We are currently starting to plan a family vacation to the Caribbean for the first week of May 2010. Together we are 6 adults, and one infant who will be 11 months old at the time. We are very confused about which island would meet our needs. I am hoping you can help us out. Here are our requirements:
- beautiful beach
- shopping and nightlife available
- child friendly
- looking to spend around $500 usd per night per double occupancy room, would like a luxurious hotel
All in all, somewhere that is beauiful and relaxing, and at the same time, has wonderful restaurants and dining available for the evenings.
Please recommend island, and if possible, a hotel which will suit our needs.

Thank you!

B

Check out Grace Bay, Turks & Caicos. We like www.oceanclubresorts.com (we stay at Ocean Club West). You don't say where you are traveling from, but it is very easy to get there.

If you want more luxury there are many more to choose from. Just google Grace Bay, Turks & Caicos or read the threads on this site---many recommendations. Most of them are condo type units which would be good with the little one.

The restaurants are outstanding although there is really not much nightlife and only a little shopping. The beach is fabulous.

For nightlife and shopping maybe www.atlantis.com may be the place for you.

Another thought with more nightlife and shopping is Aruba.

Our family absolutely loved the Malliouhana on Anguilla. The hotel is beautiful..a European boutique-style, upscale place.Phenomenal beaches, great dining, good snorkeling and friendly natives await you. If you want more action, you can take the ferry over to St. Martin for shopping and/or nightlife.
Also worth looking at on Anguilla are Cap Juluca and the Cuisinart resort.

Highly recommend this island.

you are traveling in low season so that should help you get more lux for your bucks.

i'd like to suggest barbados. it's an easy island to get around & normally easy to get to. lots of to do's. good restaurants. beautiful beaches. fun nightlife in the gap < (st. lawrence gap is the town on southwest coast).
one of our regular posters lois swanson has put together a wonderul site after having been almost 30 times. here's her link: www.barbadostips.com
http://www.littlegoodharbourbarbados.com/index1.html might work for your family.
or http://www.amaryllisbeachresort.com/
http://www.treasurebeachhotel.com/ is more expensive but they were offering a "friends & family" deal that books 2nd room at 1/2 price.

ttt

ok i'll take another shot at this. a couple more places that might suit your family.
1- playa del carman area on maya riviera coast south of cancun. has tons of fun duty free shopping. a decent nightlife. tons to do during the day with gorgeous beaches, tennis/golf, snorkeling/diving, caves & cenotes, ruins to exlore, 2 wonderful eco marine parks xel-ha and xcaret, horseback riding, atv jungle tours, zip-lines etc.
2- grand cayman. seven mile beach is gorgeous. shopping is good & enough to do at night. plenty of hotels directly on the beach plus numerous very nice condo's like plantana or villas of the galleon.
3- aruba. i haven't been but they have gambling.

from my experience all island people are kid friendly.