Surprisingly, the Caribbean was by no means a spot that I appeared to go to after I was youthful. Though it’s handy to go to from the East Coast of america, there have been all the time different locations that I ended up visiting. However issues modified as soon as I visited Grand Cayman on a press journey.
I used to be instantly in love with the great folks, the fabulous Caribbean resorts, the scrumptious meals, and the beautiful seashores. Visiting the Caribbean with children grew to become a trip precedence.
Since then, I’ve visited plenty of Caribbean islands for household holidays – each individually and as a part of cruise line itineraries. We’ve all the time loved our visits.
As a result of I haven’t been to all the greatest Caribbean islands with my children, I requested some fellow household journey bloggers to suggest their favorites. Right here’s the place we suggest visiting the Caribbean with children.
Notice: I’ve visited a number of of those places as a part of complimentary press journeys or with a reduced price. A few of the journey bloggers quoted could have additionally acquired free or discounted charges. All opinions are our personal.
We suggest that you just analysis any location for safety considerations earlier than touring as issues can all the time change. This put up accommodates affiliate hyperlinks. A purchase order/click on by one among these hyperlinks could end in a fee paid to us.
The Finest Caribbean Household Holidays
(Sure, we all know a few of these places aren’t technically thought-about within the Caribbean, however we’re nonetheless together with them as a result of they’re usually considered Caribbean islands).
Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman is the place it began with us. This stunning, kid-friendly island provides a lot of nice actions for households, together with the Cayman Turtle Farm and Stingray Metropolis. There are a number of beautiful seashores – we sometimes keep on Seven Mile Seaside after which go to Rum Level for a day journey.
Lots of the resorts on Grand Cayman provide family-friendly actions, together with water sports activities, children packages, and delightful swimming pools. Whereas I like spending time on the seaside, it’s all the time good to have another actions to take pleasure in. For a break from the seaside, go to Camana Bay, a waterfront complicated that gives actions, retailers, and eating places. There, you’ll discover an remark tower and a movie show. With all of those incredible actions, we expect that Grand Cayman is without doubt one of the greatest Caribbean holidays for households.
Really helpful resorts embrace the Westin Grand Cayman and the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman. The Sunshine Suites, throughout from the Westin, is a superb, inexpensive choice.
Turks and Caicos
The primary time I noticed a photograph of the gorgeous turquoise Turks and Caicos water, I knew I needed to go to. I’ve since been thrice, and seeing that lovely sea by no means will get previous.
Turks and Caicos is made up of a number of completely different islands, though you’ll almost definitely be flying in by Providenciales. In case you are taking a cruise to Turks and Caicos, you’ll in all probability go to Grand Turk.
On Providenciales, you’ll discover great household resorts, together with the favored Seashores Turks and Caicos all inclusive resort. Seashores provides children’ golf equipment, leisure, a water park, a lazy river, parades, and a lot extra.
For those who’d somewhat not keep at an all-inclusive, there are different choices as properly. We loved a keep on the West Bay Membership, which is situated on the seaside and provides beautiful rooms and a pleasant pool.
Roatan by Desert Chica
West Bay Seaside on Roatan is the right slice of heaven for households that take pleasure in each rest and enjoyable. You’ll be able to lease a beachfront apartment and spend your days swimming, snorkeling, constructing sand castles on white sand seashores. For those who want just a little extra motion, guide a fishing constitution boat, parasailing journey or scuba diving journey proper from the seaside.
Close by you possibly can swim with dolphins at Anthony’s Key Dolphin Encounters or zip line and see different animals at Gumbalimba Park. And don’t go on the recent banana donuts from the well-known ‘Banana Donut’ man strolling up and down the seaside. They’re scrumptious!
Aruba by Children are a Journey
Aruba is an ideal selection for households trying to take a Caribbean trip. This Dutch island is a part of the Lesser Antilles, and is a simple flight from the US. The climate in Aruba is fairly good, with typical days seeing temperatures within the mid 80s. The nation lies exterior the hurricane belt, so that you don’t have to fret about this when planning a go to.
