Caribbean at Christmas!

[Custardcreamsandbourbons]

First world problem but we are lucky enough to be able to away this Christmas for a week and the ideal scenario with late teen and early 20s DC is to go for an all inclusive.
I’ve never done one of these usually book flights and accommodation independently and look for ever for the right accommodation But this time finding a package is the right solution. It’s a nightmare / everywhere is already booked as it’s Christmas and if it looks great then read reviews and they put you off. Best islands seems Barbados, St Lucia or Antigua to fit the bill. Anyone any experience of this feel in a panic as BA and virgin sales finish tomorrow and then prices will go up even further. Had £10k in mind but seems even upping this to £12k is hard. Any ideas very welcome even of different hot exotic locations - have done Thailand and Indonesia so would like a change !
Thanks 🙏

What do you want from a hotel in terms of facilities for yourself and the children? Do you want to be near a beach?

Hi I want to be on a beach with water sports, nice good ideally not too many young kids as I’ve done my time with that (no offence) now wondering if maybe I should be looking at a different hot country ! What is a once in a lifetime treat is getting me in a tiz! Hope mumsnet experience travellers will help me out ! Would love somewhere like the death in paradise island !! Good music good rum nice sea !

How many people? All adults? I can have a look and see what’s available in that sort of budget

Thanks ! 4 people - all over 18 in two rooms

We went to Bay Gardens Beach Resort and spa in St Lucia for Christmas 2022.

We paid about £10k for 2 adults and 2 children. It was one of the cheaper hotels but was very nice. Right on the beach with water sports and a pool. It was all inclusive but the food wasn't that great.

We had one room with two double beds. Overall it's one of our favourite ever holidays, I'd recommend St Lucia.

Aruba, Grenada, Antigua, Costa Rica? Jamaica? St Bart’s?

Barbados would be a winner.

My initial recommendations would be:

Windjammer Landing Villa Beach, St Lucia
The Verandah, Antigua
Cocos, Antigua
Jewel Paradise Cove, Jamaica
Coyaba Beach, Grenada

Other options if not sticking to Caribbean islands:
Secrets Playa Mujeres, Cancun
Secrets Maroma Beach, Riviera Cancun
Moon Palace, Cancun
Riu Palace, Maldives
Oblu Nature Helengeli, Maldives
Lagoon Attitude, Mauritius
Ravenala Atittude, Mauritius
Adaaran Club Rannalhi, Maldives

If you’re used to hotel standards in Asia then a four / five star in the Caribbean can come as a bit of a shock. The beaches are fab, the people great, but rooms can be shabby.

Your money will go furthest in the Dominican Republic or Mexico - you’ll get a lovely hotel on a stunning beach, but in the DR it’s not recommended you leave your hotel other than on an organised tour. But even then you’re looking at £4k per head AI at a decent place.

I would also add Mauritius to your list. Beaches to die for, hotel standards higher than the Caribbean and many more AI to choose from. Prices similar to the Caribbean but IME you get more for your money in terms of quality (and the vanilla rum is amazing).

I would agree that I think you get more for your money in Mauritius than the Caribbean- especially during peak US travel times

We did new years at the verandah with younger tweens/teens before it became adult only. I loved Antigua a lot! I do think we spent about £15k all in though...

Thanks everyone
love look of Mauritius but all flights are overnight so arrive at 7..30am what happens in that case at AI when check in is 3pm do you book the night before ? Sorry new to this ? Zilwa attitude looks good !

It’s worth double checking, but from memory the Attitude hotels you can pay a fee to have a room available from arrival - it’s usually about 75% of one night. But, there’s also lounges you can use to refresh and you can use all the facilities from arrival I believe.

@cherryassam thanks

Your AI starts from the moment you arrive usually and is included in your package price. You may not be able to access your actual room but they will provide a “day room” for you to get freshened up / change into swimwear etc. it’s really not a problem.

Likewise when it’s time to leave you may have to check out of your room ready for the next guests but you can still have meals and drinks until you depart. Well, this is what happened when we went!

On looking at it now the difference in price between Christmas week and going 2 Jan is massive eg Zilwa attitude £1000 pp less that first week in Jan and probably much more pleasant than a fully booked resort ? Maybe that’s the way to go ?
do you think it’s best to book through BA / Virgin rather than direct with resort ?

If you go to St Lucia the north of the island is best as less windy

The week after Christmas will be considerably cheaper

Unless you go for adult only there will likely be loads of children as lots of Americans holiday in the Caribbean

Way nicer after Christmas, get Christmas in uk to enjoy and something to look forward to after Christmas

When is the best time to go after Xmas? Also which island from the point of view of lack of commercialism ?

@Custardcreamsandbourbons

Surely you realized Christmas was the most expensive time? Of course January will be cheaper. Personally I would not go at Christmas as we like a holiday after Christmas. Better deal in the Caribbean is Easter! We never do AI but bear in mind travel times to hotel from airport. St Lucia resorts can be some distance away.

@Custardcreamsandbourbons I always used to book separately but then found that quite often using someone like Trailfinders worked out about the same and you get the protection of a package. I also do like having a nice driver waiting for us at the airport with a private transfer to the hotel on a fly and flop holiday

Sometimes it is cheaper to book direct though and they often throw in extras like room upgrades, bottle of wine etc. for doing so.

I have also found that the BA sale is the cheapest time to book.

Mexico is miles cheaper but if you go on the Riviera Maya you are on the Caribbean coast. Resorts are great value for money compared to the Caribbean and your children may appreciate a bit of nightlife so Cancun outskirts or playa del carmen would be a good option. Secrets would be a good option, they offer a proper all inclusive with no limits on a la carte restos and decent branded liquor and wines. As its adults only we did their family version, Dreams, which we found very nice.
i think you'd easily find a very nice resort on the RM with your budget

Thanks everyone, sadly pre ~Christmas in Dec or January not compatible with mine or my husbands work we have realised, hoped Dh could take first week in jan but no can do- so we have bitten the bullet and booked in the sales to go to St Lucia AI-we'll take a punt knowing it will be busy - we already have plans later in 2025 so can't delay it until easter and always hard to coordinate our work and DC uni breaks and their own lives so Christmas makes sense! Thanks for everyones replies

Hi Op which hotel did you book if you don’t mind me asking pls. My sons birthday is Xmas day, and would be a good idea to know how much it would cost to get away during Xmas if you got a good deal

I booked in the virgin sale which sadly finished yesterday - BA had same deals as well.

Have a fab time.