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Caribbean selling tips
hotel on the west or south coast for families
– the Caribbean side is a really calm place
for children to swim. The sea is very rough on
the Atlantic side. I’ve seen people knocked off
their feet going into the sea.
One island I would avoid for families is
Grenada – it’s really a honeymoon
destination. Places like the Caymans and
Turks & Caicos do have lots of things to do,
but families are not their core market. And
price-wise they are a step up from other
destinations. Jamaica and the Dominican
Republic are probably the most affordable
options in the Caribbean.
School holidays are always busy – we take
bookings in October or November for the
following summer. Families need to book a
good six months ahead, or longer if they want
to go for Christmas.
You can get some good deals for families:
offers such as kids go free, or no extra cost for
an extra person in the room. But the offers
aren’t always valid all year round. During the
school holidays you often pay top price.
Lesley Waldron
travel consultant,
Mark’s Travel, Tyne & Wear
Family Almond Smugglers Cove has good
T
he Caribbean is very welcoming facilities for teenagers as well.
to families – and generally the In terms of things to do, St Lucia has
Caribbean people are lovely. The sailing, the jungle, horse riding and wild-
kids’ clubs in St Lucia, Barbados life such as whale and turtle-watching.
and Jamaica are often very good. The big In Barbados, the caves are popular, and
hotels such as Beaches definitely have a it’s fun to hire a little vehicle and drive
good reputation. around the island.
What most people say is if they’ve got I’ve recently been back to Jamaica for
kiddies, they spend a fortune. Children the first time in years and was very
want everything – a drink here, a snack impressed by the new Mystic Mountain,
there, it all adds up. Families like an it’s great for families. Climbing Dunn’s
all-inclusive because it helps them budget. River Falls would be great for older
Some resorts cater well for both children too. Jamaica ticks all the boxes
children and grown-ups. Somewhere like really. It’s bigger than the other islands so
Coconut Bay (pictured, right) in St Lucia there’s even more to do and you can get
has a separate quiet pool for adults as out and about.
well as a kids’ pool and waterpark. With Barbados, I’d always advise a
32
TTG Knowledge – January 2009
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