Top 10: Caribbean family holidays
1. Moon Palace, Jamaica Grande
Ocho Rios in Jamaica has always offered good activities – climbing Dunn’s River Falls, flying down bobsleighs and zip lines, swimming with dolphins – so you can keep the family enthralled at Moon Palace Jamaica Grande (palaceresorts.com). This resort has yet more activities – for kids, a flow rider wave machine, mini-Olympics and movie nights – and for parents a spa and nightclub. Hayes Jarvis (01293 735831, hayesandjarvis.com) offers a week there all-inclusive, from £5,999 for a family of four. James Henderson
Ocho Rios, Jamaica (Photo: AP/Fotolia)
2. Villa Sariel, Antigua
Villa Sariel is in the thick of the action above English Harbour in Antigua, so beaches, scuba-diving, boat trips and zip lines are close at hand – and the historic Nelson’s Dockyard with its child-friendly museum. Older children will enjoy the bars of the English Harbour strip. CV Villas (020 7563 7999; cvvillas.com) offers a week at Villa Sariel from £6,098 including a six-day maid service. James Henderson
3. Atlantis Paradise Island Resort, Bahamas
Fancy a near-vertical waterslide in a faux Mayan temple first thing in the morning? Flying through a shark aquarium? Thing is, it’s most children’s idea of a perfect holiday. And it’s among the million and one activities at Atlantis Paradise Island Resort (atlantisbahamas.com) in the Bahamas. A family trip with Bahamas Flavour (08700 669975; bahamasflavour.co.uk) costs from £4,199. The price includes the Taste of Atlantis dining pass. James Henderson
4. Beaches Turks Caicos
If you’re after a large and lively all-inclusive hotel with a host of family-oriented facilities on a fantastic beach, then Beaches Turks Caicos (beachesresorts.co.uk) should fit the bill nicely. It backs directly on to Providenciales’ Grace Bay, a 12-mile-long white-sand beach that is one of the Caribbean’s very best. Entertainment comes in the form of six swimming pools, a pirate-themed water park, an Xbox Play Lounge, a DJ academy, children’s clubs and plenty of watersports. Booked through Kuoni (01306 747008; kuoni.co.uk): from £8,315 all-inclusive. Fred Mawer
Fun and games in Jamaica
5. Windjammer Landing, St Lucia
With zip-lining adventures, rainforest hikes and excellent off-the-beach snorkelling, St Lucia is a great choice for families seeking more than just a beach. An excellent choice of base is Windjammer Landing (windjammer-landing.com). The Mediterranean-looking complex is a “villa hotel”: the accommodation mostly comprises villas and suites with kitchens, but you also have several (good) restaurants on site, along with a well-regarded children’s club for 4-12 year-olds (a new initiative is regular visits to a local primary school) and watersports galore. Booked through Trailfinders (020 7368 1200; trailfinders.com): from £4,316 room only, or £5,196 all-inclusive in a one-bedroom villa. Fred Mawer
6. Dreams Palm Beach, Dominican Republic
For a beach-oriented family break that is affordable by Caribbean standards, consider the Dominican Republic – as long as you’re happy to be based in an all-inclusive hotel. Most of the best properties back on to the miles of fantastic, white-sand beach at Punta Cana. The high-quality Dreams Palm Beach Punta Cana (dreamsresorts.com), behind a reef-protected section of beach, offers children’s clubs, evening movies on the sand and (for an all-inclusive package) delicious food in a wide choice of restaurants. Booked through First Choice (0871 200 7799; firstchoice.co.uk): from £3,947 all-inclusive. Fred Mawer
A resort in Punta Cana (Photo: AP/Fotolia)
7. Beach View, Barbados
Barbados is family-friendly: the calm sea off the west coast, where most of the best places to stay are located, offers safe swimming and watersports, and excursions include a submarine trip, underground caves and a wildlife reserve. I’ve had a great time with my family at Beach View (beachviewbarbados.com), a well-run, all-apartment hotel on the west coast. The 36 apartments are spacious and practical (think well-equipped kitchens, washing machines), and overlook a large pool area. Paynes Bay, across the road, is one of the island’s best beaches. Booked through Virgin Holidays (0844 557 3859; virginholidays.co.uk): from £4,245 room only in a two-bedroom apartment. Fred Mawer
8. Dreams Tulum Resort Spa, Mexico
Forty miles south of Cancún, Riveria Maya is a flat, spread-out playground of upscale coastal resorts that are a good place to mix a taste of Mexico with full-on holiday fun. As well as beaches, spas and golf courses, you can swim in cenotes (freshwater sink-holes), enjoy mega-water parks like Xcaret and Xel-Há, and visit imposing Mayan ruins. Some hotels are massive, but the 432-room, all-inclusive Dreams Tulum Resort Spa (dreamsresorts.com/tulum) is stylish and well-placed, with a kids’ club and six à la carte restaurants. Booked through Virgin Holidays (0844 557 3859; virginholidays.co.uk): from £5,156 all-inclusive. Nigel Tisdall
9. Nonsuch Bay, Antigua
With a fleet of sailing craft and a sailing school offering instruction to all ages and abilities, Nonsuch Bay (nonsuchbayresort.com), set on a reef-protected bay in Antigua, is a great choice for yachty families. Kitesurfing is a big draw too. You stay in family-friendly apartments and villas with fully equipped kitchens. From £6,124 for half-board accommodation, when booked through Caribtours (020 7751 0660; caribtours.co.uk). Sailing programmes extra. Fred Mawer
10. Bougainvillea Beach Resort, Barbados
Barbados is one of the safest bets for a Caribbean summer holiday. It’s well off the usual hurricane track, and has a good choice of accommodation and lots of direct flights. The four-star Bougainvillea Beach Resort on the island’s south coast is one of the best for families and costs from £4,016 for August 24 departure or £3,484 for October 25 (based on children aged up to 11 years) through British Airways Holidays (ba.com). Sophie Butler
Tell us about your favourite Caribbean family holiday destination at telegraph.co.uk/caribbeanawards
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