Etero Debut
Etereo, Auberge Resorts Collection, a new and modern resort set in a mangrove forest in the Riviera Maya, is now taking reservations for stays starting December 10, 2021. Auberge’s third luxury resort in Mexico is part of the new luxury Kanai development and is 40 minutes south of the Cancun airport. Resort amenities will include two swimming pools, five restaurants, a kids’ club, tennis, spa, and unique cultural and wellness experiences. Accommodations include either spacious studios with at least 875 sq. ft. with a king bed or two queen beds or huge suites with up to three bedrooms. An opening promotion valid for stays through October 31, 2022, and made by December 10, 2021, offers 35 percent off and a $250 resort credit.
St. Barth Reborn
Reservations from January 3, 2022 onward are now available at the Rosewood Le Guanahani St. Barth following an extensive restoration of the fabled 66-room property. The resort has been closed since 2017 after extensive hurricane damage. Ideally situated on 18 lush and secluded acres on a private peninsula overlooking two stunning beaches, Marigot Bay and Grand Cul-de-Sac, Le Guanahani will debut with completely renovated rooms, suites, and signature suites with up to two bedrooms, many with new private pools. As the only full-service resort on St. Barth, the property will offer a range of updated amenities including a beachfront restaurant and new pool, a Rosewood Explorers children’s club, fitness center, tennis court, reef-protected lagoon, and spa. Room rates include daily breakfast and round-trip airport transfers. Book now and your fourth night is free! Since October 1, St. Barths is allowing US travelers who are fully vaccinated (age 18 and older) who also present a negative Covid test (required for all travelers age 10 and older). For ages 13 and older, your vaccine card will be used for entry to restaurants and bars as well. Children under the age of 18 can travel freely with a vaccinated parent or legal guardian.
Six Senses Grenada
Six Senses La Sagesse will open next year on the island of Grenada. Located on a headland in the southern part of the island, the luxury resort and residences will be spread over 38 acres in harmony with the land’s natural topography while ensuring space, privacy, and uninterrupted views over the sea. It will include a mix of 138 guestrooms and one- and two-bedroom villas. Hillside residences with 3 and 4 bedrooms are also being built. Walkways running through the gardens will be made of repurposed nutmeg shells and cocoa skins to maintain the link to Grenada’s “Spice Island” heritage. The upscale property will feature a variety of restaurants and a trademark Six Senses Spa overlooking the edge of the lagoon and accessed only by a gondola! Six Senses is renowned for its focus on wellness and sustainability, with each hotel and resort set in locations of incredible natural beauty. It is now part of the IHG Hotel and Resort family.
Return to Fiji
Fiji will soon reopen! Now is a great time to plan a trip to the all-inclusive Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort with their free night promotion. Get your 6th night free for most dates in 2022 and through March 31, 2023. And two children aged 13 and under stay free. Your comprehensive rate includes all meals and non-alcoholic drinks, private airport transfers, non-motorized watersports (including snorkel trips with a marine biologist), wellness activities, one-on-one nanny care for children ages five and under, small group childcare for ages 5-12, teen program, off-site nature, and cultural experiences, evening entertainment, and even daily laundry! The luxury property on the island of Vanua Levu features 25 bure accommodations with up to two bedrooms and a world-class diving program as you would expect from a Cousteau.
Hola Nick
Nickelodeon’s second all-inclusive resort is now open in the Riviera Maya just south of Cancun, Mexico. The property is designed just for families—specifically those who love SpongeBob SquarePants and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Guaranteed connecting rooms, spacious suites, and lots of swim-up room categories are included in the 208 room count. Character meet-and-greets, pajama breakfasts, and other activities are also included. Their expansive Aqua Nick water park spreads over six acres and includes seven slides, two river rides, and splash pads. Children can also have fun at Club Nick, a play zone with special themed days, a craft laboratory, playground, stage, surprise visits by Nickelodeon characters, and even Slime! Current promotions include 35 percent off. If you book by December 31st, 2021 for travel through June 30th, 2022, you may change your travel dates within any Nickelodeon Hotels & Resort, or cancel your reservation without penalty up to 24 hours prior to arrival.
