Travel to Carrebian

Summer specials


Below, I have listed the best offers I could find for travel between late July and early September, based on prices and availability at the beginning of this week.

Unless otherwise stated, prices are for a week for a family of four (two adults, two children – check age restrictions with the tour operator) sharing the cheapest room, and include return economy flight from London and transfers.

Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic can offer high-quality, great-value holidays – if you pick the right hotel. Dreams Palm Beach is a civilised, family-friendly, upmarket all-inclusive with good food and no dreaded identity wristbands required, on a lovely beach in Punta Cana. Booked on www.firstchoice.co.uk, £3,340 from August 20, with Thomson Airways charter flights from Gatwick.

Cuba

Cuba's main resort, Varadero, has one of the Caribbean's best beaches. One of Varadero's better hotels is the Sol Palmeras, a large all-inclusive on a great tranche of palm-shaded strand. Thomas Cook (www.thomascook.com) quoted £3,203 from July 23 with charter flights from Manchester.

Barbados

The four-star, all-inclusive Almond Resorts on Barbados and St Lucia are offering two free places during the summer for children up to 16 who stay with two adults (normally, it's just one child free). The best property for families is the Almond Beach Village (acres of space, lively children's activity clubs, a long beach and calm sea) on the west coast. Through Tropical Sky (0870 907 9600; www.tropicalsky.co.uk), £3,516 from August 17.

St Lucia

Caribtours (020 7751 0660; www.caribtours.co.uk) has picked out Windjammer Landing, a top hotel in the region for families, as offering one of the best luxury-end deals this summer: from August 17, £5,466 all-inclusive in a one-bedroom suite, with $50 per night credits for additional services such as spa treatments and babysitting.

Trailfinders (0845 050 5871; www.trailfinders.com) has offers of seven nights for the price of five at Coco Palm, an excellent-value, well-run hotel in the centre of Rodney Bay Village with a vast swimming pool: for departures after August 16, £2,399 room only.

Grenada

Blue Horizons Garden Resort, a modest but attractive little bungalow complex with smart apartments with kitchens, is a short walk from Grand Anse, Grenada's best beach – and guests can use sunloungers at a smart hotel on the beach. Booked though Trailfinders (as above), £3,196 room only, for departures after August 16.

Jamaica

The Half Moon, a vast, luxurious set-up with a host of sports facilities, outside Montego Bay, is selling 14 nights for the price of seven over the summer. ITC Classics (01244 355527; www.itcclassics.co.uk) is quoting £5,725 room only for a family staying in two superior rooms, for a fortnight's stay from August 19.
Villas


Like hotels, villas can be bargains in the summer months, with rental rates sometimes half what they are in the winter. The villa specialist CV Travel (020 7401 1050; www.cvtravel.co.uk) picks out Tobago as the island currently offering best value and availability. At Villas at Stonehaven, a high-quality, gated complex (security has been a worry on Tobago of late), a villa sleeping seven with private pool costs £2,243 a week (rental only) in the school holidays – 30 per cent off the normal summer rate.