which island??
Mar 13th, 2014, 07:00 AM
#1
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which island??
Any input on which caribbean island for a family vaction with young kids? We enjoy quiet beaches and exploring. Thoughts on Rincon, Puerto Rico or Curaco? Anyone have good luck with vacation rentals also?
Mar 13th, 2014, 07:34 AM
#2
Have good luck on every island. Every island offers something, but to help you narrow down, please tell us more:
BUDGET (most important, preferably for room nightly)
how long
what time of year?
how many in family
would you rent a car for must haves
what ages of kids
do you need activities
shopping, casinos, a town
hilly and scenic or long gorgeous beaches
this will help us help you
BUDGET (most important, preferably for room nightly)
how long
what time of year?
how many in family
would you rent a car for must haves
what ages of kids
do you need activities
shopping, casinos, a town
hilly and scenic or long gorgeous beaches
this will help us help you
Mar 13th, 2014, 07:36 AM
#3
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You can find quiet beaches and explore on any Caribbean island so you've not given us much to go on - Need more information from you in order for contributors to make meaningful suggestions.
How many and old are your "young kids"?
When will you be traveling?
How long a trip?
Where are you flying from?
Most importantly, what is your actual dollar budget for airfare, accommodations, meals and activities? Be specific, terms like "not too expensive", "affordable","won't break the bank" are meaningless without a dollar point of reference.
What do you like to do besides sitting on a "quiet beach"?
What types of places do you like to "explore"?
What type of rental are you considering - condo, small cottage, upscale villa?
Do you have a preference for location of rental unit - beach front, beach access, in town, countryside, mountainside????
What type of island experience are you seeking?
Have you been to other destinations in the Caribbean? If so, what did you like or dislike about those destinations?
The more details you can give us about your likes/dislikes the easier it will be to steer you in the right direction.
How many and old are your "young kids"?
When will you be traveling?
How long a trip?
Where are you flying from?
Most importantly, what is your actual dollar budget for airfare, accommodations, meals and activities? Be specific, terms like "not too expensive", "affordable","won't break the bank" are meaningless without a dollar point of reference.
What do you like to do besides sitting on a "quiet beach"?
What types of places do you like to "explore"?
What type of rental are you considering - condo, small cottage, upscale villa?
Do you have a preference for location of rental unit - beach front, beach access, in town, countryside, mountainside????
What type of island experience are you seeking?
Have you been to other destinations in the Caribbean? If so, what did you like or dislike about those destinations?
The more details you can give us about your likes/dislikes the easier it will be to steer you in the right direction.
Mar 13th, 2014, 07:48 AM
#4
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We are just throwing ideas around... possibly in January/February... budget not real expensive... kids are under 10yrs old. We like a beach front property with a swimming pool and not a real busy tourist beach. Would like to be able to rent a car and explore, horseback riding, fishing etc... not into scuba diving so that is not a must on our list. Would like to be able to drive or walk into a town for eating etc.. we have enjoyed Nassau but stayed on a resort and just to busy. Also, looking at safety concerns besides the usual watch out for your surroundings. In which we know crime can happen anywhere but would like to feel safe walking around.
Any suggestions at all would be helpful. Which beaches have crystal clear blue water? Also, how would Rincon Puerto Rico rate for a family vacation? Any other islands would be helpful ideas.. we are not interested in the Bahamas, Jamaica or Mexico at this time.
Any suggestions at all would be helpful. Which beaches have crystal clear blue water? Also, how would Rincon Puerto Rico rate for a family vacation? Any other islands would be helpful ideas.. we are not interested in the Bahamas, Jamaica or Mexico at this time.
Mar 13th, 2014, 10:06 AM
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So you want an island that has a place to stay on the beach with a pool, and you want to fish, ride horses, and rent a car.
Maybe it's me, but most islands in the Caribbean offer this.
If you want more specific suggestions, you need to provide more specifics....like others have mentioned above (starting) with a budget.
Right now, your request is like asking what car to buy, if you want one with round tires. Hope this helps clear up what others are asking you for.
Maybe it's me, but most islands in the Caribbean offer this.
If you want more specific suggestions, you need to provide more specifics....like others have mentioned above (starting) with a budget.
Right now, your request is like asking what car to buy, if you want one with round tires. Hope this helps clear up what others are asking you for.
Mar 13th, 2014, 11:21 AM
#6
<budget not real expensive... kids are under 10yrs old.>
$100/night, $200/night, $300/night???
Depending on which island and for a beachfront place with swimming pool and not a lot of tourists, I think anything under $300/night would probably be considered "not real expensive".
Two adults? How many kids?
$100/night, $200/night, $300/night???
Depending on which island and for a beachfront place with swimming pool and not a lot of tourists, I think anything under $300/night would probably be considered "not real expensive".
Two adults? How many kids?
