Aruba’s One Happy Family Returns
The Aruba Tourism Authority has teamed with island hotels, resorts and attractions to offer One Happy Family from May through September,
which provides your family with free nightly accommodations and daily breakfast for children under 12 years old. The packages also include a gift for the family, Very Important Kid (VIK) interactive benefits, and discounts on island attractions and activities. Upon check-in at participating hotels, children receive a VIK passport featuring kid-friendly Aruba attractions including the Baby Beach, Archaeological Museum, History Museum and California Lighthouse. As your family visits and explores the locations, VIK-holders are challenged to answer questions and complete puzzles. Once finished, your children can submit their passports to the hotel to be entered into a drawing for the chance to win a one-week trip for four (airfare included) back to Aruba! Winners will be announced at the end of September. Participating Hotel Partners include the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino; Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort; Divi Aruba All Inclusive; Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort; Divi Dutch Village; Divi Aruba Phoenix; Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort, Spa & Casino; MVC Eagle Beach; Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa; Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino; Talk of the Town Hotel and Beach Club; Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusive and the Mill Resort & Suites.
Ambassadors at the Ritz
The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua on Maui is an ideal summer vacation destination. The luxury resort recently unveiled their Family Adventure 
Summer Series. The program features new activities at the pool, the beach, the spa and the resort’s Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment program. The Keiki Summer Camp (for children) with Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment Experience includes snorkeling, ocean education, rainforest hikes and Hawaiian cultural experiences, led by Cousteau-trained naturalists. A week long camp is even available and open to children ages 5 and older. And when you confirm two 80-minute treatments at the spa: up to two children ages 5 and older will receive complimentary admission to the Ambassadors program! Families can together experience the Mana Maker Ambassadors Experience which includes a guided, interpretive snorkel tour and a nature hike of choice. This option is open to guests age 12 and older. A variety of promotions make this gorgeous resort a great value including free nights, daily hotel credits, breakfast, food discounts, activities and more.
Punta Mita Festival
Looking for a fun and upscale Independence Day getaway? Check out the Punta Mita Beach Festival at the St. Regis Punta Mita 
(near Puerto Vallarta), Mexico. The festival is a unique experience that will combine sports, flavors and music in paradise. The 3-night package includes a deluxe room, daily breakfast, special meal options, shows, movies, yoga classes, surf clinics, paddle boarding, marine safari, excursion to Las Marietas Islands as well as a surf and paddle board competition. The luxury resort also offers a spa, gym, tennis, golf, pools, several dining options, kids club (age 5-12) and more. One child 10 and under is free in your room with the festival package.
Children Free at Iberostar
Book now through May 31 at select Iberostar Resorts in Mexico, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, children age 12 and under stay free through December 23 with two paying adults in the room. Two children stay free in the Dominican Republic at the Iberostar Costa Dorada, Iberostar Dominica, Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus and Iberostar Punta Cana. In Mexico, choose from the Iberostar Cozumel, Iberostar Paraiso Beach and Iberostar Paraiso del Mar. In Jamaica, it’s the Iberostar Rose Hall Beach. One child stays free at the more upscale Iberostar Bavaro in Punta Cana and the Iberostar Cancun, Iberostar Paraiso Lindo and the Iberostar Paraiso Maya in Mexico. Some blackout dates and additional restrictions may apply. Each resort offers a variety of family-friendly amenities and recreation including great pools, kids clubs, daily activities, watersports, spa, gym, evening entertainment and plenty of dining options. The Spanish resort chain is planning to open their newest property in Punta Mita (near Puerto Vallarta), Mexico in December. This newly built property will feature 452 guestrooms, two pools, a spa, tennis courts, a fitness center, golf, five dining options and kids club for guests ages 4 to 12. Reservations open in May.
