Best Caribbean Family Vacations
You've heard of "the crazy factor," right? It's the bewitching hour on vacation when time away with your kids switches from fun and fulfilling to sour and schizo. Traveling to the Caribbean will delay the crazy, especially as all the destinations on our list have an idyllic beach setting and activities that young ones, preteens, and even adults can enjoy. Many of them also offer irresistible group rates and plenty of all-inclusive resorts. Even if you can't spare the time for a full-fledged vacation in one of these spots, consider a cruise itinerary with one of these locales as a port of call.
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Why go: Grand Cayman of the Cayman Islands is perfect for young travelers who love animals. Some of the top activities include swimming with stingrays and playing with sea turtles in Boatswain's Beach. Slightly older travelers might enjoy snorkeling and diving to explore the underwater animals around Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. Young ones can also play pretend on the Jolly Roger pirate ship or explore the ocean deep on the Atlantis submarine. Cayman Brac even hosts a Family Week with discounted flight and hotel fares and kid-friendly activities around the island and at participating hotels. Read More»
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Why go: Families consistently choose the Bahamas because its all-inclusive properties offer activities for a variety of ages. One of the most prominent resorts, Atlantis Coral Towers, has a water park on the premises, in addition to available watersports, and children's day-programs/activities. Parents might enjoy the hotel's shopping and casino. Away from hotels like this one and others, travelers have their choice of Ardastra Zoo and swimming with stingrays in Nassau, learning about dolphins or feeding the sharks at Stuart's Cove. The biggest plus? Traveling to the Bahamas is one of the most convenient and affordable Caribbean vacations. Read More»
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Why go: The perks of an all-inclusive -- plenty of food, a beautiful setting and the convenience and safety of many vacation activities at your fingertips -- should come to your mind when you think of Punta Cana. This Dominican Republic town is completely manufactured for those who like a cruise-ship style vacation without the ports of call or seasickness. There aren't as many kid-focused activities at the resorts of the Bahamas, but all of them do still offer plenty of watersports and lots of beautiful sand stretches. Adults occupy their time with golf, surfing, horseback riding and more. But this destination's chief demerit is that it lacks authenticity; your kids will not receive a history or culture lesson here, that's for sure. Read More»
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Why go: Turks & Caicos' all-inclusive resorts host a wide range of activities catered for keeping kids, and their parents sane. When you're ready to explore off-resort, the diving and snorkeling ventures are perfect for first timers. Less traveled stretches of sand, like Pillory Beach, are calm enough for kids to swim with the sting rays or test out their diving skills. But there's an adrenalin junkie streak some of the island's other attractions, especially places like the Hole, so it's best to leave the wee ones with the resort nanny for that daytrip. Read More»
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Why go: Consider choosing accommodations in San Juan, to be close to activities like El Morro fort (perfect for history tours or even kite-flying) and exploring El Yunque National Rainforest (some sites suggest horseback riding). Slightly older kids might enjoy spelunking in the Parque de las Cavernas del Rio Camuy, while tots are better served by any of the area's water parks. Unlike some of the higher-ranked destinations, Puerto Rico offers the most activities away from the comforts of the hotel, and also unlike others, Puerto Rico offers the benefit and convenience of traveling within the United States. Read More»
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Why go: Another Caribbean destination brimming with all-inclusive resorts, families favor Jamaica's cheap flights and hotels, but also its adventure activities, like climbing the Dunn's River Falls & Park (a safe course even young kids can attempt), or hiking the Blue Mountains (recommended for older kids only). It doesn't rank as high as other all-inclusive go-tos because it doesn't have the best waters for underwater exploration, and non-resort areas are not as safe for tourists. Read More»
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Why go: Aruba has two substantial strikes against it. One: it's long been an expensive getaway. Two: The Natalee Holloway case has deterred many potential visitors from visiting with or without their children. But travel writers consistently describe Aruba as a great, safe destination for many types of travelers, including families with kids of various ages. There's the Donkey Sanctuary and the Butterfly Farm for younger kids, while older kids might enjoy exploring the Arikok National Park or touring the California Lighthouse. Read More»
Read On: Top Things to Do in Aruba
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