We have not even gone on this year's Spring Break and I am already thinking of next year's. We are sitting on a couple hundred thousand Marriott and Hilton points and I think it is time to use them. I have been hoarding them for Hawaii but there is not yet a drug developed that will get me through a flight that long with my 5 year olds. They are wonderful, adorable, sweet and very, very ACTIVE boys and simply can't be contained for such a long time. Too bad.

So, I am looking to the Caribbean. We are taking them to Spring Training and hiking in Arizona this year and we just got back from a delightful winter sojourn to Mexico so they are out. Been to Florida a ton and no real desire to go back.

So, what Marriott or HIlton is truly great in the Caribbean? We prefer those that have condos as they tend to be easier with our guys but, considering we are using points, we won't be too picky.

Thanks for any advice.
Taitai

None of the Hiltons is truly great. The Marriott on Grand Cayman is nice, though you're at the narrowest end of Seven Mile Beach. The Marriott Frenchman's Reef in St. Thomas is nice. Aruba, Curacao, etc. At some of these hotels, you have to pay for kids programs, so definitely research that aspect if it's important to you.

Thanks Doug. If we were going back to the Cayman's I think I would prefer Tom's Reef Resort. We had a great time there. I agree regarding the Hiltons...nothing jumps out at me when I look at their web site which is why I am asking here.

We don't need kids programs. Just a place that has some kid's amenities...pool slide, playground, people who don't frown when children are around.

Trying to be economical in these recessionary/depressionary times and thought using the points made more sense then shelling out the dollars.

taitai

Marriott Aruba is a huge complex with timeshares attached, lots of pools and very kid friendly. We took our kids when they were around 10 and would go back.

Marriott GC is a smaller scale hotel with a small pool. Not really good for the little ones. I think the ARuba hotel is better.
We used points in both places.

Definitely go to the Hiltons in Hawaii. The oahu hilton is very nice. We loved the Big Island Hilton Waikoloa and it was the best hilton we have ever been to. It is worth the trip!

I have heard the newer Hilton Barbados is nice.
We have been to the Caribe Hilton in Puerto rico and it is a large hotel with several restaurants and nice pools with a nice lagoon area for swimming.

We were able to use points on all of our trips and definitely is a great money saver! I am sitting on some points now and I am looking for different island ideas as well. The marriott curacao looks nice. Also, the marriott on St. thomas would give access to st john as well. I wouldn't mind going back to hawaii. I know the Grand Wailea in Maui is fantastic and is now a Hilton. I requires a ton of points, but I saw it years ago and it was fabulous looking hotel.
Good luck with your choices!

We have taken our girls to Hawaii twice and have not regretted once. We live in North carolina and it is a multiple flight process. We have stayed at the Hilton Waikola Village and loved it tons of things to do and swimming in the lagoon with the sea turtles was a blast. They have great pools. On Oahu we have stayed at the KoOlina Beach Club and the JW is there also. The hotels are sitting on coves that are wonderful to swim in. The beach club has 1 bedrooms with kitchen which is great the a pull out in the lr the the kiddos.
On the way home we do the red-eye, that day we keep very busy and get them good and tired and both times they are asleep before the plane takes off. Hope this helps.

I have been to quite a few Marriotts in the Caribbean, some with my kids, some without. As has already been suggested, Aruba Marriott Ocean or Surf Clubs (the two timeshare/condo buildings) are a great choice with kids. Everything you could possibly need and Aruba is clean, safe, friendly, great weather, good medical facilities and americanized enough that you can find familiar food for the kids. Our favorite is Curacao Marriott, but they are not condos and I don't think it is as great for kids as the Aruba Marriott. Also consider St. Kitts Marriott, they do have a timeshare/condo section and this is another good location for kids -- Aruba and St. Kitts Marriotts are absolutely huge mega-resorts; Curacao is much smaller and low-rise. I am not sure how difficult it is to use points for the timeshares, when I do a Marriott point search they never come up; it may be a separate process through Marriott Vacation Club. FYI, if you can get a suite at the St. Kitts Marriott that might also work as they were very large, with two bathrooms and a separate living room, no refrigerator but you probably can request one. I have also been to the Caribe Hilton, great hotel but I think the Marriott resorts are better for kids. If you save points for Hawaii we took our kids to the Marriott Waikiki which they loved and also have visited the Marriott Maui Ocean Club, great resort in a wonderful location. We also have been to a lot of good Residence Inns in the US, our kids love the breakfast buffet. You can see I am a Marriott fan, I have not had a bad experience ever with Marriott.

Thanks so much for all the replies. I very much appreciate everyone's opinion. It is great to have a starting point from which to do my research.

taitai

We stayed at the Barbados Hilton last year and my two children ages 4 & 6 loved it. In two weeks, we're off to the St. Kitts Marriott which is also suppose to be kid friendly. My children love the camp programs, so we usually book resorts that have these type of programs.

Hilton bought and redid the Rose Hall resort just outside of montego bay, Jamaica not long ago:

http://www.rosehallresort.com/

I haven't been on the property since the redo but it was a nice place with a decent waterpark.