r/Caribbean

Hey everyone! I recently relocated to Barbados from the US and I'm currently in the market for a car. My original plan was to just grab a standard gas vehicle, but the fuel prices here are blowing my mind (over $4 BBD a litre?!). It’s way more expensive than what I’m used to.

Because of that, I'm seriously looking into getting an EV to save on daily running costs. I'm on a bit of a budget, so I'm mostly looking at secondhand or reconditioned models (like a used Nissan Leaf). However, I'm a little hesitant. I've heard mixed things about buying used EVs, especially regarding how the battery holds up in the heat, getting parts, and whether there are mechanics on the island who actually know how to work on them if something goes wrong.

Has anyone here gone the secondhand EV route? What has your experience been like with battery health and general maintenance? Also, are there any local groups, communities, or services that help new owners figure this stuff out or check the battery before buying? I'd love to make the jump to electric, but I'm terrified of accidentally buying a lemon!

Any advice would be hugely appreciated. Thanks!

Hello all I am still on the hunt for a honeymoon destination and am interested in divi little bay beach resort in st marteen. Does anyone have any experience good or bad? Is it worth the all inclusive? Is November a bad time to go? Thanks

Traveling to Puerto Rico for the first time next summer. Looking for recommendations of kid friendly beaches that typically have calm waters. Our kids will be 3 and 6 and are not experienced swimmers. We typically stay in shallow parts of waters.

I will be traveling with older family members (70 and 75). They want to go to a caribbean island. One of them want to do a lot of relaxing on beaches and the other wants to visit museums and historical sites. However, the older one can't do a lot of walking on hilly terrain. Which caribbean islands should I consider? By the way, they visited Jamaica several times, Curacao, and Antigua.

Howdy yall - first time looking to vaca in the caribbean. 25yr anniversary trip in February. Looking for as private as possible, yet walking to shopping/good food. We enjoy good beaches and driving to explore islands. Open to resorts, but prefer airbnb... budget of 10k +-, flying from PDX.

Thanks for your input friends.

we’re a group of 40 something gals, looking for a beach vacay in January 2027. Caribbean/Central America only. we want lots of activities- hiking, snorkeling, and excursions- but we’ve all been to Costa Rica. what else would be recommended? we‘ve visited Puerto Rico, USVI, and Exuma. Exuma was great but not enough other stuff to do besides beach all day.

I'm writing a spoiler, as this was a terrible vacation by far any I experienced. If anyone has suggestions on better Carrebian islands and hotels to stay at that are kid friendly, entertaining and safe please share.

For my experience with Barcelo Hotel in Aruba, I rank it as a 0 out of 5 stars, and share so others can avoid. Our family of seven booked this "all-inclusive" vacation months in advance through American Airlines Vacations. Two days into our trip, after we were fully unpacked, Barcelo management slipped a note under our door demanding $665.55 due to an AA booking glitch regarding my 12-year-old son's age. Instead of resolving this business-to-business, management (Victor Wever and Gislaine Croes) held my family hostage. They threatened to lock us out of our rooms—separating us from our passports, money, and laptops—if we didn't pay immediately. I was forced to pay under duress and have since filed a formal extortion and coercion complaint with the Aruban Police.

Beyond the criminal management practices, the resort is incredibly mediocre for the price. Here is my breakdown:

• Service & Bars (2/5): They force everyone into a single crowded bar at night with long waits and small glasses. Buffet servers take your first drink order and vanish, so you have to double-order just to get through a meal.
• Pool & Beach (3/5): The beach has calm water but my son and I were eaten alive by bugs. The pool lacks shade and allows smoking right next to where kids play. The activities are basic (cornhole, aerobics).
• Entertainment (1.5/5): Family entertainment is non-existent unless you want to pay out of pocket. Only one pool table worked ($5 for 2 games) and the arcade was overpriced. Note: There is a hidden escape room in the arcade that was surprisingly good (4.5/5), but poorly advertised.
• Specialty Restaurants (4/5): The one bright spot. The Japanese restaurant was fantastic, specifically our server Jazon Manuel (5/5 service). Italian and Mexican were also decent.
• Room/Gym: Gym is decent for cardio (4/5) but lacks leg equipment. Room cleaning was awful—tiny towels that don't fit an adult, and they repeatedly forgot to restock the fridge with water for the coffee maker.

Aruba is a desert island, vastly inferior to lush tropical islands like St. Lucia (which also offers free amenities). Between the extortion and the nickel-and-diming, we will never return to Barcelo, use AA Vacations, or visit Aruba again.

If you have better suggestions on where to visit that would be better family experience, please share, I would like to figure out future travels that are much better than this one.

Hello I am looking to book our honeymoon for early November and struggling to decide on an island. From what I’ve seen Saint Lucia and Antigua seem to be out of budget. My next choices would be st Thomas or st croix. Opinions? Any other islands that are better?

Saludos!!!

I’m launching a new platform called Anda Cabrón: an independent space dedicated to Puerto Rican history, education, and the fight for sovereignty.

We all know you can’t have a real movement without the creatives. Art, poetry, and music cut right through all the political noise and hit us right in the soul. It reminds us who we are.

So, I’m putting out a call to every independent Puerto Rican creator out there. I don't care if you’re holding it down on the island or keeping our roots alive in the diaspora across NY, Chicago, Orlando, or wherever you are. We need your voice.

We want to showcase your work:

• Poetry
• Visual Art
• Music

The mainstream ignores our stories, so we are going to use this platform to put a massive spotlight on your work and tie it right back to our history and the struggles we're facing today.

If you want to get involved, collaborate, or share your work, hit my DMs here or find us on our socials:
📸 Instagram: andacabron
🎵 TikTok: pr.andacabron

Que viva Puerto Rico Libre!!!

Hello all I am looking to plan a honeymoon in November and interested in heading to the Caribbean. Any suggestions on good islands not looking to go bankrupt in the process lol. So far I’ve been interested in St. John, st Thomas, st croix or st marteen. Any suggestions would be awesome

My wife and I are traveling to Antigua in a few weeks and I am trying to decide between a private catamaran lunch or the circumnavigation tour. Any recommendations or advice would be helpful.

I am planning a trip and I can’t decide between Belize or Bahamas. Budget about 6000$.

I wasn’t planning on Atlantis because I am in my mid twenties.

We want a relaxing vacation but some activities would be nice too!
-I adore the turquoise blue water of Bahamas.
-Swimming with pigs in bahamas sounds fun, so does swimming with sharks though in either.
-the reef really draws me to Belize but the look of Bahamas draws me as well.
-I don’t want seaweed issues on the beach, I want to swim.
-want good food
-Access to activities near resort is good

So where should I travel and any resort recommendations are helpful too!!

I’m trying to decide between two resorts in Turks & Caicos and I’m stuck. Trip is for February and I want honest opinions from people who’ve stayed there or know people who have. I am budgeting because I want to do fun things there too.

The two options:
West Bay Club
The Sands at Grace Bay

What I care about:
Best beach experience (clear water)
Nice/clean/luxury feel (not basic hotel vibes)
Good food on site or nearby
Excursions (snorkeling, boat trips, etc.)
Some things to do, but I don’t need a party resort

Where I’m stuck:
West Bay Club seems more “luxury and quiet,” but less walkable and fewer amenities, more taxis.
The Sands seems more convenient and walkable, but maybe less upscale

My Questions:
Which one actually feels nicer in person?
Is West Bay Club worth it over The Sands?
Will I regret picking one over the other?

Any real experiences or comparisons would help a lot. Trying not to overthink this but I keep going back and forth.

Open to things to do there ideas too!!