» Fri Jan 07, 2011 7:24 am
My parents took us to Aruba for a week (or was it 2 weeks? I forget). Naturally, I don't know how much that cost... anyway, it was absolutely great, but it really depends where on the island you stay at, and I don't really know if there are any all-inclusive packages available. We stayed at the Amsterdam Manor (west side of the island, near Eagle Beach), it was a nice quiet place, not one of the high-rises. The beach wasn't very crowded, it was quiet (no constant music, nor packed with people). We went in March, and the weather was great. But, weather is an important factor, and even though it is a desert island, bad weather can happen.
Recently, my parents got back from an all-inclusive package at Cancun, specifically the Moon Palace Resort (I think?). It is a closed facility, and my parents said they felt very safe and secure there. Also, the adjacent beach was free of beggars and wares-hawkers (all the beaches in Mexico are owned by the state, so individual resorts can't control/restrict the people who go there). But, my parents said the beach was more an "ambiance beach," and that there was quite a bit of seaweed, so it wasn't so great for swimming in. But, you mentioned you didn't want to go to Mexico (completely understandable, given all the violence).
A long time ago (I was a wee one), my parents took us to Bermuda. The US Virgin Islands are also supposed to be good, safe destinations, you might try finding a travel package there. I don't really know much about other island destinations in the Caribbean, sorry.