CaribSeek Kaleidoscope | Caribbean with Kids by Paris Permenter and John Bigley

CaribSeek | CaribSeek Kaleidoscope | Caribbean with Kids

Caribbean with Kids

by Paris Permenter and John Bigley, Editors of Lovetripper.com

Ready to cast off those jackets, feel the sun on your face and the sand between your toes? Watch your children romp in the sand, be introduced to new cultures, and share a few days with you that you will all remember the rest of your lives? Then it's time to head to the Caribbean. Year around, these islands are blessed with weather that's just right for a day of snorkeling, sandcastle building, or just sunning.

The Caribbean Islands
While they may all share the powdery sand, the aquamarine waters, and the near-perfect weather, Caribbean destinations can be as different as the seashells found along their beaches. Some islands are large and span hundreds of miles; others can be covered in an afternoon bicycle excursion. Culturally, these islands vary from French to Dutch to English; language and currency differ as well. Political structures range from crown colonies to independent nations.

If you look at a map of the Caribbean, you'll see that the islands arch out like a cracking whip, with the largest islands to the west and the small islands to the east, curving on down to South America and ending with a "snap" with the ABC islands: Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao back to the west. The whole formation of islands is referred to as the Antilles, usually divided into the Greater Antilles and the Lesser Antilles. The Greater Antilles, as the name suggests, are the Caribbean's largest islands: Cuba, Hispaniola (an island shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti), Jamaica, and Puerto Rico. The term Lesser Antilles encompasses the other islands. Often, the area is just divided up into the Eastern and Western Caribbean. The Eastern islands are the same as the Lesser Antilles; the Western Caribbean is the Greater Antilles and the Cayman Islands. Although technically not part of the Caribbean, the Bahamas also shares its azure waters and perpetual summer. The multiple names given to this region is your first hint at the diversity the Caribbean boasts.

Rich in History & Culture Diversity
The islands have such varied cultures because of the many nations that fought over this valuable area. During this time of unrest, protecting the islands was a major job. Magnificent forts were constructed of stone to defend the islands from marauding buccaneers. Today you can tour El Morro in San Juan, stroll along the lemon sherbet-colored walls of Fort Christiansvaern in St. Croix, photograph the city of Puerto Plata from the Fortaleza San Felipe in the Dominican Republic, or visit imposing Brimstone Hill in St. Kitts, known as the "The Gibraltar of the Caribbean."

Once the islands were settled, many prospered with sugar cane plantations. Today you can tour the islands' heritage of huge plantation houses. In Jamaica, tours provide a peek at the lavish lifestyle once enjoyed by plantation owners at Great Houses such as Rose Hall near Montego Bay, and the newly opened Barnett Estate Plantation also near Montego Bay, with a jitney tour of the sugar, banana and mango plantation and fine dining in a restored sugar mill.

Although every island boasts a rollicking Caribbean spirit, their cultures also borrow heavily from their founding fathers. Aromas of fine French food fills the air of Martinique, St. Martin, St. Barthelemy, and Guadeloupe. Dutch architecture creates picturesque waterfront communities in Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Maarten, and Sint Eustatius. A rich Spanish atmosphere pervades the islands of the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, the Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos still operate as British dependencies. In the former British colonies of the Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica, the British influence is still strongly felt, with driving on the left side of the road and the Royal family smiling back from postage stamps.

Family-friendly Resorts
What they do have in common is a family-friendly attitude. Parents who have vacationed here before are discovering the fun of introducing their children to favorite island attractions. Families are playing together and staying together in some of the Caribbean's premier destinations, creating warm holiday memories that will last for generations. Regardless of the island, you'll find plenty of activities to hold the interest of the youngest travelers, from viewing undersea life aboard a submarine in Grand Cayman to swimming with dolphins in Grand Bahama. The islands also give children the chance to experience different cultures through song, dance, and even food. Kids love many of the local dishes like patties (meat turnovers that are the equivalent of burgers in Jamaica) and sweets such as ducana, a pudding made from grated sweet potato and coconut, sugar, and spices, or flan, a delightful custard.

