Family vacation to the tropics?

[digital-audiophile]

So I'm starting to put some thought into a winter vacation for the family and since I have never been anywhere tropical I am thinking about maybe Jamaica?

We need a family friendly resort as our daughter will only be just under 2 years old when we go.

Anywhere in the tropics where the wife can get her relaxing time on the beach and I can get in a little snorkling would be awesome.

Any advice or suggestions of the best place for a young family.

[muck]

Winter's just about over Greg....you plan like me I see.

[Pier Pressure]

We were in Jamaica approximately 15 years ago and I would never go back. I found it was too crowded and you could not leave your resort without being literally accosted by street vendors and drug dealers. We spent a week in Ocho Rios and a week in Negril.

Ocho Rios was completely awful, whereas Negril was somewhat better because at least you had access to the beach. I cannot see that this problem would have changed with time other than to get worse as there would be even more people there now. A woman actually grabbed me on the street and took me into an alley so that she could braid my hair for money. Thing is - I did not want my hair braided.

The best snorkelling I have done was in Playa del Carmen in Mexico. I would recommend Mexico, both for the value of the dollar and the excellent people.

[Phanman]

what about cuba? you can do some fantastic snorkeling and the wife can chill out on the beach. I enjoyed my last trip there about 2years ago.

[toxic111]

Cuba is nice, and some areas have reefs right off the beach. We spent a week down there this year, and our resort had a great area right of the beach with only 3-4' of water!

[Treebeard]

Akumal Beach Resort is a few miles south of Playa del Carmen and I highly recommend it. It is a very reasonably priced all inclusive and the snorkeling is spectacular! Here are some photos from a recent trip with my daughter.

Akumal Beach

Akumal Beach Snorkeling

My fiancee' and I are planning an August honeymoon to Akumal, however we will be staying at a smaller non-all inclusive hotel just down the beach from the above resort. My wife-to-be is a certified NAUI scuba instructor and is giving me the instructional part of my training at home, and will certify me with the open water dives in Akumal Bay. I am SO excited, I can hardly wait to get down there and see the stuff which is to deep too reach with a snorkel.

If you want more info, feel free to PM me.

[Treebeard]

Should have posted this link to the Akumal Beach live webcam.

The webcam is mounted on the front of the Lol Ha beach bar, which is within stumbling distance of the AKumal Beach Resort.

[Der_Iron_Chef]

A friend recently went to Cuba, and was somewhat disappointed. I think there are some incredible spots in Mexico. That will be my next tropical destination

[digital-audiophile]

Thanks for the advice. Akumal seems like a really nice place. I will have to pick your brain a little bit. We are planning on doing this in maybe Jan/Feb 2009. We are going to Vancouver Isaland this summer with the little one and that will be her first major trip out of the city. She will almost be 2 when we plan to go down south and that will make it a bit easier.

[Marlin65]

My vote would be for Cozumel a bit more to get to but not as crowded and of course the diving/snorkeling 2nd to none.
Akumel is nice too but the diving is better in Cozumel.
Islands are usually less crowded and more pristine.