bump

Not technically Caribbean, but we were in Bermuda last week and had a fabulous time. The weather was perfect, and it's a short direct flight from BWI.

I have been to many third-world countries, and I have stayed in many $5 hotels in bad areas. Never was I as scared as at my uber-expensive, quite wonderful resort in Jamaica after having spent a few hours offsite in Ocho Rios. The tourist economy in Jamaica (at least in the major tourism centers) is set up in a way that breeds anger and violence. Check out the movie Life and Debt, which provides a good explanation. Jamaica is not top on my list of places to bring my child.

We did an all inclusive on the Riviera Maya, but the place we went has since been redone as another resort (and the drug wars weren't quite so active).

sorry for double post..

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you ever been to Jamaica? Seems like a pretty harsh statement if you have never been. Don't understand why you would base your decision on where to travel based on a country's health care system.

Nearly 2 million Americans visit Jamaica every year. I have not heard of any horror stories.

I have heard a few Jamaica horror stories.

Would like to hear these stories - just returned from Jamaica and no problems. Stayed in a villa - not in a gated community and never felt unsafe. Spoke to many other people while we were there and no one else seemed to have problems.

You probably think Mexico is dangerous also even though the drug wars are thousands of miles away.

Parts of DC are more dangerous but you seem ok with that.

If there's no decent heath care nearby that seems like a valid concern. Probably wouldn't deter me though.

If there's no decent heath care nearby that seems like a valid concern. Probably wouldn't deter me though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you ever been to Jamaica? Seems like a pretty harsh statement if you have never been. Don't understand why you would base your decision on where to travel based on a country's health care system.

Nearly 2 million Americans visit Jamaica every year. I have not heard of any horror stories.

I have heard a few Jamaica horror stories.

Would like to hear these stories - just returned from Jamaica and no problems. Stayed in a villa - not in a gated community and never felt unsafe. Spoke to many other people while we were there and no one else seemed to have problems.

You probably think Mexico is dangerous also even though the drug wars are thousands of miles away.

Parts of DC are more dangerous but you seem ok with that.

Any vote for the Cayman Islands. Easy flight, beautiful beaches, lots of options (resort hotels, condos), and safe. FWIW (in response to a PP about healthcare), we were on St. John before we had kids and saw a 5 year old cut his foot very badly on something in the water -- and the parents were told they had to clean him up and get him to the ferry to head to St. Thomas b/c that was the nearest medical facility equipped to do stitches. I told my DH to make a mental note that when we had kids we should look into medical facilities prior to traveling. Now that we have 3 kids (all rambunctious boys), it's definitely something we consider. I had a colleague who got very ill while on Grand Cayman, and he said the medical care was excellent (private doctor plus medical facility stay). Plus, Cayman is safe enough that you can walk to/from your resort to restaurants/bars as well as drive around and explore the island. Hotel staff recommended a number of local playgrounds for our kids which were fun. FWIW, we aren't the kind of family that likes to be stuck at one resort --- we like to explore other beaches, local hang-outs, different restaurants. And Cayman has a large grocery store comparable to what we have here in the US, so if you stay at a condo you could easily bring in food and eat some meals at the condo. Check out 7 mile beach --- centrally located, lots of options. (FWIW, we've heard horror stories about Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. No firsthand knowledge, but the stories from friends who said they'd never go back were enough to deter us.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you ever been to Jamaica? Seems like a pretty harsh statement if you have never been. Don't understand why you would base your decision on where to travel based on a country's health care system.

Nearly 2 million Americans visit Jamaica every year. I have not heard of any horror stories.

I have heard a few Jamaica horror stories.

Me too. I'm not the one who said this, but I wouldn't take my young kids there either. And I have been to Jamaica.

Anonymous wrote:Have you ever been to Jamaica? Seems like a pretty harsh statement if you have never been. Don't understand why you would base your decision on where to travel based on a country's health care system.

Nearly 2 million Americans visit Jamaica every year. I have not heard of any horror stories.

I have heard a few Jamaica horror stories.

Nanny here. I went to St Lucia with a family, two children ages 2 and 4. We stayed at the Windjammer. It was great. Small playground and kids club. Water is warm and calm enough for kids. It is not a hotel, but you rent individual villas (some with small pools). A couple of the restaurants are casual enough for family dining and a few upscale restaurants for date night

Try one of the FDR hotels. You get your own nanny!

In Bonaire, we rented an apartment in the Belafonte, Dominica Titiwii Inn, and Barbuda Cottages in well Barbuda.