Need help deciding where to go with family!!
 

We are trying to plan a trip to the caribbean in April '04. Our children are 6, 13, and 16 years old.
We are concerned about safety (Jamaica scares us!), and about health (getting sick from water, etc).
We would be going for a week, so activities are important, and the boys would like to golf.
Turquiose water with beach access and clean hotel are also important.
Hey, I dont ask for much, do I??

On our short list are T&C, Bahamas, St. Lucia, and St. Croix. But we are open to other suggestions.
TIA!

We've been to both the Bahamas and T&C in the last 3 years. We stayed at Comfort Suites in the Bahamas which has full access to Atlantis. This was tropical Disneyland. We all had a great time. This last summer we went to T&C, stayed at Ocean Club on Provo. I loved how quiet and low key it was. I thought the beach was much more enjoyable without the vendors that Bahamas had. The food in Provo was much better. It was very safe.
I felt like there was plenty to do, but the kids liked the Bahamas better because there was "more" to do (actually, there were all the same things to do in T&C, but it took slightly more effort sometimes). My kids are 11, 14 & 17. One thing the Bahamas definitely had more of was shopping. I think if you went to Provo your kids would love it if they didn't have the Atlantis and Nassau shopping to compare it to. Good luck!

Turks and Caicos is a great place for you. It is very safe, and the beaches are just unbeleivable. Beaches Turks is terrific for kids - they will never be bored and the grounds are just beautiful. Tons for everyone to do.

I can understand your concern about Jamaica - it is not one of the safer islands, tons of poverty and crime in certain areas. We personally have been there numerous times and on the resorts you are perfectly safe and off, you jsut need to use common street smarts. Negril is a terrifc area - some of the best beaches in the islands. And some of the more affordable resorts - many super for families.

If you are concerned about safety, then the Cayman Islands should be top of your list of options....guaranteed stress free in that regard.

Just last weekend I took my 9 year old to the beach with some friends, we walked about half a mile and then turned back....he lagged behind, collecting shells for some visitors walking the beach....til eventually when we got back to where we started he was still nearly half a mile away.

I've been to over 20 Caribbean islands, and it occurred to me that I know no other island where I would have left my 9 year old half a mile away collecting shells for strangers :)

We also have a first class championship golf course across the road from the beach (the Links at Safehaven), which also has multiple tees which really are suited for all levels of ability.

Check out www.caymanislands.ky for full information on our beautiful island gem

You might want to check this and other boards before you decide to go to Beaches (try wheretostay.com & tciforum.com). We had originally made our reservations there and then changed them to Ocean Club after we read all the mixed reviews. Beaches is an AI and Provo has great restaurants.