Throughout the Caribbean, you'll find resorts with kids' programs to keep youngsters busy and happy as well as beaches where the whole family can play in the waves, snorkel in shallow waters, or just build sand castles until the sun sets over another perfect day. And if you're ready to take a break from constantly watching the budget as well, you'll also find many all-inclusive resorts that leave the worries of "how much is left in the vacation budget?" at the door. So, when it's time to plan your vacation, you'll find excellent family resorts on just about every island.

But first, a few pre-trip planning suggestions.

What to Pack?
Traveling with the kids means a little extra pre-trip preparation. When it comes to packing, there's no doubt that less is more. This axiom is especially true for a Caribbean vacation with kids, where the order of the day is casual and cool. Most guests are comfortable in shorts and T-shirts in the day, switching to something "elegantly casual" in the evening hours: smart shorts sets or simple sundresses for women, khakis and polos for men, and "school clothes" for kids.

For your family island getaway, don't forget:

3 pair of shorts, 1 pair of jeans or casual pants
1 pair beach shoes, 1 pair sandals, 1 pair sneakers, 1 pair swim shoes
Dinner outfits, similar to school clothes
If you'll be horseback riding: 3 T-shirts
2 swimsuits (one to wear and one to dry)
Old t-shirts for the kids to wear while swimming
Beach toys
Plenty of sunscreen, at least SPF 15
First aid kit with aspirin, stomach medicine, bandages, children's aspirin
Insect repellent

Parents with infants will find baby needs readily available on most islands. In a few cases, disposable diapers are difficult to locate (on small islands like Little Cayman). If you have favorite brands, bring them from home. Prices are likely to be steeper on some islands, and the selection can be limited.

Helping Your Kids Enjoy Flying
Talk to you kids about flying, from the sounds they'll hear to the layout of the plane and the behavior that will be expected of them. Here are some tips to make flying with kids a pleasant experience:

Book seat assignments early so the family sits together. (If you're flying on a charter carrier that doesn't pre-assign seats, get to the airport extra early to ensure that your group will stay together.)
Order special kid's meals from the airline reservation number at least a day in advance. Special meals, available at no extra charge, contain kid favorites and also help make children feel part of the trip.
Minimize your luggage. You'll travel lighter (remember the "lug" in luggage!) and check-in will be faster.
Arrive at the airport early. Check in for international flights is at least two hours before departure.
Consider preboarding if you want to get seated before the mad dash onto the plane begins. However, if your child is restless, this will only add to total time on the ground before takeoff.
Bring bottles and pacifiers for young children to ease the pressure on the inner ear during take offs and landings. For older children, bring chewing gum.
Pack some special activities in a secret "goody bag" or two you keep out the child's hands until the trip is underway.
Bring extra batteries for older children's electronic games and headsets.

10 Top Resorts
Here's a rundown of 10 top family-friendly resorts throughout the Caribbean:

New Providence Island, Bahamas: Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island
What lies beneath the ocean's surface? Non-divers and even non-snorkelers get a peek at the creatures of the deep without ever getting wet thanks to this resort's incredible water attractions. Surrounded by thousands of tropical fish, sharks, manta rays, and sea turtles in the world's largest open-air aquarium, guests view everything from sharks to stingrays. Families also find plenty of water fun above the surface, with daredevil waterslides, relaxing lazy river rides, and a children's pool with a sand play area.
Guests at Atlantis can also take part in one of the most exciting children's programs in the Caribbean: the Discovery Channel Camp at Atlantis. A joint effort by the Discovery Channel and Sun International, the camp uses computer and television technology to give children ages 5-12 an interactive opportunity to explore. The camp includes several components. The Base Camp is easy to find--just look for the replica of a 17th century Spanish galleon, Atocha. This play and orientation center uses the sails of Atocha as a giant television monitor to display Discovery Channel footage. The Technology Lab uses state-of-the-art computers, camcorders, scanners, and plenty of imagination. The Science Outpost offers live animal touch tanks and aquariums as well as working microscopes and collections of fossils and bones. The Arts and Crafts area utilizes the crafts of the Bahamas and gives children the chance to direct the creativity in many ways. Web: www.atlantis.com - Phone: 888-528-7155

