I will be traveling with my family to Provo in March. We have two children ages 4 & 8. I would like to go to Coyoba and Anaconda for dinner. I'm not sure they would welcome the kids. Has anyone had experiences with babysitters and possibly be able to recommend anyone?

Haven't had any experience with Babysitters but most resorts can recommend some. Sometimes the maids will sit for extra cash. Don't know where you are staying but you might check out the Kids Club at Beaches. They do accept outsiders children for a fee. Coyaba is our favorite restaurant on Provo. I personally would pick Magnolia over Anacona ( not Anaconda ). You could stop by Anacona for a drink and dance to the combo on Wed Fri and Sat. KIds woukd probably like Tukt Hut, Barefoot Cafe, Calico Jacks (Music Friday) Latitude 21 and Aqua.

Where are you staying. We stay at the Alexandra and I have had waitresses offer to babysit. I would ask around once you get there. Most resort will set it up for you.

Just adding my $.02 - would you trust your child with a stranger in your hometown? If not, why are you considering doing that in a forein land?

Thank you Howard C. for the tips. You've always got something interesting to say. "A Traveller", I totally agree with your line of thinking. I've only started using one babysitter, one year ago, at home. I was in Provo two years ago, by myself, and really wanted to take my husband to the above mentioned restaurants. I have since found out I can take the kids to Coyoba at 6:00 and am waiting to hear from Anacona. I will also check out Magnolia.

Hi cindgail--not sure where you are staying, but I have always had luck asking at the resort, most often have already "checked out" babysitters--for example, in St. Croix at the Buccaneer, all the women at the front desk were happy to babysit and at Half Moon in Jamaica, the housekeeping staff babysat. As for A_Traveller's point, I, of course, met them during the day at their "day" job and talked to them about their experience, etc. What struck me the most is that many of these women are struggling to make it economically, their rate is often a ridiculously low amount of money (in Jamaica it was $4/hour--I live in a city so pay at least $10) so my $30-40 (I paid my "home" rate) really meant something compared to some of my sitters at home!

Hope this helps,

Mary

P.S. All my experiences have been positive.

Thanks Mary. That's a good idea. I'm not sure where we're staying yet.

Anacona/ Grace Bay Club used to have a policy of no children under 12 I believe but that may have changed with the new management. Found Anacona to be inconsistent with rather small protions at a big price--Lovely romantic setting though. I would get a baby sitter , a movie and pizza for the kids and go to Coyaba later. You'll be paying a lot for a kids meal which they won't appreciate. Although the prep cooks and one chef are there at 6 PM the executive Chef Paul Newman usually doesn't arrive till then. Atmosphere is nicer when it's darker

We stayed at Coral Gardens last year with our 16 year old son.

We went to Coyaba and there was nothing on the menu that appealed to him. He only had an appetizer so after we finished our meal - very nice - we took him to the beach bar where he ordered a bacon sandwich and a milkshake

Coyaba really doesn't cater to children although there was a family there and the children were very well behaved - especially the baby who was breastfed through most of the meal, the husband was chopping up his son's meal and also his wife's

I'd book a babysitter through the hotel, you can get a 'feel' for the babysitter, otherwise it's going to be an expensive meal that (as Howard says) they won't appreciate.