Caribbean’s Greatest Family Holiday Destinations

It might be difficult to select a Caribbean holiday that suits the needs of adults, preteens, and small children. For this reason, when ranking the top family holidays in the Caribbean, U.S. News considered factors including affordability, ease of use, and family-friendly resorts and entertainment options in addition to user feedback. Please use the voting form below to assist us in determining the rankings for the following year. Please take note that the coronavirus outbreak may have an impact on some of the following locations. Before leaving, confirm with the US Department of State and the CDC.)

1. U.S. Virgin Islands

The U.S. Virgin Islands are referred to as “America’s Caribbean Paradise” because visitors may watch stilt walkers, or moko jumbies, dance in parades, hear Creole dialects croon, and smell the spices in saltfish pate—all without having to worry about losing cell phone service. You can travel to St. John, St. Croix, or St. Thomas; even better, take some time to visit all three islands. In this manner, your holiday will be jam-packed with plenty of luxury, pristine nature, and colonial history.

Every island has a unique offering. Dubbed “Rock City” due to its rugged, hilly landscape, St. Thomas is renowned for its opulence, encompassing everything from the opulent megayachts docked in the harbour to the upscale shops lining Main Street. With its immaculate beaches and more than 7,000 acres of devoted parks, St. John, which is only a short ferry ride to the east, is popular among nature enthusiasts and honeymooners. St. Croix, in the Caribbean Sea much to the south, offers tourists the opportunity to learn about the history of slavery and the colonial legacy of the islands at a number of historic plantations and forts. In addition, the Cruzan Rum Distillery is located on this island.

A trip to the islands now could seem a little different from one that occurred a few years ago. The islands were completely ravaged by Hurricanes Maria and Irma, which left hotels and homes either severely damaged or unusable. But since 2017, the area has made significant progress towards reconstruction and is now glad to welcome tourists once more. Thus, don’t wait to plan your trip if you’re in need of a beach getaway.

2. Bahamas

The Bahamas are made up of some 700 islands, and every year millions of people travel there for the duty-free shopping, white sand beaches, scuba diving and fishing, and opulent lodging. While the attractions of Atlantis, Paradise Island, and other large resorts tend to draw families here, this varied island chain also provides a variety of activities outside of the hotel zone. In addition to relaxing on one of the many beaches or private islands in the nation, nature lovers can visit immaculate protected areas like the Lucayan National Park on Grand Bahama Island and the Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve on Eleuthera.

History aficionados can explore the colonial era ruins and artefacts, as well as those belonging to indigenous peoples like the Lucayan Indians, in the interim. It also makes sense that the Bahamas are a well-liked travel destination given the abundance of cruise offers that are offered all year long.

3. Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands are still a sought-after Caribbean vacation spot for a wide range of tourists. The islands’ immaculate beaches and exciting attractions like Stingray City captivate families. Divers are drawn to the breathtaking underwater landscape with its abundance of marine life, colourful coral reefs, and well-known shipwrecks. The romantic atmosphere and isolation of the Mastic Trail, together with its scenic treks, are enticing to honeymooners. Luxurious resorts provide romantic beach dinners and spa treatments for two.

Three islands make up the Cayman Islands archipelago, which is located 150 miles south of Cuba. Grand Cayman, the biggest, offers opulent resorts with an abundance of facilities, ideal for individuals who favour in-room dining, poolside cabanas, and spa treatments. In the meantime, some of the Caribbean’s best diving may be found in Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, which are less visited.

4. British Virgin Islands

The British Virgin Islands, or BVIs for short, are among the Caribbean’s most secluded and underdeveloped islands, yet this only serves to increase their allure. Travellers with large budgets who enjoy sailing and privacy are drawn to this paradise’s resorts, villas, restaurants, and other tourist attractions, which are renowned for emphasising simple elegance above expansive expansion. Many visitors arrive by ferry boat from another Caribbean island, particularly those who find luxurious exile too difficult to endure for more than a day or two. Additionally, some advise splitting your time between Anguilla to the east, the neighbouring U.S. Virgin Islands, and this location.

