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Family
Fun Caribbean Style
It
used to be that when you went on vacation with the children you either
brought along a nanny or set up some sort of babysitting service at the
hotel when you got there. Or you never got a break from the children. But
now taking the children with you can be fun for your children as much as
for you.
The
Caribbean offers a wide range of reasons to bring along the children. Each
island has it’s own uniqueness and wide range of things for a family to
enjoy. Parent can spends as much time or without the children without
worrying about safety or feeling guilty they need a break. Resorts have
set up year round activities that are like a summer camp than a typical
vacation.
Aruba
offers One Cool Summer, which runs from June to September. It offers
special perks for families staying at least five nights. Up to two
children under the age of 11 can stay in the same room as their parents
for free. They also get to enjoy a complimentary breakfast. Families also
receive discounts on horseback rides, four-wheel safaris, car rentals, and
snorkeling. There are also special rates on the Atlantis Submarine. Aruba
Sonesta offers a program called Just Us Kids. The program provides lunch
or dinner, supervised activities, games and water sports. It is offered
all week for children ages 5 to 12 years old.
Last
year in the Bahamas, on Paradise Island, Atlantis opened the Discovery
Channel Camp for children. The program offers a base camp with a replica
of the sunken galleon Atocha. It has technology labs with computers, an
aquarium and science centers focusing on marine life. Atlantis offers the
world’s largest outdoor aquarium and a 34-acre waterscape.
Barbados
offers a supervised Kid’s Club from 9am to 10pm at the all-inclusive
Almond Beach Village. There are dance lessons, water sports, painting, tye
dying, and other activities planned. There are separate sections for ages
2 to 4 then 5 to 9 and 10 to 13 years old. Then also offered is a
playground and swimming pools.
Dominican
Republic offers Club Med’s Punta Cana Village. Children ages 2 to 4 are
invited to the Petit Club Med with it open every day except Saturdays from
9am to 9pm for spring and summer. Children can paint, draw, sculpt and
enjoy being with each other. Then the next level is for children ages 4 to
13, which is Mini Club Med. Depending on their age they can sail,
windsurf, practice judo, horseback ride, and use the flying trapeze.
Jamaica
offers a lot for families. It offers resorts designed for families. Newly
opened is a mid priced property in Trelawny Beach area called FDR Pebbles.
It features cabin style accommodations. They have a teen program that
offers teens hiking trips, rafting, bicycling, and excursions. Then there
is the Small World Kids Club that is for children under the age of 16.
Donkey rides, goat races, arts and crafts as well as computer educational
games are part of its highlights. Next Winter Sandals will open a new
resort that will have a sports complex and a children’s park. Currently
Sandals has a Beaches resort, which is their first family orientated
resort. It features a video game center and daily activities. Superclubs
has their Boscobel Beach, the first all-inclusive resort, which was
designed for families. It features age-specific programs for kids. Teens
are offered the Boscobel’s SuperAdventures program, which includes
horseback riding, parasailing, and four-wheel-drive trips. Children ages 8
to 12 can participate in the resort’s overnight SuperKamping program,
which includes a cookout. Kids under the age of 14 stay for free.
Puerto
Rico has a family friendly hotel which the Hyatt Regency. Its main
attraction is the world’s longest hotel river pool. Camp Hyatt is
designed for children ages 3 to 12. CPR certified counselors direct
educational, environmental, and cultural activities from 9am to 4pm. From
6pm to 10pm they offer nature walks and sports. Meals are included and
there is a charge for the camp. Also the Wyndham offers Camp Coqui for
kids ages 3 to 12. Island crafts, watersports and nature hikes are
offered.
These
are just some examples of what is offered. Many hotels and resorts offer
great programs for children and deals for the family. The Caribbean wants
to be viewed as the place for family fun in the sun.
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