Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Best Place in the Caribbean??

Your question has no answer. There is no "best place". The Caribbean is a big place (if you include the Bahamas there are over 800 islands that are potential destinations) and every island has it's own unique appeal. People who are unfamilar with the Caribbean have a misconception that all islands are similar but in reality they are all different and no one island has it all. Which one is "best" for you family depends on your particular likes and dislikes and what you want in a Caribbeam experience.

There are big islands and small islands, islands that are flat and arid and islands that are mountainous and lush. There are islands that are quite and laid back while others have casinos and vibrant night life. Some islands have an Old World Caribbean feel, some are more European and still others are Americanized. There are islands that offer great shopping and others that at most have a few t-shirt shops. Some have fantastic miles long beaches, others have small cove like beaches line with beautiful palms and still other have few or no beaches but are an eco-tourists delight. Speaking of beaches, depending on the island they come in all hues and colors ranging from powder white, to pink, to gold, to beige, brown and even black. To say one color sand is better than another is short sighted.

Most have "scenery, good beaches, very good food options, friendly people (after all thety rely on tourism so it helps to be friendly) and by and large they all offer a variety of lodging.

You really have to be more specific in describing what you are seeking. How old are you family members - obviously families with toddlers have different needs than familes with teenage children or families where all members are adults? What do you mean by scenery - Are you looking for views of lush rainforest or views of neighboring islands or perhaps just a pretty garden outside your hotel room? What type of lodging do you require - a large mega resort, smaller boutique resort, high-rise hotel, Plantation Inn, condo, villa, beachfront, beach access, mountainside, guest house, upscale, mid-priced, budget, etc.?? Do you want a destination you can reach non-stop from your nearest gateway city or do you consider taking 2 or 3 connecting flights and/or ferries to reach your island? When you talk about food do you mean an all inclusive resort that includes large portions of mediocre food or do you want an island offering a variety of upscale gourmet quality restaurants, what about local cusines or perhaps fast food? Do you crave watersports such as parasailing or jetskies? How about access to diving or snorkeling sites? Does the color of the surrounding water play a part in you decision? Most of all do you have a particular budget in mind for air fare, lodging and food?