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Holidays

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

What’s your favourite Caribbean Island?

63 replies

alderedge · 11/03/2023 13:03

And why? Looking for ideas on where to go with dp!

OP posts:
Isseywith3witchycats · 11/03/2023 14:57

a while ago but Barbados was fab, the beaches are white the sea is turqoise blue and warm even at night , the food is fabulous and the nightlife ranges from pubs with music to nightclubs on the beach, the people are friendly , lots of places to go and things to see, not cheap if you self cater as bajans have a decent lifestyle on the whole the reggae buses are an experience not to be missed i wish i coiuld afford to go back there

Turmerictolly · 11/03/2023 15:00

Trinidad and Tobago was amazing; scarlet ibis, mangrove swamps, great food, beautiful beaches, less developed than Barbados and the larger islands (so was cheaper) and good to do the twin centres. However, this was over 20 years ago. Also liked Aruba and St Vincent's.
Barbados if you're looking for for more action and facilities.

DuvetDownn · 11/03/2023 19:55

I really enjoyed St Lucia, the day trips there are very good. I also like the Virgin Islands.

spangleswereace · 11/03/2023 20:37

Barbados is amazing, Oistins Friday night fish fry is a must - one of my favourite ever holiday memories!

TwinsAndTiramisu · 11/03/2023 21:02

Barbados a bit naff now imho.

Tobago, stunning. Better food. Raw beauty. More sharks though, particularly hammerhead, so if you like to swim far out, essentially don't.

I've been to most of the Carribbean. Tobago really stood out, and is probably the only place I would visit twice.

UnaVaca · 11/03/2023 21:03

Barbados

Iflyaway · 11/03/2023 21:05

Jamaica. Hands down.

Been to Cuba and Dominican Republic 3x each.

Lost count on Jamaica.

BIWI · 11/03/2023 21:07

I'm Grin at the idea that Tobago has better food! There are a few good restaurants, but nothing like the fine dining scene that exists in Barbados.

And Barbados can hardly be called naff. It caters for a wide range of different tourists, from the extremely well-heeled, to those who are holidaying on a more strict budget.

Neverawayfromtherink · 11/03/2023 21:10

TwinsAndTiramisu · 11/03/2023 21:02

Barbados a bit naff now imho.

Tobago, stunning. Better food. Raw beauty. More sharks though, particularly hammerhead, so if you like to swim far out, essentially don't.

I've been to most of the Carribbean. Tobago really stood out, and is probably the only place I would visit twice.

Agree 100%.

I wouldn't do Barbados.

Tobago was our favourite (been to lots). It was very unspoilt (although, admittedly, this is almost 10 years ago).

We went to Aruba last year which we also enjoyed.

We don't tend to go back to holiday destinations, preferring to explore new places, but Tobago is one place we would love to return to.

MrsBunnyEars · 11/03/2023 21:11

I found Barbados quite bland. Nice for a fly and flop holiday, but anywhere vaguely touristy is very sanitised feeling. Oistins fish fry was full of English public school kids on netball tours when we went, which sort of summed up the place

I like Antigua for a beach break with some interest, or St Vincent for a culture change (and access to the Grenadines)

TwinsAndTiramisu · 11/03/2023 21:12

BIWI · 11/03/2023 21:07

I'm Grin at the idea that Tobago has better food! There are a few good restaurants, but nothing like the fine dining scene that exists in Barbados.

And Barbados can hardly be called naff. It caters for a wide range of different tourists, from the extremely well-heeled, to those who are holidaying on a more strict budget.

Have you been to both?

I have. I'm also part Bajan and have been on a shoestring, and as the girlfriend of a billionaire (but that's a whole lifetime in the past now) so I do know a little about the island.

It's the Dubai of the Caribbean now. Fine, if you like that sort of thing. Authentic food and real beauty? Tobago hands down.

Neverawayfromtherink · 11/03/2023 21:12

Actually, does it have to be the Caribbean you visit? Because we've been to the Indian Ocean a few times and would always recommend there over the Caribbean. The hotels/food/service are a much higher standard. Even the sea/beaches beat the Caribbean.

CanYouSayDicksickle · 11/03/2023 21:12

Antigua was probably my favourite. The west/south west beaches were just stunning and very quiet! All the beaches are public too.

