Antigua, Barbados or DR with small kids?

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Hi hopefully someone can advise. Looking at the Caribbean next summer. Will have a 4 and 6 year old. Have previously taken them to the palladiums in the Dominican republic which worked well with tiny kids with a really good kids club and good all inclusive, lovely beach.

However, looking to book with airmiles and have noticed much better availability for other Caribbean destinations- Barbados, Antigua and st Lucia. Sounds like the latter doesn't have white sandy beaches so probably not. You seem to get much less for your money in Barbados and Antigua though, and not many all inclusive, which does work for us with tiny kids. We aren't likely to want to travel around much, just looking for a nice resort/ beach and kids club. Am I better off sticking with the DR? I know it isn't as nice or authentically Caribbean but this is a family holiday with kids, so not sure that matters!

Any recommendations?

Don't mean to be grumpy but summer isn't the best time for the Caribbean so not really worth the long haul flight IMO when the weather is good in Europe.

Of the options you've mentioned, I'd choose Barbados as it is the shortest flight.

If it's a family beach holiday with kids you want why on earth go all that way? Will you not be better catered for in a 5 star resort in europe? If you're not leaving the resort it doesn't matter where you are.

I know summer isn't the best time but we are tied to school holidays sadly.

I've never found any European resorts that really live up to those in the caribbean- the white sand and turquoise water, plus the all inclusives I have been to in Europe have always been hideous buffets plus different coloured rocket fuel that pass as drinks, whereas the places I have stayed in DR and Jamaica have had multiple a la carte restaurants, top shelf drinks, free watersports and amazing kids clubs.
I did look for something similar in Europe at found ikos Olivia but that seemed really expensive even with the shorter flight.

Like I say, we will be using air miles for the flights so the flight length isn't really an issue

We also have some companion vouchers to use with the airmiles which will expire soon, hence looking to use them up longhaul

Mexico could be an alternative?

I wouldn't touch the Caribbean with small children in the summer. St Lucia does have white sandy beaches. Although it's likely to rain throughout the summer holidays for any of those islands but I remember St Lucia being the worst after Trinidad. Why don't you look at the Easter Holidays? The hurricane season hasn't started at that point.

Been to all 3 antigua, Barbados, St Lucia. . St Lucia has plenty sandy beaches!
But for beaches antigua is best.

You can't get airmiles flight availability at Easter, too popular, you can only use them at unpopular times.

Easter is very popular and would probably not get any availability now. Have to book 355 days in advance to get the availability as it comes live. Hence tonnes of availability for next summer if I book now! Easter holidays being only two weeks means you literally need to get the one flight on each end of the holiday that works, whereas at least in the summer it is spread out.

We haven't been to the DR for years (about 15 years) and last time we stayed in Puerta Plata and the sea wasn't great, it's on the Atlantic side so the water was quite dark blue.

La Romana is on the Caribbean side so the water is paler, white sand, we've just booked at Dreams La Romana which looks fabulous, the stuff for kids looks brilliant.

Hope you get sorted

Almost all the hotels in Barbados are AI! If you want good beaches, look for hotels on the West coast.

Current weather in the Carribean is rather offputting!

Well yes but you just avoid hurricane season!

I think the difficulty atm with planning anything in the caribbean for next year is that this hurricane season is so bad, there's no precedent really, the infrastructure is going to be severely damaged (Barbuda is currently largely uninhabitable). I'd definitely be looking at alternatives, especially if you want longer to spread the cost.

I may be a bit odd saying this now, but having spoken to my friend who has family in Barbuda and also Antigua (the government is the same), I'd say Antigua as they will need every penny to recover from the hurricane damage.

Also it's beautiful.

It's worth remembering though, if you're planning a trip in our summer, that April through to November is the hurricane season, so it isn't unusual to experience stormy weather/tropical storms/hurricanes.

This year is exceptional, though. We've been to Barbados several times in October and have rarely had weather that's been too bad. The worst weather we had was when we went in August - but that was just rainy rather than stormy.

In terms of location, Barbados is more protected from hurricanes than Antigua.

notreally that's a really good point! I definitely think if the damage isn't too bad, that's a great option. Hope your friend's family are all ok!

We went to Grenada a year after a bad hurricane and many of the hotels were still shut for rebuilding. When we got to antigua everyone got off the plane except 8 of us staying on to get to Grenada. We had a great time but there was barely any tourism. All back to normal the following year.

loopsdefruit thank you, I was worried people would think I was being a twat, but actually my friend raised some very legitimate concerns that the Antigua and Barbuda government just don't have the resources to rebuild after the hurricane in the way that the US do and that they rely heavily on tourism to bring the money in.
Just off the phone and her family have lost a lot but survived, which is good news. Well that they're alive is good news anyway.

