Desperatly Seeking a Vacation

Hi! Our family went 2 places I would recommend for large families. One is in Punta Cana called Melia Caribe Tropicale. When you speak with the travel agent, tell him or her that you want a room(s) or suite's facing the kids pool on the family side of the resort (a must). There is also a kids club if parents want some alone time on the beach. There are many cool things to do for families both in and outside of the compound and lots of kid-oriented shows in the evening. They have 8 restaurants and food is always available anytime during the day. The beaches are some of the most beautiful in the world. The manager's name is Julio Paulino if you book there and want to have a personal conversation with him about all of your requirements. By the way, the resort has a fantastic gym and spa!!!!!

The second resort that is very kid-oriented is in Mexico just below the really crowded part of Cancun. It is called Moon Palace Resort and Golf. The pools for the kids are great and there are many of them. There are always bands playing and cookouts going on. If you have someone in the family who loves golf, stay here! Also, a day trip to the Mayan ruins is a must and fun for families!

Here are the major differences between Punta Cana and Mexico:

Punta Cana is a little more "laid back" and caters more to Europeans where Mexico caters more to Americans. You will see more international families in Punta Cana. Punta Cana is a little less expensive but, as more and more people discover it, the prices will become more comparable. I still think the beaches in Punta Cana are outstanding so I would give this an edge over Mexico.

Feel free to write back if you have any questions.

D.

I have to second the rave reviews about Punta Cana. My sister-in-law and her family spent a week there in July and plan on returning next year. They LOVED it! It is indeed very international, and b/c everything is included, it's very easy to kick back and enjoy immediately.

I highly recommend the Beaches family resort in the Turks & Caicos. There are a few in Jamaica but I'm not familiar with them. We took our then 10 month old son to the all-inclusive resort. There are activities for children as young as 4 months and as old as 18 years. There really is something for everyone and there are no additional fees (except for night time babysitting). The kids have their own swimming pool with plenty of nannies available to watch them. There are Sesame Street characters that read, dance and participate in stage shows. You have the option of leaving your children the whole or half day (you have to pick them up at lunch though). I was able to go to the spa, while my husband snorkled and our son played with the other children at the on-site daycare. On the last day of the trip our son kept running back to hug his favorite nanny- we plan to return next year with our 3 year old and 6 month old baby

not sure if an owner of a swimming pool business would want to swim on vacation or not, but Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg is fun. it's a water park/hotel/spa...everything you need is on site and they have camps for kids if you want some adult only time. here is a link...http://www.greatwolf.com/LandingPage/Williamsburg.Gen.1.a...#
good luck!

My husband went to Punta Cana with some friends when they graduated from College, of course they were super young fresh out of college annd looking to party, I remember that he said it was soooo boring because there were only older couples and families LOL! now that we have two kids and are a bit older he thinks it's perfect for us to go and visit! He said the beaches are beautiful and the food was great. He went on an all inclusive plan so all of his meals and some drinks were included, so I think that's the way to go an all inclusive seems to save money on eating out on restaurants.
Have fun in whatever destination you choose!

I've never been on one myself, but I hear the Disney Cruises are great for families!

Have you tried looking at the Harborside Resort at Atlantis? (harborsideresort.com) It is right next to Atlantis and you get to use all the amenities there. They have one, two, and three bedrooms and a full kitchen, perfect for families who don't want to eat out at every meal. We are also a family of six and it was perfect for us. There is plenty for the little ones to do. We also love Cancun. We have not been there with kids but are planning a trip in the late winter.