Inspiration for a very relaxing beach holiday - possibly Caribbean?

[BadSkiingMum]

Please share your ideas for a hotel or resort on lovely soft, sandy beaches.

We tend to like large hotels with good facilities, high quality dining, pools and plenty of sunbeds but also like the opportunity to take a walk or pop out to a local restaurant. AI does not appeal. The beach and relaxing atmosphere is the priority.

We have been happily on holiday to 5* hotels in Portugal, Spain and the Canaries, but I fancy going a bit further afield for the right place. Teenage DC, but very quiet in habits!

I am quite happy to get on a bus to a local attraction and if there was a golf course nearby that would be a bonus for my DH.
The Maldives would be too quiet for us.

I know there is Ikos in Europe but is it really worth it? We also don’t fancy running into a load of DH’s colleagues!

Safety and low crime would be important factors for us.

Is this in school summer holidays? It won’t be baking hot but Mauritius might suit you all. There is minimal time difference so we tend to do overnight direct flights.

I think Mauritius would be perfect. Lots of exactly what you say you are looking for and the overnight flights are a winner. Weather can be unpredictable in our summer but a very interesting country with beautiful scenery and great beaches.

We had a fabulous holiday at the Santiburi hotel on Koh Samui, Thailand. Gorgeous beach, short taxi or bus ride to nearby night markets and towns, but several restaurants close enough to walk to too.

https://santiburisamui.com/offers/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20962889166&gbraid=0AAAAAoULf2h4GYgYm9bJ1ocSwnC93H7HM&gclid=Cj0KCQiA7rDMBhCjARIsAGDBuEBLcZjj1hGxjnwGqEW7iSx2QxJ0N-BaCOGB30HUg59RKNKJkIs40wMaAuunEALw_wcB

Have a look at Barbados, it was my original plan for us at some stage this year until Aer Lingus cancelled all their long haul Manchester flights. I think we are going to Negril in Jamaica this year instead, because we can fly direct from Manchester, but all the big hotels in Jamaica like you describe you want, are All Inclusive. We are going to stay somewhere smaller, but that kind of hotel definitely won't cover everything you want. I think Barbados has more of a foodie vibe, lots of local restaurants, and is less dominated by the All Inclusive scene. I was looking at Colony club, but it's $$$ and obviously I haven't been.

We’ve whisked teen DD down to Mauritius in mid-July 3 times now, hiring a car for the past couple of times.

If you don’t go up into the rain forest, you can usually expect some rain overnight and the chance of a daytime shower. We avoid resorts with golf courses, but there are plenty. The nicer resorts tend to be further from the town centres, so don’t rule out half/full board/AI.

In laws lived in the Windwards for work a long time back, so we visited many of the Caribbean over the years. I find the summers too humid for my liking (but probably less of an issue if you aren’t venturing beyond the beach).

You don’t say a budget? We love Barbados and are due to go again in three weeks time. We stay at Beach View Hotel on the west coast. It has great facilities and is over the road from the beach. We hire a car, but the local bus service is great and lots of people just use those - or taxis.
We don’t like AI either. Barbados has lots of great restaurants to explore. It’s safe as well ansi think it sounds as if it would suit you very well.

We've just got back from Barbados, although we stayed in a SC apartment not a hotel. Gorgeous beaches, great restaurants and lots to do and see. It's easy to take buses all over the island.

Sandals Barbados x

Jamaica is excellent. Mauritius too.

Hi, thanks all, so lots of votes for either Barbados or Mauritius! Any more hotel names in either place very welcome.

I have bought a map of the Caribbean from EBay so will be studying that later.

The budget is flexible. My DH likes a good deal and is brilliant at finding them😁(he could probably run a successful side hustle as a travel agent!) but would probably be happy to spend £8-10k or so? I don’t know if that’s right or wrong. There isn’t a strict parameter around it.

Just to ask, I am sure it is a lovely place but I have read a couple of negative MN posts about theft and a slightly hostile vibe from staff in hotels in Mauritius. Any experiences?
Safety is an important factor for us.

Eleuthera, Bahamas.

Also look at Port Saint Charles in Speightstown - absolutely gorgeous property right on the lagoon. We’ve been going to Barbados once or twice a year for years and have always felt safe. We stay at either PSC or Beach View as they are of a high standard and within our budget, both with excellent facilities. If you want/can pay more Cobblers Cove or the Sandpiper are excellent hotels.