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.
Naviva Tented Camp
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has recently announced plans to open a tented resort, an expansion of their existing Punta Mita resort. Slated to open late this year, Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort, Punta Mita, Mexico will offer a collection of 15 luxury tents nestled in the forests of the Riviera Nayarit with amazing views of the Pacific Ocean. Each tent is outfitted with private pools and expansive decks, many of them also feature outdoor gardens. Ahead of arrival, your family will be matched with a personal guide to create a customized itinerary based on your specific needs and desires, choosing from a range of unique and curated experiences. The onsite programming has been developed with the help of local experts and has been designed to encourage personalization—such as one-on-one interactions with the resort’s executive chef, personal training sessions in the outdoor gym experience, and private dinners with ocean views and customized menus.
Save at The Buccaneer
From April 16 through December 19, families booking two rooms at The Buccaneer Beach and Golf Resort on St. Croix can enjoy additional savings with your second room at 50% off when traveling with children 18 and under. This family-owned and family-friendly resort overlooks the Caribbean Sea and Christiansted Harbor. Set on 340 acres, you and your clan can enjoy 18 holes of golf, eight tennis courts, three calm beaches, two pools, a water sports center (non-motorized water sports are free!), a full-service spa, gym, family games and three restaurants. Off the resort explore the island with horseback riding, kayak tours, hiking, island tours, shopping in Christiansted and more. Non-stop flights to St. Croix are available from Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Atlanta, and Charlotte as well as from San Juan and St. Thomas. See our trip review below for more details about a Buccaneer experience!
Tented Camp Reopens
Glamping is hardly a new concept in the Virgin Islands. The Concordia Eco-Resort, which originally opened back in the 70s, has finally reopened! Located within the gorgeous Virgin Islands National Park near Coral Bay on the southeast side of St. John, the property has been closed since Hurricane Irma hit in 2017. Accommodations include 17 Concordia tents which are spacious units with wraparound wooden decks. These units are set above the ground with amazing views overlooking an array of bays, ponds, trails, and beaches. Seven more units will be added this year. Also offered are eight, completely remodeled resort studios with a microwave, mini-fridge, two burners, and bathroom with shower. All units are solar-powered. Facilities onsite include a restaurant, saltwater pool, large sun deck, and free Wifi at the reception area and pool. Great hiking, snorkeling, and diving are also available.
Conrad Opens Near Tulum
Hilton recently announced the opening of the Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya, marking the brand’s debut in the Riviera Maya. The eco-friendly and upscale property is located 20 minutes north of the town of Tulum and the amazing Tulum ruins. With 349-rooms and suites, families can also enjoy five restaurants, a spa, watersports, a kids club, a teen hang-out zone, a gym, and five pools. It’s nice that all rooms will afford ocean views with either a tub or plunge pool on your balcony. Families looking for more space can enjoy spacious suites with living and dining areas. Unique to this region, their spa will offer Mayan Manteada, an ancient massage technique in which shawls are tied around the waist to relax and realign the body. The resort also has an in-house Shaman to perform ancient rituals such as a purifying gratitude and sacred cenote ceremony! A Hilton all-inclusive property will open next door this June. The resort is currently offering a free promotion.
Families Welcome in Puerto Vallarta
Hilton Vallarta Riviera All-Inclusive Resort on Mexico’s Pacific Coast recently debuted its new children’s programming with new kid-friendly activities, amenities, and entertainment. Previously an adults-only hotel, the resort is now officially a family-friendly property with programming for all ages. The 444-room hotel still maintains a separate adults-only wing although The Hacienda section allows families with teens and older. The family-friendly side of the hotel boasts ocean-facing rooms and suites and an expansive pool area. At the new Kids Club, children ages 4–12 can enjoy art projects, face painting, mini chef cooking classes, scavenger hunts, dance classes, and themed parties. Teens also have extensive and age-specific activities such as sports tournaments, street art and photography workshops, music and dance classes, beach games, volleyball, pool games, surfing, and more. At night, teens can enjoy movie and pizza nights, themed parties, talent contests, a photo booth, and a teen nightclub with a live DJ. A Teen Zone will open soon, offering an exclusive lounge area with pool tables, air hockey, gaming stations, ping pong tables, and much more. Currently, a free night promotion is available while children age 5 and younger always stay for free.
Bitter End Remake
The Bitter End Yacht Club in the British Virgin Islands is planning to reopen soon following a four-year closure due to hurricanes Irma and Maria. The iconic resort originally opened in 1969. The newly renovated and reimagined resort will feature 2-story, over-the-water bungalows, the only ones in the BVI. There will also be a new main plaza where sailors from around the world and hotel guests will find dining, a watersports center, shops, and the renewed marina. A children’s program for ages 6-12, several beaches, pool, and more dining options round out the resort amenities. Family-friendly excursions, weekly regattas, SUP Yoga, amazing hikes, and all the events that made the Bitter End experience so unique over the years will be back!
