Barbados or St Lucia for holiday with kids?

[StormDenise]

Which would you recommend for a holiday with 2 kids age 8 and 12?

We'd probably book an apartment rather than AI so we can get out and about.

Thanks!

I have been to both. I think Barbados might just be better as there is more to see when you are out and about. Plantation houses etc. St Lucia has perhaps more interesting topography and wild areas. Depends what your DC are interested in.

Never taken my kids to St Lucia but they moaned about being bored in Barbados. Despite the endless water sports, they couldn't find enough to do.

Barbados, I found St Lucia a bit grubby.

This was 20 years ago though. I stayed at Club Med (that was lovely)

Barbados, fabulous.

Of those 2 I preferred Barbados but partly because we were SC, whereas St Lucia was AI
There seemed more to do on Barbados

There is a zip line in the rainforest in St Lucia. Plus hikes. Souffriere has a “drive in” volcano and mud springs. (Good for Geography at school!). The Pitons are beautiful and you can go on boat/sailing trips as well. No single Caribbean Island has a huge amount to see - they are all about sun, sea and sand for DC! We found our DC liked island hopping for a change of scenery.

Been to both. Would say either. In my opinion, quite a bit to see on both islands

I like both & both are good with children.

Thanks all! I've been to Barbados before and think the kids would be happy there but have no clue about St Lucia- it does look beautiful though!

At that age mine liked meeting other DCs. Having a place to chill out safely and something to do was important to them. We mixed holidays up so we travelled a bit and stayed put for a bit. Decide what your DCs like and try and match accommodation and location to that. Have fun!

Barnados

Barbados. Love the island l

Thank you all!

Been to both and to be honest there's not much difference. Barbados has better roads so the transfer from the airport is easier.

I preferred Barbados. We hired a car there and drove around the island. Felt safer than St Lucia for some reason.

Barbados. Although there is plenty to do on both islands, we hire a car so we can fit as much in as possible. When do you plan to visit? Summer is pretty horrific in St Lucia, it’s overly humid and rainy. Barbados is still very hot in summer.

I'm headed to Barbados in two weeks, will let you know how it is.

We do plan on hiring a car and getting out and about so that's good to know about the roads.

Planning on going in April so hopefully not ridiculously hot and humid!

Thanks @auslass hope you have a brilliant time!

Barbados - all round fab, and gorgeous in July with sporadic torrential bursts of warm rain (which keep it looking lush and beautiful). West coast is jaw dropping but AI is not a thing on the west coast as people like to go out to eat (which is eyewateringly expensive). Huge supermarket called Massy in Holetown plus loads of other food places so SC would be easy. Negs I've heard re St. Lucia are bad transfer from airport as roads bad and feeling less safe than on Barbados. I haven't been though and I must say it looks gorgeous.

We did both, DD was 8 in St Lucia and 11 in Barbados.

We loved both but St Lucia was more of a “stay in the resort and do organised tours” while Barbados was a lot more of going out on our own. Colleagues who did both islands felt the same. We felt that even going for dinner or lunch outside the resorts was not nice unless we’re at the yacht marinas.

We did snorkelling, the St Lucia hotel had a good water sport program but we also went out. In St Lucia the volcano was interesting, we saw a cocoa plantation, went horse riding. Barbados was also snorkelling, we went to the Flower cave, horse riding, sugar planatation with rum tasting, there is a lovely little museum about Barbados and the George Washington House,

I think if you don’t want every day at the pool, be more free to do your own stuff and want more than just watersport I would go Barbados.