Aruba has loads of children actions for households, from driving a jet ski alongside the coast, to browsing and wind crusing, to taking a snorkeling journey with a SeaBob. The SeaBob tour permits guests to go underwater with their motorized scooters and see creatures like sea turtles, lion fish, and eagle rays and even go to a shipwreck.
It’s one thing you’ll all be speaking about for years to come back. Youthful children will benefit from the Aruba Butterfly Farm, enjoying within the shallow waters of Child Seaside, and Philip’s Animal Backyard the place they’ll pet and feed rescued animals.
The locals are a number of the friendliest folks you can find within the Caribbean they usually all the time greet you with a smile. “One Pleased Island” will enchant guests and reside as much as its status as the most effective locations to go to within the Caribbean!
St. Thomas – Magens Bay
I used to be solely on St. Thomas for a day as one of many ports of name on the Disney Fantasy. However I actually beloved our tour to Magens Bay – an attractive public seaside on St. Thomas. On the seaside, you’ll be capable of swim, do water sports activities, eat, and extra.
Puerto Rico
Keep proper in america with a go to to Puerto Rico. Throughout our go to a number of years in the past, we stayed on the El Conquistador Resort, situated about an hour and a half from Outdated San Juan close to the El Yunque Nationwide Forest. The El Conquistador provides a non-public island (with a water shuttle that runs all day), a water park, actions, and eating places.
For those who’d want to remain nearer to San Juan, there are many household pleasant resorts. You’ll be able to see evaluations of resorts and motels in Puerto Rico right here.
Grenada by Wandering Wagars
The small south Caribbean island of Grenada has lengthy held the title of the “Spice Island.” This mountainous paradise is situated simply northwest of the extra common vacation spot, Trinidad and Tobago. Grenada acquired the title of The Island of Spice because of its manufacturing of fragrant nutmeg and mace spices.
Spice excursions are one of many many unforgettable actions on the island. The Grenada spice excursions provide an opportunity to step again in time and see how spices corresponding to cinnamon, and delicacies like chocolate are dried, floor, and ready.
It’s also possible to expertise a number of the island’s magical historical past. Head inland to discover the partitions of Fort George. Peer out at one of the vital stunning bays within the Caribbean whereas studying about how the fort was constructed to guard the town from invaders.
Within the middle of the nation is Grand Etang Nationwide Park, a rainforest which provides stunning mountain climbing trails by the mountains and a big crater lake. The hikes are pleasant even for little toes. The park can also be dwelling to a household of Mona monkeys, which aren’t shy about going as much as people and searching for snacks.
Similar to its neighboring islands, Grenada is dwelling to many stunning seashores. Grand Anse Seaside has a two-mile stretch of white sand lining calm blue water. You’ll be able to lease kayaks and be a part of different water sports activities or simply chill out and benefit from the clear, heat waters.
Learn extra right here.
Curaçao, by Lillie Marshall of Across the World “L”
When folks consider the “ABC Islands” of the Caribbean, they usually gravitate in direction of Aruba due to its extremely efficient promoting and direct flights. I’d strongly urge households to contemplate Curacao, nevertheless. Why? Curacao has a vibrant, pleasant, colourful, and various vibe that completely charmed me and made it my favourite journey vacation spot of your complete yr!
For youths and adults alike, there are limitless issues to do, from a number of the most stunning seashores on the earth (with a spread of shallow-ness for littler children), jolly candy-colored buildings, enjoyable public artwork (corresponding to the enormous yellow hen sculptures in Willemstad), and a spread of meals types and value ranges.
Nassau/Paradise Island
I’d visited Nassau a couple of instances as a port of name on the Disney Cruise Line however hadn’t stayed there for an extended go to. A number of years in the past, I used to be capable of go to the Nassau/Paradise Island space on a press journey, and my son and I actually loved our go to.
