Where should I take the family for christmas this year? Any recommendations on the island to go to? We're looking at the us virgin island or jamaica. Anyone have any good adivise?
From my experience being their pre kids, it’s about the same as Mexico. You can go into the cities and haggle for stupid crap you don’t need, but I wouldn’t wander off too far into the jungle alone.odd question, is the dominican republic safe or is it a stay on the resort type of place?
It’s safe to do touristy things. Excursions, shopping, that sort of thing. It’s not a place you’d rent a car and explore on your own.odd question, is the dominican republic safe or is it a stay on the resort type of place?
If you’re not an idiot, most places are safe.odd question, is the dominican republic safe or is it a stay on the resort type of place?
If you’re not an idiot, most places are safe.
He's right.If you’re not an idiot, most places are safe.
It’s safe to do touristy things. Excursions, shopping, that sort of thing. It’s not a place you’d rent a car and explore on your own.
We went outside our resort resort in DR to take a guided dune buggy tour. Only needed to be 16 to drive your own. Whole family had a blast. Most of them were very old air-cooled VW Beetles converted to dune buggies that they kept running somehow. Dusty, fast driving along old dirt roads, ended up at a lunch stop somewhere by the ocean. Came back and stopped at some cool sight seeing waterfall area. Got covered in dust/dirt. Had to wear a helmet, googles and bandana to cover nose/mouth. I think it was one of the best off resort day trips we’ve taken in the Caribbean.odd question, is the dominican republic safe or is it a stay on the resort type of place?
odd question, is the dominican republic safe or is it a stay on the resort type of place?
Should Covid rear its ugly head again, USVI may be the better choice for getting home.Where should I take the family for christmas this year? Any recommendations on the island to go to? We're looking at the us virgin island or jamaica. Anyone have any good adivise?
If you want that, I would recommend renting a house in Eleuthera.It’s safe to do touristy things. Excursions, shopping, that sort of thing. It’s not a place you’d rent a car and explore on your own.
I know some who say this but we must have missed something because it was just ok to us. Beach was really nice, but the restaurants weren't anything great and there's not much to see/do beyond the beach. And, the beach gets ruined almost daily when cruise ships dump thousands of people off who crowd your peaceful beach from like 9am-3pm. No thanks.Aruba
I have a similar recommendation for Jamaica. While we stayed in the Negril area, we did a bused day trip to Good Hope Plantation, which as the name suggests, is a former plantation. They have tours where you drive ATVs or Gators if you are with a kid. It was pretty awesome.We went outside our resort resort in DR to take a guided dune buggy tour. Only needed to be 16 to drive your own. Whole family had a blast. Most of them were very old air-cooled VW Beetles converted to dune buggies that they kept running somehow. Dusty, fast driving along old dirt roads, ended up at a lunch stop somewhere by the ocean. Came back and stopped at some cool sight seeing waterfall area. Got covered in dust/dirt. Had to wear a helmet, googles and bandana to cover nose/mouth. I think it was one of the best off resort day trips we’ve taken in the Caribbean.
I just assumed Bulldogs1974 was a brit.I would advise you to ask for advice!![]()
I live and work in Santiago in the Dominican Republic for about half the year and this is good advice. If you want to get off the resorts and venture out, it's definitely a challenge if you don't speak the language. I don't venture out alone at night unless I'm taking a taxi or an uber. I hate driving at night too. Lighting is terrible, roads other than the main highways are not great, signage is terrible, speed bumps you can't see and a lot of Dominicans drive with their brights on. Lots of traffic in the cities as well. But, overall I feel as safe here as I would any larger city in the US.If you’re smart these things are overblown. The resorts overhype the danger so 1) you stay onsite; and 2) lots of their guests are idiots and if they get into trouble it’ll hurt their business.
The DR is safer than Jamaica. I rented a car in Jamaica and drove my wife, a 4yo, and my 60yo mother around 80% of the island and stayed in Airbnb’s. We had zero issues. Other than parts of Kingston, the worst places are just outside the resorts because the criminal element prey on dumb Americans.
Ritz st thomas or st john. Gallows point villas in st john are great.Where should I take the family for christmas this year? Any recommendations on the island to go to? We're looking at the us virgin island or jamaica. Anyone have any good adivise?