Others believe these fifty plus islands and cays—which were tragically severely damaged by Hurricane Irma in September 2017—to be more than sufficient to keep them permanently anchored. Even while BVI has done a commendable job of rebuilding, tourists will still be able to see remnants of the hurricane’s work. Calm easterly breezes and shifting tides amidst pristine white beaches and towering cliffs may be found on Tortola. Slumbering Jost Van Dyke, a short sail away, has some of the best New Year’s Eve celebrations in the area, delicious food and drink from the Caribbean, and a couple of outdoor activities like fishing and diving. The Baths on Virgin Gorda may be the most attractive beach in the British Virgin Islands, and with good reason—it provides unusual grottoes surrounded by enormous granite rocks (but be wary of the day-trippers). Try Anegada for the ultimate in isolation; it’s almost overlooked in the Caribbean Sea and has a moderate pace, flat topography, and dazzling sand.

5. St. Martin – St. Maarten

If you think of the Caribbean as a place where people relax, have a peaceful beach, and watch the sunset, you haven’t visited the feisty islands of St. Martin and St. Maarten. What makes this island with two governments the finest place to visit? For the cost of one trip, you may sample two vibrant, different cultures. Hurricane Irma devastated the island in 2017 as it did most of the Caribbean. Make sure to check the status of any businesses you want to visit by giving them a call or visiting their websites beforehand. Between trips to the beach, tourists who enjoy good food, wild parties, and duty-free shopping frequent the 37-square-mile dot. The French government is in charge of St. Martin, the northern portion. It is the location of the party beaches and the best restaurants on the island. In contrast, the liveliest casinos, pubs, and clubs can be found in St. Maarten, a cosmopolitan island. St. Maarten occupies the southern 16 square miles of the Netherlands Antilles.

Despite the excitement, St. Martin and St. Maarten yet have a laid-back atmosphere, which begins with how simple it is to travel between the two islands. Thus, enjoy a few sun-filled mornings on a peaceful beach on the Dutch side; later, wander across a mountain on the French side in the afternoon. You’ll be more than ready to slip back across the border and spend the evening gambling.

6. Curacao

Curaçao, the “C” of the ABC islands, is home to a lot of sun fun, rocky scenery, and historic communities. (The remaining islands that make up the westernmost islands of the Leeward Antilles are Aruba and Bonaire). Willemstad, Curaçao’s principal port city, resembles an old-world European metropolis transplanted to the Caribbean. Pinks, yellows, and blues are reflected into the azure St. Anna Bay from the vividly painted Dutch colonial buildings. After you exit the city, the scenery changes to a desert environment, with mesquite and spiky aloe emerging from the top of worn limestone cliffs.

The beach, though, is Curaçao’s main lure. With its azure waves softly lapped against pristine white sand, the island is surrounded by picture-perfect bays and coves. The reefs of Curaçao are rich in marine life and offer fantastic submerged environments for snorkelers and scuba divers. The semiarid island is best of all protected from the worst of the Atlantic hurricane season. You can spend all year long outside because of the mild trade winds that maintain temperatures in the mid-eighties.

7. St. Kitts & Nevis

These stunning twin islands in the southern Caribbean are lesser-known but opulent. Travellers seeking a blend of stunning scenery and resort relaxation with a hint of adventure and historical significance are drawn to St. Kitts and Nevis. The more gregarious sibling, St. Kitts, offers the greatest variety of eateries, pubs, and lodging. Nevis, a shy and beautiful island, epitomises the grandeur that has come to define this area.

With not a single streetlight, seclusion may be the main allure, but there are plenty of other attractions. Consider the sloping Royal St. Kitts Golf Club greens. Do you desire culture? Just witness the St. Kitts Carnival in the winter or the June music festival to see how great these islands are. And history buffs will love it too: Alexander Hamilton, one of the founding fathers, was born on the island of Nevis; the imposing Brimstone Hill Fortress on St. Kitts was dubbed the “Gibraltar of the West Indies”; and the St. Kitts Scenic Railway tells visitors about the region’s sugar cane roots. In the meantime, those who are only there for the beach can unwind on several white-sand beaches, like Oualie Beach and Frigate Bay, with a nice book.

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