Caribbean Luxury and Wellness

The Six Senses La Sagesse resort in Grenada is making its Caribbean debut later this year. This luxury and wellness-focused experience will be spread over 38 acres between two beaches with 56 guestrooms, seven one-bedroom villas, and five two-bedroom villas. There will also be three- and four-bedroom green-roofed homes, each with a horizon-edge pool and wrap-around pool decks. Activities will abound with outdoor fitness trails, a cascading poolscape, quiet locations for mental and wellness programs, watersports, an extensive spa and wellness program, several dining options, and more. A teen lounge and children’s play center will showcase Grow With Six Senses activities, an invitation to reconnect with nature and gain useful life skills through play. The Six Senses Earth Lab is where your family will be encouraged to join workshops and learn first-hand about the natural world and how to lighten your footprint.  In terms of excursions, the lush island of Grenada offers up shipwreck dives and waterfalls, spice trails and chocolate factories, hiking through a rainforest reserve, and unique underwater art at the Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park. The capital, St. George’s, is a beautiful and buzzing horseshoe-shaped harbor, where narrow streets are lined with interesting shops, outdoor cafes, and a daily market.

Family Fun in Cabo

The Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal’s Family Fun Under the Sun package is now available through December 15, 2023.  Your package includes luxury round-trip airport transfers (including a personal greeting by an airport host and escort to your private car), Totuguitas Kids Club access (usually $50 for a full day, $30 for a half day, or $20 per activity), breakfast daily and a $200 resort credit per bedroom (up to $800 total) to be used at the spa, S’mores on the Beach, Family Movie Nights, In-Villa Guest Experiences, Cooking Classes, and more.  Just stay a minimum of 3 nights.  A holiday version of the package runs from December 19, 2023-January 5, 2024 with $400 in resort credits (up to $1,200 total), but without the free kids club.  Located at the base of Pedregal Mountain, in the town of Cabo San Lucas, this luxury resort can only be accessed via a private tunnel carved through the center of the mountain. The resort opened in late 2019 and each room features a private plunge pool, a fireplace, an outdoor terrace, and a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean.

All Inclusive Belize

Belize’s Naia Resort and Spa is showcasing an all-inclusive Ultimate Family Vacation Package. Located on the Placencia Peninsula, the deluxe resort occupies 19 secluded, beachfront acres. Enjoy watersports, several dining options, a gym, a yoga studio, and a spa.  This intimate resort offers 38 secluded Beach Houses with up to 5 bedrooms…bring your friends and family!   You will also have access to land, water, and jungle excursions like zip lining, river tubing, and snorkeling.  Your six-day, five-night package includes:

• Round-trip air transfer from Belize City to Placencia
• Round-trip land transfer from the Placencia airport to Naia Resort
• Accommodations in a Two Bedroom Beach House, boasting a private plunge pool and accommodating two adults and two children (up to 12 years old)
• Daily meals, including breakfast, lunch, and three-course dinner
• Snorkel tour
• Choice of the following excursions: Cockscomb Basin, Xunantunich Mayan Ruins, or Chocolate Tour with Mayan ruins
• Complimentary use of kayaks, paddleboards, and bicycles  

Mexican Luxury

The St. Regis Kanai Resort just opened in the Riviera Maya, Mexico, 40 minutes south of the Cancun airport.  This luxury resort features avant-garde architecture with 143 rooms and suites, all with butler service.  Gorgeous ocean views are available from nearly every vantage point!  The unique and eco-friendly resort is suspended above a mangrove forest with different elements of the hotel connected by elevated walkways.  It sits next to the 620-acre Sian Ka’an Reserve (which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and is only 10 minutes from Playa del Carmen.  Located less than half a mile from an undisturbed coral reef, part of the second largest system in the world, the resort is also an ideal launching pad for underwater exploration.  There are eight dining options, an expansive outdoor lawn, a spa featuring Mayan-inspired treatments, a gym with an outdoor yoga platform, a children’s program, several pools, and a beach club with watersports along with two miles of undisturbed beach.  The hotel’s décor was drawn from ancient Mayan art and ceremonies with the Mayan Calendar recreated through textiles within the public areas and guestrooms, with elements inspired by ceremonial Mayan garments. A current promotion offers $100 in daily resort credits that you can use for dining, spa and more. The Kanai resort community is currently home to Auberge’s Etereo Resort and will soon feature an Edition property where you can walk or shuttle between for added dining and other amenities. St. Regis and Edition are both part of the Marriott family.

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!