A favorite resort, a red-hot deal, a clever pitch... scroll down for a selection of fun promotions for families.
Club Med has terrific family resorts, including one in Florida. Kids programs and activities are excellent; Baby Club Med has programs for 1 year-olds, 2-year-olds, etc.; Club Med is also leading-edge in fun for teens, with Passworld themed areas (for hanging out and for cool activities) and, at Club Med Punta Cana, "The Ramp", a giant skateboard ramp with lounge tucked underneath.
Book by April 30 for "Family Escapes" between April 26 and November 1 2008. Ixtapa Pacific, Mexico, starting from $875 per person for 7 nights; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, starting from $750 per person; Sandpiper, Florida, starting from $625 per person; Cancun Yucatan, Mexico, starting from $999 per person.
12. Breezes / Starfish / SuperClubs: Spring Savings, Kids Stay, Play, Eat Free
Several SuperClubs all-inclusives resorts welcome young kids, and have kids' programs: for ex., Starfish, in Jamaica; Breezes Curacao Resort, Spa & Casino; Breezes Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. Super Savings rates for spring offer discounts of 50% or more. Rates are as low as $129/person/night at Starfish Trelawny. (Book by 4/11/08, for travel until 5/31/08). Also at Breezes Curacao, Breezes Puerto Plata, and Starfish Trelawny: a
Kids Stay Play and Eat Free promotion, and a
Single Parent Promotion, for travel May 1 to Dec. 22 2008. Read more about these
promotions.
-Check prices for Breezes Curacao at Kayak.com.
"NickHotel" is a very fun place to stay: with two waterparksgames and entertainment by Nickelodeon, character breakfasts with SpongeBob and Dora, and more. NickHotel always has Specials, such as
Spring Getaway: from Mar. 30 to May 23 3008, price starts at $129/night. Or try the
Universal Two Nights / Three Days Package, with SpongeBob SquarePants KidSuite, and one admission to Universal Orlando theme parks for three days. The hotel has a free shuttle to these (and other) theme parks. Check out many
Specials: such as Grand Trippin', Single Parent, "The More You Slime, the More you Save", and Birthday Party Packages.
Compare prices for Nickelodeon Suites by Holiday Inn and other area hotels
American Girl Place has its flagship store on Fifth Avenue, and shopping is just part of the experience: for ex., there's a theater with live musicals, and a Cafe with Treat Seat at the tables for guest dolls. American Girl Place sometimes teams up with hotels for packages, such as this one at the luxury
Kitano: package includes take-home American Girl doll bed, American Girl Place activity booklets, certificate for a gift at the store's concierge, Kitano Kids Club Card, souvenir that can be used for unlimited milk and cookies in the Garden Cafe; and more. Oh, and a sedan ride to American Girl Place, too.
(Read more about unique NYC Toy Stores.)
Breezes Puerto Plata is a well-priced SuperClubs all-inclusive in the Dominican Republic, with kids club, watersports, and excellent promotions: such as Kids Stay, Play and Eat Free, from May 1 to Dec. 2008. The same dates see a Single Parent Promotion, too: if adult and one child are traveling, the child stays free, AND the parent pays the standard rate with no single supplement charge.
Franklyn D. Resort & Spa and Pebbles Resort are two mid-sized all-inclusive family resorts in Jamaica, known in particular for the "vacation nanny" assigned to each family throughout their stay. The resorts also have kids club, teen activities, snorkeling, glass-bottom boat, scuba for ages 12 and up, kayaking... and good promotions throughout the year. For example:
Single Parent Special, from April 11 to Dec. 18 2008: no "single supplement" will be charged. (That's a substantial saving; read about pricing for single parent families.)
- Check prices for FDR Pebbles
- Check prices for Franklyn D. Resort
Photo courtesy of the Tamarijn Aruba Resort.Gotta love this language: two kids stay, play and eat free, year-round. (That's kids up to age 18, in a room with two paying adults.) Families can also add a second room, for a max of 4 kids, at a discount rate.
Kids camp for ages 5 to 12 has activities such as Papiamento (local lingo) lessons, t-shirt painting, pool games, scavenger hunt, bingo, crafts, and more. Guests at the Tamarijn Aruba have use of all facilities at the Divi Aruba All Inclusive, next door.
Features include: 10 dining choices, three pools, rock climbing wall; snorkeling gear, clinic and tour; sunfish sailing, kayaks, “Learn to Windsurf”; tennis, bike tour, dance lessons, and lots more activities; discount green fees at Divi golf course.
18. AZ: Rancho de los Caballeros packages - to May 11 2008
This "ranch resort" in Wickenburg Arizona (--"Dude Ranch Capital of the World"--) has golf, spa, kids program. Regular rates start from $200/person (double occupancy) with three meals a day. "Unlimited Riding Package" starts from $270/person; "Ranch Experience" includes two rounds of golf, two horseback rides, spa credit, starting from $259/person, less the longer you stay. (Best bargains for this resort come in Nov. and Dec.-- look for new promotions later in the year.) i
Read about Rancho de los Caballeros for families.
Photo © Teresa Plowright.
photo courtesy of Kaanapali Beach HotelThe Ka'anapali Beach Hotel -- on popular Ka'anapali Beach on the island of Maui -- prides itself on honoring Hawaiian culture, has an innovative kids' program, and offers promotions throughout the year. Book by March 31 for "Jump into Spring" rates starting at $90/person, for travel April 1 to June 7 2008. See the
Ka'anapali Beach Hotel site for more info.
Several Marriott hotels in New Orleans have packages that include fun places to visit with kids, such as Louisiana Children's Museum or Aquarium of the Americas.
Photo courtesy of Marriott Hotels.
Thanks to its many theme parks, Orlando Florida is the world's top vacation spot for families-- impressive, for a landlocked town in a state with beaches. Read about a new type of affordable car rental, and about a Kids Eat Free Card.
