| Author |
Message |
    
ashear
Citizen
Username: Ashear
Post Number: 1069
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 3:35 pm: |     |
We are looking for a place to go on vacation this summer that has some kind of activities for our kids (5 and, by summer, almost 3). I know there is club Med but the only two options seem to be Sandpiper, which seems totally unappealing as its all about tennis and golf which interest me not at all, and Ixtapa, which looks interesting, but is far as there are no direct flights from Newark. Any other ideas, maybe in the Carribian or Florida. Thanks. |
bak
Citizen
Username: Bak
Post Number: 442
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 3:47 pm: | |
I've posted our love of FDR in Jamaica in prior posts. I would not, normally, step foot in Jamaica, but this resort knows how to handle families with kids under 10.
Feel free to private-line me for more info, but we've been to FDR twice and are planning another return. Our 5 and 3 year old love it there, and they love their vacation Nanny who escorts them to activities throughout the day.
It's an almost 3-hour direct flight from Newark. Here's their web site, where you'll see their 5-star rating from a family travel magazine and other accolades: http://www.fdrholidays.com/fdr/index.htm
Good luck |
eliz
Citizen
Username: Eliz
Post Number: 735
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 3:55 pm: | |
There is also Club Med Punta Cana which is also a family club - you can fly direct from Newark. |
Yossarian
Citizen
Username: Yossarian
Post Number: 169
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 - 3:55 pm: | |
I've had great results mining these sites for travel with kids info.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/
http://travelwithkids.about.com/mbody.htm
http://www.wheretostay.com/ |
Copperfield
Citizen
Username: Copperfield
Post Number: 24
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, March 18, 2004 - 4:53 pm: | |
Beaches Turks & Caicos might be an option in the summer. Similar to FDR in set-up (nannies available, very kid-oriented).
In high season, it's a complete rip-off in that it's a 3 star resort charging 5 star prices, but in the off-season, it may well be worth it. |
HGB
Citizen
Username: Hgb
Post Number: 48
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 10:10 am: | |
It is interesting that a person "would not, normally, step foot in Jamaica" unless they can get the poor and uneducated to look after their kids.
I am happy that SO/M is such a liberal community. |
bak
Citizen
Username: Bak
Post Number: 446
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 10:19 am: | |
Thanks HGB--that was exactly the thinking behind my original comment. You're the best! Please add me to the HGB Fan Club if there are any events planned. |
Duncan
Citizen
Username: Duncanrogers
Post Number: 1671
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 11:39 am: | |
Well its not so much the setting foot in Jamaica minus "poor and uneducated" sitters. Its that unless you are in a VERy secure resort your odds of being the victim of serious crime are enormous. I personally know of two people who were shot and killed there for their traveller's checks. It is an unsafe island to wander around.
"The truth is always a compound of two half- truths, and you never reach it, because there is always something more to say."-- Tom Stoppard |
algebra2
Citizen
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 1740
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 19, 2004 - 11:45 am: | |
Pre kid we went to a few all inclusives in Jamaica and it was fun. I don't think I'd go back with kid partly because I wouldn't like to be confined to the resort. That might just be us getting older though and not have as much to do with Jamaica.
In response to ashear, I would not choose the Caribbean in the summer. Somewhere I have a book called Top Family Resorts in America - it has some great places in So Carolina, Virginia, Smokey Mountains, Vermont, and the Cape with kid oriented activities. I think they have the book at the library and I'm sure it's still in bookstores. |
lizzyr
Citizen
Username: Lizzyr
Post Number: 96
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 3:36 pm: | |
While I have never been there, I hear wonderful things about Smuggler's Notch in Vermont. They have a Kids' Club (starting with infants) and many family activities. You can also rent a 2 bedroom condo, which in my opinion is the ONLY way to go with kids - cuts down on food bills and permits parents to not go to bed when the kids do. |
Maplewoody
Citizen
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 507
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 3:56 pm: | |
My vote is for...Ocean City, Maryland...