Seafari at Ocean Club
Ocean Club Resorts’ created an educational Seafari scavenger hunt exclusively designed for children staying at both Turks & Caicos resort 
properties, Ocean Club and Ocean Club West. The program uses a Seafari Guidebook to teach children about native plants, invertebrates, reptiles and birds found on the islands. The program and guidebook inspire your children to discover the natural environment around them. Children who complete the Seafari program and bring the guidebook back to the front desk receive an explorer prize badge. Based upon their score, children will be deemed a Green, Junior or Master Explorer. Ocean Club Resorts is offering exclusive Earth Day savings available for travel between May 1 and August 31. Save up to 30 percent savings off any seven-night stay in a one-, two- or three-bedroom suite. For four- or six-night stays, save up to 25 percent. In order to take advantage of this limited-time offer, you must book your summer getaway by April 30.
AMResorts Air Credit
AMResorts has officially launched its first Air Credit promotion for stays through December 22 at any Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts and Secrets Resort (for adult-only getaways) as well as Dreams, Now or Sunscape Resorts properties (for all). Choose from 32 different resorts for a $200 air credit per room for a four-night stay and $350 air credit per room for a seven-night stay. You will also receive up to $400 in resort coupons for use towards wine, dining and spa treatments. Book by May 31 for these savings which can also be combined with other current promotions.
New Flights for Club Med
New non-stop flights on American Airlines from Miami to Guadeloupe and from Miami to Martinique begin on April 6. If you are looking for some French flair both on property and off, Club Med would love for you to experience their two French West Indies properties. La Caravelle in Guadeloupe was recently renovated and sits on one of the island’s most beautiful beaches. The resort offers children’s programs for ages 2 through teens, diving, watersports (including a windsurfing school), tennis, spa and more. Buccaneer’s Creek in Martinique welcomes families, but does not offer supervised children’s programs. Note that Club Med also now offers a charter flight from New York/JFK to Ixtapa, Mexico with Saturday departures for a great stay at their family-friendly Club Med Ixtapa.
Dine Around Aruba
Dining while on vacation in Aruba just got easier with Aruba’s 2013 Dining Around Program. 
It allows your family to try some of the island’s best and most popular restaurants with a 3-, 5- or 7-night dinner plan valid for a three-course meal—including an appetizer, entrée, and dessert—at 13 participating restaurants for dining a la carte and another seven restaurants offering set menus. Some are also offering breakfast and lunch options. Participating restaurants include a variety of culinary options including seafood, steakhouses, Mexican, Italian and French cuisine. Three dinners costs $120, 5 dinners are $200 and 7 dinners are $276. Children ages 4-12 pay half price. Or you can purchase $50 gift certificates valid at all restaurants on the program for $45. The program is organized through the Aruba Gastronomic Association.
Bahia Expansion
Bahia Principe is adding four “hotels within a hotel” in the Caribbean and Mexico. 
These upscale travel experiences are part of Bahia’s luxury Don Pablo Collection. The exclusive sections will feature upgraded benefits such as private check-in/out, 20% discount on spa services, butler service, private beach area, unlimited a la carte dining, exclusive dining options and more. Recently opened is the Luxury Bahia Principe Bougainville in La Romana in the Dominican Republic and the Luxury Bahia Principe Runaway Bay in Jamaica. In March, the Luxury Bahia Principe Las Terrenas will open in Samana, Dominican Republic and in November the Luxury Bahia Principe Yal-Ku in the Riviera Maya, Mexico will debut. Bahia Principe is also adding a kid-friendly waterpark with waterslides and minigolf at their resorts in Punta Cana as part of their Scouts Kids program.
Beaches Expansion
Beaches Resorts Turks and Caicos is expanding! The popular and upscale all-inclusive is taking over The Veranda Resorts & Residences next door. This new section of Beaches will be called Key West Luxury Village. The section will feature studios, multi-bedroom suites and villas, perfect for families and will be the first major addition to the property since the grand opening of the resort’s Italian Village in 2009. In addition to the 16 restaurants currently on property, guests will now have access to three new gourmet-dining establishments through the expansion, as well as a number of other luxurious amenities.
