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!

Dreams in Cartagena

The 286-key Dreams Karibana Cartagena Beach & Golf Resort in Colombia is scheduled to open on April 1 and marks AMR Collection’s first property in South America. All rooms have a private terrace, balcony or are swim-out suites and connecting rooms will be available. The property also consists of a private beach club, an 18-hole golf course designed by Nicklaus Design, pools, spa, and more. As part of the brand’s signature Unlimited-Luxury inclusions, this former Conrad resort will also feature five bars and lounges, three gourmet and a la carte dining venues and pool and beach service.

Celebrate Barbados

Help celebrate the world’s newest republic with a trip to Barbados! From spring through fall, the iconic Sandy Lane has a special Family Package available for travel from April 23 to October 31, 2022. This perfect island getaway combines lots of activities and adventure with luxury accommodations. Children are guaranteed unlimited fun at the resort’s supervised children’s program and terrific day-long sports camp when in session while everyone in the family can enjoy superb golf, tennis, water sports, and a beautiful beach. Your package includes:

• 50% off a second room for up to 3 children aged 16 and under
• Unlimited use of The Treehouse Club supervised children’s program
• Complimentary gift in the room for each child on arrival
• Complimentary dinner for children aged 3 to 12
• Complimentary Sports Camps – May 28-June 4, July 16-23, August 13-20, and October 22-29

Grand Cayman Reveal

The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman recently welcomed guests back after completing a major $50 million interior renovation including all rooms, the lobby, and more.  Fresh and bright guestrooms and suites maintain notes of British West Indian style while incorporating new artwork, fixtures, and materials sourced from the island. The 369-room resort also showcases a spa, tennis and basketball courts, the Starfish Cay water park, Ritz Kids program, Wave Game Room, a Greg Norman-designed nine-hole golf course, and five restaurants, including Blue from chef Eric Ripert of New York City’s Le Bernardin. The resorts’ Reconnect promotion is valid all the way through December 16, 2022, and includes buffet breakfast for two daily and $100 resort credit PER night!

Four Seasons Transformation

The Four Seasons Resort Hualalai on The Big Island of Hawaii has completed its property-wide renovation program. The gorgeous $100 million transformation includes:

• Renovation of all guestrooms, suites, and villas
• A new, elevated infinity pool and lounge deck at King’s Pond (Hualalai’s 1.8-million-gallon swimmable aquarium) and a new marine interaction center
• Updated signature Hualalai Golf Course
• The launch of the Hualalai Golf Hale, an instruction, practice, and entertainment facility
• A dedicated Culinary Academy cooking school

A new bungalow that consists of six oceanfront rooms including a suite with a private pool is perfect for family groups while the resort’s newly renovated villas received second-floor additions.  Amazing villa benefits include airport transfers, breakfast, butler services plus a daily choice for $500 in credits for food and beverage, golf for two or two 50-minute massages at the spa.  A current resort room promotion offers up to $200 in resort credits PER night for travel through December 18, 2021, and again from January 4-October 31, 2022.

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.