Barbados is always my preferred Caribbean destination, but be aware that the all inclusive's are not as large as the other resorts such as Dom Republic or Mexico. They do not have 10 restaurant, 15 bars etc. and are a lot more low key.

I usually go in July and have only had 1 tropical storm watch in nearly 20 years and the weather is excellent although high humidity. If you want white sands and excellent AI resorts also consider the Caribbean side of Mexico. Lots of child friendly resorts and things to do.

Thanks all.

Obviously when I posed the question hurricane wasnt quite such an issue! We went on honeymoon in Jamaica in September with fingers crossed and it was fine, so we have done DR in June and July more recently. Obviously it is a risk that is now at the front of my mind!

From the flight availability I was thinking Antigua, otherwise back to DR or Mexico because we do like the mega all inclusives with kids.

Barbados seems super expensive, yet lots of people do rate it. Can anyone put their finger on what is so much better about it?

Has anyone stayed at Nonsuch bay, St James club or verandah in Antigua?

Barbados is my favourite place in the world due to the people, beaches and food. I found that Mexicans had similar customer service skills but the people in the dom republic were not as friendly.

There is a wide variety of food, from street food to very high end restaurants, you can easily spend £150 on a meal for 2 with drinks but can also find very good meals for £30. (Oistins on a Friday).

The country still retains its British heritage but has some American influences, e.g diners. Afternoon tea can be found quite easily and I would recommend a gospel brunch on a Sunday.

As they drive on the left it's very easy to see the island by hiring a car, you get lost but that's part of the fun.

There are quite a lot of activities to do. Have a look at TripAdvisor.

It is very laid back though, nowhere near as full on as the Mexican/Dominican resorts. There is a thing called Bajan time, they will be there when they're there.

Having holidayed at some very big resorts (love the Royalton brand), Barbados is a very different holiday, the nightlife is not as full on and is very laid back, the holiday vibe is days at the beach and a nice meal and drinks on an evening. Tourist nightclubs do exist and the gap on the south coast has livelier bars but unlike the busy European resorts.

Before the £ crashed, the shopping was excellent, plenty of duty free bargains, this year I'm not expecting to buy anything as the exchange rate will make it more expensive than here.

To me, it is paradise, although it has its faults, there are a couple of places I wouldn't go around Bridgetown but feel safe everywhere else. 15-20 years ago, papers named and shamed "dirty dancers" at the yearly carnival, nowadays the western culture is influencing the island more and more, I think this is a shame as I really want it to retain its quaint charm, such as lazy cricket matches that you stumble across whilst driving on a Weekend, churches that are full and vibrant and very well behaved school children, but in another 20 years time, it will be very different.

Also the hotel rooms can be very traditional, lots of rattan style furniture, they are not as stylish as other countries but the newer hotels do have a more contemporary feel.

Sorry very long post, I love the island, but am aware some people don't like it due to it's laid back style and the fact you pay full whack and the hotels are 5 star in service but do not have the "look". you are very unlikely to see sunbed wars and it's certainly not a beer with a 2.50 breakfast kinda place, even in the AI.

If you like to see an island, do something different each day, definitely go. If you don't want to explore and want to have the AI vibe, Mexico would be my suggestion. (My 3rd favourite place in the world, after the small villages of Greece).

If you have any other specific questions, let me know. Again sorry for the long post and included a pic of my favourite view the last time I was there. I could have sat on the rocks for hours watching the waves crash in. (South East coast not far from the Crane hotel)

Oh and Hurricanes, Barbados is very lucky when it comes to them due to its southerly position, I think the last time they had one was the 50s or 60s. It is possible, but less likely than the northern islands and Mexico. Watch out for the showers though, if you get caught in one, you will be soaked through. Happened to me on a couple of occasions.

Barbados fantastic I agree, and hasn't been hit by a hurricane for 50 years and is way off the track of the current three. We went this July and it was FANTASTIC! Yes it rained a little but the short, sharp showers were refreshing and warm and kept everything lush. West coast beaches gorgeous. Activities were beach/pool/table tennis/watersports/swimming with turtles etc with focus around breakfast, afternoon tea then early evening drink and dinner (not clubbing etc). Not sure many AI places on West Coast. Great fun to hire a Mini Moke to explore the island and your children would love the Barbados Nature Reserve (ours were speechless with wonder there!). The Bajan people were so warm, friendly and kind. Highly re recommend.