Relaxation is easy to do at Grand Velas Resorts
Upgrade plus Kids/Teens Free at all Grand
Velas Resorts in Mexico June 1-Aug. 31, 2010. From Riviera Maya
to Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit...from studio to one-bedroom
suite with kitchen or suite with private plunge pool...Grand Velas
Resorts goes all out this summer for families. Imagine, a couple with
two children up to 16 years old only paying from $330 p/night for all
four, and everybody eats free, at all-inclusive Velas Vallarta Suite
Resort. Single supplements are also waived during this period. A la
carte gourmet meals at specialty restaurants, premium
brand drinks, 24-hour room service, a fitness center,
evening entertainment and a host of other activities are included along
with taxes and gratuities. All resorts feature a complimentary Kids
Club for children ages 4-12. Activities range from planting trees and
flowers and learning about the environment to beading in the style of
the local Huichol Indians and baking with the pastry chef. Grand Velas
All Suites & Spa Resorts in
Riviera Maya and Riviera Nayarit start at $290 p/adult p/night double.
At the latter, a round of golf or 25-minute spa treatment is added.
Upgrades are based on minimum 3-night stays. www.velasresorts.com
Iberostar Rose
Hall Beach Hotel
in Jamaica: An ongoing Kids Stay Free promotion –
valid for up
to two kids ages 4-12 when staying with two paying adults – give
families extra all-inclusive savings through Dec.
15, 2010. www.iberostar.com
This is
the summe for family vacations at Las
Terrazas Resort in Belize! Just look at these specials for pure
family fun.
Reserve a one-bedroom townhome and receive a complimentary upgrade to a
2-bedroom. Rates start at $195 p/night through Aug. 31,
2010. How about 5th Night FREE, pay only for 4 nights? This offer
applies to all 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom townhomes in all categories, July 1
through Aug. 31, 2010. Rates start at $195 p/night. Other
summer specials: 10% off meal plans at O Restaurant; 10% off any
treatment at Serenity Spa & Wellness Center.
Las
Terrazas Resort amenities include townhomes w/full-size kitchens,
living and dining rooms, 1 to 3 bedrooms, flat panel cable TV, iPod
docking station, DVD player, surround sound, high-speed Internet
access,
washer and dryer. On premises, you'll find a 70-foot infinity lap pool
with bar, O Restaurant, concierge, 5-star PADI dive facility, spa,
fitness room, use of kayaks and hobie cats, plus bicycle and golf cart
rental. www.lasterrazasresort.com
Occidental Hotels & Resorts offers Kids
Free on all new bookings for travel through Dec.
17, 2010. Nightly
rates at Occidental’s all-inclusive
properties in Aruba, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic and Mexico start at an amazing $53 per person. www.occidentalhotels.com/occidental/Specials_main.asp
The Audubon Trio Getaway includes accommodations at the New Orleans Marriott, breakfast for two
adults and two children, and a choice of four tickets to the Audubon
Zoo,
Aquarium of the Americas or Audubon Insectarium. Starting at $169 per
night,
the package is valid through August 31, 2010. www.neworleansmarriott.com
(rate code EB5)
Renaissance
Orlando at SeaWorld, ideally
situated directly across the street from SeaWorld, has a great summer Family Escape package starting at $129
p/night through Sept. 30, 2010. It includes deluxe room w/two
queen beds;
glass of champagne or cider on arrival; free breakfast, lunch and
dinner from
kids’ menu for up to 4 children; 1 large pizza and soft drinks per
night;
complimentary family-friendly in-room movie; 10% discount on spa
services. www.renaissanceseaworld.com
(rate
code P50)
Three Marriott Resorts in Florida have partnered with
Nickelodeon to present the Nickelodeon
Getaway Family Program. Kids can breakfast with SpongeBob
SquarePants and
Dora the Explorer, and interact with them at poolside game shows in the
afternoon, including a chance to get slimed! The two-night stay also
includes a
sleepover kit with pillowcase and Nickelodeon-themed gifts.
Doral Golf Resort &
Spa, Miami: Weekends only (Fri.-Sun.)
May 27–Sept. 5, 2010, from $189 p/night. www.doralresort.com
Harbor Beach Marriott
Resort & Spa, Fort Lauderdale: daily May 31-Sept. 5,
2010, from $269
p/night. www.marriottharborbeach.com
Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort: Weekends June 18-Sept.
25, 2010, from $274
p/night. www.marcoislandmarriott.com
Casa Magna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort
and Spa in Mexico has a special for families that won’t break
the bank.
