Best Islands to travel in the Caribbean

[rivergames]

I want to book a trip to the Caribbean. Never been.

What are the best islands to travel to? I'll be taking the wife and a 1 year old baby.

Thinking about the 1st week in October. Weather should be good by then?

 

[fat rat]

You are still in hurricane season at that time, it’s a crap shoot every year. It’s not if it’s what islands will be hit. We stayed in Jamaica for almost 20 years, it’s not for everyone. I will say search for RIU resorts.

 

[sintax]

Saint Lucia was my fav, by a good bit.

 

[Bobby V]

Saint Lucia was my fav, by a good bit.

Sandals St. Lucia was nice. But 3 different stops just to get there from LAX. This was 20 years ago though. One way red eye to Sandals Negril Jamica was better for us.

 

[dave29]

Traveling by boat or staying at an island?

 

[skiracr]

Went to Antigua in the Eastern Caribbean for our Honeymoon and it was EPIC! We went early October and the weather was great!

We stayed at the Sandals Resort which is 18+ and absolutely loved it. The All inclusive package they offer is outstanding; great liquor selections all top shelf and the restaurants on the property were some of the best food we've had. the pools and things to do on the property are endless.

we're looking at doing a big family vacation in a couple years and we'll most likely go with Sandals sister company "Beaches" which is family friendly.

 

[beerrun]

Yost soggy dollar

 

[Swain]

Barbados by far.

 

[Tamalewagon]

US Virgin Islands. No need to customs. We stayed in St. Croix for our honeymoon at The Buccanear and it was fantastic. It is an old sugar plantation and the golf course there is beautiful. There is world class diving just offshore at Buck Island. Go into town to Christiansted and tour the forts. The village looks like something out of Pirate's of the Caribbean and there is some good shopping there. Frederiksted is where the ships land and bit too touristy but if you go, be sure to stop at the St. Tropez. Great food, wine and bar. St. Croix and St. John's are the less touristy islands.

 

[rivermobster]

Barbados by far.

X1000

 

[2Driver]

US Virgin Islands. No need to customs. We stayed in St. Croix for our honeymoon at The Buccanear and it was fantastic. It is an old sugar plantation and the golf course there is beautiful. There is world class diving just offshore at Buck Island. Go into town to Christiansted and tour the forts. The village looks like something out of Pirate's of the Caribbean and there is some good shopping there. Frederiksted is where the ships land and bit too touristy but if you go, be sure to stop at the St. Tropez. Great food, wine and bar. St. Croix and St. John's are the less touristy islands.

Many years ago we were robbed in our room in the middle of the night at the Buccaneer.

USVI has too much crime. couple years ago we watched guys in ST Thomas poaching belongings off the beach when people went in the Ocean. They had a whole comm network going. We were on the 3rd floor. we watched a guy hop the balcony of the first floor unit and start to break in before I yelled at him. Front desk didnt do shit.

We were first on the beach one morning and the place puts out about 50 lounges in the sand. Beach was empty so we pick a lounge, 3 minutes later a fully clothed sketcty local guy comes up and sits directly behind my wife. We left.

fuck the place

 

[DaytonaBabe]

Stay far, far away from Nassau. It's a dangerous shithole.

Are you looking for a resort or a VRBO type situation?

If you're looking for a rental, I'd check out Great Exuma. Tons of amazing beaches to explore and a ton of great rentals.

If you're looking for a resort situation, take a look at Turks & Caicos.

Of course my go-to #1 would be the BVI, but I'm not familiar with how much 1 year old babies like beach bars? - lol

Get travel insurance if you go in October.

 

[Outdrive1]

I’ve stayed at Secrets and Sandals in Montego Bay. I found the Secrets resort a lot nicer, like night and day nicer.

https://www.amrcollection.com/en/resorts-hotels/secrets/jamaica/st-james-montego-bay/

They have other hotels in other places in the Caribbean Andrew. Check them out

 

[SJP]

I like Staniel Cay - Exumas but not with a 1 yr old. Turks and Caicos was awesome and would go back but it is pretty $$$. I have been to Nassau and stayed at Atlantis with the boys. They had fun but like others have said don't venture off the resort.

 

[rivermobster]

I'm pretty sure where we stayed at was called Gibbes Bay. This is the sandy side of the island that gets the Killer sunsets. It was absolutely amazing there.

Each side of the island has a completely different personality.

The north end is very undeveloped and fun to explore. The ocean is Angry there! Lol

The south end is where the International airport is. Nuf said.

The east side is quiet but rocky and big surf. Lots of surf spots over there.

West side, expensive. East side, affordable. I'd stay on the east side of going by myself.


Found it! This is the place we stayed at...

Properties

Looking for properties for sale & rent in Barbados? We offer a curated selection of exclusive homes, villas, condos, and lands for sale & rent

realtorslimited.com

 

[DaveH]

I want to book a trip to the Caribbean. Never been.

What are the best islands to travel to? I'll be taking the wife and a 1 year old baby.

Thinking about the 1st week in October. Weather should be good by then?

if i was going to stay on one island, Cooper island in BVI is very cool. getting through customs is no big deal at all. you would have to take a ferry from Tortola as boat is the only way to get to Cooper island.