Bermuda: Sonesta Beach Resort
Technically Bermuda lies north of the Caribbean but this island shares many of the same island characteristics plus is super-convenient for East coast residents (an important consideration if your youngest travelers aren't ready for a long flight.) Sonesta's Just Us Kids program includes two levels: Just us Kids for ages 3-12 and Just Us Teens for ages 13-17. The list of kids' activities includes arts and crafts, sand castle building, swimming, visits to some of the island's best kids' attractions, and more. Teen fun includes kayaking tours, mountain biking, snorkeling, and horseback riding. Web: www.sonesta-bermuda.com - Phone: 800-SONESTA

Cancun, Mexico: Iberostar Paraiso del Mar and Paraiso Beach Hotels
Don't forget the Mexican Caribbean when it comes time for a family vacation in the sun. About 25 minutes south of Cancun's airport, the new all-inclusive Iberostar Paraiso del Mar and Iberostar Paraiso Beach Hotels are favorites with families. The neighboring properties share a huge pool area and young guests at either property can take part in Lucy's Mini Club, the child recreation center. If the two of you would like to enjoy a night out, evening baby-sitting service is also available. This hotel group also has numerous family-friendly properties in the Dominican Republic. Web: www.grupoiberostar.com - Phone: 888-923-2722

Grand Bahama Island: Our Lucaya
This $400 million property has something for everyone, from over a dozen restaurants and lounges to a 12,000-square-foot spa to two golf courses. Young travelers find plenty of fun at Camp Lucaya, the free-standing children's center where activities range from coconut bowling to afternoon Junkanoo parades. Kids can also take part in the Marine Explorer's Club, cosponsored with the Underwater Explorer's Society (UNEXSO), to learn more about dolphins and even get nose-to-nose with these fascinating creatures. When it's time to take a break from fun in the sun, there's storytelling with traditional Bahamian tales and music made with goat-skinned drums and conch shells. Web: www.ourlucaya.com - Phone: 877-OUR-LUCAYA

Jamaica: Franklyn D. Resort (FDR)
FDR has one of the most unique programs in the Caribbean for vacationing families. Each family is matched with a Vacation Nanny on arrival. She works with the family throughout their entire stay, supervising the kids, washing out bathing suits, or even making sandwiches for hungry young travelers. All guests stay in one-, two-, or three-bedroom suites. Breakfast, lunch, dinner (and a special kiddies dinner) are included along with use of all sports facilities like sailing, windsurfing, snorkeling, glass bottom boat, kayaking, bicycles, and tennis. The children's mini-club includes computer training, satellite TV room, disco, Super Nintendo games, donkey rides, picnics, arts and crafts, kiddies slides and paddling pools, and kiddies disco. Web: www.fdrholidays.com - Phone: 800-654-1FDR or 888-FDR-KIDS

Jamaica: Starfish Resorts
This moderately-priced all-inclusive (formerly Trelawny Beach and Fun Resort) caters to families but welcomes singles and couples. A supervised children's program plans activities for younger visitors from 8am-9pm daily. Rooms have white tile floors and overlook the pool area, the sea, or the surrounding countryside. Several cottages are especially popular with larger family groups. Nightly entertainment at poolside is for the whole family while a late night disco is aimed at the adult set. While the resort is all-inclusive, some motorized sports such as waterskiing, the banana boat ride, and scuba diving are offered on an a la carte basis. Kids will find plenty of activity here, including the Kids Club, with supervised activities. There's a Jungle Gym Playground, arts and crafts center, and trampoline. Baby sitting services are available at additional cost.Web: www.starfishresorts.com - Phone: 800-659-5436

