Grandparents Stay Free

Book a two bedroom suite for your family and get a one bedroom suite free at the all-inclusive Generations Riviera Maya when traveling with grandparents in tow!  The Grandparents Stay Free promotion is available year-round for age 55 and older.  The resort offers 150  one-, two- and three-bedroom suites, many of which include private swim-up and upper terrace infinity pools. Other amenities include several dining options, watersports and spa.  Butler services assure your every need is met from making dining or spa reservations to bringing you sunscreen and reading materials to you at the pool.  Family style meals can also be served in your suite.  For children, the Eko Kids Club features supervised activities for ages four to 12 years and includes a movie area, craft station, library, gaming consoles, Kids Eko Kitchen and more.  The Little Eko Chefs cooking program presents families with fun facts, interactive techniques and easy to replicate recipes. For infants and toddlers, Baby Beach Lounges provide shade from the sun.  Additionally, all adult guests over the age of 18 can enjoy the facilities at the neighboring adults-only El Dorado properties.

BVI Bound

Looking for a new island to explore?  Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands is a great choice for a quiet getaway with some of the most beautiful natural attractions in the island chain, including the boulders-strewn beach known as the Baths; the island’s highest point, Gorda Peak; and the gin-clear bays of the Valley. The Bitter End Yacht Club is a great choice for families and a popular resort for the sailing set.  The deluxe property is accessible only by boat and popular with sailors.  This summer the hotel is offering 55% off a second room for children as part of the island chain’s Summer Freedom in the BVI promotion and you also get a private Blue Water Day sail.  Another promotion gives you seven nights for the price of five!  Families can enjoy the beaches, spa, gym, pool, evening movies, hiking trails, sailing lessons, kite boarding and other watersports, Junior Watersports Program and Kids Camp, several restaurants and a variety of excursions to explore the islands.

St. Barts for Families

Cheval Blanc St. Barth Isle de France has put together an array of unique children’s and family activities on the resort and off to make your St. Bart’s getaway relaxing and fun for all:

Petits Artistes: Children learn drawing and painting techniques from artist-in-residence, Kate Kova.

The Little Mermaid: Amaryllis the mermaid is available to swim with children in the pool or ocean. For those old enough for a snorkeling adventure, she can surprise and join the family as they sightsee underwater.

‘A la Francaise’ Cooking Class: After choosing a recipe of their liking, the Maison’s chef Stephanie will turn your children into chefs in just a few short hours. For older children with an interest in learning the native language, the lessons can be given in French.

Yellow Submarine: Guests can take a ride through Marine Park and around the Gros Ilets on the island’s Yellow Submarine. Families will be able to spot fish, sea turtles and a ship wreck of the Marignan, which sank fifteen years ago.

A Beachside Read: Cheval Blanc’s new children’s book, ‘A La Poursuite de Cheval Blanc,’ follows two fluffy friends as they travel from St. Barth to the French Alps to the Maldvies “in pursuit of the White Horse.” The book even comes with a white origami horse.

The luxury, beachfront resort has a variety of accommodations for all family sizes with 40 suites, bungalows and villas with panoramic ocean views and neighboring tropical gardens. It also showcases a spa featuring products by Guelain, Technogym with sea views, a 69-foot yacht for exploring private coves and cays and several dining options.

Children Free at Iberostar

Travel from May 1 to October 31 to an Iberostar Resort and children 12 and under stay free!  Choose from 16 hotels in Mexico (Cancun, Riviera Maya, Cozumel and Puerto Vallarta), Dominican Republic (Punta Cana and Puerto Plata) and Jamaica (Montego Bay) where you will find a nice variety of rooms and suites, plenty of dining options, evening shows, children’s program (age 4-12), spa, gym, daily activities, water sports, fun pools (some with waterparks) and more.  One child stays free when booked by May 31 (two children at the Iberostar Cozumel) with at least a 3-night stay.  Some black-out dates apply.

Free Nights in Cabo

Stay three nights and get one night free or seven nights and get two nights free at the One & Only Palmilla in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico through December 18, 2007.  Rates also include a welcome beverage as well as daily fresh fruit and snacks delivered to your room. For the 7-night stay, your rates also include daily breakfast for two and private round-trip airport transfers.  This 5-star and family-friendly resort sits on one of the only swimmable beaches in the area: Pelican Beach.  The resort offers a jungle-like setting and is only 15 minutes from the artsy town of San Jose del Cabo.  You will find two lovely pools, several dining options, spa, gym, yoga terrace, tennis, golf and a kid’s club for ages 4-11.  There are 160 spacious rooms, suites and large family sized villas (up to 4 bedrooms that will sleep 12 and is fully staffed); some include private pools.  The hotel also has its own yacht that can be rented for day-long excursions.

