New Villas at Beaches Negril
In early April, Beaches Negril will open their newly built three- and four-bedroom beachfront accommodations called Firesky Reserve Villas and Eventide Penthouses. In true Beaches style, there are seven different categories of these new rooms, but no dark wood…it’s all white and bright! The Eventide penthouses are on one level with three and four bedrooms. The Firesky has four bedrooms in three stories. These spectacular accommodations have gourmet kitchens, some with rooftop decks, private courtyards, and plunge pools, and include butler services. And some can sleep up to 18 people! Each unit has a bathroom for each bedroom plus a powder room and there are sofabeds in the living rooms. Various promotions are currently available including a free night, up to 65 percent off, instant credits, and more. The per room night rate for the large villas is a good value. The resort sits on Seven Mile Beach and offers a variety of amenities and recreation for families including a waterpark, beach with extensive watersports (scuba is included), children and teen programs, spa, gym, daily activities, Sesame Street characters, and more. Book early for the best availability!
Kona Village Opening
After 12 years, Kona Village on The Big Island of Hawaii is going to reopen! Rosewood Resorts has taken over the iconic resort…their first Hawaii property. The luxury hotel will open this summer and reservations are now being accepted beginning July 1. Located on the Kohala Coast the resort will be sprawled across 81 acres. There are 150 spacious guest hales—a traditional Hawaiian structure, much like a beach bungalow and with up to four bedrooms; five dining options, including the original resort’s Shipwreck Bar and Talk Story Bar and spa with a fitness center. There will also be watersports, cultural activities, bikes, and two pools. The resort will be powered 100 percent by solar energy! As an opening gift, you can get a $150 resort credit per room and $350 per suite along with early check-in and late check-out (if available) for stays through December 16, 2023.
Mauna Lani Spring Break
Auberge’s Mauna Lani is offering a Spring Break Away special for bookings by January 15 and a stay between February 24 and April 30, 2023. All rooms are 30 percent off the best available rate and include breakfast for two PLUS a $50 to $200 daily resort credit depending on the room category you book. Spacious Ocean View and Oceanfront Residences include breakfast for six! Some blackout dates apply and there is a two-night minimum. The luxury resort welcomes families with babysitting services, special family dining options, personalized welcome gifts, and turndown amenities for children. Their children’s program for ages 5 to 12 is free as well. Activities abound with a variety of nature tours including naturalist-guided nature treks and walking tours to the historic fishponds along with a plethora of cultural activities and workshops, watersports, several pools (including a dedicated kiddie pool), tennis, spa, gym, lots of dining options, luau and more. A luxury Hawaiian experience for all.
1 Hotel Hanalei Bay
After a $250 million renovation, 1 Hotel Hanalei will finally open on Kauai this February! The former St. Regis property will feature 252 rooms and suites and is located on the North Shore of the island about 50 minutes from the airport. To celebrate its debut, the luxury resort is offering up to 30 percent off your room rate, $100 to $500 in resort credits (based on the number of nights you stay), a welcome gift, and a flexible cancellation policy. Just book by February 23, 2023. We love that the property will have rooms with two queen beds and will guarantee connecting rooms and rooms that connect to suites! Also enjoy several dining options, gorgeous spa facilities, pools, a small beach with watersports, children’s and teen programs, cultural and art activities, and a super unique fitness concept called Anatomy that combines wellness, sports, and science. Aloha!
Marine Biology in the Maldives
Vakkaru Maldives, a luxury family resort, recently added a resident marine biologist to their staff. Fun and educational programs are now available to learn more about the local marine environment and especially reef conservation. The children’s program for ages 3-12 will hold a weekly marine biology lesson covering a variety of topics from the Maldives and the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere. Children will learn how to spot the atoll’s Big Five: manta rays, whale sharks, dolphins, turtles, and sharks. The resort also has a Coral Adoption Program. Your family can adopt a coral frame specially designed to protect reef fish and sea species that will be placed in the coral nursery close to Vakkaru’s house reef. A guided snorkeling or diving trip through the house reef and nearby, a Marine Biology Adventure, rounds out the activities. The resort showcases 113 beachfront and over-the-water villas and residences with up to four bedrooms. In addition, you receive $100-200 in resort credits, free non-motorized watersports, a free photoshoot, and yoga and wellness sessions.
