Caribbean Island Guide: Which One Is Right For Your Family?
Planning a vacation to the Caribbean, but don’t know which island is right for your family? Each island destination has a unique history, unique culture, and offers a unique experience, so it can be SO hard to choose! Every family is different, but here, we’ve laid out our favorite islands according to travel style, age, and interests to give you the perfect place to start.
Antigua: Best for Explorers, Beach Lovers, and Sailors
If you can’t stand to stay in the same spot your entire vacation, Antigua (and Barbuda) are great options! With a variety of accommodations and activities for any budget, you can beach-hop (or island-hop) to your heart’s content.
My Favorite Accommodations
One of my personal favorites for family vacations in Antigua is St. James’s Club. With six pools, two beaches, water sports, a kids’ club, and a movie theater, you could spend half your vacation at the hotel and still not see everything it has to offer! The resort offers traditional guestrooms and villas, the latter of which sleep up to eight people and include full kitchens. You don’t need to worry about cooking, though—the all-inclusive resort has four restaurants and four bars that cater to picky eaters and culinary connoisseurs alike.
Aruba: Best for Foodies, Gamblers, Shoppers
Aruba is one of those rare destinations that truly meets families where they are. Whether you’re traveling with a fearless toddler, a curious grade-schooler, or a “can we stay in the water forever?” tween, this island makes it easy for everyone to find their own kind of fun.
Little ones will be perfectly happy splashing on the calm beaches (Aruba’s sand is powder-soft—ideal for castle building), and most resorts offer rotating kids’ activities to match different ages and interests.
If your kids love animals, the Donkey Sanctuary and Butterfly Farm are always a hit—they’re gentle, low-key outings that spark curiosity without overwhelming younger travelers. Older kids adore Arashi Beach for its smaller waves, perfect for body boarding!
For families who want a break from the sun, there’s an afternoon bowling alley at Palm Beach Plaza, or you can lean into a little adventure with the nature trails at Arikok National Park—easy, eco-friendly, and educational for kids who like to explore. And if you’re looking for something memorable without being too intense, consider the Ostrich Farm, a horseback ride at sunset, an Atlantis Submarine tour, or a laid-back glass-bottom boat ride.
My Favorite Accommodations
Aruba Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino strikes the perfect balance between memory-making and “me time.” Kids are welcome at the Bon Bini Kids’ Club, where they can play arcade games or challenge each other to a game of air hockey while parents can get some R&R on the beach or at the Mandara Spa. If that’s not enough, the resort also has a lagoon-style pool!
Barbados: Best for Surfers, Golfers, Foodies
Situated slightly East of the Atlantic hurricane belt, Barbados is a safe bet for travelers year-round. In general, the island is a melting pot of English, African, and West Indian heritage—a dynamism that comes through in a friendly local population and strikingly rich cuisine.
My Favorite Accommodations
Sandy Lane Resort, an elegant and exclusive, yet family-friendly resort, is set in an ancient mahogany grove overlooking a 1,000-foot crescent of gorgeous white sand beach. Accommodations include 113 rooms and suites as well as a stunning 5-bedroom villa. With a magnificent 47,000-square-foot spa, four restaurants, seven bars, nine floodlit tennis courts, two paddle tennis courts, personalized beachside service, 45 holes of championship golf, and The Treehouse Club for kids and teens, you could spend your entire vacation exploring!
Bonaire: Best for Teens and Luxury-Lovers
Although Bonaire is high-end and diving-oriented, it’s still the perfect place for family-friendly fun! If you have kids who want to learn how to dive or already know how, it’s a natural fit—you can dive right from the beach! That aside, a donkey sanctuary, hiking, a children’s carnival in February, flamingos, horseback riding, and the diminutive huts on the beach might pique their interest. Small resorts such as Eden Beach Resort, with a kids’ club and family adventure packages, are sized just right.
My Favorite Accommodations
Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino offers oceanfront and pool view rooms along with all-inclusive packages. A complimentary kids’ club is available for children 4 to 12 years old, offering everything from treasure hunts to sandcastle contests and movie nights. As a bonus for busy families, kids stay and eat for free! There are two freshwater pools, a casino for adults, a scuba school, a fitness center, shuffleboard, a life-sized chessboard, sun shelters, and even a spa. Plus, the bars and restaurants of Kralendijk are only a five-minute walk away!
The Cayman Islands: Best for Watersports, Foodies, Golfers
The Cayman Islands can feel a lot like Southern Florida. Vacationers can enjoy a round of golf, water sports like snorkeling and diving (especially at Stingray City, where you can actually swim with stingrays!) or lounging on pristine beaches (like Seven Mile Beach). If you’re feeling a bit peckish, dine at upscale restaurants like Chef Eric Ripert’s or the Avecita Chef’s Table.
