Hyatt Ziva Barbados
We are excited to report that a Hyatt Ziva is coming to Barbados! The upscale, all-inclusive resort will be located on the island’s Carlisle Bay in Bridgetown and is scheduled to open in 2022. It will showcase 380 guest rooms, 40 spacious condominiums and six premier rooms and will be Barbados’ first new-build hotel in over a decade. It will also feature an overwater restaurant, water conservation features and locally sourced food and artwork. The new resort joins other family-friendly Hyatt Ziva all-inclusive resorts, including Montego Bay, Jamaica; Cap Cana, Dominican Republic and Cancun, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, plus three adults-only Hyatt Zilara resorts in Montego Bay, Cancun and Cap Cana.
Dream Now, Travel Later
Dream Now, Travel Later with Blancaneaux Lodge and Turtle Inn in Belize and La Lancha in Guatemala. Their current promotion includes 20 percent off your room, free upgrade at time of booking (based on availability) and a $100 resort credit which can be used on food and beverage, tours, spa and more for stays of four nights or longer. A one-night deposit is due at the time of booking with cancellation permitted at least 14 days prior to your check in date. This deal needs to be booked by the end of June and is available for any new and future booking (although not including festive dates 2020 and 2021). Owned by film producer, Francis Ford Coppola, these lodges were each personally discovered, renovated and curated to his specifications. He has a personal connection to each resort as well as a personal love for each location and its culture.
Aloha Hawaii
Hawaii, the only U.S. state located outside North America, encompasses 137 islands spread over 1,500 miles. That makes the 50th state the largest island chain in the world! Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii (four of the seven inhabited islands) are the most popular destinations for our families. Each one has a unique flair with wonderful biodiversity as a result of their volcanic origins. Lush forests, incredible beaches of many colors, rugged coastlines, waterfalls, canyons, active volcanoes and more create a scenic beauty like no other place in the world. The island’s Polynesian culture is also a special highlight and dates back 1,500 years. Opportunities abound to learn about it through crafts, luaus, museums, local events, food and more. Our families also love the incredible array of outdoor adventures, friendly people, terrific coffee and varied wildlife. Most of our families stay on more than one island in a visit as inter-island air travel is quick and inexpensive. Some of the more unique activities include swimming with manta rays at night on the Big Island, hiking around the active Kilauea volcano, understanding WWII history at Pearl Harbor, learning about Hawaiian royalty at the Iolani Palace, outrigger canoeing and seeing the petroglyph lava rock carvings. Let us craft a custom itinerary to match our families’ needs, interests and budget. For more details check out https://www.gohawaii.com/.
Flourishing in Belize
Tucked between the Caribbean Sea and the rainforest on the eastern coast of Central America, Belize is the home of a small and diverse nation. It offers amazing biodiversity and distinctive ecosystems from coastal plains to low lying mountains and jungles. Formerly known as British Honduras, the country is bordered to the north by Mexico, to the south and west by Guatemala and to the east by the Caribbean Sea and is the only English speaking country in Central America. Highlights include its varied wildlife, Mayan ruins (its an easy day trip to Tikal in Guatemala as well), underground caves and one of the longest barrier reefs in the world. We create custom trips for our families or you can choose to experience Belize as a group with a family adventure tour. Our families generally start their trips inland where outdoor adventures, nature tours and Mayan ruins abound. Various jungle lodges, including luxury options, include all meals and many activities. Our families then move onto the Caribbean coast for some relaxing beach time, water sports (including some of the world’s best diving) and nearby nature reserves. These beach towns showcase small resorts and plenty of condo rentals. For more details check out https://www.travelbelize.org/.
Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau
The Margaritaville Beach Resort is coming to Nassau this summer (hopefully). The 284-room property will be spread across two towers. The Hotel Tower will offer 155 ocean view rooms and suites, and the One Particular Harbour Tower will have 129 residential condos ranging from studios to a four-bedroom penthouse, each equipped with a full kitchen. Resort facilities will include the Fins Up water park with slides, lazy river, climbing wall, dive pool, grotto, surf machine, beach with loungers and private cabanas and a 45-slip marina. Families will also enjoy the entertainment complex with virtual reality sports, karaoke, bowling, billiards and a movie theater! Eleven food and beverage venues include a two-story waterfront restaurant and lounge, a rooftop cigar lounge, a French bakery, pool bars and a steak and seafood eatery. Just another day in paradise in The Bahamas!