Mar 13th, 2014, 01:03 PM
#7
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Sorry but "not real expensive" tells us nothing. We have no idea what that means to you so please give us a dollar range, even if it's embarrassingly low, if you want us to be of any help.
That said, beachfront accommodations on any Caribbean Island rarely "not real expensive" by anyone's definition unless you are so wealthy that money is not an object. The further away from "tourist areas" you get the more likely that beachfront property that can accommodate a family with multiple kids is going to be a multi-million dollar villa with a rental price to match. Also, a place further away from the tourist areas is not going to be within walking distance of a town or many restaurants. You are asking for contradictory items.
Kids under 10 doesn't tell us anything either - a 6 month old toddler is under 10 so is a 9 YO but they will have vastly different needs. Why keep the number of children and there ages a secret?
That said, beachfront accommodations on any Caribbean Island rarely "not real expensive" by anyone's definition unless you are so wealthy that money is not an object. The further away from "tourist areas" you get the more likely that beachfront property that can accommodate a family with multiple kids is going to be a multi-million dollar villa with a rental price to match. Also, a place further away from the tourist areas is not going to be within walking distance of a town or many restaurants. You are asking for contradictory items.
Kids under 10 doesn't tell us anything either - a 6 month old toddler is under 10 so is a 9 YO but they will have vastly different needs. Why keep the number of children and there ages a secret?
Mar 13th, 2014, 01:18 PM
#8
Hotels now count kids as persons, only on occasion do you see "kids stay free", so we ask again, how many and ages?
Jan/Feb is peak season in Caribbean, so will be most expensive time of year
Not real expensive needs an actual nightly budget for room.
Crystal clear waters, all have them to an extent. If you mean bright turquoise with white sand, there are 2 groupings if islands:
Hilly and scenic, beaches mostly in coves. Sand a little browner, water clear, but deeper blue sometimes navy. Sometimes the water can be a little churned up run off from hills. Think St. Lucia, Grenada, Antigua.
Flat dry and scrubby, bright white sand, turquoise crystal clear water. Think Turks and Caicos, Bahamas, cayman islands, Anguilla.
Compromise, without knowing how old the kids, is St. John Virgin Islands
Under 10 yrs no one will let you horseback ride
Peak season will be busy, no way around it. Jan drops around the middle, then picks up and sells out in February.
Jan/Feb is peak season in Caribbean, so will be most expensive time of year
Not real expensive needs an actual nightly budget for room.
Crystal clear waters, all have them to an extent. If you mean bright turquoise with white sand, there are 2 groupings if islands:
Hilly and scenic, beaches mostly in coves. Sand a little browner, water clear, but deeper blue sometimes navy. Sometimes the water can be a little churned up run off from hills. Think St. Lucia, Grenada, Antigua.
Flat dry and scrubby, bright white sand, turquoise crystal clear water. Think Turks and Caicos, Bahamas, cayman islands, Anguilla.
Compromise, without knowing how old the kids, is St. John Virgin Islands
Under 10 yrs no one will let you horseback ride
Peak season will be busy, no way around it. Jan drops around the middle, then picks up and sells out in February.
Mar 18th, 2014, 06:40 PM
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I have to agree with the above responses, but since you mentioned Curacao, I will throw in my .02 cents for that Island. We stayed at the Lions Dive. It is beach front with a pool and 3 restaurants on site. It is also in close proximately/walking distance to other dining options. We stayed in a 2 bedroom condo unit on the property. Very nice. It was a free upgrade, so cannot speculate as to the cost. The hotel is also within walking distance to the Aquarium. During our stay we got free access to the Aquarium for being a guest at the Lion's Dive.
Renting a car would be advised. The beaches there are coves/inlets on the West side of the Island and you need a car and a very good map to find them. The downtown area is nice and clean with real department stores and no hagglers or timeshare people. Very safe.
The sand is made up of crushed coral, so water shoes were needed. Getting their from the US was a huge pain. From Texas, using AA, we were going to be forced to overnight in Miami no matter what flight we chose. I finally found a flight on Continential (yes, it was Continential at that time) to Aruba and then took Insel Air from Aruba to Curacao. It was a good vacation, but not one of our favorites and we would not return.
Also look at Turks & Caicos. It's usually hits many families wish list and people who return rave about it.
Renting a car would be advised. The beaches there are coves/inlets on the West side of the Island and you need a car and a very good map to find them. The downtown area is nice and clean with real department stores and no hagglers or timeshare people. Very safe.
The sand is made up of crushed coral, so water shoes were needed. Getting their from the US was a huge pain. From Texas, using AA, we were going to be forced to overnight in Miami no matter what flight we chose. I finally found a flight on Continential (yes, it was Continential at that time) to Aruba and then took Insel Air from Aruba to Curacao. It was a good vacation, but not one of our favorites and we would not return.
Also look at Turks & Caicos. It's usually hits many families wish list and people who return rave about it.
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