Best Caribbean island to visit?

[violashift]

Looking for a holiday for next year.

DH says Dominican or Jamaica but I have heard that they are either awful or unsafe.

Has anyone been? Do you just have to stay in resort?

What about the others?

I have been to Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, St Lucia and Grenada. All are very different. It depends what you are after. My Dsis has been to Jamaica and said it was not very safe at all and sometimes felt threatening, she would not recommend it at all.

We loved st lucia for our honeymoon 15 years ago was beautiful

Grenada is my favourite but if you’re going in August Aruba is the best choice weather wise. It depends what you’re looking for really as they’re very different, Aruba doesn’t feel particularly Caribbean to me as lovely as it is. I also love Jamaica but lots on here don’t, I like it as there’s so much to do there.

Of the English speaking islAnds
Jamaica and Trinidad aren't what I'd call safe
Dominica was always my favourite island, but AFAIK is still recovering from the hurricane that wiped it out.
Barbados is lovely, when they say have a nice day they genuinely mean it.
Grenada also nice
I was never such a fan of Antigua and St Lucia
They are all very very different!

I was never that taken with the Dominican Republic myself.

Cuba is magical.
I was fortunate enough to have to visit these wonderful places on business!

Another vote for barbados its fantastic and the bajans are really freindly people lots to do and see but its not cheap

Sorry to hijack but happy to hear good things about Cuba as going to Cayo Guillermo next May.
A friend loved Dominican Republic but they don't leave the resort, heard quite a few bad things about it.
St Lucia i wouldn't have hired a car but felt totally safe on the excursions booked via the hotel, guides were all good and took us to some beautiful locations, also did a boat tour around the Pitons which was gorgeous

Loved St Lucia , we stayed in Rodney bay , also loved Barbados .
In St Lucia we stopped in a small self catering complex , and in Barbados we stayed in a cheap , pretty basic apartment right on Paynes Bay , we paid about £100 a night , just at the end of the bay is Sandy Lane , which costs slightly more lol
I have stayed in all inclusive , but much prefer to be in the heart of it , in a self catering
I didnt like Grenada , because its very Americanised , and as such very resort / hotel centered , no where to wander out at night on foot

I have family in St Lucia so go quite a lot, it's beautiful but I do prefer Grenada, we got engaged in Bequai which was stunning but not too much to do Wouldn't recommend Dominica, it's good for a few days but not long term.

@timeforawine I stayed at Melia Cayo Guillermo in 2016.
It was a lovely quiet holiday, we went snorkelling and diving mostly.
The food isn’t that great, but that wasn’t a surprise to me and it didn’t put me off.

One major bonus (and I will get flamed for this) is that there are no American tourists; a lot of Canadians, Brits, some miscellaneous European and South American people.

Thanks @7Worfs, very excited, looks beautiful. I had heard the food is just ok but thats fine, as long as something to eat

@MNOverinvestor PSV is one of my favourite ever places.
We like Bequia, Guana in BVIs and Grenada.
Depends if you want a big active holiday or a small quiet island.

Grenada is lovely.

Antigua.

We loved Barbarados. It is more than just beach and we enjoyed travelling around visiting historical sites too.

I have visited 6 islands altogether. They are very different and it depends a lot on what sort of holiday you want.

St Lucia was beautiful! I'd definitely return

I'm following as I'm sure there are some lovely Carribean Islands we need to visit.

We have stayed at Jamaica, Dominica and Cuba. Lovely hotel complexes but we felt very threatened outside the hotel.

We are looking at St Lucia next year. Is it safe outside the hotel and did you find it suitable for a couple of oldies and young people/teens? Reason I'm asking is that those I have spoken to Have said it's great for retired couples but very little entertainment for youngsters.

This will probably be our last holiday with our 19 and 21 year olds so want to make it a good one

Barbados (some extra letters got in there!)