alicat68

Hello -

We are planning a vacation for early April of this year. We will be traveling with our 2 young children (aged 3 and 5 months), as well as our parents and siblings.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a good family-friendly resort? We can go anywhere, but are thinking south florida (Ft lauderdale?). We would like to be on the beach, with activities for the kids (pool, playground, etc), and if they offered babysitting services at the hotel that would be a bonus.

Any advice or suggestions are welcome - thank-you!

Ali

LLindaC

I do believe it will be Spring Break in FLL and while most college students will be there in march it maty still be pretty busy in Aprilwith high school families, as will the beaches in Destin and panhandle area. Just for the heck of it, I went to Southwest.com and plugged in FLL from Columbus. The cheapest flights were over 300 each.Are you driving? If you manage to get a hotel/resort anywhere you'll be lucky and probably paying a lot. You waited rather late, too. If you can find anything in St Pete, I think it would be really easy for a family vacation. Getting around there is easy; trolley goes along the main drag and restaurants/attractions are close at hand. Best of luck!

Ike

Alicat68 my best friend's youngest daughter is named Alex and he calls her Alicat. I'm from MS but I have been to Destin, FL probably 25/30 times. The San Destin Hilton has one of the finest resorts for families I have been to around FL in my life. I also really like the Ritz Carlton, Amelia, Island, FL which has a great resort with good food, rooms, service and a wonderful kids program. But the Hilton is just as nice. Their rooms are large and have a small kitchen as well as a set of bunk beds for more children. My wife takes our grand daughter every year. There's plenty for the parents as well as kids. Destin is a beautiful place and the beach is right out the door of the Hilton. The water there is as pretty as anywhere in the U. S. and there's plenty for families to do in Destin, such as shopping, water slides, movie theaters, etc.

http://www.sandestinbeachhilton.com/

http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Proper...nd/Default.htm

I like the RC because it has less tourism, fewer visitors and lots of peace and quiet. The kids program there is outstanding though. I like the little town close by. Destin is highly populated in the summer and busy. Go before school is out or after Labor Day for peace. Good luck.

amwosu

I agree with Llinda that you will be in the thick of h.s. spring break. The first week of April will mean large crowds, high priced air and hotels, and lack of choices in lodging and flight times. If you can go two weeks later you will find better deals.

I like the Gulf Coast beaches in the Tampa or Sarasota area such as Siesta Key (the park at the public beach has playground facilities) or even Holmes Beach on Ann Maria Island as the water is calmer and the sand is finer and whiter (and therefore cooler to the touch).

If flying, you might check to see which beaches you can access via a direct flight vs those that require connections. From the Midwest you can usually fly direct to Tampa then drive to Sarasota area beaches which are only about an hour away.

kate12

The Naples Beach Club in Naples would fit the bill.
also The Colony on Longboat Key off Sarasota.

ILuvLexie

Disney has a Vero Beach resort that your children may enjoy.

Ike

Spring break around Destin is in March. April is clear...........