Starwood, Sheraton, Westin: "Love Your Family"

Just to take your mind off the price of gas... family travelers can feel VIP these days, as pretty much every hotel and resort puts out the welcome mat --- or fancy red carpet -- for families.

Some brands go farther than others.... For example, 29 resorts in the Sheraton, Westin, St. Regis, and The Luxury Collection brands have launched a "Love Your Family" program.

Features include signature experiences such as storytelling and stargazing; connecting rooms, food discounts for kids; special packages; and a "Director of Fun" at each resort -- such as the Sheraton Keauhou in Hawaii above. Other resorts are in SC, AZ, FL, CA, USVI...

"Love Your Family"

Starwood Hotels and Resorts is a giant company whose brands include Sheraton, Westin, St. Regis, and The Luxury Collection. 29 resorts have launched a "Love Your Family" program, starting in the US and the Caribbean. More resorts will be added in Canada, Latin American and Europe, in 2009.

"Love Your Family": special experiences

• Resorts offer three signature evening experiences, fireside storytelling, stargazing, dive-in movies; plus extra features specific to individual resorts

• Parents Night Out: kids get their own night out with a counselor and other kids, with diner and activities

Services designed for families: connecting rooms; child safety items; food and beverage discounts (kids under five eat free, kids 6 to 12 receive discounts)

Vacation Packages: check for them, by region, at Love Your Family Vacation Packages. At time of writing, you can find packages in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, South Carolina, and the Caribbean.

Director of Fun - at each resort, the Director of Fun coordinates all the features of "Love Your Family"

Sample Resorts:

-Sheraton Broadway Plantation, Myrtle Beach; Sheraton Cable Beach Resort, Bahamas; Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort, Hawaii; four Sheratons in Hawaii

-Westin Aruba Resort, Westin St. John, USVI, Westin Maui Resort & Spa

-Luxury Collection: The Phoenician, in Scottsdale AZ, and The Wigwam Gold Resort & Spa, in Phoenix

-St. Regis Resort Monarch Beach, CA