My Favorite Accommodations
The 365-room Ritz-Carlton is a mainstay for many reasons, including the Greg Norman-designed golf course, Eric Ripert’s seafood restaurant, and La Prairie spa.
For a more off-the-beaten-path experience, head to, Le Soleil D’or, a new retreat on 12-mile-long Cayman Brac, with a beach club, a 20-acre organic farm, and private villas.
Dominican Republic – Best for Toddlers, Budget, All Inclusive
The Dominican Republic has long been considered the adventure capital of the Caribbean. The island’s rain forests beckon to be explored via foot, zip-line, and canopy tours, and the long coastline is perfect for surfing, snorkeling, diving, sailing and more. Many visitors find themselves stocking up on gear at any surfing, sailing, or scuba diving equipment shop online before their trip, ensuring they’re ready for their underwater adventure. The mountainous interior is also a great place for canyoning, caving, rock climbing, river rafting, and mountain biking.
My Favorite Accommodations
The Club Med Punta Cana is an all-inclusive resort with some seriously fancy features. Situated just 10 minutes from the airport, the resort offers a circus school from the legends themselves, Cirque du Soleil. The stunning playground has five zones for creative play and adrenaline-packed stunts (all held to the highest health and safety standards, of course), where children can spend their vacation learning how to become performers and acrobats on flying trapezes, use aerial silks, jump on bungee trampolines, and more. Plus, even if acrobatics aren’t your thing, guests can also enjoy free water sports and recreational activities!
Grenada – Best for Relaxation, Culture, Hiking, Luxury
Grenada is a bit of an untouched beauty in the Caribbean. This little island is perfect for a beach vacation getaway, free from the hordes of tourists and bustling crowds that plague other Caribbean islands. The rainforest also offers a great escape into nature, while St. George’s (the capital) looks like a mini replica of the Italian Riviera.
My Favorite Accommodations
The Spice Island Beach Resort is an all-inclusive resort featuring 64 beachfront suites (many with private plunge pools), outdoor dining spaces, and gorgeous canopy beds. The resort offers an oceanfront swimming pool, a variety of activities from tennis to cycling, and a full day program for children from 3 to 12, leaving parents free to lounge at the spa or enjoy an afternoon tea or gourmet dining, accompanied by the resort’s collection of premium cocktails and house wines. Other perks include room service, free Wi-Fi, in-room mini bars, and a dedicated kids’ menu perfect for picky eaters. If you and your family are looking to explore the island without wrangling multiple reservations or battling with booking sites, island tours, scuba diving, and sailing charters can be arranged for an additional fee.
Martinique: Best for Surfers, Beach Bums, and Rum Drinkers
Have you heard of Martinique? It’s technically part of France, but it’s in the Caribbean, giving you the perfect mixture of European charm and crystal-clear water.
Most people on the island speak French and English, and the infrastructure feels very “France in the tropics,” but the vibe? Totally Caribbean.
What I love most about Martinique is how many ways there are to explore. You’ll find everything from boutique hotels to spacious villas, Creole guesthouses filled with character, and sweeping natural beauty everywhere you turn. Adventure-seekers can hit protected hiking trails, glide through mangroves, or try canyoning in the island’s lush interior. Active families will love the world-class surfing, SUP, fishing, and every water sport you can imagine. And of course—you can simply sink your toes in the sand and enjoy a slow, blissful beach day.
My Favorite Accommodations
The all-inclusive Club Med Buccaneer’s Creek personifies the Creole spirit and offers an variety of ways to enjoy a taste of paradise in the French West Indies. Whether you’re soaking up the sun on the amazing beaches of Martinique, scuba diving off the sublime coastline of Baie du Marin, relaxing during a sunset yoga session on a picturesque deck, or water skiing in the bright blue Caribbean sea, Buccaneer’s Creek has something for everyone.
Jamaica: Best for Budget, All Inclusive, Babies
As the fourth largest island country in the Caribbean, Jamaica is the perfect spot for families in search of an easy getaway and a rich, reggae-infused culture.
This is the land of jerk chicken, beaches and rainforests, blue mountains, and blue lagoons. With a range of hotel options (all-inclusive resorts, stylish boutique properties, and lavish hideaways), there’s something for everyone. The easy-going atmosphere is ideal for little kids (there’s even a hotel that has a fleet of free nannies on staff)! Teenagers love the 24/7 energy and all the adventure sports, from zip-lining to scaling one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful waterfalls. And the best part? The weather’s warm and sunny most of the time.
