The Family Traveler

Free Nights at Four Seasons

lauren — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:24:41 +0000

The Four Seasons Seychelles is giving away two free nights with a five night stay for a week in paradise with breakfast for two included per room. Some black-out dates apply. This family-friendly island resort in the Indian Ocean and off the coast of East Africa offers a year round Kids for All Seasons Club (age 4-12) and junior spa services for ages 6 to 17 including massage, facials (12 and older), manicures, pedicures and mother/daughter or father/son packages. On arrival, children also receive a t-shirt printed with their name, chilled juices and other amenities placed bedside each night and child-size bathrobes. Enjoy gorgeous white sand beaches, a lagoon, amazing pool, water sports, gym with fitness classes, hiking, and a variety of outdoor adventures off the property. The luxury resort features rooms, suites and residential villas including 67 unique treetop villas perched on stilts on the jungle hillside or nestled amid greenery close to the beach. Each villa has expansive indoor and outdoor spaces and infinity edge pools.

Irish Family Holidays

lauren — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:24:33 +0000

The Castlemartyr Resort in County Cork, Ireland, sister property to Dromoland Castle, is launching an enhanced version of its Castlemartyr Kids Club just in time for summer. From July 18 to August14, the luxury resort and its sprawling estate will be transformed into a recreational retreat for children. Children have their own check-in area and are welcomed in the room with milk and cookies, pint-sized bathrobes and small slippers. The Kids Club offers daily activities that are hosted by resident Irish Setters Earl and Countess, who will oversee the proceedings (with a bit of help from their human assistants). Programs are organized according to age: 4 to 8 and 9 to 12. Activities include a mini-Olympics; nature walks; off-site excursions (Fota Wildlife Park and Leahy’s Open Farm); arts and crafts; horse and carriage rides; storytelling; dog walking and cycling; face painting and games; and Kids’ High Tea every afternoon, followed by a movie night. Teens can engage in golf, archery, fly-fishing, biking and clay shooting. In addition, the resort has a pool, spa, gym with fitness class and several dining options. The property features rooms, suites as well as two and three bedroom self catering accommodations. A great break for a few days while your family is explores the Emerald Isle.

Hard Rock’s Character Collection

lauren — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:24:25 +0000

Thomas & Friends, Barney, Bob the Builder and Angelina Ballerina will check in this summer at Hard Rock Hotels in Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Newly designed kids’ clubs and interactive play areas featuring these cast of characters will debut at the soon-to-be Hard Rock Hotel Cancun (the former Cancun Palace) in June and the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic in July. Although reflagging of the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya from the Aventura Cove Palace will be completed by early 2013, the redesigned play areas will debut in June as conversion is underway at the resort. The three properties are owned by the All-Inclusive Collection, which partnered with HIT Entertainment, a children’s entertainment producer, to feature the popular kids’ brands at the resorts. The children’s areas at the three resorts will offer the Little Big Club with themed activities, dress-up and craft areas, use of musical instruments, a sandy construction site, child-safe tools and a mini-theater for movie nights and talent shows. The resorts also are offering the Kids Stay Free summer promotion, valid for bookings made by August 27 for travel June 1 through August 31. Two children age 12 and under sharing a room with at least one adult will stay and eat for free on a booking of three nights or more. This promotion can be combined with the $1,500 Resort Credit offer on bookings of five or more nights, valid for travel through December 23.

Family Fun at Ritz Cartlon Orlando

lauren — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:24:15 +0000

Ritz Carlton Orlando Grand Lakes‘ Family Fun package is a great value and available year round. It provides guaranteed connecting rooms (king to two double beds) with an upgrade to a lake view; free dining for children up to age 12 in all Ritz Carlton restaurants (except Norman’s) with each adult entree; photo album and disposable camera; choice of Ritz Kids for two children (ages 5-12) or breakfast buffet for two adults and two children at The Vineyard Grille, ice cream passport for up to two children up to age 12; transportation to SeaWorld, Aquatica, Universal Orlando and Wet n’Wild (two miles away) and a guaranteed late check-out at 2:00 p.m. Rates start as low at $498/night for two spacious rooms. The luxury resort features 18-holes of golf, 11 restaurants, pool with cabanas and personal concierge, spa, gym, kids club and more.

Ranger Danger in Boston

lauren — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:24:07 +0000

Looking for an off-the-beaten-track summer activity in Boston? Then look no further than the Boston Harbor Islands. With over 1,600 acres and 35 miles of undeveloped ocean shoreline, this collection of islands make up one large national park and the ultimate family day trip just a short ferry ride away. The Fairmont Battery Wharf wants to encourage your family to explore these interesting islands with their Ranger Danger Boston Harbor Islands Family Package. Your children will discover what it’s like to be a National Park Ranger by completing the activity booklet on the islands and attending a ranger program where a park ranger will check their answers, sign their booklet, and give them an official Boston Harbor Islands Junior Ranger badge. In between earning badges, discover Georges Island, and explore its historic Civil War era Fort Warren. Then hop over to Spectacle Island and splash through tide pools, skip through sea grass, or go for a swim on one of the sandy beaches. Finish off the day at sunset by taking a hike up to the islands highest point to take in the panoramic views of the city. The hotel’s package includes your room for two adults and two children, round-trip Boston Harbor Island ferry tickets for four, Junior Ranger Activity Booklet and milk and cookies for four and is offered May through September.

