Hello,
We may be looking for the impossible but we want to travel in early March with a family of 5 -- two parents, kids 8 and 13, plus a senior citizen. We are looking for a place with lots of activities for the kids, ideally a kids club, great snorkeling (ok good snorkeling would be fine), Ideally I'd like a place that we would feel safe enough leaving the resort for, say, horseback riding. The Bucanneer at St. Croix was one option that looked pretty good. Club Med in Punta Cana looked a little busy for me and I was scared off by some bad reviews about the food and drink and hygiene, but I could be convinced otherwise. We are open to Bahamas and Bermuda, and not interested in Mexico. As for budget, we are looking for a notch or two or three below pampered luxury but above budget accomodations.
Trying to satisfy a lot of interests -- any ideas?
Many thanks.

I just topped a thread by Tabernash2 who LOVED her stay at The Bucanneer last year.

Can you give actual budget? Those discriptions mean different to everyone here and doesn't help--

Actual $ figure range helps us help you and please say if includes air, food, other stuff or room only

I assume it's spring break? When prices are higher? Not much left either, booking fast everywhere

Weather in March in Bermuda is great for golf, not so much for ocean activities.

Look at The Sands on Grace Bay-Turks & Caicos or The Somerset . 2 great spots -different price ranges...both near dining ( & on site) plus a bit of a walk to snorkel but great locations , nice condos, great staffs etc

Thanks for the suggestions -- I will check out Sands and Somerset.
As for budget, I was hoping to spend $7-8,000 for the family of four for a week at a resort including meals. Is that realistic?

kmr20, suze is right that we really enjoyed the Buccaneer. We had five adult family members: DH and I, our DD, our DS and his fiancee. We had three oceanfront deluxe rooms, which were wonderful and were an upgrade from the main house rooms I'd reserved.

A full breakfast buffet is included, served in a gorgeous open-air dining room. Service is great everywhere on the resort. Free snorkel gear and kayaks. Free beginner scuba lessons in the pool. Scuba outings are available, at a cost. Everyone in our group tried scuba, but me, and they loved it.

The dining room food is great for more special dinners, there's a beachside cafe that is open all day and hosts nighttime specials like a lobster cookout with live music, a small poolside cabana with good sandwiches and stuff, and a sundries shop that doesn't gouge you. It's not an A-I. We did not want to be paying for all-day liquor, etc.

RE: your budget, I think we spent at the resort a little more than $1000/day for the 5 of us, not including airfare, or one day of car rental, or a couple of meals we ate off-resort.

The Buccaneer will arrange a car for you, and Enterprise will deliver it to the resort. I think it was only about $50 for the day we rented a small SUV so we could go explore the island's other beaches, rainforest, and the 'beer-drinking' pigs.

It's a family owned and operated resort, and the owner gives a weekly tour of the place before she hosts a cocktail hour.

There are three beaches at the Buccaneer. The water is gentle and clear for snorkeling from the beaches.

We were there June 1, and it was not crowded at all at the resort. I can't say enough good things about it.

I second the Sands recommendation above. However its not an AI. The AI resorts in Punta Cana will be an entirely different experience than a resort on Turks. I would also price out one of the higher AI in Punta Cana such as majestic elegance on Iberostar so you can compare pricing/contrast.

I like beaches resort it has a mini waterpark, xbox lounge and a spa!