Help me decide between 3 Barbados and St Lucia resorts for kids

[NatterNatter50]

Hello - I’m about to book one of these two destinations shortly but struggling to choose. Would be travelling with DH and 6-year old DS and we definitely want to go all inclusive (because of high cost of eating out) but would be out and about for excursions so we can explore the island. We hav always gone all inclusive since having Ds, don’t feel ready to go fully self catering just yet either so feel we want to try all inclusive but explore more now. Here are the resorts we can afford…. in Barbados Turtle Beach and in St Lucia either Bay Gardens Beach resort or Royalton. Has anyone stayed at either of these and can offer any advice? Royalton St Lucia is the cheapest and I like the variety of restaurants and kids facilities on site but I do worry that we could just be staying at any large European all inclusive. Bay Gardens St Lucia looks good but there’s only one restaurant on site. Destination wise we really wanted Barbados as I know it’s a more kid friendly island and easier to get out and about to explore....however I understand Turtle Beach is near a noisy town so again I wonder if it would just feel similar to a noisy European package holiday resort? Also I know there’s south coast of Barbados isn’t as safe for swimming so there’s that. Any advice would be great.

I also forgot to add that I think the sea might be calmest at Bay Gardens St Lucia and there’s a fine around programme which lets you go to other restaurants. St Lucia looks beautiful but I just wonder if Barbados is more child friendly. Also Turtle Beach is near Atlantic side of island I believe so it’s a lot of money to go all that way and not be by the Caribbean Sea. I don’t know. Keep changing my mind!

Dover beach in Barbados is nice for swimming and a much shorter transfer from the airport. I’m not familiar with those specific resorts but much prefer Barbados to St Lucia.

The Turtle Beach Resort is right next door to Dover Beach! Both St Lawrence Gap so cheaper. Noisier! Not beaches with rollers coming in there usually. They are not Atlantic side where there are the surf beaches. Easy reach of Bridgetown but ok on a budget. Yes St L Gap is party central. People pay more to avoid it but a resort is not in the town exactly!

St Lucia: I think Bay Gardens is a long way from the airport. Do check though. Royalton ditto. I think they are Rodney Bay Area but that’s some way from just about anything.

We went to Turtle Beach in Barbados just over a decade ago when DD was 2 1/2. She made a few little friends in the pool etc.

The area wasn’t as built up as it probably is now (ditto St Lucia), but I don’t recall it being overly noisy. It doesn’t get the east coast Atlantic waves.

We found it helpful to have a balcony so that we could sit outside with a drink and book whilst she was napping/sleeping.

In the early mornings the beach was fairly busy with joggers and people out for a stroll before it became hot. It had a fair slope, but it was safe enough for a supervised toddler to paddle. During the day we tended to stay poolside in the shade.

We hired a car (as we have done in St Lucia) to explore the island. It gives you more flexibility with a small child. If you aren’t confident drivers, Barbados probably has better roads (less hilly/mountainous).

Thank you. We probably wouldn’t hire a car to drive ourselves and would most likely either book a driver for the day (if at Lucia) or use buses (if in Barbados). It’s basically the only time we’ll probably go Caribbean as celebrating a milestone anniversary but don’t have a huge budget so want to feel as close to paradise as possible but don’t want to feel like it’s not child friendly enough with DS too. We’ll prob do 10 nights and spend 5 days on excursions and 5 just relaxing at the resort.

I’ve just had a look at Turtle Beach; it has been closed for renovations for the past year (now owned by Marriott). Their website mentions a kids’ splash pool, but I didn’t see a mention of a kids’ club. Not that you necessarily need to use it, but it is a good source of toys/books/little friends.

I would ask on TripAdvisor in case some locals/regulars know or contact Marriott directly.

If the Caribbean is looking £££, have a look at Mauritius. It will be less humid in summer (and hurricanes) and we’ve always found the time difference to be less of an issue.

Thanks @Madcats- turtle beach is supposed to reopen in May this year after renovations. We won’t be going until Easter next year so would have some buffer time in case of any overruns. I looked at Mauritius and because I’m using Avios for one of the flights but cash for another, the cost for Mauritius flights is higher so total holiday cost actually higher than Caribbean.

Barbados is heaven on earth. The hotels love the kids. First time we went (2006) we stayed at The Hilton with our ds when he was 7. Bloody loved it xx

Thank you @Whosthetabbynow- I am leaning towards Barbados now. And most likely turtle beach as it’s the only ai resort we can afford. West coast is definitely out of reach.

@NatterNatter50 Neither of those are close to paradise! They are just built up areas. Booking a driver will cost a lot. These economies are linked to the US$. Neither are cheap. Other smaller islands are probably what you are envisaging.

I went to Bay Gardens a few years ago. It’s a horrible drive from the airport - really slow and twisty. The beach is really lovely. The restaurant is really quite bad. Very few options and our children struggled. We didn’t have a dine around option. Overall I loved it, but more because it was St Lucia than the hotel. The rainforest excursion was brilliant and the boat to Pigeon Island.

