any tips on choosing Caribbean island

[helenmh]

Has any one any recommendations for islands. We would prefer direct flight and some local character. Any recommendations of accommodation. We are not so keen on allinclusive or fullboard.
Any tips
thanks

[KatyW]

We went to Barbados a couple of years ago and stayed in a fantastic hotel called the Sandpiper. It was before the days of ds, but there were children staying at the hotel, although not lots. The hotel is directly on the beaach and we had a suite which faced onto the beach. It was quite expensive but if you go outside of peak times then they may do you a deal.

The local town, Holetown was quite quiet although we went in November before the winter season really got going. There is more nightlife down in the south, but hotels and beaches are not as nice (or expensive!) as the west coast.

You can also get direct flights to Barbados.

[JacquiKD]

I have only been to Barbados and St. Lucia in the Carribean. Out of the two, I would recommend Barbados as I felt it more "safe", although St. Lucia was not "unsafe". In Barbados, we used to get the reggae bus into town with the locals and feel really safe; in St. Lucia, even if we went out to a restaurant, it was recommended that you get a taxi.

[JennyB]

Been looking into this one myself. First of all you must check out www.babygoestoo.co.uk - it's the best holiday website and will give you all the info you need. Barbados, St. Lucia, Grenada, Jamaica, Antigua, Tobago, Bahama, St. Barts and Turks & Caicos (from June) all fly direct so you have a pretty good choice. The beautiful Turks & Caicos (8.5 hr flight) has a fabulous child-friendly hotel called Beaches Resort Hotel which caters for/has clubs for children of all ages but is all-inc. However, there are loads of good hotels which exclude meals, e.g. St James's Club on Antigua (Clubs for 2+), Atlantis on Bahamas (Clubs for 5-12yrs), and several on Barbados, Jamaica and St. Lucia. Check out www.caribtours.co.uk. If you want to hire a villa check out ownerssyndicate.com for a list of private villas. Hope this helps.

[Rhiannon]

Have been to St Kitts, you could get a direct flight there with Caledonian when we went. Stayed at an all inclusive though. Beach OK not brilliant as I was expecting and the town was a complete armpit!

Stopped off in Antigua for the day on the way back went for a nosy round the Sandals there, that was lovely and was right on a fab. beach. R.

[jodee]

We got married in Antigua, and thought it was a wonderful island, lots of character - even bumped into Eric Clapton!