Christmas in the caribbean - any experiences or ideas?

[ChiTownLady]

Hi, I'm currently living in Chicago with DS and DH and because of a cahnge of circumstances we think that we will stay here rather than back to UK for xmas - so I'm thinking that maybe we go to carribean instaead and have a lovely beach holiday.
has anyone any exp good or bad... or will it just not feel xmassy and should I instead think about going somehwere snowy insted in US ( we are not really into skiing...btw)

We've been twice only thing to put me off was long flights but i guess you'll miss that! Look for somewhere with gentle sloping beach. first place we stayed didn't have kids meals and cost a fortune for tea ect. last time went dredded all inc. which worked out great. Babysitter lovely. have alovely time.

where did you go?

we did a caribean cruise one christmas - was very fab

Depends what kind of thing you are looking for - activities, relaxation, how old are the kids, etc.

Ds is 3 , so ideally would like the potential of a bit of kids club type activity...DH wouldnt look at a cruise unfortunately..although I would..just wanting some sense of if it just dosnt feel like Xmas and maybe we are better going to colorado or something???? ( for snow)

madrose
We're booked for a Caribbean cruise Christmas 2007 (I know, I know - but cabins go early!!!)
Any downsides?
Sorry for hijack

Been to Antigua twice, Beaches are great, rest of Island OK. St James club well geared up fro children and one of the beaches in a sheltered lagoon - it was perfect for children. DS wouldn't use kids club unless we were with himcso we hardly used it. Think it was free and open in the evening. Rooms are OK ours had been recently redecorated(dec 05) and there was a fairly good choice of food which was mainly good

I'm going to Martinique for Christmas (sister moving there.)
Effing expensive though.
Would cost about 70% less if i went now.

ohh moondog - very jealous - martinique a bit of a pain to get to from chicago - mor straight forawrd from UK..same for antigua - although there is a lovely but extrreeeeeemly expensive hotel there that I am hopign I get to go to sometime before I am old and wrinkly called carlisle Bay - looks fabby but $1025/night over xmas - which is just a bit out of our budget!

We went to Barbados for Christmas a few years back. I recommend you stay somewhere that has food included in the package. Eating out is expensive, we were spending 60 pounds on a beach lunch for the four of us (2 kids) and no booze.

We stayed at Bougainvillea, very nice but self catering.

Christmas lunch is not the same as a British lunch and we were booked into an expensive restaurant and were disappointed. We wished we'd gone up to Sandy Lane with a picnic and star spotted.

On Christmas Day one of the staff dressed up as Santa and came riding round the bay on a jet ski with presents for all the kids. Lots of twinkly fairy lights up on the trees too.

It will be lovely to escape the cold Chicago weather, go for it.

we went on a cruise at the beginning of december around the carribean and it was very hot and really enjoyed a nice family resort we visited on antigua was called the jolly beach resort and that swas all inclusive kiddie friendly also beaches is supposed to be good they have resorts allover same company as sandals

We spent Christmas in the Dominican Republic in 2003 and in Kenya 2005. The DR is very popular with North Americans as I gather it is fairly inexpensive. We stayed one week in the Iberostar Bavaro and one week in Sunscape Punta Cana. Both were lovely hotels although Sunscape had a much better Kids Club. The weather got really windy in our second week and the beach was shut because of the sand blowing everywhere. We had Christmas dinner on the beach (lovely) and Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus turned up with an entire manger full of animals and, of course, three wise men! Santa also showed up (on a speedboat of course) with a pressie for all the children. What I loved most was seeing all the Christmas lights wound around the palm trees and wandering around at night in the warm watching the Christmas lights sparkling in the dark. Very magical.
Have also been to Mexico (again a popular destination from the US for obvious reasons) and stayed at the Gala Resort in Playacar. The kids club there was excellent. Also check out the Copacabana Hotel as I recall that this was also recommended for its kids club.
Have stayed too at the Jolly Beach Hotel in Antigua (amazing beach but rubbish kids club) and the Turtle Beach Resort in Barbados (smaller hotel with great kids club). Club St Lucia by Splash in St Lucia is a cheaper option and has a baby club and toddlers club too. Also Club Med resorts might be up your street as they are very family orientated.

copycat thanks for this - plenty of food for thought there - will get on internet now and start surfing!