I think I have narrowed my decision to either Four Seasons Nevis or Anse Chastenet St. Lucia. Both look so appealing. We are travelling with our 2 boys age 6 (saavy travelers even at this young age). It seems like St. Lucia is more "exotic" and stunning with a different feel than we've experienced before but Anse is a little less kid friendly than FS (no tvs, programs etc. which I'm ok with and 100 steps to the beach). Is FS stuffy like One&Only Ocean club? (we've been several times but last time felt like it was way conservative...) Or is it more laid back? Travelling next month so of course this is very much down to the wire! Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks...oh airfare and hotel rates about the same..thanks again.

Having stayed at Anse Chastanet years ago, and having rented a villa on Nevis, my thought would be that AC is kind of tedious to come and go. There is a very rutted mile long road in and out of the resort. So going out is an excursion. Nevis, on the other hand, is easy to get around and distances are much shorter than St. Lucia.

Do you have a standard room at AC or one of those knock your socks off villas high on the hill? Those rooms are made for romance IMO, and I wouldn't "waste" one with kids along.

Also, Nevis has blue signs everywhere, with small historical sites. So it is a fun adventure to drive around, park the car, and investigate old sugar ruins, and lonely roads. Kids would like that. St. Lucia is rugged, huge, and as I said, everything is a longer distance that Nevis.

Have fun deciding!

The Four Seasons Nevis is a very family-friendly resort. It's very upscale but not at all stuffy in the way that One and Only Ocean Club is.

I think Anse Chastanet is really not right for you. It's not that it's not "very" child-friendly. It's not child-friendly at all. There are many many steps down to the beach, there's no pool, and there's no air-conditioning. I would strongly urge you not to go there.

Jadestanley, you may want to look into Jalousie on St. Lucia. It's nestled between the Pitons and is much more kid friendly than AC. We stayed at Stonefield resort a few years ago and visited both Jalousie (almost everyday for their beautiful beach) and AC (black sand-beautiful, but literally burned my feet). Jalousie has a large pool, beach bar, and is right on the beach.

www.jalousie-hilton.com

Good luck!

Thanks for the replies. I think we'll save St. Lucia for when we are by ourselves or the kids are a little older. Doug; thanks for the comparison of FS to One and Only...I loved the Ocean Club (we were married there) but the vibe is not what we're looking for this trip with the kids. Has anyone stayed at Caneel Bay with kids? That was another thought...thanks again! Boy I wish every day were filled with thoughts of which beautiful caribbean island to visit next! Come to think of it...

Caneel does have children's programs (though they may be seasonal), but I've never thought of it as particularly family-friendly.

There are alot of upscale resorts that fit the bill, though. If you are extending your search for a family-friendly luxury resort, take a look at Cuisinart on Anguilla.