kswl

My DH would like to go back to Atlantis and take our three children ages 25, 22, and 17. I am not really keen on going back and would like to present a viable alternative that is a nice resort, lovely beach, with tennis and fun pools.. We lived in beach-y Florida for so long that we never needed to do beach resorts and for the past six years we've been going mostly in other directions so I have NO IDEA where to even start. Several of us like to play tennis and everyone likes a good water slide or lazy river, and a direct flight from Atlanta would be good. Atlantis is absurdly expensive and therefore I would be willing to pay similar prices to get something that is less....flashy. I'm hoping that someone with adult and near-adult children will have some ideas. The occasion is to celebrate our daughter's graduation from college....she would like to go back to Italy but we don't have time. (She's our sunlover/ swimmer.)

Thanks in advance for suggestions and ideas!

blamona

The only other place I can think of with water slide or lazy rivers, other than Atlantis (that always comes to mind), is Beaches Turks and Caicos. They have recently opened one of the "largest" water parks in the Caribbean. It is all inclusive, and alot less flashy than Atlantis. The new Italian village is alot more upscale, in my opinion, than Atlantis. T&C also has a direct flight from Atlanta on Delta, and is only around a 2 hour flight, so you get more vacation time. I have not seen the actual waterpark in action, as it wasn't open yet in Jan, it is now though. There are some cons: Beaches caters to families with little kids, and many activities are based this way, including Sesame Street characters. I can only assume the slides and lazy river caters to kids younger than yours.

Pros: the most beautiful beach you'll ever see, direct flight from Atlanta, terrific daytime excursions to isolated cays, terrific restaurants off the property, parasailing, banana boats, jet ski excursions, great off the beach snorkeling, excellent scuba, and away from Beaches a nice quiet island that's classy and luxurious.

Wyndham Rose in Jamaica has a lazy river, I can't tell you about it because the last time I stayed there it wasn't built yet. Jamaica actually has a couple of water parks with slides.

Hyatt Hacienda Del Mar in Puerto Rico had lazy river pool-at one time it boasted the longest one in the Caribbean, but the last time I stayed was about 7 years ago. They probably have a direct flight from Atlanta. Even nicer resort (and classy, not flashy) with lazy rivers in Puerto Rico is El Conquistador. They also have a water taxi to a small cay with a decent beach.

Overall, you'll be hard pressed to find lazy rivers and slides in the Caribbean, when the main draw is the gorgeous beaches, pools most of the time are "after thoughts."

kswl

Thank you for those suggestions, blamona, I am looking them up now!

cmcfong

The Reefs in Bermuda would fit your criteria as well.

virginia

delta flies to cancun in approx 2 1/2 hrs. the occidental grand xcaret is about 45 mins drive south. the resort should work for your family and it is attached to xcaret, which is a wonderful eco-marine park with loads to do/see.
http://www.occidentalhotels.com/grand/Xcaret.asp
http://www.xcaret.com/
in the area you will also find golf, atv jungle rides, horseback, shopping in playa del carman, cenotes/caves, zip-line,scuba/snorkel, and ruins- coba, chichen itza and 45 mins from tulum.