My Favorite Accommodations
But for parents, perhaps the best place for infants is Jamaica—more specifically, Franklin D. Resort and Spa. This resort assigns every family their own full-time nanny included in the cost of the stay. The nanny can put baby down for a nap while you and your partner lounge by the pool, babysit while you enjoy a quiet dinner, and play with baby when you want to enjoy some of the island’s adult amenities.
Puerto Rico – Best for a Long Weekend, Novice Travelers, History lovers
Full of once-thriving plantations, mill islands, or pirate havens, all of the islands in the Caribbean are rich in history, but Puerto Rico’s historic Old San Juan sets itself apart as a uniquely-historic destination where a stroll through the winding streets conjures up a vivid picture of colonial life in the 1500s. Here, Castillo San Cristobal is one of the largest Spanish forts of the New World, and the Castillo San Felipe del Morro citadel provides expansive play areas and views adorned with a dose of history. You’ll also find the ancestral home of the Ponce de León family and his burial site at the San Juan Cathedral in Old San Juan. And, as a bonus: U.S. citizens don’t need passports to visit!
My Favorite Accommodations
The recently-renovated Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Puerto Rico Golf & Beach Resort offers swimming pools, kids’ activities, and six on-site dining options. The best part? This resort has an optional all-inclusive plan!
St. Bart’s – Best for Foodies, Beach Bum, Luxury
St. Bart’s is the ultimate luxury destination in the Caribbean, making it perfect for people who are really looking to indulge. This French-speaking island is popular with the A-list crowds because of its luxury accommodations, beautiful beaches, high-end shopping, and fine dining establishments. You can expect expensive yachts, private luxury villas (that come with a private butler!), crazy nightlife, and the occasional celebrity sighting.
My Favorite Accomodations
La Guanahani offers two generously-sized swimming pools, two distinct beaches, an array of water sports, tennis courts and natural hiking paths, complimentary children’s programs, a fitness center, a spa, and a whole host of wellness activities.
St. Kitt’s & Nevis – Hiking, History, Golfers
Nevis is known for sandy beaches, including palm-fringed Pinney’s Beach, the sheltered Oualie Beach, and Booby High Shoals, a popular offshore dive site with sea turtles and stingrays. The island’s capital, Charlestown, is filled with Georgian-style buildings and other British colonial relics.
My Favorite Accommodations
Four Seasons Resort Nevis is a fresh take on a timeless Caribbean experience. With countless children’s activities, kid’s clubs, and complimentary baby amenities, the Four Seasons Nevis goes above and beyond to provide a truly unforgettable experience for families.
St. Maarten – Best for Foodies, Beach Goers
Saint Martin is part of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean Sea. It comprises 2 separate countries, divided between its northern French side, Saint-Martin, and its southern Dutch side, Sint Maarten. Whether you’re hiking Saint-Martin’s Pic Paradis or strolling through historic seaside streets in Philipsburg, the island is home to busy resort beaches and secluded coves. It’s also known for fusion cuisine, vibrant nightlife, and duty-free shops selling jewelry and liquor.
My Favorite Accommodations
Sonesta Maho is the destination’s leading family resort with connecting rooms, one bedroom suites, and its Beach House Kids Club and Aqua Park, which offers two new waterslides for ages 10-15, a whole new cast of Beach House characters, and a new Teen Zone. The resort’s family-oriented concept includes walkabout events, junior fitness, a dedicated children-only Beach House Kids Club designed for ages 3 to 12, character experiences with the Beach House Crew, and the main event—the interactive kids show, “Beach House Live!”
St. Lucia – Best for Hiking, Nature, Relaxation
The tropical island of St. Lucia, located in the Caribbean, is best known for its mighty Piton Mountains and gorgeous seaside resorts. Home to dozens of small, yet luxurious resorts dripping with Caribbean flair, it really is two islands in one. Rodney Bay in the north offers lazy days and modern comforts amid a beautiful bay, while in the south, Soufrière lies at the heart of a gorgeous region rife with old plantations, hidden beaches, and the geologic wonder of the impossibly-photogenic Pitons. Nature lovers can hike to jungle-clad waterfalls, climb extinct volcanic cones, zip through the forest canopy on land, or dive beneath the calm Caribbean to see St Lucia’s marine life up close. Plus, foodies will be enamored with the island’s delicious Creole cuisine. The island doesn’t have many all-inclusive resorts, but some properties offer all-inclusive packages.
My Favorite Accommodations
Windjammer Landing is located near the capital city of Castries on St. Lucia‘s stunning northwest coast. Nestled into lush hillside landscaping and adorned with a sandy stretch of beach along Labrelotte Bay, Windjammer Landing provides a Mediterranean feel to your home-away-from-home. With one- to four-bedroom villas that range in size from 1,200 to 3,600 square feet, families of all sizes can travel together and enjoy full kitchens, living spaces, large bedrooms, and convenient amenities like washers and dryers. Of course, it also offers kids’ programming, water sports, and restaurants.