Wife and I love all-inclusives. We’ve done Paradisis Punta Cana, DR and Playa Del Carmen, Mx. Both great. We’ve also gone to Sandals Ocho Rios and Sandals Grande in St Lucia.I'm preferring the us virgin islands but my wife wants all inclusive (considering mexico now). I don't know that I care about the daily price to eat, so i'm not sure if all-inclusive is the way to go. How do you know if all inclusive is the way to go, i've never been to one.
Ruff speling nite..
St Lucia Grande was pretty good and might have been best AI we have done, but non-AI is such a far better experience. You can get better food and drinks and experience a variety of local places vs eating mass prepared food all the time. That said, if in good spot and gonna eat and drink a lot AI is a good way to go. We’ve just had far more enjoyable experience at non-AI.Wife and I love all-inclusives. We’ve done Paradisis Punta Cana, DR and Playa Del Carmen, Mx. Both great. We’ve also gone to Sandals Ocho Rios and Sandals Grande in St Lucia.
Ranked
St Lucia (by a mile, but also the most pricey, also worth it)
Playa
Punta Cana
Jamaica
Best place I've been. You can safely move about the island.Aruba
Best place I've been. You can safely move about the island.
Yeah i stayed low rise twice and high rise once. I agree the low rise is preferred. We took the buses back and forth to downtown and high rise for dinner/activities, and the low rise beach was great.We went for the first time last year, and we’re going again next month. Bonus last year was that it was dirt cheap because of COVID. Now we’re paying post-COVID prices, and we are holding our breath about how crowded it might be.
We stayed in the “low rise” section (Eagle Beach) and really preferred it to the high rise section north of there. Walked everywhere we wanted to go. I went one week either barefoot or flip flops; never had to put on a pair of shoes. That is a vacation!
Mexico will give you the best value and has the biggest variety of all inclusive if that is what you decide. All inclusive resorts are the bulk of my business because that is what many people want. The biggest reason is because it's easy. Easy to budget, everything is on resort so you don't have to leave to find food and drinks, kids clubs are generally very good so it is easy to get adult time, if you want excursions they will generally pick you up and drop you off so there is not a lot of effort put into it. Some people love to be busy and on the go their entire vacation. Others think that sounds awful. Neither is wrong, but they might be wrong for you or your family.I'm preferring the us virgin islands but my wife wants all inclusive (considering mexico now). I don't know that I care about the daily price to eat, so i'm not sure if all-inclusive is the way to go. How do you know if all inclusive is the way to go, i've never been to one.
Ruff speling nite..
We’ve stayed at the high rise area 3 times. Once by ourselves, once with extended family and once with a group of friends. Enjoyed different things each time. Love it there, planning another trip there.We went for the first time last year, and we’re going again next month. Bonus last year was that it was dirt cheap because of COVID. Now we’re paying post-COVID prices, and we are holding our breath about how crowded it might be.
We stayed in the “low rise” section (Eagle Beach) and really preferred it to the high rise section north of there. Walked everywhere we wanted to go. I went one week either barefoot or flip flops; never had to put on a pair of shoes. That is a vacation!
I'm preferring the us virgin islands but my wife wants all inclusive (considering mexico now). I don't know that I care about the daily price to eat, so i'm not sure if all-inclusive is the way to go. How do you know if all inclusive is the way to go, i've never been to one.
Ruff speling nite..
Haters will hate, but I loved the all inclusive resorts in Mexico, Jamaica, etc. when combined with side trips to Tulum, dolphin swim, etc. i also loved renting a house in Eleuthera and having an “authentic” experience. You can’t really go wrong.Mexico will give you the best value and has the biggest variety of all inclusive if that is what you decide. All inclusive resorts are the bulk of my business because that is what many people want. The biggest reason is because it's easy. Easy to budget, everything is on resort so you don't have to leave to find food and drinks, kids clubs are generally very good so it is easy to get adult time, if you want excursions they will generally pick you up and drop you off so there is not a lot of effort put into it. Some people love to be busy and on the go their entire vacation. Others think that sounds awful. Neither is wrong, but they might be wrong for you or your family.
Turks has some great rentals and the people are great. Be prepared - island is small.In Aruba as I type this. The beach is beautiful as is the water. Well groomed and the sand is great! Lots of people, which I'm not a huge fan of, but it makes the people watching fun and interesting. Food has been ok. Pretty much the same as every Caribbean Island we've been to. We rented a Jeep and will be doing some exploring tomorrow. Anxious to check out the rest of the Island. St John's is my favorite. Great beaches, snorkeling, and awesome views. Can't wait to get back there. Turks and Cacaos is up there too. Good luck!!