@MeetMeOnTheCorner- I guess what I’m looking for is as close to paradise wasI can get while staying child friendly and within my £5k budget for accommodation and most food for 10 nights. So it’s an option between these 3 resorts.

West Coast is amazing but so much more expensive to stay as it’s on the Caribbean Sea. Turtle Beach is at the end of St Lawrence Gap on the Atlantic sea so it’s v breezy and the waves are choppy. When you come in to land the pilot flies low along the coast and everybody goes “wow”. Absolutely love Barbados. Hope you do too. Xx

@Whosthetabbynowthanks! Sounds amazing. Yes I know turtle beach isn’t perfect but I think it’s a good compromise. I’m an ideal world I’d stay on west coast or another island. But I think I’ll go with turtle beach. St Lucia looks beautiful but I can see how the long and windy drive to the resort from the airport would be awful with a child.

I would definitely go to Barbados and not St Lucia. For too many reasons to list. Equally, I would also go to west coast. There are many air bnbs in Holetown all within walking distance of the beach. Hotels are expensive there, but the airbnbs are excellent value.

I think Turtle Beach will suit you. Stay in the complex rather than the beach; it can get very windy as it’s a small island. I’m sure the pools will be lovely. Green with envy. Wish I was going this year xx

Definitely Barbados. There’s a lot more going on in general and far more family friendly.

St Lucia is lovely in places, but less so than Barbados. In January we paid 18 US dollars for 2 diet cokes at Bay Gardens. Great beach and pools though. The Royalton (like Bay Gardens) has very little going on around it, we didn’t eat at their restaurants but if you don’t like it there are few alternatives. The whole Rodney Bay Area of St Lucia is being developed for tourism but it’s only in its very early stages.

I have been to Mauritius twice but still prefer Barbados.

With a 6 year old, I would definitely be going down the AI “fill your boots with ice cream and soda” for a special trip. Self catering has its place, certainly.

On balance I would recommend a package, but I would sign up to a few holiday co (Virgin/BA/Best at Travel…out of date…) now to see whether they have any opening offers.

Those hotel options are all in quite built up areas, it depends how you define paradise I suppose. Also in terms of Carribbean did you consider Negril in Jamaica or Tulum in Mexico? We just got back from Negril with our kids, who are a bit older than yours, the sea is beautifully shallow so perfect for kids, we weren't AI so we ate out all the time and had some delicious food, but AI options are available. Also a coca-cola was $2.50 in comparison to the Saint Lucia prices quoted above. Negril is though 90 mins from the airport. Have also been to the Maldives with our kids, which is more likely to give you that slice of paradise feeling, but it depends how much exploring you might want to do, as costly to go out on excursions.

Don’t know these resorts specifically but we were terribly travel sick in St Lucia going anywhere. So mountainous. It was lovely but not really paradise. Now the Maldives was paradise, no comparison!
Just booked for Barbados in January.

I’d go to Barbados and stay at Turtle beach or Crystal Cove. But I prefer the west coast and turtle beach is on the south.

We have just been to St Lucia. The journey to most of the hotels is up and down through the rainforest. Not terrible by any stretch, but Barbados transfers are just easier. The traffic in St Lucia is awful, we found (and they drive like nutters).

Thank you! I have definitely decided on Barbados now. It sounds like it’s not paradise but I’ve already been to Maldives and apart from that and European destinations I’m not so well travelled so I guess that’s why Barbados an St Lucia felt like paradise to me LOL. Not sure about any other places defined as paradise in less built up areas that are suitable for a child and also cost less or the same as this Barbados trip.

Keep in mind that Rodney Bay area is a long way from the airport and transfers can be 70 - 100 dollars. Getting around St Lucia can be very expensive, roads are very windy. The tours will be expensive as well no doubt and Rodney Bay wasn't my idea of paradise.

Sugar Beach is stunning and Anse Marmin/Anse Chastenet are lovely but you either pay mega dollars to stay at those resorts or hire a car and visit for the day.
There is a lot to do around Soufriere and it a beautiful island but a lot of poverty. Lots of cheap delicious places to eat if you have a car/stay in Soufriere.

I haven't been to Barbados but highly, highly recommend Grenada. Grand Anse/Mourne Rouge beaches are stunning. Eat Doubles really cheaply at Chandon Beni's. Visit the pretty capital, a chocolate plantation and Grand Etang/waterfalls. Snorkel the underwater sculptures.

Thank you. The other destination suggestions are great. Just to explain why I’ve chosen these destinations….i am using Avios to pay for the flights. And Grenada is not on there, Mauritius is more expensive and I’ve already been to Maldives (which is probably also more expensive than Caribbean). Antigua is also more expensive for accommodation. There are no flights to Grenada. Mexico I can find a cheaper package holiday and planning to go there on a separate trip too so not using Avios for that.

@NatterNatter50You will find it easier to navigate Barbados. This hotel is still closed for renovations. It’s meant to open in May but that’s 3 months late. When were you intending to go?