Virgin Islands Celebration

The US Virgin Islands turns 100 years this March.  To celebrate, Visit USVI is giving away $300 to all visitors during 2017 for vacations booked by October for travel through December 31.  This cash incentive cannot be used for flights or hotels, but instead can be exchanged for historical and cultural tours and activities including water sports, rentals cars, museums, walking tours, horseback riding, taxi services and more.  The credit is offered via bookings for at least three consecutive nights made at participating hotels on St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas including our favorites The Buccaneer on St. Croix, Concordia Eco-Resort, Caneel Bay and the Westin on St. John and Frenchman’s Reef Marriott Resort on St. Thomas.  Check out the history of the US Virgin Islands (no passports needed!) and all the fun places you can spend your $300 at http://www.visitusvi.com/sites/default/files/pdf/Centennial_Promotion_Spending_Credit_Rack_Card_updated_2.6.17.pdf.

More Luxury from Hyatt

We are glad to see the opening of two new and upscale resorts in the tropics that are ideal for family getaways or a couple’s retreat.  In the Riviera Maya, the Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya opened last month.  Located just north of Playa del Carmen, the resort showcases 214 guestrooms and suites set on 590 acres, with access to preserved mangroves, lagoons and oceanfront views. Each room will offer a balcony or terrace, and all 41 luxury suites will feature a private plunge pool.  The resort offers several restaurants, golf, spa, several pools, gym, daily activities and more.

This spring the newly built Park Hyatt St. Kitts will open with 133 rooms and suites. It is located in Banana Bay on the South-East Peninsula of the island.  The resort, set within the Christophe Harbour residential development and marina complex, features contemporary architecture and a colonial feel with local art throughout.  Several of the rooms and suites will also feature private rooftop pools. A three-bedroom Presidential Villa comes complete with private chef and butler service.

Royalton Exclusive

The Family Traveler is pleased to announce an exclusive discount for Royalton Resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico for bookings made by February 28 and for travel through December 15, 2017.  The minimum night stay is only 3 nights and you receive discounts of up to $300/room!  Choose from a variety of resorts including family friendly and adult-only options: Royalton Cancun and Hideaway at Royalton Cancun in Mexico; Royalton White Sands, Royalton Blue Waters, Royalton Negril, Hideaway at Royalton Negril and Grand Lido Negril in Jamaica, CHIC Punta Cana, Royalton Punta Cana and Memories Splash in the Dominican Republic and Royalton St Lucia and Hideaway at Royalton St Lucia.  The package must include airfare and hotel to qualify.

Star Gazing on Maui

The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua on Maui, recently introduced a new exclusive offering, Na Hoku Mo’olelo, or Story of The Stars Experience. Offered as part of the on-property Jean-Michel
Cousteau Ambassadors of the Environment Program, Story of the Stars will be led by Kala Baybayan, the resort’s “apprentice navigator.” She will emphasize the importance of celestial navigation by teaching guests the history of voyaging, how to use a star compass, and explain the significant role the Polynesian voyagers played in the migration from the South Islands to Hawaii.  Open to both resort guests and the local community, Story of the Stars will take place every Thursday evening from 9 – 10 p.m. on the Beach House Lawn underneath the stars.  This new offering allows participants to take a step back in history and think like the Polynesian voyagers of ancient times as Baybayan guides them on a journey through the history of the Hokulea canoe. Named after the zenith star Arcturus, which passes directly overhead of the Hawaiian Islands and has been named “the star of gladness,” the Hokulea canoe uses solely celestial navigation throughout its voyages around the globe. In celebration of their 25th anniversary, the resort is offering 25 percent off most rooms, a $25 daily food and beverage credit (at most restaurants on property) along with 25 percent off Ritz Carlton logo items.  This package is available through December 18, 2017.

FunJet Discounts

Our membership in an elite group of travel agencies has secured a special discount with FunJet Vacations.  Receive $75-$150/booking (depending on the booking value) for travel through June 30, 2017 with a minimum 3-night stay to Mexico or the Caribbean for stays at Riu, Palace, Hard Rock, Blue Diamond, El Dorado, Posadas, Excellence, Palladium, Iberostar, Playa and Sandals or Beaches Resorts.  Some of these resorts are great for families while others are adult-only.  They all are all-inclusive and available in such destinations as Cancun, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, St. Lucia, Cabo, Turks and Caicos, Antigua, Puerto Vallarta and more. The discount is available on air and hotel packages and must be booked by January 31, 2017.  Book your spring break, romantic getaway, girls getaway, senior trip and more with us.  Book early for the best availability starting January 1, 2017.