Montego Bay, Jamaica: Wyndham Rose Hall Resort & Country Club
This sprawling resort is just a short drive from the airport, a real boon to those on a short vacation or traveling with restless kids. And, once you arrive, there's no need to worry about those kids remaining restless for long. Wyndham Rose Hall is home to a massive waterpark, a $7 million water complex called Sugar Mill Falls. Complete with lagoons and a towering water slide, parents can enjoy lazy river rafting among waterfalls scattered throughout the park while kids tackle the waterslides. Children can also take part in the supervised Kids Klub. Web: www.wyndhamrosehallresort.com - Phone: 800-996-3426

Puerto Rico: Hyatt Regency Cerromar Beach Resort and Casino
Hyatt Cerromar and its sister resort, Hyatt Dorado, share 1,000 acres west of San Juan, and families enjoy reciprocal privileges at the two resorts. Connected by a free shuttle system, guest cards are honored at both resorts. The Hyatt Cerromar is a favorite with families because of its water activities, special children's programs.Cerromar is home to Camp Hyatt Cerromar Beach, open to guests at both resorts. This year-around program provides activities for children ages 3 to 12, including activities focuses on the environment, culture, and geography of Puerto Rico. Activities at Cerromar center around the River Pool, billed as the world's longest freshwater swimming pool.
Guests can ride colorful floats down the pool's 1,776-foot length or plummet into the waters from a high-rise water slide. Built at a cost of over $3 million, the pool features bridges, a swim-up bar, waterfalls and several islands. A wheelchair lift ensures that all guests have access to the pool. Nearby, a beach bohio serves lunch and snacks. For the more adventurous, watersports are available on Cerromar's strip of beach. At the Windsurfing School and Watersports Center (Puerto Rico's only certified windsurfing school), lessons are offered by Lisa Penfield, two-time women's windsurfing champion and former member of the U.S. Olympic team. Guests learn in the reef-protected calmer waters of nearby Hyatt Dorado. These placid waters are also enjoyed by Cerromar snorkelers and ocean swimmers who arrive at the neighboring property via the free shuttle. Tennis courts, jogging paths, bicycling and in-line skating are also available for energetic families. Web: www.cerromarbeach.hyatt.com - Phone: 800-633-7313

Saint Thomas, USVI: Wyndham Sugar Bay Beach Club and Resort
This 300-room resort is a real rarity in the US Virgin Islands: an all-inclusive property. Here, families can stay, play, and eat for one easy price. "We believe that parents deserve a holiday from high vacation costs," said Bob Marshall, general manager. "Our all-inclusive offerings allow the entire family to enjoy a full breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, including spectacular theme dinners and all day snacks."
The all-inclusive package includes all meals and drinks, an ice cream bar, day and night tennis, all non-motorized watersports, use of snorkel equipment, use of fitness center and Jacuzzi, daily activity programs, nightly entertainment, and beach volleyball.
The KidsKlub keeps young vacationers age three to 12 busy and happy. From 9:30am to 5pm daily, children stay occupied with activities such as kite flying, sea shell hunting, crab races, arts and crafts, and more. The Wyndham Sugar Bay also boasts the island's only indoor resort amphitheater. Movies are shown here when guests are ready to take a break from the sun and the KidsKlub also uses the site for a weekly movie showing. Along with its family-friendly attitude, the resort offers plenty of romance as well. Web: www.wyndham.com/Resorts/STTSB - Phone: 800-Wyndham

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands: Beaches
Also part of the Sandals family of resorts, this all-inclusive is a favorite with families. Located on the 12-mile beach at Grace Bay, this resort is a favorite with water buffs. Watersports include snorkeling and scuba diving (a resort course is offered for older children), aqua trikes, windsurfing, kayaking, sailing, hobie cats, and view boards for a peek at what lies beneath the sea's waves. A special Toddler's Pool and Activity area keeps young visitors happy. Children are also entertained at the supervised areas. A nursery is available for infants and toddlers while the kids' club keeps older children happy at the children's pool, kids' gazebo, playground, table tennis and pool table facilities, and at classes in everything from sandcastle building to reggae. The highlight of the children's area is Pirate's Island, built around a wooden ship surrounded by a pool and two water slides. There's also a SEGA game center and plenty of fun for teens with disco nights, movie nights, sports tournaments, and more. Web: www.beaches.com - Phone: 800-BEACHES