Mini Mayans

lauren — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:23:59 +0000

Gourmet Inclusive Azul Hotels by Karisma, located throughout Mexico’s Riviera Maya, unveiled its new Mini Mayans children’s program, designed to educate your children about Mayan culture. The program includes fun and interactive elements such as Give the Mayans a Mano, Mayan Cooking Classes, Mini Mayan Musicians, and Tiempo de Tiles. Families are invited to experience Mini Mayans and more this summer with savings of more than 40 percent off and children under 13 stay free. Mini Mayans is offered at Azul Beach Hotel, Azul Sensatori Hotel and Azul Fives Hotel by Karisma, each of which is located along the Mayan Riviera in Mexico. Recognizing the significance of the Mayan culture in 2012, in particular, Mini Mayans has been incorporated into the daily schedule of activities at Azul Hotels’ Azulitos Playhouses. The Azulitos Playhouses also offer Fisher-Price toys and play sessions, My Gym Children’s Fitness Center activities, skits, games, storytelling, Spanish lessons, dance and exercise lessons, weekly piñata parties and photo sessions.

Endless Adventure at Sunriver

lauren — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:23:52 +0000

Sunriver Resort’s 2012 Endless Adventure generates more savings the earlier you book for stays between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Confirm three nights or longer in the resort’s lodges by April 30 for 30 percent off, by May 14 for 25% off, by May 28 for 20% off, by June 18 for 15% off and by July 9 for 10% off. Sunriver features a variety of family friendly accommodations including hotel rooms, condos and large homes perfect for multiple generations or families traveling together. Enjoy biking, rafting, golfing, hiking and more or splash around in the brand new $19 million Sunriver Aquatics facility complete with huge slides, several pools, a lazy river, and much more.

MSC Enchances Kids Club

lauren — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:23:45 +0000

MSC Cruises has enhanced its Kids’ Club programs for ages 3-17, offering Microsoft Xbox Kinetic, Nintendo Wii and a variety of games. The teen corner now includes a docking station for iPods, iPhones, iPads and USB readers, and a social corner connected to Net TV and with Bluetooth keyboards. The moderately priced Italian line also is offering a broader choice of family events ranging from parades to scavenger hunts and extended Kids’ Club hours from 9:00am to 11:00pm. Pagers and beepers will be available for rent for the parents/supervising adults of children who are 3 to 5 years old, children with special medical conditions and children with special needs. MSC Cruises also is introducing a daily Nanny’s Hour from 9:00 to 10:00am, with games and activities for youngsters age 10 to 36 months and their parents. And on each cruise, a performance will be held in the theater for children under 12 and their parents. Kids will also be able to perform in a show they create and stage in the theater. Children age 11 and younger sail free and kids ages 12 to 17 sail at a reduced rate on every MSC Cruises sailing when sharing a stateroom with two full-fare-paying adults! The cruise line has also added spa treatments for teen-agers from $26 to $66 and for teens 14 and older, a personal trainer can plan workouts with the parent.

Breakaway with NCL

lauren — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:23:37 +0000

Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship, the 4,000-passenger Norwegian Breakaway launching in April 2013, will feature the fleet’s largest facilities for children and teens. The new teen program, dubbed Entourage, will be located on Deck 16 and include foosball and air hockey tables, gaming stations and a video jukebox for late-night dance parties. Splash Academy, the new name for the line’s children’s program, will be divided into Guppies (infants to 2 years), Turtles (3-5), Seals (6-9) and Dolphins (10-12). The two-deck facilities will be located on Decks 12 and 13, adjacent to the ship’s family cabins. Babies and toddlers under age three, along with their parents, will also have their own dedicated play space with activities. The most notable offerings for children include circus workshops (think juggling, plate-spinning and stilt-walking) through a partnership with New York-based Hilario Productions Cirque du Jour and active pursuits like soccer workshops and physical challenges in collaboration with the King’s Foundation and Camps, a U.K.-based organization. Children younger than 3 can take part in art classes, storytelling and mini-workouts with their parents. There’s no charge for kids younger than 3, but they must be accompanied by a parent. The revamped youth programs, which also include family activities like cupcake-decorating, pizza-making and game shows, are set to roll out fleetwide by the end of August.

Travel Tip

lauren — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:23:30 +0000

We love travel products that help keep your children entertained while traveling and are always happy to promote products that are creative and educational as well. Check out TravelKiddy (www.travelkiddy.com) which offers a unique adventure in a bag for families on the go. A bundle of toys, activities and crafts are carefully selected to challenge and engage your children for extended periods of quiet play. The kits are designed to encourage creativity, develop fine motor skills, spark the imagination and foster learning. Activity kits are age appropriate for toddlers, age 3-5 and age 6-9. The Travelkiddy website also offers other activities, games and toys for a variety of age groups including your tweens as well as adorable suitcases, backpacks and travel accessories.