Maldives Family Adventure
The Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa wants your children to both relax and learn while on vacation by offering several child-friendly activities. For relaxation, there is a children’s spa menu including massages and wraps as well as a youth meditation and yoga class. Or your family can practice yoga with an instructor in your villa. The learning experience of a cooking class brings families together and is led by Chef Aldo. The Italian-owned resort is a fun place to learn to make pizza from scratch, Spaghetti al Pomodoro, and real Italian gelato using tropical ingredients like coconut and papaya that are sourced locally. The all-inclusive resort, located in the Indian Ocean, also showcases over-the-water bungalows, family villas with a private pool, watersports, plenty of dining options, tennis and padel courts, and a gym. Currently, their Family Special Offer with 20 percent off for 7 nights or more is available through December 20, 2022 (blackout dates apply). The package includes one in-room breakfast and your choice of a couples massage or the family cooking class.
Hyatt Maui Package Values
The newly renovated Hyatt Regency Maui Resort is offering the Ultimate Family Vacation Package for travel through December 16, 2022 that includes a full-size car (not easy to secure right now!), free self-parking, daily buffet breakfast for two adults and two children, $100 credit to their Drums of the Pacific Luau and two-for-one tickets to their Tour of the Stars Astronomy program. Some blackout dates apply. The resort’s rooftop is home to Hawaii’s only recreational telescope with a 16-inch reflector. Through December 21, 2021, your family can also get a private astronomy lesson from NASA Ambassador Edward Mahoney along with dinner and a stargazing party with the Hyatt’s Stay, Learn and Play package. This exciting package also includes a $500 food and beverage credit, a spa treatment, yoga and meditation breaks, a private hula dance class and access to the activity lawn with daybeds. If your family prefers not to mingle in any crowds, you can enjoy Luau from Your Lanai which brings the luau to you with a traditional Hawaiian dinner and cocktails from your lanai while watching the hotel’s luau outside of your room! Aloha!
Cabo Family Fun
Viceroy Los Cabos is offering new and creative family-friendly activities this summer including a teen dining experience, craft cocktails, and art program. The Teen Table Service Under the Stars is specifically for teens to enjoy a night of fun as they make dessert for dinner. The experience takes place on the beach with a customizable menu including sparkling apple cider, fruit bouquets, ice cream sundaes, and more. A Mini Mixologist program offers a hands-on experience with the resort’s bartenders to craft alcohol-free concoctions. It begins in the resort’s herb garden, where families forage for fresh ingredients to use in their drinks. The resort’s Art Program and Workshops invite all ages to discover their artistic talents through a variety of rotating classes in partnership with a local art studio. From mixed media and watercolor painting to textile art and more, the new art program serves as a creative outlet for the whole family. The super modern and luxury hotel showcases 198 rooms and suites, 5 pools, supervised children’s program, movie theater, game room, a spa, a gym with fitness classes, several dining options, and free bikes.
Andaz Wailea Villas
This past spring the Andaz Wailea on Maui debuted 19 brand-new three-bedroom villas. Each 1,900-square-foot villa offers a gourmet Bosch Kitchen, a variety of bedding options, and a lanai to enjoy the gorgeous ocean views. Ground floor units also have private plunge pools, while the top experience—the penthouse villa—spans over 3,750 square feet and includes a glass-bottom cantilevered pool. Villa rates are inclusive of complimentary valet parking, full daily breakfast for two people per bedroom, and a bonus resort credit of $150 per day to use for a variety of resort activities and amenities. The 15-acre beachfront resort has 320 guestrooms and suites (including 30 two- to four-bedroom residential villas), outdoor infinity pools, a spa, gym, watersports, cultural activities, and two restaurants by acclaimed chef Masaharu Morimoto.
Giving Back in Hawaii
Want to give back while on vacation in Hawaii? Here’s your chance with a range of special discounts and offers in exchange for volunteer participation. Seventy hotels on all four major islands, Alaska Airlines, and ten different organizations are taking part in volunteer opportunities ranging from reforestation projects and tree planting to self-directed beach clean-ups and Hawaiian quilting sessions. By booking a Malama Hawaiipackage (“malama” meaning “to care for”) and participating in the hotel’s designated volunteer activity, your family will qualify for a special discount or even a free night. Each partner is managing its own promotion. For example, the Four Seasons Resort Maui allows your family to discover Maui’s history through the hands-on processing of historic artifacts and documents at Lahaina Restoration Foundation. The reward for participation: A $250 resort credit and a gift certificate for a one-night luxury accommodation in an Ocean View Room for a future stay. And the satisfaction of knowing your family helped make Hawaii a better place!
