Does anyone else find the Caribbean to be disappointing?

[Cyndijo]

Trying our third island in the Caribbean, and this will be our last. We’ve done Grenada which was nice. We did St Lucia which we didn’t like due to being hassled constantly. We came back from Antigua a few weeks ago and it was fine.

I always picture the Caribbean to be beautiful and unspoiled, friendly. But we find service to be really lacking, and often the beaches quite dirty.

It always looks nice on the telly

Keen to hear what responses you get as the Caribbean has been on my wish list for years, but always end up going elsewhere.

I know what you mean Op. It massively depends on Island and resort! I found Antigua to be a bit boring but the resort was small.

On the other hand I LOVED Jamaica, the resort had tons to do, loads of different restaurants, people super friendly and the beach was kept very clean, it was gorgeous! The great thing about the Caribbean is that once you’re there I find you get better value for money than a European resort, you can also rely on the weather.

really depends on the island, I didn't like Antigua or Barbados, but St Vincent was lovely and Sint Maarten and some other smaller ones.

Hope not I'm going there for the first time soon !

Hated Barbados, overpriced, bad service, bad food, dirty. Put me right off the whole Caribbean even though I know in my head that each island is very different.

I picked up something that led to sepsis after going to one place in the Caribbean and do not plan to return!

You go to a beautiful country with a lot of poverty and expect to stay at a standard far superior to anything the majority of the residents could hope for. It's an awkward one.

I agree with Barbados, would never go back. I also would never go back to Jamaica. The only island Ive enjoyed, and it isnt even technically a Caribbean Island, is Aruba.

Yep - not the paradise it is painted to be and in my view there are far nicer places to go for a tropical/ beach holiday (eg Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Costa Rica)

Been to Barbados, Antigua and St Lucia- all disappointing. I did like Tobago though - not so touristy and some beautiful unspoiled parts.

Christ almighty - you know these are countries you are talking about - home countries of some MNers too. You visit a small part of a country and have a vacation experience. You don't "do" it. This is how US tourists have been mocked for talking about Europe for decades: whirlwind culturally devoid holidays where they tick of sights and have never speak to a local.
Try actually engaging with the culture and people. It's a racist stereotype that Caribbean people are smiling fools who love serving white folk. Perhaps spend some time learning about where you are going and engage rather than 'doing' countries. You'll have a better time and it will be more acceptable to the residents of the developing country you are lucky enough to be welcomed in.

Guadeloupe, Martinique, Antigua, Cuba all stunning, the culture, the food the music, superb

Went to the Dominican a few years back, couldn’t wait for it to end, horrible place. Loads of hassle to buy timeshare in the all inclusive resort. We went to one to shut the guy up, it was hard sell, we walked out, not wasting time in there.

our daughter who came with us who is stunning was constantly hassled by staff, my husband had to intervene by threatening to report them. The best was there was a prostitute in the secure resort, so security had obviously let her in. She was hitting on my husband and I was stood next to him, incredible.

Interesting that there was no reference to culture which to me is the best part of the Carribbean, or anywhere that you travel. If you want much of the same and to be served in peace on a bland beach you're better off just going to Dubai!

Love Dominican Republic , but as a poster above mentioned it’s a gorgeous place with poverty and bordering the poorest of the Caribbean countries Haiti . I would book the most luxurious hotel you can , go on arranged trips but find your own adventures too, but don’t expect 5star glamour everywhere, because it definitely isn’t .

Tip well ( I hate tipping in the U.K. but that’s another story) because the staff work hard at the top resorts but pay is still low . We checked prior to going to find what was hard to get there and left small presents with our tips for staff to have and give to their families.

To be honest all the beaches we visited were immaculate , and not all were on the typical tourist path.

Im very much one for talking to beach sellers and finding out about them , they aren’t allowed on the beaches at the all inclusive hotels as they are private ( again another reason for locals not to like the tourists so much ) , but they are allowed to peddle wares from small boats in the sea . Honestly on one day trip I spent a while talking to an older gentleman selling bracelets and bought a few cheap things from him , but was so sad to see how rude some other tourists were to him .

I would go back like a shot , food was lovely , fresh and plentiful. We hired taxis to get around ourselves and paid a day rate if we wanted them to wait around for us at places . I like to explore when I travel around and this felt like a safe way to do it knowing we had a local waiting for us . Arranged trips took us to some lovely beaches and to sugar cane fields but also felt quite set up for us in terms of visiting villages and camels etc . I guess I would say manage your expectations, you will find the glamorous Caribbean there, but remember right next to it there is a different view.

There was a thread not so long ago about disappointing Countries people have visited and all the islands you mentioned OP were on there

We loved Barbados, no negative experiences at all. St. Lucia was more beautiful from a nature point of view but I defintiely felt more harrassed when out alone.

Saying that, I would go back. Our resort had tons on offer, food was good and beach was great.

If I just want a luxery resort and AI then I can also go for one of the luxery Mediteranean resorts and save money and time. I loved discovering the history of these islands.

I think it's a misconception to think tropical islands are all nature, exclusive resorts etc. Yes, you can have them, there are private islands you can rent for a fortune. Yes, there are areas with unspoilt nature but you won't find a 4-5* resort there with tons of other things surrounding it.

It's like Hawaii, I loved it but the pictures you see of palm trees, deserted beaches aren't reality, these islands are cities, overcrowded (esp Oahu and Waikiki beach).

These countries are also hit by some serious hurricanes year after year, recent years some of those islands have been almost flattened.

I've really enjoyed Barbados (St. Lawrence Gap) and Aruba (the low rise section) - neither are perfect (just like anywhere) but I had a great time in both.

those who have enjoyed their trips , what didn’t you like?

I love it , but we dont stay AI in a resort. We rent a car and travel about. I think we were in every parish in Barbados and we loved the laid back vibe. It was great for teenagers - best holiday ever they've said - and they are very well travelled girls. You need to get out and about- you can't judge any country from one resort.

Me and DP have been to Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Mexico.
We do some homework on the hotel resorts before going, we choose adult only and look at what excursions, or off site things there are available as we like to chill in the resort but also go out and about.
Cuba we went off resort on our own and felt very safe. DR we didn't get out much as we were hit by a hurricane. Mexico was amazing, the culture, food staff etc. Jamaica I would not set foot on again, very over commercialised, staff trying to sell you drugs, locals hassling for tips on excursions, didn't feel all that safe.

I think everyone has their own idea of a perfect holiday so some places tick all the boxes but for others don't.

I've been to the Dominican Republic. It was very beautiful but there is alot of poverty. It just didn't sit right with me at all that I was there in a luxury hotel. On this basis I wouldn't return. I'm also not one for the AI experience so this would also put me off the carribean.

I agree with others that it really depends where you go. Grand Cayman was amazing. Jamaica was awful & I felt unsafe & harassed where ever we went. Barbados was nice but it's many years ago since I went so it may have changed.

Isn't that the same in many cities and countries. Maybe we should all stop visiting anywhere their are poor people. We can all holiday in Vatican City.