<p>Looking for an place to go in the Caribbean at Christmas. Yes, I know it’s more expensive then, but that is the only time we can go. We are going with extended family so age ranges from 73 down to 11. Would like all-inclusive, but doesn’t have to be all-inclusive. Leaning toward Jamaica right now but any other suggestions welcome. Budget issues for one family traveling so need something that isn’t high, high end, but middle of the road comfortable, clean, etc. It’s possible that family might go for a shorter time too. They are looking to spend about $5000 for 2 adults and 3 kids under 16.</p>
<p>Or, does anyone know of a travel site where you can put in general destination (Caribbean) and how much you want to spend or something like that vs having to go to each island separately?</p>
<p>Mexico is NOT an option-not because of any reason other than we have been there, done that, don’t want to go back.</p>
<p>Our family has gone to the campground at Cinnamon Bay on St. John. They have cabins, and platform tents. You get a small fridge or ice chest, and a grill. I love it except the showers don’t have hot water. You can go up the road though to [Our</a> Two Destination Eco-Resorts - Maho Bay Camps & Concordia Eco-Resort - Two Caribbean Green Resorts on St. John, US Virgin Islands (USVI)](<a href=“Viasat Internet Texas | Satellite Internet Provider TX”>Viasat Internet Texas | Satellite Internet Provider TX) and get more amenities and it’s still not too expensive. Most of the island is a National Park. There’s lots of good food and great snorkeling.</p>
<p>We had a blast during Christmas in San Juan, PR for a week. Laughed my head off when Macy’s had artificial snow in their store (a huge mall)… The locals were amazed tho. Very friendly people, good food, and so on.</p>
<p>Some of the desirable Carib destinations are too expensive to get there, i.e. Aruba. Some of the lower priced ones may not be as desirable.</p>
<p>A cruise is on the list. The problem we are running into is getting a cruise to match up with the dates we can go. Most leave before school gets out for break or get back after school starts up again in January. There are a few of them. We have been warned away from Carnival for a Christmas cruise because of reports of WAY too may unsupervised pre-teen kids. We have heard that from several sources so I am tending to think that is probably an issue. Their itineraries, however, match up better with our dates so not sure what to do there.</p>
<p>Puerto Rico is probably not an option as our kids are going on a school trip there in March. </p>
<p>Really any warm beach destination would be fine. Doesn’t have to be Caribbean I guess. Hawaii would work too. Thought about maybe Rome and Greece too but the travel agent we talked to was less than helpful with that and I haven’t really done any more research.</p>
<p>It is about $1000 for flights to Europe now.</p>
<p>Not to be a damper, but $5000 for 5 people is almost impossible, even during low season, if you need to fly any where. </p>
<p>You may want to consider renting a large villa (also premium during the holiday season), and cook most of your meals. I have been to Florida and Bahamas in Dec, and it can be cold. There was one time when it was 35 in Florida.</p>
<p>We go away with my siblings, their kids and my parents almost every year. Over the years, some of us were in better financial situation than others, and we have chipped in for each other. You may want to consider that so all of you could go to a nicer vacation. We’ve split rental of a villa among siblings who could afford to pay, and others would pay for air and food.</p>
<p>Odfort is right - flights are the killer of pretty much all of the good deals, and your budget is pretty tight for 5 people, especially considering the holiday season. </p>
<p>Weather-wise, and budget-wise, I would recommend Jamaica (we stayed at Lady Hamilton Grand Palladium in Montego Bay over Thanksgiving week, and it was OK for the money), but as I said, getting a normally priced flight could be a problem.</p>
<p>Dominican Republic is another not-to-expensive destination, but it is colder in there than in Jamaica in January. Check La Romana or Punta Cana resorts (there are lots of them, and most of them are all-inclusive). Occidetal in La Romana is pretty decent, and not expensive. I am not sure where you’ll be flying from, but JetBlue has a bunch of flights from JFK. Pueto Plata beaches are not as good, IMO.</p>
<p>You can also save a few bucks by getting your own airport transfers. In my experience, if your party is 3 or more, then it is cheaper and much more convenient to book your own transfers rather than have it a part of the package.</p>
<p>Another suggestion - if you can, try moving your travel dates a day or two either way. It really could make a difference in the price.</p>
<p>I like booking our family vacations on-line. CheapCaribbean has pretty competitive prices, and their customer service is good.</p>
<p>We have been able to find some packages for 4-5 days in the $5000 range that include flights. The original plan was to go for a full week and that isn’t realistic for them. We may stay for more days than they do though.</p>
<p>We’ve been to Florida plenty of times, I would rather not go there. My sister keeps bringing up going to Disney. There is NO WAY I would go to Disney over Christmas. :D.</p>
<p>Dates are flexible during the break itself but we have a short break, Dec 22-Jan1. I just wish I could find a search engine that you could put in you want to spend $XXXX for X nights for a (whatever theme) vacation and see what it brings up. Our kids can’t really miss any school and for the cruises especially, a lot of them leave on the 17th or the 29th and that just doesn’t work with our schedule. It would be nice if we could go at another time but we just can’t this year.</p>
<p>I was also going to suggest Maho Bay on St. John. It is far from luxurious, but it is a unique experience and really fun. The cabins DO have hot water and private bathrooms, while the tent cottages do not. We’ve done both, and at our older age prefer the cabins.</p>
<p>I’m sure those cabin places are lovely but I am NOT “camping” if I go to the Caribbean :D. I wan’t to sit by the pool, hold out my hand and have someone plop a drink into it. My sister is willing to adjust their time away to meet their budget so that is how they will handle things. They have 2 kids under 12 so that keeps their “costs” down quite a bit at an all-inclusive. Their other child is only 15 so again, not paying full adult price.</p>
<p>That’s the thing. It’s not really camping at all. You sit on the beach with your drinks, or go on the boat excursions. It isn’t “fancy”, but it’s not camping. It isn’t for everyone, though.</p>
<p>D and son in law honeymooned at an all-inclusive in the DR and loved it.</p>
<p>Some hotels in DR, Mexico or Jamaica might have a promotion for kids staying in the same room with with parents, often it’s significantly cheaper, or even free, so your sister may end up paying only for air and taxes for her kids.
Again, check CheapCaribbean dot com or BookIt</p>
<p>Cayman Islands, with a rental apartment instead of a hotel, would work and fit your budget, too. They have a lot of rental apartments right on 7 Mile Beach. Since it’s a British territory, they go in for decorating for Christmas.</p>
<p>Villas on Jamaica could be a good deal given the size of your party. I just think airfare is going to take up the vast majority, if not all of your sisters budget, they really get you on major holiday travel. You can live cheaply once your down there, but you won’t get cheap air.</p>
<p>hayden–is there a “bad” area to be anywhere on the Cayman’s? One condo rental was on one of the smaller islands. Is that a bad thing or should we focus on Grand Cayman? Or, don’t you have any idea?</p>