Holiday Charters
Apple Vacations, Travel Impressions and Funjet Vacations have released most of their December/January holiday charter flights to the Caribbean and Mexico. Flights are available from Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and more to destinations such as Cancun, Punta Cana and Jamaica. Flight schedules vary. Note that Cancel for Any Reason insurance is available to give you the confidence to book early (and secure those guaranteed connecting rooms and larger family suites)! We can even arrange monthly payment plans.
Jungle Beach Retreat
Palmaia, the House of AiA, has officially opened in the Riviera Maya with a theme of “reconnecting with nature, the sanctity of life and the true human spirit.” The upscale and all-inclusive resort has all oceanfront suites. Options include suites for families with a separate room with bunk beds for children, as well as suites with swim-out access to one of the hotel’s four infinity pools and suites set in the ocean-side jungle. All rooms are designed sustainably and without the use of animal products. A Nomadic Guide will be assigned to your family to attend to your needs throughout the stay. The resort also operates the only holistic children’s activities program, run by certified Waldorf Educators. One of the highlighted experiences is their Architects of Life program led by the in-house shaman who will lead you through rituals such as cacao ceremonies, yoga, meditation and more. The resort will also have a Rituals of Sound program that pays homage to the music environment of Tulum and Mykonos with evening musical performances.
Auberge in Hawaii
Following a major renovation, the all-new Mauna Lani is now an Auberge Resort! Located on the Kona Coast, the resort is bringing a new level of experiential luxury to the Big Island. It showcases 333 rooms and suites along with five private bungalows, several restaurants and plenty of active pursuits and cultural experiences through their KAINALU active pursuits and Living Culture programs. There are three different pools including a new family pool and an array of water sports like outrigger canoeing, surfing, stand-up paddle boarding and snorkeling and an interactive Holoholo Kids Circle club. To celebrate the new opening, the resort is offering up to $1,000 in resort credits for stays through November 30, 2020. How will your family use your credits? They can be used for resort experiences, dining, spa, and golf!
Escape to Tenerife
Looking for a new island to explore? Tenerife, the largest island in the Canary Islands, showcases lots of family-friendly resorts, colonial towns, mountain hikes to the third largest volcano in the world, whale watching, amazing star gazing and more. The Ritz-Carlton, Abama, on the western side of the island, has a Family Holidays package valid through December 31, 2020. It includes a Citadel Deluxe room, breakfast, three-course dinner for two adults and one child, access to the spa’s Wellness Experience, free kids club and 30 percent off a second room for children up to age 12. This remote, luxury resort overlooks the ocean and has beach access by funicular, 10 restaurants (2 are Michelin star), seven pools, spa, gym, extensive tennis academy, golf, teen club and an excellent children’s program designed by Jean Michel Cousteau with a focus on the ocean and outdoors. It’s the largest Ritz Kids in Europe! Abundant sunshine and a subtropical climate make Tenerife a lovely year-round destination.
Family Dive Adventures
Kids Sea Camp is celebrating 20 years! Camp dates are set through 2022 (and beyond) and take place throughout the Caribbean, South Pacific and Southeast Asia to the world’s best dive destinations. There is also a new program for empty nesters and private trips too. They truly believe in the transformative power of dive travel and showcase trips to 13 countries and over 24 all-inclusive uniquely customized weeks each year. Each trip opens minds and hearts to new places, people, and cultures and is geared for families with children from age 4-18. Your children will unplug and reconnect to the outdoor world and the underwater world through hands-on personalized activities and tours for the entire family. These trips come in a range of choices to fit your family’s needs, budgets and diving experience levels with a variety of accommodation options (from basic to luxury) and PADI certification programs. Trips are inclusive of meals, diving, tours and other activities.
