metcarl

Hi, I am looking for a place to go for our 10th anniversary next August and decided we want to take our kids with us too: ages 6 and 2. We want a resort with some sort of kids club just to give us a little down time. It does not have to be a full day program, especially for the 2 year old because I think most kids clubs cater to older children. We would like a place that is a family-friendly resort but that is not just a family resort (i.e. not Beaches or Atlantis). The other main requirement is that we want a kitchen. It is just too hard to eat out every meal with young kids and we enjoy eating some lunches and breakfasts in our room.

We are currently looking at Cotton Bay Village on St. Lucia. They have a kids club open most the day and also a creche for the younger kids for a 2 hour max everyday. That sounds perfect. The beach just doesn't seem to be the best for the kids - but we could mainly use the pool and explore the island more. We went to T&C (Somerset) 2 years ago and while the beach was GREAT for kids, we want to try someplace new.

Our budget is around 400-500/night. The Carribean isn't a must either - we were also thinking Mexico? Belize? We've been to Bosque del Cabo in Costa Rica and loved it, but need something less remote for the kids. We do not want an AI (unless it's something like Bosque del Cabo) since most AI's don't offer a kitchen anyway.

qwovadis

Villas with full kitchens and living areas; Children's program for ages 3 to 12; Complimentary ferry to St. Thomas for shopping with a resort transfer

http://www.familyvacationcritic.com/...ohn-resort-and

Have stayed here from $100 and up bidding priceline.com

betterbidding.com join spg.com for club villa perks upgrades

Cotton Bay is ok not great lot in Castries sort of dodgy

Tripadvertizer reviews look pretty fake rankings suspect

dogs bark all night Anse Chastenet best there...

Little Dix Bay great more $$$

they have their Little Rosebuds program you might check out.

AIs Like Iberostar Riu Paradisus almondresorts.com good kids

programs but usually no kitchen.

Mexico Resorts good too mostly AIs and no kitchen.

So for safety and beauty beach snorkel CLEAN unlike Castries

St John or the Westin or Gallows Point maho.org caneelbay.com

Congrats Happy Deciding!

RoamsAround

Check out Four Seasons on Nevis - they are one of the top luxury resorts in the caribbean and have an excellent children's program. They have small villas that are perfect for families, not sure, however, if they will be in your price range but you should check it out to be sure.

FYI - your instincts are correct regarding your 2YO - at that age they won't get very much out of any children's program - it's more like a baby sitting/play time service.

Eschew

Have you consider a Disney resort? They may surprise you.

Other cosnideration maybe a cruise. Most mass market cruise ships offer age appropriate kid's club activities. You can be in the spa, enjoying a show or other ship's activities while they are at the kids club. Yet, you have the option to spend time with them if you want: at the pool, go to shore excursions, dinner etc. You may want to check the various cruise lines and see what type of kid's club activities are offered for your kids.

virginia

i think you should look at fdr pebbles on jamaica. lots of activities for you to do on & off resort - while the kids are with "their nanny". i've not stayed there but photos & floorplans clearly show stove/sink/frig in the 2br & 3br suites. has spa, pools, beaches, etc

metcarl

Thanks for your replies, but nothing suggested really fits our criteria - except Cotton Bay Village. I have my reservations about this place however because I cannot find much info about it on these forums, and because of the comments above.

FDR pebbles: AI, don't really want to go to Jamaica - my husband and I went there about 4 years ago.

Disney - want to go out of the U.S. something special for our anniversary

Cruises: rooms way too small, my husband hates the idea of a cruise for some reason, no kitchen

St. John's Westin - rooms not really our style, too modern, less island feel

LOVE the Four Seasons! We have stayed at 4S Costa Rica and Bali (honeymoon). However, way out of our price range for the villas.

Other suggestions are either out of our price range or do not have a kitchen. I wish I knew what Cotton Bay really was like! It looks great on paper.

Eschew

There is Disney HK, Disney Paris, Disney Japan to consider ....

Suites in Cruise ships are quite roomy with the Mega Ships. However, they won't have a kitchen in your cabin.

Have you also consider St Thomas (US Virgin Island) Both the Ritz-Carlton and Westin offers kids program.

Lyn_Smith

I need to weigh in on
Disney Japan as we were just there in August and were the only non asian people there as the tourist industry hasn't come back yet. The food available there is not the usual fare and we have adventurous eaters!!! I love St. John and the beaches are wonderful but we always rent villas from suitestjohn.com. That is a great option and maybe they can help with a sitter? We have gone for lunch at the Westin and it looks like they have a lot of things for the kids to do. Have you considered Elbow Beach Club in Bermuda?

Venusdee

Hi read up on Aphrodite Hills in Cyprus they have fantastic kids facilities. open 7 days a week. 10.00am till 10.00pm for the older kids and 10.00am till 6.00pm for babies and todlers. fabulous programme of activities, children cry not wanting to leave.....

jck4

I am you exactly - 5 1/2 y/o and 2 y/o and 10 year anniv. Have you decided on anything? I also want a place where you can snorkel off shore easily.

metcarl

jck4 - No I haven't decided on anything yet. I do highly recommend Turks & Caicos for the beaches which are great for kids. You can snorkel easily offshore. If we didn't really want a kitchen, I would try out Beaches.

Cotton Bay still seems to be exactly what we want, but I am still concerned about some of the reviews. We still may try it out though.

Caribzack

We also LOVE the Somerset on Turks & Caicos. We were there this past winter and met the new GM and the new kids club manager ..very impressive people. The resort has gone through great changes , take a look again. www.thesomerset.com Great free night deals !

beachykeen

Agree with FS in Nevis. Also Ritz-Carlton in Grand Cayman, or San Juan. Carimar in Anguilla has 2 bedroom condos with kitchen, grocery store near-by. No pool but great beach and ocean. I don't think any hotels on Anguilla have kids clubs, but there is baby sitting