AI Carribean for family

[summerholsdreamin]

Already looking at hols for next summer and really want to do AI in Carribean.

Looking for recommendations please; pretty open minded on islands (with exception of Jamaica as already been there).

Must be on beach, PLENTY for 12 and 9 yo to do, yet not too big or noisy and relaxing for me and DH.
Good food and service.
Also safe for us to leave resort and explore.

Have had a quick look and quotes coming in above & £10k is there anywhere that won't break the bank yet still naaice

Olly... the Veranda was one of the hotels we liked the look of. How long did you go for and can I be cheeky and ask how much you paid? Think we've been quoted about £11k for AI

We went for 14 nights - flew with BA - out at 10am and then back leaving st 7pm.

Stayed in one of the Superior Waterfront rooms - rooms all the same premium is for the view. Food good (better then previous AI I've been too). Water sports great. Beaches lovely - snorkelling not great in resort but literally 2 mins walk to Long Bay which was great. Mini Golf was fun - didn't use gym, spa or kids club. Paid extra for a fold out bed (each room has sofa bed and king sized) as we have girl and boy - beds comfy, air con good - view unbelievable - we looked at beach and Devils Bridge. We hired a car - roads really not bad and they drive on the left. Went on a boat trip and also to sting ray city (both v good).

Think we paid same sort of price you've been quoted.

Kids loved it as did dh and I. I would recommend it - it's a solid 4* resort. Trip Advisor has a few comments about grumpy staff but I didn't find that - I think the Antiguan way is always to ask people how they are and I found if you did this then people were v friendly.

You should take a look at Turtle Beach in Barbados all inclusive and is a lovely resort for families it is one of the more reasonable on the all inclusive in Barbados. I see a lot of this as a travel agent, and summer holiday prices are so high but I often recommend this one. I'm looking forward to taking my little one on her first proper holiday , but not looking forward to when she is at school and I have to go in the holidays!

I'd second Antigua....we stayed at Grand Pineaple AI with 3 teenagers 4 yrs ago and they still say it was one of best holidays....beach is amazing, great for snorkelling, sailing etc...beach volleyball,tennis and Mary's outhouse - an open air bbq joint with very laid back vibe...comes in under your budget as well
Antigua is not too big a island to explore either....

You can fly to Antigua BA or Virgin too!

St James's Club in Antigua, has what you're looking for. The food is not amazing, but it's fine, lovely spot and tons to do. No idea what the price would be now though, as it was a few years ago ... I personally love Spice Island in Grenada but might be too boring for your kids - it's quite a sedate place and again, is poss too pricey.

Dom Rep is only place where I've encountered serious food poisoning (not me but other members of group) , in a very naice hotel. I didn't like the island anyway, and wouldn't go there.

We did AI in the Turks and Caicos Islands this year at Beaches which is part of the Sandals group. We had very late teens/young adults with us so I didn't look too,closely at the kids options, but there were a lot of kids there. There is a water park on site ( including a lazy river), fab water sports/snorkelling snd diving programme for kids. The early evening entertainment was very focuses on kids and young families ( lots of Sesame Street characters). There were over 20 different restaurants all included in the package and all wine and decent cocktails. The food was excellent and the beach and water was perfect! DD struggles with the heat a bit but she rated this the best holiday we've ever had ( aged 21).
The clientele was almost all US but of those we spoke to many were on their six or seventh trip with whole extended families from eight to eighty.
Can't say exactly how much it cost as our week there was part of a bigger trip to the USA, but if you are willing to all share a family room, it ought to come in under £10k based on our total as we had three rooms.