Vacation Ideas for Winter-Weary Families [Travel]
Ready for warm weather? This winter, the travel industry
makes it easy to soak up the sun. Here are fantastic heat
retreats to help you plan the right vacation for all family
members, no matter what their interests.
Affordable Adventures, Cozumel
Rated by Money Magazine as a top winter destination,
Cozumel, Mexico is the place for families searching for a
getaway that's diverse and well-priced. This cozy island sits
along the largest coral reef network in the Western Hemisphere
- visitors enjoy snorkeling, diving and swimming year-round. On
land, families can explore ancient ruins; take jeep, ATV and
horseback tours; hike through national preserves, and more.
Hotels and resorts welcome families with packages that include
dive lessons for children, snorkeling and massages. Family
packages begin as low as $115 per night per adult, and kids
stay free. For more information visit Cozumel online at
www.islacozumel.com.mx.
At Home When Away
If you want plenty of space for family and friends, treat
yourself to a villa with Marriott Vacation Club International
(MVCI). These family-friendly accommodations have one to three
bedrooms, full kitchens, separate living and dining areas,
private balconies, washer/dryers and more. MVCI resorts are
located any place families want to travel, with resorts in warm
weather destinations from Florida and Hawaii to Aruba and Costa
del Sol. There are kids' clubs and activities for all family
members: snorkeling, golf, spa and theme parks, just to name a
few. Travelers can rent spacious villas on a nightly basis. For
yearly travelers, vacation ownership can be a smart choice
because of the flexibility. Owners can exchange their weeks and
travel to top destinations worldwide. For information, call
(800) 845-5279 or visit
www.marriottvacationclub.com.
Best Surf 'N Turf, Panama City Beach
On Florida's northwest coast, Panama City Beach beckons
with sugary, white sand beaches and the emerald green waters of
the Gulf of Mexico. This classic beach town is heralded as a
Best U.S. Beach destination by The Travel Channel, Southern
Living Magazine, and others. The beaches, lakes, waterways and
bays offer countless opportunities for year-round water sports,
from snorkeling, surfing and diving to sailing, kayaking and
fishing. On land, there are championship golf courses, hiking
and biking trails, water parks, roller coasters and more.
Winter packages start as low as $79 per night per adult, and
kids stay free at many hotels. Visit online
www.thebeachloversbeach.com.
Paradise Found, Caribbean and Mexico
Various Marriott and Renaissance Caribbean and Mexico
Resorts welcome families with "Discovery Adventures." This new
activities program takes children and parents on cultural
explorations of the world around them, examining shells as
beach archaeologists, experimenting with centrifugal motion as
scientists, following the moon's phases as astronomers and
more. When vacations are done, "Discovery" booklets, with space
for journal entries and scrap-booking, make invaluable
keepsakes. Resorts are located in Aruba, Cancun, Curacao,
Puerto Vallarta, St. Kitts and St. Thomas. Check out the "Total
Escape!" inclusive packages, with rates starting as low as $250
per room per night at select resorts. Call (800) 223-6388 or
visit
www.totalescapebymarriott.com.
Hole-in-One Family Travel, Orlando
Visit the theme parks or hit the links. Whatever your
family is interested in, you're covered at the Omni Orlando
Resort at ChampionsGate, Florida's new luxury golf destination
resort. The Mediterranean-style, 730-room property is just a
few miles from Walt Disney World Resort. At Omni Orlando,
grown-ups rejuvenate at the 10,000 square-foot, European-style
spa. Kids spend the afternoon plunging down the two-story water
slide and tubing down the 850-foot lazy river. ChampionsGate is
home to the world headquarters of the internationally acclaimed
David Leadbetter Golf Academy and two par-72, championship
courses designed by golf great Greg Norman. For information,
visit
www.omniorlandoresort.com or
call (800) THE-OMNI.
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