Christmas in the Carribean...any suggestions?

[Frickles]

My DH and I want to get away for Christmas. We are tired of the hustle and bustle taking away from us enjoying this special time of year with our kids. Last year we dragged them here and there (my DS5 got carsick and spent Christmas Eve with puke all over him), we made very brief pitstops at all the family fuctions, rushed home to spend Christmas Day at our house and I was in the kitchen cooking all day for my FIL (who was in town visiting) and he decided to go home about 3 hours before dinner. We want this year to be different, so we are heading out of town!!

I need help. I can read resort websites all day, but I like to hear from people who have really been there. Here is what we are looking for...

Somewhere beautiful in the Carribean we think.
Great beach for the kids (DS7 & DS5)
Activities for the kids
Snorkeling
Nice resort or villas or house rental

We have rented a house in St. John before... and we loved it there. We just want to try something different.

IF I don't reply right away...it is because I am moving in 5 days and right now my life is a little crazy..but let me know if you've been to a cool place that I should check out!

Thanks!!!!

 

[L107ANGEL]

Would you consider a cruise?

 

[Frickles]

Hi Angel...
We have thought about a cruise...but I don't know if we are the type to enjoy a cruise....and if we aren't, I don't want to find out on Christmas Day. Does that make sense? I'm worried about it being cramped and trying to do Santa and such in a little room.

 

[luvflorida]

We went to Hawaii over Christmas last year. Like you, we just wanted to do something a bit different and celebrate the holidays in a tropical location.

I would do it again in a heartbeat! We loved every single minute of our vacation. We stayed right on a beautiful, quiet section of Waikiki Beach, went swimming, snorkeling, surfing, and sightseeing. We thought it would be really crowded at that time of year, but it wasn't.

The weather was PERFECT, the food was good, and we did exactly what we wanted when we wanted.

Have fun with whatever and wherever you decide.

 

[Frickles]

Hi luvflorida...I'm glad to hear you had a fun time going away and that you would do it again. I might make my family sad by not being here, but we are just so ready to pack up and go! That sounds sooo lovely.

 

[ZipaDeeDooDah]

Oooo..ooo......ooooooooo....I have a suggestion....TAKE ME! TAKE ME!

I'm so jealous!

 

[Frickles]

Well Zipa, you do all the planning and you are in!

 

[luvflorida]

Hi luvflorida...I'm glad to hear you had a fun time going away and that you would do it again. I might make my family sad by not being here, but we are just so ready to pack up and go! That sounds sooo lovely.

We thought about not being around our relatives at Christmas, but it wasn't really a big issue. We always host a family party every year, so we just moved it up a few weeks and celebrated early. We got an artificial tree last year, (another really good decision!), and put it up a few weeks before Christmas, and celebrated our own Christmas when we returned home from vacation.

On Christmas Day in Hawaii, we celebrated by opening our Christmas stockings, (which I had packed and brought with us, along with all the contents), on our lanai with the sun shining down on us.

We were an older crowd, though, so I don't know how I would do things with younger kids. There were six of us, DH, me, DS25, DD22, DD's fiance24, and DD15. I thought our youngest might miss the usual holiday rituals, but she didn't. Surfing on Christmas Day beat anything she could have been doing at home!

 

[Frickles]

Thanks for the tips luv!!! Your trip sounds like it was a dream! My kids are sooo excited about going away! I'll just feel better about it when I find the right spot! (Hawaii is top on my list, but DH doesn't think he can handle an 8 hr plane ride, which is why we are thinking of going back to the Carribean since we are in GA.)

 

[ZipaDeeDooDah]

Oh SNAP!!! Yeah baby! I'm in!!!

 

[Frickles]

You've got lots of work to do Zipa....this aint no free ride!

 

[ZipaDeeDooDah]

Work? WORK? I don't remember reading that part - let me go reread your generous invitation

Okay, I'm back - um, "lots of work" "planning", I'm so sorry, but that really doesn't sound like much of a vacation for me - I may have to pass.

But seriously, hope you have a most awesome, relaxing time!

 

[Frickles]

Zipa we'll surely miss you!

 

[Barb D]

Or you could do what I do: just tell people we don't go ANYWHERE on Christmas Day, and stay home and have a relaxing day letting the kids play with their new toys, etc. I make a relatively simple Christmas dinner, and if anyone wants to come over they're welcome to...but we don't go out.

We did Disney one year in December, and I decided that from then on I wanted to spend the entire Christmas season closer to home. Vacations are special and Christmas is special, and personally I'd rather spread the special out a little more.

Just something else to think about.

 

[scifihippie]

We've done a cruise before and it was great. Loved seeing all the folks wearing santa hats with their shorts.

We've also done a resort in Mexico. We went to the Riviera Maya, flew into Cancun and the resort was over an hour south, just south of Playa del Carmen. It was lovely. We did excursions to the ruins some days and lounged on the beach or by the pool other days.

I love Christmas vacations!!

 

[Frickles]

Oh thank you so much for your replies! I'll check that area out scifi....I've been to Cancun before and I would love to see more of Mexico!