Of course, some of these months are Hurricane season, too. The official Atlantic Hurricane Season starts June 1 and lasts six months. But there are strategies for lowering hurricane risks; and several resort companies and tour operators have hurricane protection policies.
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Anguilla: many family deals
Friendly Anguilla has 33 beaches and a number of family attractions, such as Dolphin Fantaseas, and Gavannah Cave. Check this page for many Family Packages at different resorts.
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Apple Vacations
Apple Vacations serve many departure cities and include many popular all-inclusives with kids programs in Mexico and the Caribbean; Hawaii resorts too.
- Aruba
Check for island-wide specials at Aruba.com. Read about Aruba-- family resorts, family activities, interesting features. Also: check Last Minute Arubafor the Holiday Inn Sunspree and elsewhere.
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Atlantis Resort
This one-of-a-kind giant resort has acres of "waterscape" including snorkeling lagoons, shark lagoon, Lazy River, amazing waterslides, casino, spa, Marina Village, and Discovery Channel Camp for kids. There's always a promotion going on, usually for 3 nights' stay.
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Bahamas: Almost the Atlantis...
Comfort Suites Paradise Island is adjacent to the Atlantis; this place has junior suites with fridge, and guests can use the Atlantis' facilities. Kids under 16 stay free in parents' room.
- Barbados: Best of Barbados
This special runs yearly, during the long "summer" months for discounts (usually lasting until December), with savings on flights, accommodations, dining and car rentals, and participation by many resorts. Read about Barbados, including family resorts.
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Beaches Resorts
These popular all-inclusives are the family resort brand of the Sandals chain, with three properties in Jamaica plus one in Turks and Caicos. Beaches has ongoing discounts, ranging from 20% to 50%; also, Annual Single Parent months--in which no single supplement is charged-- give great price breaks.
- Bonaire: island-wide packages
Bonaire is located 86 miles from Aruba, in the Dutch Caribbean (and outside the hurricane belt) ; it's known for great scuba and snorkeling. Check out promotions at many resorts and hotels.
- Bonaire: Buddy Dive Resort
Family Kids Free package meets the needs of divers and their families: families booking a resort diving package during school holidays will get a free babysitter, a free kids program or SASY, Discover Scuba course, or free unlimited air depending on the age of the child. Non-diver families can exchange the dive package for a soft-adventure package. Prices start at $579 per person based on two adults and two children.
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Breezes Resorts
Breezes Curacao --a family-friendly resort in the Dutch Caribbean, with shore dives right on-site-- frequently has great promotions, as do two other kid-friendly Breezes resorts, Breezes Punta Cana and Breezes Puerto Plata, in the DR. Click to read about deals such as: Kids Stay, Play, Eat Free; Fall for SuperClubs "Ultimate Upgrade", with rates as low as $65 AND the same low rate for all rooms and suites; and other promotions.
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Cayman Islands: Cayman Brac Family Week
Small, friendly Cayman Brac -- population 1500-- is part of the Cayman Islands in the western Caribbean. (The island is named for the "brac" (Scottish for "bluff") that runs down its center.) The Annual Family Week in July means special activities, including a program of kids' watersports; and also, some well-priced packages for families.
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Cayman Islands: Cayman Summer Splash
This annual promotion typically brings big discounts on kids' airfares and watersports, free nights, savings at restaurants and more.
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Club Med
Club Med Punta Cana, in the DR, has amazing kids' programs and as a trend-setting new feature for teens, The Ramp. Click above for seasonal promotions. There's also a complimentary Hurricane Guarantee.
- Curacao: Island-Wide Promotion
Check for a return of this off-season promotion, with discount rates at many resorts. Curacao is a 2-1/2 hour flight from Miami, in the "Dutch Caribbean" along with Aruba and Bonaire (out of the hurricane zone) ; friendly atmosphere, fascinating town, good snorkeling and diving.
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Coral by Hilton Resorts, DR
"Coral by Hilton" is a Hilton brand with four all-inclusives in the Dominican Republic. Families will like Kidz Paradise clubs, the kiddie pools, and price. Check the Coral by Hilton site for "Hot Deals" at all four resorts. Kids stay free if they're 5 or younger, and the charge for ages 6 to 12 can be as low as $36/day. Read more about Coral by Hilton for families.
*photo © Teresa Plowright
continued on Caribbean Deals, p. 2