The Escape Family Package, valid
through Dec. 10, 2010, includes breakfast daily for two adults and
two
children 12 and under; pizza and movie night; milk and cookies nightly
at
turndown; free Kids Club entry ages 4-12; and children under 12 stay
free at
this beachfront resort. Rates start at $162 p/room p/night double, with
minimum
3-night stay required. www.puertovallartamarriott.com
Riuland...RIU Hotels' new children's program based on fun,
education and enjoying the
outdoors... is
now launching at select Mexico and Caribbean resorts in
two age groups: 'Club 4-7' and 'Club 8-12.' Giving kids' programs
a more modern spin, Riuland centers on themes: AquaLand (pool games and
contests),
RiuOlympic (group sports and individual events), PiratesLand
(swashbuckling pirate contests and treasure hunts), and two educational
experiences. RiuWorld introduces cultures of different countries
through their most popular children's games; while EcoLand activities
explore the hotel's natural surroundings, stressing care for the
environment.
Plays are staged
once
a week in the hotel's theater,
performed by
the children instead of for them. Dance games,
shows and the Miss and Mr. Riuland pageant awards prizes to all
contest winners. Kids sing the special club goers' song long after the
vacation becomes a fond memory. The children's program opened in Spain
last season, and was such a huge success, RIU personnel are expecting
the same reaction at their Caribbean, Dominican Republic and Jamaica
properties. www.riu.com
Horizonx Family Adventure. Rafting in the rapids of Canada’s Ottawa River, surrounded by amazing
scenery and tame wildlife, is a unique experience for both parents and
kids.
Children 40 lbs. and up join Mom and Dad in the gentle middle channel
of the
river for the perfect whitewater rafting initiation. It’s adventure and
excitement in rapids kids can handle. Package includes a day of
rafting, BBQ lunch, wet suits and remembrance photos. $100 adults; $70
children
under 12. Also check out Horizonx’s new program this year, Full Moon
Rafting,
and see what comes out at night besides the moon and stars. www.horizonx.ca
unique fAMILY getaway
Pirate lore and boat
races await
families visiting the idyllic islands of St. Vincent and the
Grenadines.
St. Vincent was the site of the original and very
popular Pirates
of the Caribbean movie with Johnny Deppe. Explore Fort Charlotte, sitting 600 feet above Kingstown Bay and featured in the movie. Climb La
Soufriere
volcano, hike to Trinity Falls hidden in the rainforest, or visit Vermont
Nature
Trails for birdwatching.
Bequia...dotted
with
pastel
houses, bougainvillea and shady almond trees...retains its
boat-building
traditions by holding races every Sunday. Kids will love exploring the
model boat shops, visiting Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary, Spring
Studios (pictured) and conjuring
up their
own pirate adventures in Fort Hamilton. www.svgtourism.com
Tamarijn Aruba All-Inclusive Family Package allows 2 children up to age 18 to stay, play
and eat
FREE when sharing a guaranteed oceanfront room with two adults. Ages
5-12 seek
the Mon.-Fri. Children’s Camp for face painting, pool and beach games,
movies,
scavenger hunts, snacks and more. Guests staying at either beachfront property,
AAA 3-Diamond
Divi Aruba or adjacent Tamarijn Aruba,
may use all
facilities at both properties: ten dining options, seven bars, three
freshwater
pools, watersports, plus the well-equipped Divi Winds Sports Center featuring a 30-foot rock
climbing wall on
the beach. www.diviaruba.com
or www.tamarijnaruba.com
At
Costa Rica’s famous Lost
Iguana Resort & Spa, families watch from their balconies at
night as Arenal
Volcano spews red-hot lava in a spectacular show. “Family Fun
Getaway” includes
two adjoining rooms, $500 spa credit, meals and babysitting services
for the
kids (10 hours total), and three rainforest adventures. Choose
from a
1.7-mile zipline canopy tour; a private hiking tour on resort trails;
guided
biking tour on the live volcano; a kayak or power boat cruise on Lake Arenal; or a visit to the Butterfly Gardens. Youngsters try the new smaller scale zip
line; wander
the resort’s winding hibiscus maze; or splash in the shallow hot
pool. The open-air spa also houses a gym and sauna. www.lostiguanaresort.com
Need
help in choosing accommodations? Ciao
Bambino scouts the globe for hotels, villas, resorts and
apartment rentals catering to families with children, from infants to
teens. The newest section on their site, called Community Recommended, reaches
beyond the staff inspections that mark certain properties 'CB
approved.' It calls on families who have already stayed in
accommodations to give full reviews, so readers can make accurate
decisions on which place fits their vacation needs. This feature
includes key information about the writers' families, how many children
were involved, ages and travel priorities. Readers can identify the
validity of each resource as it applies to their particular
families. www.ciaobambino.com
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