Tobago- BEST FOR NATURE LOVERS, FOODIES
Trinidad‘s lesser-known sister island is the “country mouse” to its “city mouse.” Swimming in the Nylon Pool, snorkeling through the reefs ,and hiking the rainforest enrich youngsters with rare natural experiences. The culture, too, resonates here, where you’re likely to find a youth steel drum band performing in the park and sip spiced hot chocolate in local restaurants. Most accommodations, such as Coco Reef Resort and the Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort, offer beachfront views and plenty of water sports sure to keep every family entertained.
My Favorite Accommodations
Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort is located on the Atlantic side of the island, occupying more than 2 miles of beachfront and 112 acres on what was once a sugar plantation. With all of that ocean and three pools, as well as a separate, dedicated pool for scuba training, the Magdalena Grand has just about everything a family looks for in a beach resort vacation. The children’s program is seasonal, but even in the off-season, the Magdalena Grand arranges special, kid-friendly activities, including a bouncy house on the grounds and other out-of-the-box offerings. For families who appreciate nature and the environment, Hawksbill sea turtles lay eggs on the beach directly in front of the south wing from March to September. If the turtles begin to hatch and move to the ocean, you can ask to be notified, making for an earth science lesson your children will never forget.
Turks and Caicos- BEST FOR ANIMAL lOVERS, NATURALISTS
Turks & Caicos has grown into a ritzy, pricey beach destination. Still, affordable options like Ocean Club Resorts and all-inclusive beaches welcome kids with family-style accommodations and amenities. Discoveries such as a conch farm, horseback riding, and an island of rare iguanas are sure to fascinate every member of the family. Boat excursions to North and Middle Caicos step back in time to expose families to the true culture, caves, whales, and flamingoes that have walked (or swam) the islands for centuries.
My Favorite Accommodations
If you’re looking for laidback luxury with lovely landscaping and a breathtaking beach, then Ocean Club West is the place for you. The hotel’s 64 condo-style units make you feel right at home—if home was on one of the most beautiful stretches of beach in the Caribbean! Screened-in porches let you peacefully enjoy your coffee or glass of wine while soaking in ocean or poolside views. Save a little money by making your own meals in your unit’s kitchen, or grill up a burger on one of the two barbecues by the pool. There’s a large gourmet grocery story just two blocks from the resort, where you can pick up provisions for your whole vacation. You can request complimentary rollaway beds, cribs, railings for twin beds, and even baby monitors. Strollers, booster seats and sand toys are also available at no extra charge. And if mom and dad want a romantic evening alone, staff members are available for babysitting at an additional charge.
U.S. Virgin Islands-
Yes, you can go to the Caribbean without a passport! In fact, in the U.S. Virgin Islands, you can go to three Caribbean destinations without a passport. On St. Croix, you’ll find stunning beaches and historic attractions; on St. Thomas (a major cruise port), you’ll stroll through shopping centers and beautiful beaches in Charlotte Amalie; and on St. John, you’ll find the U.S. Virgin Islands National Park, which comprises most of the island. All three destinations feature fantastic beach resorts, though you’ll find the highest concentration of them on St. Croix. Our suggestion? Stay on St. Croix and plan day trips to St. Thomas and St. John. All are easily accessible by ferry or a short plane ride.
My Favorite Accommodations
The Buccaneer is the best resort for families in St. Croix, and perhaps the U.S. Virgin Islands as a whole. Spanning 340 lushly landscaped acres, it’s easy to get lost in all the fun, from water sports, sparkling pools and boat trips to a kids’ club, family treasure hunts, and crab races. The resort also offers several restaurants and serves complimentary breakfast — a rarity at a luxury resort like this. Then there’s a spa, hiking trails, golf, tennis, art lessons, and babysitting—you could easily spend your entire vacation at The Buccaneer!
From luxury beachside resorts to historic happenings, the Caribbean has something for everyone. If you’re ready for a seaside stay, book a complimentary call with me and I’ll help you find the perfect fit for your family.
Who is Christina?
Meet Christina Vieira, a Traveler, a Planner, and a Mom. She is also the owner of Showcase the World Travel, a modern travel agency that helps busy Moms take the vacation they deserve without adding “planning it all” to their to-do lists. After all, Mom should get to enjoy their vacation, too!
She specializes in Disney, the Caribbean, and Europe and has helped dozens of families have magical vacations that they will always remember. She loves traveling with her four-year-old daughter, Annabelle. Her favorite destinations include Walt Disney World, Wyoming, and Prague.
