Children Free + Free Rooms at Paradisus

From May 1-December 22, 2019, children are free at Paradisus La Esmeralda in the Riviera Maya, Mexico (except from July 6-August 17).  Family reunion groups can also take advantage of a 6th room free for travel from now through December 22 although Thanksgiving is blacked out.  And if you are planning a wedding with children tow, you can get a free Paradisus Wedding Package worth $990 when you book a 7-night stay in the Family Concierge Section for the bride and groom plus six additional rooms for your wedding guests (with a three-night minimum)!  The family-friendly resort just outside of Playa del Carmen showcases a new water park that opened this month and with a variety of new activities for children and teens.

Nickelodeon’s Autism Certification

Speaking of special needs, we are pleased to learn that Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts in Punta Cana, by Karisma recently completed a training and certification program through the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) to ensure its staff are prepared to welcome guests on the autism spectrum or those with sensory sensitivities.  The deluxe all-inclusive resort is currently offering rates of up to 65% off and children are free for holiday travel through January 4, 2019.  But you must book by December 2!  The 208-room resort features an oceanfront infinity pool, large water park, 12 dining options ranging from an astronaut restaurant to a food truck plus character meals, daily activities and entertainment with a Nickelodeon theme including a slime raffle, water sports, sports hub (with tennis, archery, basketball and more), kids club for ages 4-12 and more.  Family sized villas including a Sponge Bob SquarePants themed accommodation are available along with swim-up rooms.

Accessible Costa Rica

Family Holidays by Il Viaggio Travel, specialists in family travel throughout Costa Rica and fellow members of the Family Travel Associasion, also arranges accessible travel.  They currently offer private and custom trips for those with special needs such as permanent or temporary physical handicaps as well as traveling with family members on the autism spectrum.  The company’s staff including your guide, driver and assistant have all been trained to handle your special needs.  Wheelchair bound travelers will appreciate the hydraulic platforms or rails in all vehicles, especially appointed river boats, accessible paths through the jungle and by the beach and more.  All useful for families traveling with strollers for little ones.  Highlights include a coffee plantation tour, hot springs visit, botanical garden tours, volcanoes, zip lines, hanging bridges and more in and around San Jose, Tortuguero and Arenal.  The owners are also part of a non-profit group that is looking to expand accessible travel in this amazing country.  Families should never be limited by their unique set of travel needs from children with autism to grandparents with limited mobility.  There has never been a better time to explore Costa Rica together and we are thankful to Il Viaggio Travel for recognizing these needs.

Children Free at Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta

New Resort Concept in Riviera Maya

The company behind seven ecoparks devoted to Mexican and Mayan culture, history and heritage in the Riviera Maya have opened their first all-inclusive hotel.  The 900-room Hotel Xcaret will have two sections dedicated to families; one on the luxury level and both with large family suites for up to five people.  The beachfront resort showcases several pools, river with kayaking, 10 restaurants (including a Michelin star option for an added fee), spa with cave-like treatment rooms, 3 gyms and more.  Your rate also includes airport transfers and unlimited access to all of the ecoparks including transportation and meals.  Enjoy Xcaret, Xel-Ha, Xplor, Xplor Fuego, Xavage, Xoximilco and Xenses, as well as tours to Xenotes and Xichen.  One of the main pillars of the resort is its commitment to the environment and sustainability. In fact, the resort was one of the first in the Americas to receive the EarthCheck Certification for planning and design. The property was built around nature, letting the design flow with the natural environment. And the entire resort was custom-made in Mexico, from the furnishings to the artwork.

Limitless at Hard Rock

AIC Hotel Group has announced that the company’s all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotels in Mexico and the Dominican Republic are officially putting an end to the use of a resort credit. In its place, the new Limitless All-Inclusive concept will make its debut with bookings from September 15, 2018, for travel beginning January 6, 2019, at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana, Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya, Hard Rock Hotel Cancun, Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta and Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos (coming in 2019). Just pay at 25 percent service fee and enjoy an unlimited amount of spa treatments, excursions, golf and more!  Hard Rock’s Limitless All-Inclusive gets rid of the cap on resort credit dollars and allows your family to fully indulge in the resorts’ offerings.

New Ritz Carlton Reserve

Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, will open this March in the Puerto Los Cabos Resort community in Mexico. With panoramic views of the Sea of Cortez, this much-anticipated new resort will be the fourth Ritz-Carlton Reserve.  There will be 115 suites and villas including 2-Bedroom Ocean View or Oceanfront Family Suites with 2,350 sq. ft., butler service and private plunge pools.  Other amenities include the popular Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment program, 27-holes of golf, desert botanical park, spa, two ocean view pools with poolside wait staff, gym and several dining options. The resort community will also feature a marina.  It is a 20-minute drive from the airport and just 5 minutes from downtown San Jose del Cabo.

Azul’s Best Deal Ever

Azul Resorts in the Riviera Maya, Mexico and Jamaica have extended their Best Deals Ever promotion for bookings made through September 16.  This current promotion is valid for travel through April 30, 2019…although black out dates apply.  Children also stay free at Azul Beach in the Riviera Maya and you also get $500 in resort credits per room.   There is a minimum 4-night stay.  Azul recently tweaked some of their resort names.  In Jamaica, the Azul Beach Sensatori Jamaica is now the Azul Beach Resort Negril.  In Mexico, the altered resort names are the Fives Azul Beach Resort Playa Del Carmen (formerly Azul Beach Resort the Fives Playa Del Carmen) and Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun (formerly Azul Beach Resort Sensatori Mexico).  The Azul Beach Resort Riviera Maya retains its name.

Punta Cana Surfing

Club Med Punta Cana is adding surfing lessons to its menu of activities!  Moreover, the instruction will feature one teacher to one student in order to maximize your comfort level and progress. These lessons, available November 1 through April 30 at the Club Med Discovery Center, cost $40 with equipment included.  The all-inclusive and oceanfront resort is just 10 minutes from the airport and showcases a variety of other water sports, expanded circus school, tennis, archery, pools, excellent kids and teen clubs (ages 4 months-17), several dining options, spa, gym with fitness classes and more.  Spacious accommodations include separate sleeping areas for children.   Club Med just introduced a new SUNsational sale promotion for bookings made by October 23 for travel through May 4, 2019.  Extra benefits include up to $400 in air credits, no single supplement, children under 4 stay free, children under 15 stay for up to 50 percent off, and free room upgrades.

Star Camp at Iberostar

Iberostar Hotels & Resorts has a new entertainment program for children and teens called Star Camp. Based on a format that aims to combine entertainment and values, the program showcases more than 140 activities designed to encourage growth and development based on values such as cooperation, empathy, healthy habits, development of technological awareness, value of diversity and environmental care.  The program is divided into three age groups: 4-7, 8-12 and 13-17.  Some of the activities your children will explore include testing their culinary skills with a cooking program; discovering their artistic side by forming teams to recreate works of art; putting their senses to the test, just like in the trendiest restaurants, guessing the ingredients in the dishes featured in the Sensory Menu; filming their own short movie; becoming journalists or publicists for the day or staring in their own impromptu video clip; crossing an obstacle course while blindfolded with only their fellow team members for help; taking an eco-friendly hike; dreaming up and creating a robot; or figuring out how to get out of a Roomscape.  One day a week will be dedicated to learning about marine science and the ocean.