Caribbean Vacation

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juteck

juteck

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Joined
Dec 10, 2008
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Location
Charlotte, NC
We've been saving up for this vacation for a while now, and finally have gotten to the point to start considering locations. We have twin boys who will be 9, and a daughter who will be 15 at the time we want to travel (early April). We're looking for general suggestions on locations that are family friendly, or suggestions of where to avoid. Knowing that this is a very generalized request, any feedback with discussion would be appreciated!
 
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I would avoid the Islands out of the country and go to the Florida Keys. Family Friendly, hardly any crime, no passport, great place to go. Economical as well. You can rent a condo for less than a motel/hotel. We stay in Marathon, the middle of the keys, and go both ways from there.
 
Finatic said:
I would avoid the Islands out of the country and go to the Florida Keys. Family Friendly, hardly any crime, no passport, great place to go. Economical as well. You can rent a condo for less than a motel/hotel. We stay in Marathon, the middle of the keys, and go both ways from there.
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I agree!!!
 
Got to agree with the other posters. The caribbean is the LAST place I would want to vacation in this economy. The crime rate is bad enough in good times. Now, you could lose your life over a $5 bill.
 
Certain places may be best to avoid, but not all of them. I was in Cuba last year and it was great, the people were very helpful and friendly and the weather was great. The only thing that wasn't great was the food, it was a little on the bland side but there was a good variety and lots available.

For most of the people here on the forum the main problem is getting to Cuba as you have no direct flights (unless you are going to Gitmo). There some other good places in the Carribean but the costs go up with some of them.

Having said that, I wouldn't mind seeing the Florida Keys myself. No matter what you choose have a great family vacation.

Bruce
 
Just did Key West last Feb. Night life was not the best place for kids but daytime there is a lot that they could see and do. I don't know about the other Keys yet. I asked my kids what the best resort they went to as young teenagers......hands down it was Atlantis....they also said the cruises were OK.
 
I think the crime rate is higher in some cities than it is in most tourist destinations. I was just in Playa del Carmen not too long ago - booked it last minute for less than the flight should have cost alone...

It's tough to go wrong with sand and sun - and most tourist destinations will have places geared toward families.
 
Cozumel was fun. Went there last year. Went to Dominican Republic a couple months ago and it was fun as well. The economy in the Dominican was worse. There is more to do just outside of the resorts in Cozumel. Friends of ours just got back from Belize and loved it there as well. If you want to Aztec ruins go to Belize or Cozumel. Great sites to see.
 
We did Aruba a few years back. It was fun, but we dive so that took up the most of our time. If you have twin boys 9 and a teen girl, I don't think that would be a great place. Other than the year we went to Aruba, we have been going to the keys every year. We stay at the Hyatt Beach House in Key West. Two bedroom condo 1100sq ft, full kitchen screened in porch. Great family place and quiet. Expensive unless you catch a deal on expedia. Cruise expedia durning non-peak hours. 2am is always a great time. You can generally get the place for about $225 to $250 a night, regular price is $450. This is on the quiet side of the island. One of the better excursions is the Danger Adventure day trip. They go out in the morning on about a 75' sail boat to the sponge gardens to do some snorkeling. Great morning. Next it is lunch on ship and it was VERY good. From there they take you to the mangroves and you are on a guided kayak tour. The guides are very knowledgeable and you would be surprised the stuff the kids will learn on the trip. Once done you sail back to Key West at sunset. In 15 years of going this has always been our favorite trip. Great food in Key West and if you drive, you should stop at mile marker 28.5 on Ramrod Key for lunch at the Boondocks. The kids will love it. Feel free to PM either Linda or myself if you feel you want more info on the island and what to do while there.

BTW, my avatar photo is from our wedding, it was a sunset sailing wedding in Key West.
 
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Trinidad and Tobago is very nice too... they're outside the hurricane zones... from my contacts with the Trini's they've said there has never been a hurricane there...most tourists go to Tobago... I've not been to Tobago, so can't speak from that, but several trips to Trinidad... food's good, crime's low, people are great and it's a pretty island.... most of my trips were business so I was in the industrial areas more than the tourist places...
 
Paradise Island in Nassau is very kid oriented and is very safe. A great beach, many fine restaurants, a real vacation destination with many good deals right now because of the economy.
 
+1 for the Disney Cruise

You can take a 7 day Eastern or Western Caribbean cruise in April. My wife and I have taken several Disney cruises, without kids, and enjoyed them immensely. The food and service are great. There is always more to do than we have time to do it in, but we can relax and lay out on deck whenever we want to slow down. The ports and the excursions are great and give you a taste of the places without making you feel unsafe. They have tons of stuff for the kids to do. The evening shows are spectacular.

I think you can guess we are Disney fans. The only negative is that they are pricey compared to the discount cruise lines.
 
Dave Turner said:
+1 for the Disney Cruise

You can take a 7 day Eastern or Western Caribbean cruise in April. My wife and I have taken several Disney cruises, without kids, and enjoyed them immensely. The food and service are great. There is always more to do than we have time to do it in, but we can relax and lay out on deck whenever we want to slow down. The ports and the excursions are great and give you a taste of the places without making you feel unsafe. They have tons of stuff for the kids to do. The evening shows are spectacular.

I think you can guess we are Disney fans. The only negative is that they are pricey compared to the discount cruise lines.
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+2 for Disney Cruise. Things for 9 yr olds, separate things for 15 yr old, and family activities as well. Sure worth looking into.
 
Dudley Young said:
Finatic said:
I would avoid the Islands out of the country and go to the Florida Keys. Family Friendly, hardly any crime, no passport, great place to go. Economical as well. You can rent a condo for less than a motel/hotel. We stay in Marathon, the middle of the keys, and go both ways from there.
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I agree!!!
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I agree also! The Keys are great. There is no better looking sunset in the world other than the one at Key West on the dock!
 
rkimery said:
I agree also! The Keys are great. There is no better looking sunset in the world other than the one at Key West on the dock!
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Actually it is much better from Ft. Zachary Taylor, rather than Mallory Square. In the winter months it sets over sunset key so you you don't get the sun melting into the gulf effect when viewed from Mallory. Don't get me wrong Mallory Square is a blast, especially for someone who has never been there, but Ft Taylor is so peaceful. Much better family atmosphere, especially with twin 9 year old and a teen daughter. Much cheaper too, pack a small cooler for drinks and snacks.
 
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