My parents took our family there every summer (sometimes twice) for a week when I was a youngster with my bro. & sis. We loved it! There's a long boardwalk, amusement arcades at the far end, and lots of rides, fun & fishing, swimming in the ocean and things for your kids and you to do! Take the Cape May ferry across to Lewes Delaware, and then drive the rest of the way to OC Md.... Try to stay down closer to the FUN near the far end near the inlet, towards the boardwalk side...There's Assateague Island close by too for a day trip from OC. Your kids will love seeing the wild ponies run free... |
cody
Citizen
Username: Cody
Post Number: 504
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 4:00 pm: | |
South Seas Plantation on Captiva Island in Florida has a wide range of accommodations and activities. It's been quite a while since we've been there, but it was a lovely vacation. Shelling is fabulous, there's neat stuff to do on the island, you can take boat trips to nearby islands and there's the Ding Darling Wildlife Preserve with it's roseate spoonbills if you enjoy birdwatching. |
aneighbor
Citizen
Username: Aneighbor
Post Number: 41
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 9:04 pm: | |
Does anybody know anything about kid friendly hotels/bed and breakfast or things to do at the Outer Banks...toddler age specifically |
Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 2509
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 11:52 pm: | |
In 1998, we went to a resort in the Dominican Republic called Natura Park, also in Punta Cana. It was much cheaper than Club Med, and it was quite nice. We got to ride horses on the beach. I went sailing and scuba diving. There were other activities, too.
In 2002, we went to Bethany Beach, Delaware, which is just a few miles north of Ocean City. It was quiet and somewhat scenic, compared with Ocean City. We took a day trip to Ocean City and the inlet where we saw the wild horses. I thought Bethany Beach was a nice deal, because it was peacefully quiet yet accessible to the tourist-trap types of places. And it was probably less expensive. We rented a house for a week, though a local realtor.
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
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algebra2
Citizen
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 1748
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 10:40 am: | |
Maplewoody -- I'm thinking about doing Ocean City this summer. For the past few summers we've been staying in Watch Hill, RI -- which we love so much, I am worried about doing something different. We are such creatures of habit -- I'm thinking of maybe trying out Ocean City off season perhaps. I have alwasy wanted to go see the wild horses. How long is thr ride down there? |
Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 847
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 10:49 am: | |
3.5 - 4 hour drive. OC is a great vacation place. Tons of things to do for all ages. |
ashear
Citizen
Username: Ashear
Post Number: 1084
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 2:00 pm: | |
aneighbor - funny you should ask. Having started this thread asking about resorts we actually ended up renting a house on the outer banks. We went a number of times pre-kid and, after seeing what it would cost to do a resort vacation with the airfare and all (fdr was particularly breathtaking pricewise), we decided the kids were ready for the drive (we will break it up by stopping at the inlaws in Maryland).
I don't know about hotels or B&B's because we've always rented a house. In the past we've done Avon which is wonderfully quite and beautiful but decided to do Duck this year because it takes about an hour off the drive. If you go a little early, we are doing third week in June, you can save some money and get a great house. We found ours at www.southernshores.com but a google search will reveal a lot of places as will a search of the MOL archive. |
berry festival
Citizen
Username: Berry_festival
Post Number: 34
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 3:21 pm: | |
ashear,
duck is a wonderful place. we used to go their every year. make sure to visit the rundown cafe --it's very kid friendly and a cool place for mom and dad. |
bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 5028
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 6:40 pm: | |
Ocean City is, well, sort of Honky Tonk, with wall to wall condos along the beach. Kids love it because of all the rides and attractions.
We went there a couple of times, but stayed over the border in Fenwick Island, Delaware which is more, well, refined for lack of a better word.
Try the giant waterslide if you dare. My neck still ain't right after that and we were there for the last time several years ago.
It is really wierd because of the change in enviornment. You step over the state line and you are in a different world.
and God, I sound like a snob |
Maplewoody
Citizen
Username: Maplewoody
Post Number: 510
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 7:43 pm: | |
There's Rehobeth Delaware too, right beside Lewes after you get off the ferry.
(Make a reservation for the ferry)
Rehobeth is ALOT smaller than OC, but still a nice place for a family. It's quite Gay friendly too! Have been to Fenwick also to visit... There's also Frontier Town across the bay from OC Md., if you like to camp out....My parents still come down with their motorhome, and boat for 3-4 weeks each summer, and stay there. |
Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 853
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 8:11 pm: | |
Bobk, I have to disagree with you about OC. The cliental ranges from a budget seeking family to a $5500 a week Beach front condo. There are spectacular restaurants and cheap eats all over the island. Kids can run wild at the Board walk while parents sip martinis and watch the sunset over the bay. Try fish tails where the kids play on a bay front playground while you get to sit in swinging chairs. Try Blue Marlins for a hollowed out fried Eggplant filled with Seafood. Take the family to Hoopers for all you can eat crabs. Best of all the jolly trolley takes you everywhere you want to go for $1 a day, no driving. My family takes vacations all over the Caribbean every year (Turks/Cacaos, St. marten, Jamaica, DR) but for the week of July 4th and the last week of summer we’re always in OC.
Stay in Delaware but I’d rather not be confined to 3 restaurants I can walk to and 1 water park.
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