in August (from Minneapolis)
- 19 Anguilla Beach Restaurants (lunch)
- 20
Punta Cana – Truly Caribbean
- 21
Turks and Caicos - trip report Regent Palms with kids 7 & 9 YO
- 22
Puerto Rico Places to Eat
- 23 Aruba - To do and stay?
- 24 Bluebeards Beach Club in St. Thomas
- 25 Staying on Eleuthera - What are the best beaches
With only 3 days you should concentrate on islands you can get to non-stop from the hub or gateway nearest your departure point. If you give us your departure city and expected dates of travel it will be easier to make recommendations. You are most likely going to find it easy to get to places like Nassau, Jamacia, the Dominican Republic, Grand Caymen, Aruba, St. Maarten, Puerto Rico and Antigua.
St. Maarten (dutch side) is probably what you're looking for with the stuff you mentioned. They have beautiful beaches and fun nightlife. As far as great restaurants, the best restaurants are on the french side St. Martin. We stayed on the french side but partied at night on the dutch side ---definitely more fun than the french...but food-wise, well, french side is much better. shopping-wise, dutch side wins!
Another great nightlife and great restaurants with pools and cocktails is the Wyndham El San Juan Hotel in Isla Verde, San Juan Puerto Rico. It has all of those things you are looking for. Please don't confuse it with the other Wyndham El San Juan Hotel which is in Old San Juan. There are 2 of them and the main one (near the airport) is the one to stay at. Absolutely gorgeous hotel (very ornate and old world --- very classy but expensive).
Both SXM and SJU have direct flights by using US Airways so 3 days is not an issue...
We will probably leave from Cincinnati or Louisville.