Nassau is dwelling to a number of enjoyable museums that children will love, together with the Pirates of Nassau Museum. In fact, the realm is most recognized for Atlantis Bahamas, the large family-friendly resort situated on Paradise Island.
Atlantis provides so many incredible household actions and facilities, together with the Aquaventure Water Park, a number of seashores, animal encounters, water sports activities, pottery portray, and extra. There are additionally a number of eating places and seashores on web site.
Key West, FL
I’d heard a lot about Key West over time, however hadn’t visited till I used to be on the Disney Magic earlier this yr. This US island, which is the Southernmost level within the continental United States, is a enjoyable and handy place to go to with children.
There are many issues to do in Key West with children, together with the Ernest Hemingway Home (children will love seeing all the cats on the dwelling) and the Conch Trolley Tour. The entire island has a enjoyable relaxed vibe, and because it’s within the US, you gained’t have to fret about customs, passports, or alternate charges.
Martinique by All Over the Map
Martinique is a pleasant little piece of France within the Caribbean. Not a territory or a forgotten outpost, both, however an precise integral division of France, with all the advantages that go together with that. The roads are good and yow will discover good cheese and butter and baguettes throughout. The meals is distinctly French, however with recent Caribbean substances.
Work off all that scrumptious meals by mountain climbing Mount Pelée, a dormant volcano with quite a lot of path choices to its 4000+ foot peaks. For those who’re not up for a summit hike, the Grande Riviere path will take you partway up and deal with you to a 30-foot waterfall alongside the way in which.
Children would possibly take pleasure in listening to concerning the eruption that flattened the close by metropolis of St. Pierre in 1902, leaving one sole survivor: a prisoner in a cell so safe it saved its inhabitant protected from lava, ash and hearth from the eruption. You’ll be able to go to the ruins and see the sturdy cell that is still.
The volcano can also be chargeable for the black sand seashores of Anse Couleuvre and Anse Noire. Snorkeling is spectacular at each seashores, however the latter has the added bonus of each day visits from inexperienced sea turtles.
The historical past of the island is wealthy, from the indigenous Caribs, to the arrival of Columbus, to colonialism and slavery below French rule. La Savane des Esclaves is a type of great locations that secretly educates your children whereas entertaining them.
It’s a recreation of a slave settlement, with shows displaying the hardships confronted in each day life by slaves and former slaves on the island. Excursions are in French solely, however shows are written in English.
The Dominican Republic by Strolling on Travels
The Dominican Republic is without doubt one of the best Caribbean islands to go to with children. Households can get discover journey, historical past, and seaside life multi functional journey. There are quite a few all-inclusive resorts on the jap shore of the island in Punta Cana that cater to households at varied value factors, together with the Nickelodeon Inns and Resorts Punta Cana.
The seashores provide white sand, clear blue waters, and a great deal of actions, from kayaking to crusing and a number of the greatest snorkeling round. Adventurous households can head to the north shore of the Dominican Republic, the house of kite boarding.
Head to Cabarete to surf, kite board and windsurf all day. Don’t understand how? There are a number of faculties that may educate you. For these searching for a pleasant hike, you possibly can guide a tour to see the Damajagua 27 waterfalls exterior of Puerto Plata. It is a favourite for cruise day-trippers, nevertheless it’s even higher in case you are staying on the island as a result of you’ll have time to discover all 27 waterfalls, as an alternative of simply twelve.
Households searching for just a little island historical past gained’t be disenchanted in Santo Domingo, situated on the south facet of the island. Colonial buildings, such because the El Alcazar de Colon and Cathedral Santa Maria La Menor, are stunning examples of the early European historical past on this island.
It doesn’t matter what you selected, you gained’t be sorry whenever you fly all the way down to this stunning island, crammed with pleasant folks, nice meals, and sufficient journey to maintain the youngsters entertained, however sufficient rest time to maintain mother and father glad.
Earlier than you go, try our Caribbean packing listing right here.
