[rmat100]

We want to go on a vacation to a good beachfront family-friendly resort. Our twins will be 12 at the time, so we don't need a kid's club and kid's menus. Here are some activities we like: Tennis, Sailing (Hobie Cats), Kayaking (maybe---not a must have), a nice pool, pretty beach, etc. We also like to go on island tours. A waterpark isn't necessary. Snorkeling is a favorite of one of my twin boys, so turquoise/blue water would be nice. Nowhere too hot like Curacao and Aruba. We have already been to Cancun, Mexico and Montego Bay, Jamaica. Please don't recommend a resort there as we like to try new places. Here are the maximum budgets for 7 nights: No meals-----$5000, All-inclusive $6500, Breakfast (and maybe some activities included)--$5600.
Any ideas?

By the way, we are considering the Verandah Resort in Antigua, but the water is Atlantic Ocean water---too cold, rough, or not tropical enough?

[All Inclusive]

I am very partial to the All Inclusive Iberostar chain and there are many available in the Caribbean. The whole family loved Iberostar Paraiso Lindo in Riviera Maya (don't know if your "no Cancun" clause meant that whole area or not) and there are a couple in Punta Cana, DR that get excellent reviews. The beaches in DR are beautiful (think lots of palm trees going almost down to the water), and Iberostars have great pools and offer free use of hobie cats and kayaks. Also, in Negril, Jamaica there is a Beaches resort which my teens really enjoyed.

[lovethecape]

I have 3 other suggestions, and we stayed at 2 out of the 3.

Marriott at St. Kitts - The island is relatively undeveloped. Think fields of sugar cane, rain forests, a volcano, very nice beaches, and lovely people. We went in April and the resort and island were not crowded. The Marriott is on the Atlantic side and has tennis courts and a beautiful golf course which my husband unfortunately did not get to use. The beach is very nice but not as calm as the beaches in the Virgin Islands and as blue. The water was calm for us but has been rougher for other posters. You can't control nature. The Caribbean side is a short 2 minute drive away close to the beach bars. You can take a rain forest tour, take a strenous hike up the volcano, take an island tour, see the island monkeys, visit historic Fort Brimstone, dine at some very nice restaurants, visit plantations, take a catamaran to Nevis,... My boys loved it because it was less Americanized that the other islands we visited - an adventure. We once again stayed in a lovely 1 BR timeshare with washer and dryer, dining and living area. You can probably rent from an owner - we used Marriott points and paid to upgrade.

[Alex]

I would encourage you to take a look at the Buccaneer on St. Croix. Their family cottages will run you about $700 including tax and service (maybe a bit more) and have two bedrooms and one bath. Two tvs and some nice outdoor space. They have newly resurfaced tennis courts, and decent but not fabulous pool, three beaches with good snorkeling, kayaks but no hobie cats. Price includes breakfast buffet that is very good. The resort only has a capacity of 300 guests and you never have to fight for a beach chair! My children were there this February at ages 11 and 13 and had a great time. There is a basketball court near the beach and they have croquet and bocce available.
Not tons of activities if they really need lots to do, but a great spot.
Island tours are easy and a snorkeling tour out to Buck Island (the only underwater National Park) is a must.

I love St. John, too. And some friends who have been to the Buccaneer went to Windjammer Landing on St. Lucia this year and really liked it (and they had sailboats available).

[Crystal]

We stayed at the Verandah this past spring break. We liked the resort as a family destination (would never go as a couple). It is new and a bit sterile but they did a good job landscaping and the grounds are reasonbly attractive. I would not consider this to be a particularly tropical location, if by "tropical" you mean an area with lush landscape (either in or around the resort). The beach is just ok. It is pretty enough, but small and a bit hemmed in, as it sits at the bottom of a bluff. Also, i did not find the water to be cold or particularly rough (the resort actaully sits within a protected bay), but it is also not particularly clear or beautiful, so snorkeling is out. However, the price is good for all that you get. We booked straight with the hotel and we got two rooms for your price. They were running promotions at the time since the hotel was new. Luxury link also has good deals on this hotel.