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.

Have you looked at Coconut Bay in St Lucia? Just 5 mins drive from the airport. Great waterpark for kids, fab food, really lovely resort. Beach not the best though due to the sargassum.

@MeetMeOnTheCorner- planning to go in April 2027. @Wincherthank you I did look at coconut bay but felt the whole point of paying more for Caribbean was to get a nice beach so had discounted it. It does have amazing reviews though so I might reconsider it if Barbados didn’t work out.

Check out Mango Bay in Barbados. Lovely little resort and children usually stay and eat for free! Have a look at Travel Republic, we booked through them went.

This is well timed as I’m dithering on booking Bay Gardens! @BoysRule @Janey90 anyone else who had been I’d appreciate your thoughts.

Barbados and Mauritius are out of budget for our dates. DS will be 9, the aqua adventure thing at Bay Gardens looks like his sort of thing!

I’m limited by what BA holidays can offer for our dates.

@SadieGreen- thank you! I’ve just booked the flights to Barbados using my Avios so will look at mango bay. I think it’s a big cheaper than turtle beach but has just one restaurant but whatever we save from not booking turtle beach we could spend on couple meals out.

DH, who's a lot older than 9 (!) really enjoyed the aqua park at Bay Gardens! There was only one bar/restaurant though, which may get a bit boring for the whole holiday?

@Twilightstarbright- check the dine around programme at bay gardens beach hotel and how often you can eat at other restaurants with this. If you book directly with the hotel then this dine around programme is included (I’m just not sure if it’s capped at only 1 visit to 2 restaurants in one week or capped at a certain $ value for the meals if you see what I mean. I believe there is a free shuttle to these restaurants too which I believe are in Rodney bay. I would email the hotel to check so I don’t misadvise you as I checked in a rush. I would also check how many free spa treatments you are entitled to for the stay if you go all inclusive and book directly with hotel. There are some included but website states two per person whereas Tripadvisor reviews state one per day x

Urgh sorry to msg on here again but now I need to pick between Sea Breeze and Crystal Cove resorts. Sea Breeze has more restaurants on site but is on south coast. Crystal cove is on west coast but only has one restaurant. Any thoughts from anyone who’s stayed at crystal? Is the food really that bad?

Have a look at Beach View Hotel Barbados. Gorgeous and very reasonably priced. Standards are excellent. It’s on the west coast. Not all inclusive, but you do have all facilities - kitchens, laundry etc. restaurant and cafe on site and amazing pools (five) of which one is walk in beach style pool - marvellous for children. Opposite the beach, but so many others to choose from a bus ride away. Near to transport (bus stop outside). Lots of cafes and restaurants within walking distance. You can get the bus to Holetown or Speightstown. We hire a car when staying there but you can manage without . There really is no need to go all inclusive in Barbados as the food at all price points is very good. Massy supermarket is up the road in Holetown and the cafe on site sells provisions as well. Lots of families are there when we go all having a great time.

Sorry me again! Any thoughts on Coconut Bay in St Lucia?

@NatterNatter50 Barbados is lovely, enjoy! We went for our honeymoon.

@letshavetea- wow Beach View hotel looks amazing! Annoyingly is £5.7k for 10 nights with no food included whereas Crystal Cove and Sea Breeze are both approx £6.5k all inclusive. I’d love to just book a place with no food included but just restaurants nearby but cost difference between these places room only and all inclusive doesn’t seem to be much. I worry about spending a fortune on room only and then a fortune on eating out on top of that.

Crystal cove gets a 6 rating on Booking.com. That’s atrocious! Sea Breeze House (on Booking.com) is 8. So neither amazing but I’d avoid a 6 rated place like the plague. The beach looks fine at Sea Breeze and it’s mostly got decent reviews.