Vacations Blog

While hotels across the nation are adding amenities and facilities for family travelers, the problem in Orlando is that the hotels are too kid-friendly. They’ve grown so used to catering to kids and families that these Orlando hotels have become attractions in their own right.

Who needs Disney World when you have the Nickelodeon Family Suites with bunk beds, video games, and Spongebob Squarepants on the walls to keep you company in-room. The Nick hotel, as it is known, features two massive pool complexes with a 4 story water tower, a 400 gallon dump tank, seven slides, water jets, climbing nets, themed parties, a video arcade, and a host of other kiddie attractions. And the newest thing they recently added is the 4D theate, where wind, water, bubbles, and scents await you with Spongebob for a virtual sliming.

Then there’s Universal’s Hard Rock Hotel, which sits in the middle of Universal’s resort attractions, and also has its own attractions. So that’s further blurring the line between hotels and kiddie attractions. I mean, they have this gigantic 12,000 sq ft palm lined swimming pool (BTW, there was a bear found hanging around the pool area a few weeks back) with its own sand beach and underwater stereo, interactive fountains, and a 260-foot pool slide. What’s more, there’s a water taxi for hotel guests called the Universal Express which takes you straight through to the other attractions and rides, bypassing the lines.

And don’t even get me started on the Walt Disney World Resort hotels. I could go on listing all the major family hotels and the kiddie attractions they offer, but I think you get the drift. Orlando is pied pipering kids, and they get addicted to this fantasyland world that these resorts and theme parks have created. What ever happened to the good old American family roadtrip?

Photo copyrights – Hard Rock Cafe International, Inc.

Before we start naming names, answer  these two questions:

1. What’s a family vacation need that ‘other’ vacations don’t?

2. What’s a family friendly hotel got that a cookie cutter hotel does not?

Answer these, and you’ll be left with a handful of suitable destinations, and at most 1 or 2 good hotels at each of these destinations which you can deem  good enough for the sacred family vacation.

If you’re wondering what the heck this has to do with anything, consider why exactly the Dunes Village Resort in Myrtle Beach, SC has been voted by TripAdvisor users as the most family friendly bargain hotel in the entire nation.

That is because:

1. The resort is located in an extremely family friendly location. Myrtle Beach has about 14 million annual visitors who tend to come with family, has miles and miles of sandy beaches, entertainment, shopping, restaurants, theater, cruises, scuba diving and other water sports, and all sorts of family friendly activities centered around the Grand Strand. Not to mention hot new theme parks like Hard Rock Park.

2. The Dunes Village Resort is a mini-attraction all by itself, with an indoor water park, including a 250 ft long river water ride, a massive swimming pool with water volleyball and basketball, a variety of hot tubs, kiddies’ wet deck with Silly Submarine and a kiddies’ play pool offering a delightful selection of games and slides.

3. The resort offers bargain basement prices, with 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom suites for the entire family at rates starting from $87 (plus taxes). And these are oceanfront ocean view suites for the full family we’re talking about. That’s cheap even compared to other Myrtle Beach hotels.

What all this means is that you can take a family vacation which you can brag about at the office cooler when you get back, and you can do this on a decent budget. While on vacation, you can leave the kids having fun under adult supervision inside the resort, while you hit the shops, or snooze on the beach or do whatever it is you want to do on vacation. Plus, all of you can enjoy the thrills and rides like the hair-raising Led Zeppelin ride at Hard Rock Park. And that’s what a family vacation is all about – you love it, your kids love it, you all remember the shared memories and it doesn’t break the bank.

Info: 5200 North Ocean Blvd. Myrtle Beach SC 29577; (877) 828-2237; www.dunesvillage.com/ ; Photo copyrights – Dunes Village Resort Myrtle Beach

Planning a beach vacation with the kids? Finding a resort or hotel with good childcare, either in the form of day camps or individual programs, is a good first step toward ensuring the whole family has a great time.

Contact the director of the kids’ programs at your hotel or resort before you go on the trip and ask them any questions you may have. The best tip is to ask the same sort of questions you would ask of a childcare provider at home. The following are a few issues that you may want to discuss.

Day Camps vs. Specialized Programs

Some hotels offer day camps for younger guests, but many all-inclusive resorts offer deeper programs involving day hikes and visits to area attractions. Decide which of these options you and your children are most comfortable with, and select your hotel or resort accordingly. For example, the Club Med Sandpiper in Florida has separate programs and activities for children of different ages. If you’re traveling in Southern California, we’d suggest taking at look at SanDiego.org’s site, which has some great ideas for family-friendly beach hotels, including the La Costa Resort and Spa.

Hours and Flexibility

Find out if your child be allowed to leave and rejoin the kids’ programs as he or she wishes. Some children will want to spend part of their day with you and return to the program later on in the day. Also, find out what the evening childcare options are, in case you want to get away for an romantic evening out.

Program Size and Age Groups

How many kids will be participating in the day camp or program? If only a few children show up, will the program still take place? What are the ages of the kids participating and will the children be divided into groups accordingly?

Variety of Activities

Ask if your kids be interacting with other kids their age inside a designated playroom or will they be out exploring, swimming, and having adventures. The best kid-friendly beach resorts provide a variety of interesting programs for youngsters which go far beyond simply babysitting your children. Your kids should have their own special vacation memories to take home with them.

Ratio of Kids to Caregivers

Are you concerned about the safety of leaving your child alone with other adult supervision? Ensuring that your child receives ample adult supervision is very important. As Babycenter.com reports, an adult-to-child ratio of 1-to-4 is necessary for infants, while the ratio is 1-to-6 for two- to six-year-olds. Be sure to ask hard questions of the resort or hotel that you choose.

Other Helpful Resources:

• About.com: Top 10 Hotels and Resorts for Family Vacations
• TinyTravelers.net