Barbados vs Nevis vs St. John vs St. Martin vs St. Lucia
 

Help, I am planning a trip with my husband, baby and parents. We want a lush tropical island, beautiful water and great beaches. We want a villa on the beach not a standard hotel room since one of us will have to be close to the crib for naps. We dont want anything overcrowded or over priced. We would like to be able to rent a car/jeep and explore a little. We would like to be able to walk around the town and to nearby restaurants. any suggestions

I don't know anything about the other islands, but you should look at the St. John websites. St. John is 2/3 national park and is still U.S. territory with all the perks that carries. It has a very good medical clinic and pediatricians, and the nearest big hospital is on St. Thomas a short ambulance boat ride away. St. John is small, fairly safe and quiet and offers some of the most beautiful scenery, beaches and villas anywhere on the planet. There are some villas either very close or right on the beach. You'll have to check the sites for yourself. There is a wide range of offerings and prices(there is one site which seems to offer more diverse offerings, can't remember the exact website but it's something like "Caribbeanvillas" ). There are 2 small towns with great restaurants and great shopping. Cruz Bay is the larger town and is a lot of fun and still quaint. Virtually no poverty. We bought a house there (sorry, too small for your purposes) and we have a 2 year old who has been playing in the sand since 6 months old. Suggestion: My child rarely gets bug bites and is never sunburnt due to vigilant application of age appropriate sunscreen and bug sprays. Anywhere in the tropics presents these dangers to children. Load up on these items and never allow your child to nap/sleep without a mosquito net! I've heard of one couple who had to leave because their 2 month old was covered in mosquito bites! Jeep rentals are very easy but you should reserve ahead. Have fun!