How to plan a Caribbean holiday with kids

Because planning a holiday is hard enough as is

Booking a family holiday is always more difficult than taking a short break as a couple. Kids are hard work! Not only do you need to make sure that they’re safe, but also that there will be enough fun activities for both them and yourselves during the holiday. So, here are our tips on how to plan a Caribbean holiday with kids without pulling your hair out.

Pick a quiet location

The words ‘quiet’ and ‘Caribbean’ might not seem to go together, but rest assured that there are indeed plenty of less crowded places to visit in the region. Some great countries for this are Barbados, Grenada, Martinique and Antigua.

Choose a resort with on-site play areas

While many resorts are well-equipped for kids, some hotels and lodgings will simply be a room to sleep in. And we all know that kids are in constant need of entertainment.

Although a resort will most likely be more expensive if it has things like an on-site pool or ball park, you will reap the benefits of being able to entertain your kids at the drop of a hat. You’ll also save on travel expenses, so we think this is a fair compromise.

Come overly prepared

They say to always expect the unexpected and that could not be truer with kids. You never know what they’ll want, so it’s best to bring more than you think you’ll need when travelling. For the plane, bring drawing pads, books, tablets and any games that will fit in your hand luggage. Kids have quite short attention spans and so they need variety to keep them entertained.

For the holiday itself, pack a small first aid kit complete with thermometer, kids’ paracetamol/Ibuprofen, plasters, antiseptic spray, antihistamine, motion sickness tablets and any special medication your children may need. Mosquito spray will come in handy, too.

It’s also a good idea to pack several changes of clothes. Kids are quite susceptible to trips and falls, as well as dropping food on themselves. Hats are a must in the Caribbean as the average temperatures are fairly high no matter what month you travel.

Plan your days in advance

Unlike a couple’s holiday where you simply wake up and see what the day may bring, a family holiday needs a bit more organisation. Especially if you have children of all different ages. After all, a 10 year old is not likely to enjoy the same activities a 5 year old would.

Here are a few ideas for kid friendly activities in the Caribbean:

Day at the beach
Snorkelling
Trip to the zoo
Boat excursions
Rainforest tours
Day by the pool
Animal encounters
Jungle buggy rides
Amusement parks

Special days out for activities like snorkelling or tours will need to be booked way in advance, whereas a day at the beach will be much easier to achieve. Regular breaks for snacks and drinks will also need to be taken into account.

If your children are quite fussy, make sure to pack a bag of snacks and bottled drinks that you know they like. Caribbean food is full of flavour and spice which can make it less than palatable for young children. The heat will also affect small children much more than older children, so keep an eye out for signs that they are overheating.

And that’s how you plan a Caribbean holiday with kids

We hope this gave you some tips and inspired you to book your next family holiday to the Caribbean. After all, having young children doesn’t mean you have to stop going to nice places, it just means you have to change your strategy a little.

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