Nick Jr. Friends Event Returns
The Nick Jr. Friends Event returns to Nickelodeon Hotel & Resorts Punta Cana and debuts at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya this fall. Crafted with young travelers in mind, the event features dedicated programming and special Nickelodeon character appearances. Your family can meet your favorite Nick Jr. friends, including Chase, Marshall, and Skye from PAW Patrol; Blue from Blue’s Clues & You!; Dora the Explorer; and Shimmer and Shine from Santiago of the Seas. Your family can enjoy a variety of interactive activities, including searching for clues left by Blue, making your own version of Dora’s backpack, and dancing with the PAW Patrol crew. Also, enjoy themed food and drinks at each resort. And if you book now through October 30 for travel through October 31, you will receive 43 percent savings plus up to $400 in resort credits!
Club Med’s Enhanced Mini Club
Club Med has recently updated its Mini Club Med+ children’s programming for ages 4-10. They have developed new and unique activities that focus on six strengths to help your children blossom: creativity, cooperation, courage, connection, cheerfulness, and self-confidence:
Nature Detective: Embark on a treasure hunt outdoors and learn more about the surrounding flora and fauna.
Happiness Builders: Children practice random acts of kindness like leaving kind messages on guest doorknobs and writing each other happiness cards – sowing little seeds of happiness to develop empathy and positive energy.
Giant Caterpillar: Using teamwork and a gym mat, children need to work together to get the caterpillar moving.
Ninja Bootcamp: Race to the finish as children and their teammates’ hop, skip, and jump over obstacles to get to the finish line.
Happiness Expo: Sharing time for children and parents as your children share the best moments of their eventful day.
Let us help you plan a great getaway to Club Med including to their new and all-inclusive ski resort in Quebec, Canada!
Sea Turtle Camp
The popular Sea Turtle Summer Camp is back in session at Four Seasons Resort Nevis. A special package is available through the end of September that will embrace, explore, and educate your family about the marine life, flora, and fauna of Nevis with educational discovery and creative activities designed in partnership with the Sea Turtle Conservancy. With a seven-night stay (or longer), enjoy family-friendly activities including daily marine biology classes and sea turtle-themed arts and crafts experiences; guided nature walks and beach clean-ups; marine-themed dinner and movie nights; family land sports activities, such as eco-bio golf; private beach cottage or pool cabana access; sea turtle-inspired baking classes; golf cart, greens fees, and club rentals; make-your-own essential oil or scrub classes at the spa; and private airport transfers! You also receive a Sea Turtle Adoption Kit from the Sea Turtle Conservancy. It includes a personalized adoption certificate, a Sea Turtle Conservation Guide, a membership window cling, a sea turtle sticker and bookmark, a hatchling magnet, and a one-year subscription to the Conservancy’s membership publication.
Frenchman’s Reef Update
We are excited to hear that two new properties—the Westin Beach Resort and Spa at Frenchman’s Reef and The Seaborn at Frenchman’s Reef, an Autograph Collection—will be completed in St. Thomas this fall following a $350 million renovation. Finally, as St. Thomas is currently lacking in deluxe resort options. The Westin will occupy the space of the original Marriott Frenchman’s Reef which is located on an elevated peninsula with expansive sea views. This part of the property has been closed since the devastating hurricanes of 2017 and renovation was then delayed due to covid. The Westin will offer 392 rooms and suites; several restaurants; three ocean-view pools with an expansive pool deck with a pool bar and cabanas; a spa; a private dock; beach and more. Set along a stretch of Morningstar Beach, The Seaborn, formerly the Morning Star Marriott Beach, will offer a boutique vibe with only 94 rooms; several open-air restaurants and lounges; an infinity-edge pool, and swim-up bar; and a gym. The two resorts will be connected by Frenchman’s Reef beach. Guests at both resorts will have access to all amenities, including a private catamaran for snorkel trips and sunset sails.
Autism Friendly Camps at Beaches
Beaches Resorts now offers the Caribbean’s first autism-friendly kids’ camp with specially designed activities for infants, toddlers, pre-teens, and teens. Beaches is the first resort company in the world to complete International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards and Autism Certification, the gold standard in cognitive disorder training and certification. Beaches team members complete at least 40 hours of autism sensitivity training in these areas: sensory awareness, motor skills, autism overview, program development, social skills, communication, environment and emotional awareness and bullying. The resorts will also soon feature a Sensory Stimulation Guide to teach guests how special needs are handled throughout the property. In 2017, Beaches’ Sesame Street character programs welcomed Julia, the show’s first autistic character. Your family can take part in Amazing Art with Julia, an art therapy program. The character loves to paint and express herself through art. The new, open-ended activity encourages children to explore, experiment with and create art. Afterward, children talk about how they created their artwork and how it is a celebration of their unique selves.
