Anonymous wrote:NP. Suggestions for this for Mexico? Maybe see Mayan ruins and beach? I've heard beaches in that area get a lot of seaweed, anyone know if that's true?

Also considering Belize, Costa Rica, and Puerto Rico (Vieques)

We’ve been to Tulum and loved it. Gorgeous beaches, good food, Mayan ruins, calanques, ….

Native Hawaiians do not want white Americans to visit. They have bee very vocal about it.

Anonymous wrote:We have been to almost every Carribean Island + Hawaii. We just got back from Hawaii. Ugh-- flying time is terrible for kids. Most of the Caribbean is much nicer. Try St. Lucia-- gorgeous!

I was reading reviews about coconut bay resort in st Lucia and it looks lovely. What other activities can you do besides the water?

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, I'd try to make Hawaii (or even Mexico) work over Caribbean. Caribbean is such hit/miss regarding how you are treated by staff and locals in general.

I was leaning more towards the Caribbean because of the all inclusive resorts but it looks like Hawaii has more to do in terms of land activities (pearl harbour, volcano). Should we look at renting a house instead of staying in a resort?

We have been to almost every Carribean Island + Hawaii. We just got back from Hawaii. Ugh-- flying time is terrible for kids. Most of the Caribbean is much nicer. Try St. Lucia-- gorgeous!

OP: We are a party of 4 with a 8 yo and 10 yo.
Budget $10k. We are thinking January or February for 2-3 weeks.

Most of the Caribbean has better beaches, warmer water, better diving and snorkeling. Service is hit and miss. I prefer the hiking in Hawaii, and specifically, Kauai (personal preference is north shore, so Princeville or Hanalei), which also has nice enough beaches for snorkeling.

Carribean

NP. Suggestions for this for Mexico? Maybe see Mayan ruins and beach? I've heard beaches in that area get a lot of seaweed, anyone know if that's true?

Also considering Belize, Costa Rica, and Puerto Rico (Vieques)

Honestly, I'd try to make Hawaii (or even Mexico) work over Caribbean. Caribbean is such hit/miss regarding how you are treated by staff and locals in general.

I think the biggest driver is how strong an internal body clock your family has. I have none and so Hawaii is fine for me but a couple memvers of my family have very strong internal body clocks so Hawaii was really tough-they were up at 2 am every day and exhausted and cranky.
Also the flight is really long for kids under 8 or so. Even with unlimited iPad time one starts to get antsy. I had one sobbing I want to turn around when we were in the middle of the pacific.

Puerto Rico might be a good fit—I would do part time in San Juan for sightseeing and then fly to vieques for beaches and snorkeling and kayaking.

Anonymous wrote:We’re looking to take a vacation next year. We want clear water beaches, snorkeling, scuba diving, biking, hiking, sightseeing. Basically both land and water based activities. Does anyone any suggestions on what resorts to look at or if we should rent a house/beach condo?

Not sure what "sightseeing" means to you but Belize may fit the bill. Visit some Mayan ruins and then go stay on an island for beaches and water activities. I went in the backpacker phase of my life so don't have specific resorts but I'm sure others would.

St. John would fit most of what you're looking for too except the sightseeing bit.

Also Bermuda but depends on the time of year (can get pretty chilly in winter).

What time of year? What is your budget?

Who is going and from where? We have teens and are going to Hawaii this summer to see Pearl Harbor, the volcanos, relax and do water sports including scuba diving.

It's a long trip - (10 hour flights) and we are renting a house.

When the kids were younger, we did much closer islands for those things, which have less sightseeing but easier to manage.

We’re looking to take a vacation next year. We want clear water beaches, snorkeling, scuba diving, biking, hiking, sightseeing. Basically both land and water based activities. Does anyone any suggestions on what resorts to look at or if we should rent a house/beach condo?