HomePage - Cooper Island Beach Club

A UNIQUE ECO-RESORT IN THE HEART OF THE CARIBBEAN. Welcome to Cooper Island Beach Club - a family owned, eco resort on the sandy northwest shore of Cooper Island. Off-grid, we are self sufficient in power and water, we pride ourselves in reducing our environmental impact while creating a unique...

cooperislandbeachclub.com

 

[Backlash]

Tell us what you would like to do/see, so we can steer you in the right direction. Are you looking for some peace and quiet with nobody else around, or are you looking for something more like a resort?

 

[Dan Lorenze]

I have a friend that's been all over the Caribbean, they said that Turks & Caicos is by far their favorite and continue to go back.

 

[rivermobster]

Stay far, far away from Nassau. It's a dangerous shithole.

Are you looking for a resort or a VRBO type situation?

If you're looking for a rental, I'd check out Great Exuma. Tons of amazing beaches to explore and a ton of great rentals.

If you're looking for a resort situation, take a look at Turks & Caicos.

Of course my go-to #1 would be the BVI, but I'm not familiar with how much 1 year old babies like beach bars? - lol

Get travel insurance if you go in October.

The pics from Your trips have been amazing.

What does travel insurance do??

 

[C-Ya]

Tell us what you would like to do/see, so we can steer you in the right direction. Are you looking for some peace and quiet with nobody else around, or are you looking for something more like a resort?

^^^^^^^

Ive been everywhere mentioned already in this thread, and many more islands.I should be a travel agent.

We are going to need a little more info to send you in the right place, but without a wish list, it is hard to do.

Off the top of my head, my first inclination is Aruba and St Maarten. Lots to do on both these islands, but they aren’t the shitholes that have plagued many of the islands mentioned so far. Poverty is a huge problem in the Caribbean. Some islands are much worse than others because of it.

Your budget is a consideration too.

Questions……

Do you want to rent a boat?
Do you want a resort or private residence?
You are definitely going to need a sandy beach for the little one. A pool too.
Do you want to cruise everywhere by rented golf cart?

Let us….. help you! Lol

 

[DaytonaBabe]

The pics from Your trips have been amazing.

What does travel insurance do??

Thanks! More pics to come in 42 days

From what I gather, there are all different kinds of travel insurance and you can choose what to cover. In hurricane season, I'd be covering everything that can't be refunded/adjusted to a later date if there is a storm. They also have policies that cover medical emergencies and transport which can come in handy depending on your proximity to capable medical services. That said, I've never purchased travel insurance, as we always do our trips in June/ early July, before storm season ramps up, and if I'm dying, I wanna do it in paradise - no need to transport .

 

[Spudsbud]

Do your homework. Plus's& Negs everywhere you look.
Def get trip insurance.
Oct. is top of hurricane season.
Cost, safety, beaches, tourism, amenities, on & on.....

 

[Spudsbud]

1st time??? consider a cruise?

 

[farmo83]

We've been to Jamaica twice and it was fun. Once at sandels Ochos Rios and once at the Hyatt in montego bay. Sanders was better and also more expensive. Also I don't remember seeing kids.

We both agree we have had our fill of jamaica. Our next trip to islands will be either bora bora or the maldieves so have not looked into other carribian islands.

 

[rivergames]

View attachment 1226173

I'm pretty sure where we stayed at was called Gibbes Bay. This is the sandy side of the island that gets the Killer sunsets. It was absolutely amazing there.

Each side of the island has a completely different personality.

View attachment 1226184

The north end is very undeveloped and fun to explore. The ocean is Angry there! Lol

The south end is where the International airport is. Nuf said.

The east side is quiet but rocky and big surf. Lots of surf spots over there.

West side, expensive. East side, affordable. I'd stay on the east side of going by myself.


Found it! This is the place we stayed at...

Properties

Looking for properties for sale & rent in Barbados? We offer a curated selection of exclusive homes, villas, condos, and lands for sale & rent

realtorslimited.com

Paradise! Thanks for the info buddy!

 

[rivermobster]

Paradise! Thanks for the info buddy!

NP. I'll get back to you when I hear from Wayne.

 

[rivergames]

1st time??? consider a cruise?

No Cruise. I like to see all the nicks n crannies on a island

 

[Tamalewagon]

Many years ago we were robbed in our room in the middle of the night at the Buccaneer.

USVI has too much crime. couple years ago we watched guys in ST Thomas poaching belongings off the beach when people went in the Ocean. They had a whole comm network going. We were on the 3rd floor. we watched a guy hop the balcony of the first floor unit and start to break in before I yelled at him. Front desk didnt do shit.

We were first on the beach one morning and the place puts out about 50 lounges in the sand. Beach was empty so we pick a lounge, 3 minutes later a fully clothed sketcty local guy comes up and sits directly behind my wife. We left.

fuck the place

Wow...sounds like a rough time. The Buccaneer had security and a front gate when we were there. Thankfully ours was quite the different experience. Mind you, we were there in 1999. Wish you guys had had the same experience and great memories.

 

[rivermobster]

No Cruise. I like to see all the nicks n crannies on a island

Barbados has those too...