Wendyholt

We are looking to travel in April sometime with our 4yr old and 5yr old. What resorts are there that cater to families but still have great food and service. We are looking for a place with a safe beach(no undertow or rough surf) for kids, maybe watersports and a playground too. Accomodations in a small suite or would we need two rooms. We've been to Anguilla,Barbados, Antigua, Jamacia,Puerto Rico and St. Martin. We would consider returning to one of these or going to a new place. Really just looking for the right environment for little ones but not some place over run with kids. We are not going to be too likely to venture off the resort a lot but want to be somewhere we can if we choose to. Also not looking to mortgage the house for this..so any ideas?

Kimberly

Try Beaches in Turks & Caicos awsome resort for kids.

Wendyholt

I've actually heard mixed reviews on this one. Most complaints were about the service. We have been considering it. Are there any others that you would also recomend?
-Wendy

Hermien

If you like to have all the benefits of a resort, but the freedom to eat and do what you want, I suggest Hotel Playa Colibri in Las Terrenas in the Dominican Republic. They have a small pool for the kids, attached to the big pool and the water of the beach right in front is safe and shallow. They have apartments in various sizes, with 2 bedrooms if you like and are not expensive. The only risk is you might want to sell your house to go and live there for ever. They have babysitting services on request and room service if you don't feel like going to the restaurant. See the Tripadvisor for more reviews of Playa Colibri and check out their website to find out more (www playacolibri.com). Good luck in planning your vacation, hope this has been of help to you and your family.

Ken_in_Mass

Have you considered the Mayan Riviera? Most of the resorts there are AI, so I'm not sure if it would satisfy your "great food" requirement. There's another thread entitled Family in December from a family with kids near the age of yours who traveled to Akumal last year. This is the southern end of the resort area.

The only resort in the area I am personally familiar with is the Barcelo Maya. This resort has a mile and half of beach, and usually very calm surf. They also have a kids club that I've seen good reports on.

We settled on this resort in part because there is no lack of chairs in shady areas, something that can be important with children.

Good luck in your search.

Ken

wills

Have you considered Club Med Punta Cana? There is also one in Mexico. I have stayed at Club Med and I really was blown away by how great their kids club is. Their staff tends to be young, enthusiastic and very good with the children. (My children are 6 & 9). Also, despite being mostly buffet, their food was excellent. I attribute that to it being a French company. The French have zero tolerance for mediocre food. We found that there were tables for just the four of us if we chose, and they have an ala carte restaurant at each Club Med that is reservation only that was great. (It usually reflects the cuisine of the host country.) Some people love Club Med some disdain it, but we found for our children and for ourselves that it was a great value with very little compromise. I also liked the way Club Med thinks, our room had a king bed and two singles. Vastly better than the two queen thing that so many properties have if you stay in the same room, yet there is private time for couples when your kids are at the kids club. I can't describe the sense that Club Med appreciated what travelling with children was like. They seemed to address every need. Again, I attributed that to the French practicality. Club med also has excursions. Just my humble opinion!

cartera45

I agree that the Club Med kids programs are hard to beat. I have been the the one in Ixtapa Mexico and really enjoyed it. The kids did trapeze, archery, great shows and on and on. They were very well supervised. The weather is great in Ixtapa in April.