Safest Caribbean island for baby and toddler

[DisneyBaby]

Looking to book a holiday to the Caribbean in October/November for 10-14 nights. Our daughters will be 2.5 years old and 6 months old.

I'm wondering which island would be best to book considering safety and also healthcare quality should either of them be poorly whilst we're there...

Our travel options seem to be Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Antigua, St Lucia and Cuba, possibly Aruba. Travelling from London.

We would stay in the resort mostly, venturing out on 3/4 excursions perhaps.

Anyone been to multiple islands or have a knowledge of the Caribbean?
Also any hotel recommendations would be much appreciated, we like evening entertainment and lots to do in the day around the hotel but not into kids club (we don't want to leave our daughters without us at any point).

Barbados an option?

Safe and good healthcare as far as I know. No point going to Cuba and staying in resort I don’t think. Food is limited too.

What time of year?

Sorry I missed the first paragraph! Barbados would be my choice. Safe, short flight. Good healthcare. Gorgeous beaches. Lots to do outwith resorts too.

Agree that Barbados is a better option than those listed - you can easily communicate as they all speak English and they private clinics you pay for etc if needed/better standard of medical care. (Partner needed to visit one on a trip there before). It is also the sort of place where you can travel safely outside your resort, eat out at restaurants etc which is not the case (or at least much less so) with Dom Rep, Jamaica, Antigua, St Lucia.

Cuba, food isn't great - although I last visited in 2016 and may have improved. They often run out of food on the menu so lots is missing and not great quality outside of the 5 star hotels in Cuba. Varadero all inc resorts are not the same standards as other caribbean islands also.

I have not been to Aruba so cannot comment, except I am aware it is expensive. Perhaps a bit more Americanised so the best of your list I expect if Barbados not an option

The Cayman Islands are lovely! You can go basically direct, the plane lands for a bit in Nassau, but you don't have to get off or get your luggage etc. It's actually a nice break from the flying and you tend to have plenty of space to yourself for the last leg of the journey. When we went I used that time to get us all changed into our Summer clothes. If you go, Luca does the most amazing brunch!

Bermuda? Very british if you want familiarity with healthcare etc. same for British virgin Islands and US VI.

I do wonder if you’ve thought at all about how your question reads, OP. The residents of Caribbean countries have children too, you know?

And some of those residents might be on MN.

Totters- so what? All countries of the world have children in them. Doesn’t make them all equally as safe. OP has the right to ask which is the safest. Let’s not offend anyone eh?!?…

Definitely Barbados.

Specifically I'd recommend Turtle Beach hotel, on the South Coast. It's an AI hotel, with a great kids' club, and not too big.

October is still hurricane season, so islands which are not central in the hurricane belt would be my starter.

Barbados by far has the best healthcare. Cuba's isn't bad, but the hotels are a bit meh as is the food.

Vote for Jamaica if its your time abroad I think it may bethe most popular I have done 3 family holidays in JA.

I did Punta Cana in DR stayed next door to the Royalton at Grand memories. It was paradise!! I travelled sole for 2 weeks with DS
And we did a boat trip and a buggy trip too.

Barbados and other islands are on my bucket list also they are pricey though.

I took my son to the Cayman Islands (he was a bit older though), very safe, we stayed in an Airbnb and wandered around, caught the minibuses up and down the coast road, did some excursions, it was fantastic and so easy.

www.tui.co.uk/destinations/dominican-republic/punta-cana/bavaro/hotels/royalton-splash-punta-cana-an-autograph-collection-all-inclusive-resort.html?utm_medium=paidsearch&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7vrsvZqe-AIV5AyLCh3LvwX0EAAYASAAEgJLz_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Although not in the caribbean, very very expensive when you’re there as well.

Barbados or Aruba, i loved Aruba and its outside of the hurricane belt, but its more Americanised.

I was going to say Grand Cayman as well. We went to a wedding there a few years ago (have friends who live there)

Very safe place and I can tell you from experience the health care is good. The ambulance crews are friendly (even if they do detour to show you their house) the nurses all seemed to be Scottish and the hospital was very clean and efficient.

Barbados doesn't have many big all inclusive resorts if that's what you're looking for, October not the best time of year to go as still hurricane season,November better.

I live in Grand Cayman - yes the island is beautiful, fabulous beaches, great restaurants. But eye wateringly expensive, and if you're staying at The Ritz/Kimpton it will be very expensive if you don't plan to leave that often.

Healthcare in Jamaica is good and there are all inclusive resorts (there aren't any here in Cayman), the same in Dom Rep.

I wouldn't go back to Cuba because the food was shite frankly.

Also Oct/Nov are prime hurricane months. The western Caribbean (where Cayman/Jamaica are), tend to have fewer threats than the Grenadines, Barbados, BVI as they're further west.

Hurricanes tend to pass over to the North of Barbados, so generally they're less often affected/affected as much.

We used to go in October half term, and usually would only ever have a short rain fall and then the sun would come out again.

Barbados is the most developed of the islands I’ve visited but the AI was more formal when we visited. Have also done Antigua and St Lucia when kids were small. Avoid October, it’s the most likely month for hurricanes, November is more settled, particularly end of November. Or consider Indian Ocean for better weather in October and a similar type of holiday. Mauritius is great for families.

Yes! Forgot to add that one in there!

Ok Barbados is looking quite a bit dearer...

What would be the second choice after Barbados???

Antigua is beautiful. My family are from there. 365 beaches and plenty to do and see. Very safe.