Recommendations for Peak Season Caribbean Vacation (Kids ages 3-11)

[Anonymous]

We're planning a Caribbean beach vacation with close friends from San Francisco.

Unfortunately, we're limited to the two weeks of Xmas break (12/21 - 1/2).

Ideally, we're looking for a resort with high-quality kids' activities/camp for all four kids (ages 3, 6, 9 and 11). Not necessarily full-time or included, though we're open to that.

Location matters only in that we want somewhere relatively easy to get to (one connection from SFO and not very far from the airport). Really we just want somewhere warm, sunny and relaxing.

Any recommendations?

[Anonymous]

I have family on the West Coast and it always seems impossible trying to get reasonable flights for them to come to the Caribbean. Usually we end up compromising on Central America-- you might look at the Club Meds in Cancun or Ixtapa?

[Anonymous]

is Cabo too far for you? it's just a connection in DFW...

[Anonymous]

Cabo flights are so expensive. What about Costa Rica?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cabo flights are so expensive. What about Costa Rica?

Weird - flights are about the same $ to Cabo as Costa Rica. Unless there are some budget airlines that also fly to CR?

[Anonymous]

We did Turks and Caicos during winter break a few years ago. It was beautiful. We went to Beaches.

[Anonymous]

Puerto Rico has a lot of places and we ran into a lot of people from the West coast.

[Anonymous]

Puerto Rico could work for us. Any recommendations for family-friendly all-inclusives with good kids' activities? Like Club Med or Beaches type places?

[Anonymous]

If I am flying all the way from SF I'd want somewhere more interesting than PR.

[Anonymous]

El conquistador resort
Wyndham grand rio mar beach
La concha

There are others it just depends on what you want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous



If I am flying all the way from SF I'd want somewhere more interesting than PR.

Well you are just so much more sophisticated.

[Anonymous]

Jamaica has some good all inclusives with kids activities. It's been awhile, but we went to the Lady Hamilton and friends went to FDR.

[Anonymous]

You can have warm sun, beaches, palm trees in California and go to Hawaii for 'tropical atmosphere.' So I'd try and pick somewhere that has what you are asking for but also maximizes the special qualities of the Caribbean, i.e. culture, and amazing underwater fauna that is totally different from the Pacific, without being too grungy around the edges.
One thing that is cool about the islands are their differences, the lingering flavors of the European cultures that used to (or still do) run things. Some are flat and scrubby and kind of boring above the waterline but magnificent below.
Personally I do like the food on the French islands the best...and snorkeling and scuba gets better the smaller the crowds, but usually adds a connecting small-plane flight.

[Anonymous]

Please do not tell someone to fly from SFO to stay at El Conquistador in Puerto Rico or Beaches in Turks and Caicos.

Try the Crane in Barbados or rent an apartment there. Barbados is truly beautiful and the people are lovely. That is worth the trip from SF in my opinion

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cabo flights are so expensive. What about Costa Rica?

I had thought of CR too but I don't think there's too much that's nice near the airport (at least if you fly into San Jose) (or places with kids' clubs)

Small islands in the caribbean will likely require approx. 20 hours of travel at least in one direction from the west coast, IME.