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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Which Caribbean island?

53 replies

wingingit33 · 25/07/2022 21:14

  • March / April next year
  • around 10 nights
  • myself, dh, three kids (12,8,1)
  • short listed to Barbados, St Lucia and Antigua, possibly Dominican Republic

Which island would be your recommendation? It'll be an all inclusive beach holiday.

OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 25/07/2022 23:50

It DR. It’s not as good as the other three. DC will probably enjoy anywhere. Are all 3 direct flights? St Lucia and Barbados have a bit more variety in vegetation and landscape but Antigua has some interesting sites such as Nelson’s Dockyard. Check when Antigua sailing week is on too. Often April. Antigua is generally a bit quieter. If you just want sun, sea and sand, all are great.,Depends on budget and location regarding wow factor though!!

Fivemoreminutes1 · 26/07/2022 04:43

Barbados is pretty flat unlke St Lucia which is mountainous so Barbados is MUCH easier to get around. It took us 1.5 hours to get from the main airport at the south of St Lucia (Hewannora) to where we were staying in the north (& the roads are not too pleasant as they're windy). We found the beaches to be much nicer (more turquoisey) in Barbados than St Lucia (which is a volcanic island).

CeeceeBloomingdale · 26/07/2022 04:52

My order of preference would be:
Antigua
St Lucia
Barbados
Dominican Republic

The main issue is getting the right hotel if you're staying resort based though. It can be a longer journey to get to resorts in St Lucia and some of the roads aren't great. Barbados has the best infrastructure but then it has less charm for me due to that. The sea was rougher in Barbados and that would put me off with little ones. Antigua has amazing beaches. DR is cheaper than the others but less safe to walk about and generally the hotels are a lower quality.

TizerorFizz · 26/07/2022 10:06

The East coast of Barbados is the surf coast. Around the best hotels on the West coast, the beaches are shallow sand snd very safe. Most Antigua beaches are safe snd there’s lots of them. Fun to visit a few in a car. St Lucia roads are not as good but the island seems unspoilt due to that!

littlefireseverywhere · 30/07/2022 23:30

We did an air bnb in Antigua a few weeks ago, utterly amazing & half the price of a hotel!

Katkincake · 31/07/2022 10:10

Haven’t done Antigua.
I’d order it St Lucia, Barbados then DR (which I won’t go back to, done the north and south of island and having done other islands since I wouldn’t return) Is Grenada an option, I like it there?

lot123 · 31/07/2022 10:31

I've been to St Lucia and Antigua (both all inclusives). The beach was private and nice, but not white sand and turquoise waters.

Beach by our resort in Antigua was white sand/picture postcard. But, every time we went to sit on the beach, we were hassled by vendors. Normally it's not a problem but it was sufficiently frequent that it started to spoil it.

For the record, I have nothing against people selling stuff on beaches to make a living but it put me off from returning to that resort/beach at least.

lot123 · 31/07/2022 10:32

Sorry first comment about beach in SL.

waterlego · 31/07/2022 10:36

I’ve been to Antigua and Barbados. Quite some years ago now so they may have changed a fair bit since! We had great holidays on both islands. I remember the landscape of Antigua being more arid and brown, whereas Barbados was more lush. The contrast between the East and West coasts on Barbados was quite big. The East coast has the white sand, turquoise water- probably the sort of scene most people have in their minds when they imagine a Caribbean island. The West coast is rugged and dramatic and not somewhere you’d go swimming! It’s absolutely beautiful though. I’d love to go back one day.

Can’t speak for the other islands. St Lucia really appeals to me, DR less so.

tenbob · 31/07/2022 10:39

We’ve just got back from Antigua and it is paradise

less busy, less expensive than barbados
lots of fun things to do - swimming with sting rays, swimming with baby pigs, zip lines, beautiful beaches

roads are quiet and safe, food is brilliant

we didn’t see any beach vendors while we were there

Happyandyouknowit82 · 31/07/2022 10:40

Budget will be the decider op

big difference between DR and Antigua!

TizerorFizz · 31/07/2022 11:56

Yes. Antigua is always a lot more. But you get a more satisfying holiday I think.

lot123 · 31/07/2022 12:14

Out of interest, what are the downsides of the DR?

CrotchetyQuaver · 31/07/2022 12:30

It would be Barbados every time for me. They say have a nice day and genuinely mean it.
Dom Rep. Spanish speaking for starters, they drive on the other side of road. Issues in past with food hygiene, no idea if that's improved now but hopefully better.

Antigua, I found the locals could be quite brusque generally but think that's just how they are rather than anything remotely personal.
St Lucia, beautiful place but found I was being constantly hassled by odd locals, perhaps I was just unlucky...

userxx · 31/07/2022 12:33

littlefireseverywhere · 30/07/2022 23:30

We did an air bnb in Antigua a few weeks ago, utterly amazing & half the price of a hotel!

Brilliant! I've seem loads of places I want to visit and Air bnb make it affordable.

lot123 · 31/07/2022 13:04

It would be Barbados every time for me. They say have a nice day and genuinely mean it.

Are the beaches in Barbados white sand/crystal water? Sounds a bit of shallow question but the beaches in St Lucia weren't all that different from Portugal (which I like).

I've looked at some photos but can't work out which are filtered.

minipie · 31/07/2022 13:09

With a 12 and 8 yr old I would be looking for wherever offers them the most to do - water sports, outdoor activities, things to visit etc. As a PP said it may be more a question of which specific resort (and budget) rather than which island.

alphons · 31/07/2022 13:11

If it’s an all inclusive, does it really matter? Surely price and ease of travel would be the deciding factors.

fluffyducky21 · 31/07/2022 13:23

Barbados has stunning beaches

Which Caribbean island?
Gsds · 31/07/2022 13:30

I’d say DR on a good resort with kids. Barbados if kids weren’t a factor 💯, my favourite place on earth, just not enough to occupy tweens

PurBal · 31/07/2022 13:32

I’d say St Lucia but all of the sand is imported in the north and there are no private beaches. All are open to the public in law. Not sure about the other islands.

CrotchetyQuaver · 31/07/2022 13:39

lot123 · 31/07/2022 13:04

It would be Barbados every time for me. They say have a nice day and genuinely mean it.

Are the beaches in Barbados white sand/crystal water? Sounds a bit of shallow question but the beaches in St Lucia weren't all that different from Portugal (which I like).

I've looked at some photos but can't work out which are filtered.

Beaches on west and south coast (Caribbean ocean side) are beautiful. On the east side (Atlantic ocean side) its more rugged over there, not all the same picture postcard look. But yes they really do look that beautiful on a sunny day.

lot123 · 31/07/2022 13:46

Thank you!

Louise0701 · 31/07/2022 13:49

Barbados by a mile!
followed by Antigua, then SL. Not DR unless budget requires. There’s a reason you can do DR on 6k for a fortnight.

Usplusone · 31/07/2022 13:55

I second Barbados though I might be biased! I've spent quite a bit of time there. Been to Antigua for a short amount of time when I was 18. Can't comment on the other two as never been but I'd like to go to St Lucia.

It depends what you are after. I expect Antigua has more resorts but probably less if you ventured out. Barbados is very easy to get around and friendly. Went there last with an 18m old 3 years ago and it was very easy.

My only tip wherever you go would be to take nappies, wet wipes, snacks etc for the baby as these are imported, pricey and probably not as good quality.