# Caribbean travel recommendations...with kids!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caribbean-travel-recommendations-with-kids/597574>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [September 25, 2011, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caribbean-travel-recommendations-with-kids/597574 "2011-09-25T18:25:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![beachbetch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@beachbetch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beachbetch)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2011, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caribbean-travel-recommendations-with-kids/597574/1 "2011-09-25T18:25:41Z")

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My family wants to do a trip next summer to the Caribbean/Mexico/PR. We will have 4-5 adults and two kids ages 3 and 7. I’ve been to Jamaica and the Bahamas, but always to kid free all inclusive resorts. I need recommendations for a location and resorts or hotels.

Requirements:

Blue water/white sand location  
Ocean front accommodations  
Activities in the area…dolphin swimming, cruises, jeep rentals, ziplining etc.

Do not want:

Golf, spa or luxury resort  
Unsafe areas for tourists  
A location requiring currency exchange or vaccines

I guess we are looking for a place where the adults can lay on the beach and the kids can play in the pool, good food and drinks, clean and safe accommodations and the option of fun side trips if we so choose.

Help!

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**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2011, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caribbean-travel-recommendations-with-kids/597574/2 "2011-09-25T22:24:18Z")

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Cozumel’s about my favorite. Very friendly, cheap, and safe. Incredible diving, if you’re into that sort of thing. There’s some ziplining, but the area’s not really that great for it since the island is flat as a pancake.

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**Author:** ![beachbetch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@beachbetch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beachbetch)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caribbean-travel-recommendations-with-kids/597574/3 "2011-09-26T14:03:53Z")

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Thanks, that’s one that wasn’t on our list…I will check it out!

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**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caribbean-travel-recommendations-with-kids/597574/4 "2011-09-26T15:02:54Z")

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I think Sandals, the company with all the couples only all-inclusive resorts, also has a few family all-inclusive resorts called Beaches in Jamaica and the Turks/Caicos. I’ve seen the Atlantis in the Bahamas running a lot of family specials lately also.

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**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caribbean-travel-recommendations-with-kids/597574/5 "2011-09-26T16:11:30Z")

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[Frenchman’s Reef](http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sttfr-frenchmans-reef-and-morning-star-marriott-beach-resort/) in St. Thomas, USVI. Might be too much of a resort for you, though.

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**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caribbean-travel-recommendations-with-kids/597574/6 "2011-09-27T12:50:21Z")

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Paradise Island (Atlantis) has been described as Walt Disney World of the Caribbean. Tons for kids to do, including swimming with dolphins, Powerboat rides, snorkeling, pools with slides, casinos. Expensive though.

Aruba isn’t technically in the Caribbean, but they have lots of touristy things to do such as jet skiing, parasailing, etc. They also have casinos for the adults.