Barbados - lovely island, small enough to drive around. Has the caves and the rum tour. West coast is best.

Dominican Republic - the worst island I've been to. Very big, didn't feel safe leaving the resort, those that did to do excursions said they were terrified. Might have changed since I went 10 years ago.

sanityisamyth · 11/03/2023 21:13

Only been to Barbados twice (which I loved) but really want to Guadeloupe to see where death in paradise is filmed.

CanYouSayDicksickle · 11/03/2023 21:14

Neverawayfromtherink · 11/03/2023 21:12

Actually, does it have to be the Caribbean you visit? Because we've been to the Indian Ocean a few times and would always recommend there over the Caribbean. The hotels/food/service are a much higher standard. Even the sea/beaches beat the Caribbean.

Agree with this. Mauritius was way better than the Caribbean. Less Americanised, the staff were absolutely lovely.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 11/03/2023 21:14

I've only visited three. Antigua is my favourite, purely for the beaches. St Lucia is lovely, very lush vegetation. Barbados is my least favourite of the three, better infrastructure but less charm, more money people.

AviMav · 11/03/2023 21:16

Ooh love a holiday thread!

I've been to Jamacia and I stayed in Negril. Where about in JA did you all stay? I wasn't keen on Negril the hotel RIU was OK but it was extremely far out.

Dominic Republic is a dream. The people are lovely and friendly. The beaches was gorgeous I felt like even on the 3 trips I did very welcomed. Other tourist like the Candians were super friendly too. Definitely one of my fave hols.

I would love to do St Lucia one day so expensive 😫

CeeceeBloomingdale · 11/03/2023 21:16

CanYouSayDicksickle · 11/03/2023 21:14

Agree with this. Mauritius was way better than the Caribbean. Less Americanised, the staff were absolutely lovely.

Certainly service and hotel quality is better in Mauritius. I prefer the beaches and the rustic charm of the Caribbean though, the people make it for me.

Suzi888 · 11/03/2023 21:17

Aruba and St Lucia- years ago though.

TwinsAndTiramisu · 11/03/2023 21:17

CanYouSayDicksickle · 11/03/2023 21:14

Agree with this. Mauritius was way better than the Caribbean. Less Americanised, the staff were absolutely lovely.

Did you find the feel of Mauritius as over manicured? A bit like you were always on an enormous golf course? It felt a bit sterile to me.

Neverawayfromtherink · 11/03/2023 21:18

CanYouSayDicksickle · 11/03/2023 21:14

Agree with this. Mauritius was way better than the Caribbean. Less Americanised, the staff were absolutely lovely.

Absolutely. And we didn't come across any drunken Brits there either. Quite a bit of the Caribbean is a bit naff now sadly.

It's more expensive in Mauritius etc but if you can stretch your budget it's definitely worth it.

BIWI · 11/03/2023 21:20

TwinsAndTiramisu · 11/03/2023 21:12

Have you been to both?

I have. I'm also part Bajan and have been on a shoestring, and as the girlfriend of a billionaire (but that's a whole lifetime in the past now) so I do know a little about the island.

It's the Dubai of the Caribbean now. Fine, if you like that sort of thing. Authentic food and real beauty? Tobago hands down.

Of course I've been to both. It would be very odd of me to have made that post if I hadn't Hmm

UneFoisAuChalet · 11/03/2023 21:30

Aruba ☺️

Schmutter · 11/03/2023 21:32

We loved Tobago but it didn’t feel particularly safe when we went outside of the hotel. We encountered some intimidating behaviour. It has a very high rate of violent crime.

Ditto Jamaica - it did not feel safe for exploring. Although we had a great time and very much enjoyed the local weed.

St Lucia is lovely. What put me off was the huge journey from the airport to our hotel.

Our favourite is Barbados and it’s somewhere we go to most years. But we go for the weather, the luxury accommodation, the high standard of food and drink. It’s very much somewhere we just veg out.

NoodleQueen90 · 11/03/2023 21:36

Jamaica is amazing, we stayed at Riu palace tropical bay, Negril and had an amazing time! Highly recommend eazy breezy tours for airport transfer and excursions. Hands down best holiday I've ever been on!