looking for a resort with the MOST amazing swimming pool - in or out of the U.S.
Feb 21st, 2006, 03:58 PM
#24
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The most amazomg beautiful pool I have seen and considered the biggest in the D.R. is at the Sunscape the Beach...it goes on forever with turns here and there under bridges to the ocean. I know it's called Sunscape the Beach... but it should really be Sunscape the Pool. The only other one I saw that was that dramatic was in Costa Rica. You can go non-stop from Boston by charter.. GWV or TNT. As for the little kids... there is a climbing iceberg, several kids pools and best of all the most incredible Explorer's Club. It is a brand new hotel (last year) and we had a "swim out room"... which meant that you could walk out the door to the water...which you maynot want with little kids.
Feb 21st, 2006, 04:09 PM
#25
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I now find myself in the unfortunate predicament of defending myself when I was simply looking for input on vacation ideas....
That said, in my defense, I live on the ocean - I live walking distance to one of the nicest beaches in the USA. I am at the beach all summer with child/children. Sometimes, it is loads of fun and sometimes it is loads of work. I have found it much easier to teach my daughter to swim in a swimming pool than the ocean... she is still learning. Given that I like to relax on vacation I personally find a swimming pool easier to manage with two small children. It is easier to cool off from the heat, easier to teach them to swim, in my opinion easier to keep track of two at once (particularly with floation devices, etc.). This is simply MY opinion. I don't care to get into a discussion of what makes for a better vacation. If you don't have constructive advice to give on where to look at staying, please don't post.
Finally, no the swimming pool is not the only criteria. It is just one. The others are non-stop flight (which I could be flexible and which I am getting to be more flexible with as the places we really want to go to require a stop), nice accomodations, good food options, and at a destination that might have interesting sites to see other than beach and pool.
That said, in my defense, I live on the ocean - I live walking distance to one of the nicest beaches in the USA. I am at the beach all summer with child/children. Sometimes, it is loads of fun and sometimes it is loads of work. I have found it much easier to teach my daughter to swim in a swimming pool than the ocean... she is still learning. Given that I like to relax on vacation I personally find a swimming pool easier to manage with two small children. It is easier to cool off from the heat, easier to teach them to swim, in my opinion easier to keep track of two at once (particularly with floation devices, etc.). This is simply MY opinion. I don't care to get into a discussion of what makes for a better vacation. If you don't have constructive advice to give on where to look at staying, please don't post.
Finally, no the swimming pool is not the only criteria. It is just one. The others are non-stop flight (which I could be flexible and which I am getting to be more flexible with as the places we really want to go to require a stop), nice accomodations, good food options, and at a destination that might have interesting sites to see other than beach and pool.
Feb 21st, 2006, 05:10 PM
#26
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We also stayed at the Omni Cancun last summer. The hotel has several pools, including a kiddie pool. Compared to the Hyatt in Florida (the one I mentioned in my first reply), I don't think the pools are great, but they are nice.
Honestly, I would recommend non-stop with 2 kids. But that's just me who's the mother of an incredibly high-energy exhausting four-year-old.
This may not interest you at all, but I'll put it out there. We have traveled to places that didn't offer non-stops. We'd just fly late afternoon to Miami (from the Northeast), stay overnight there and leave the next day for whatever island it was (as I'm sure you know, you can easily get non-stops from Miami). It sounds like a hassle but it has worked for us. Happy, happy child.
We would just have to kill ourselves if we had to deal with our son on a long travel day with an airport stop-over.
Honestly, I would recommend non-stop with 2 kids. But that's just me who's the mother of an incredibly high-energy exhausting four-year-old.
This may not interest you at all, but I'll put it out there. We have traveled to places that didn't offer non-stops. We'd just fly late afternoon to Miami (from the Northeast), stay overnight there and leave the next day for whatever island it was (as I'm sure you know, you can easily get non-stops from Miami). It sounds like a hassle but it has worked for us. Happy, happy child.
We would just have to kill ourselves if we had to deal with our son on a long travel day with an airport stop-over.
Feb 23rd, 2006, 04:47 PM
#27
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Just was thinking that possibly "the palms" in Turks and Caicos might work for us.... it appears to have the amazing swimming pool i so desire, as well as being on a wonderful beach for little kids (grace bay beach). the suites have kitchens so we wouldn't have to rely on restaurants for all of our meals which would seem ideal with two little kids and their web site states that they now have a kid's club. seems perfect (albeit expensive). i think it might be worth not having the non-stop flight.
any feedback would be greatly appreciated - or if anyone knows of other similar places that have what The Palms has I'd love to know about them. THanks
any feedback would be greatly appreciated - or if anyone knows of other similar places that have what The Palms has I'd love to know about them. THanks
Feb 23rd, 2006, 05:53 PM
#28
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You might consider the Westin in St. John. AA has non-stops from Boston to St Thomas. St. John is an easy ferry ride from St. Thomas. The pool at the Westin isn't "over the top", but my 7 and 9 year old boys really enjoyed it. Like you, we spend the summer with the beach right out our front window. My kids really like pools. So do I for all of the reasons you mention. However, they really did enjoy the beaches in St. John. They are used to Northeast Atlantic water. That warm, blue carribean water and the powdery white sand were a treat for them.
I still plan my trips around non-stop flights. All of my kids have ear problems some of the time. The one time that I settled for a 2 flight trip, my kids were really distressed at the thought of getting back on a plane and going through the ear thing a second time. You spend 2 days out of a 7 or 10 day trip travelling. I really try to minimize that part.
I still plan my trips around non-stop flights. All of my kids have ear problems some of the time. The one time that I settled for a 2 flight trip, my kids were really distressed at the thought of getting back on a plane and going through the ear thing a second time. You spend 2 days out of a 7 or 10 day trip travelling. I really try to minimize that part.
Feb 24th, 2006, 05:12 AM
#30
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Hi, I wanted to add my input as an owner of Hyatt Hacienda Del Mar in Puerto Rico because I think it is a great choice for you. The river pool, waterfalls, hot tubs, water slides are spectacular and the best I have seen. It's a great place for you to stay with small children because they are condos with full kitchen facilities so you don't have to take your little ones to three restaurants a day, we always eat breakfast and lunch in the condo and then go out to dinner. The hotel rooms at the Cerramar are closed, but all the facilities are open (restaurants, miniature golf, all pools, bars, casino, etc.). There is a Johnny Rockets on site which is good for kids, also, children's menus at all restaurants. You can take a trolley to the Hyatt Dorado which gives you access to more restaurants, pools and beaches. You can book it through Hyatt Vacation Club. We were last there in November and are kept up to date as owners, the condo part of the resort has been so successful they are planning to turn the entire Cerramar into more condos. My kids think it is truly paradise, they liked it better than Hawaii, Aruba and a cruise!
