Family Vacation Qs

[jewels]

I'm trying to convince MH we need a family vacation.
  He is not one that ever really thinks about going away and I am one who feels like I need a trip often, so if I don't push/plan, it doesn't happen.  I'd like to get the kids on a schedule of going away fairly regularly. Timing is limited since he works for himself so he refuses to go during any busy time.  Right now I am thinking either late July, late August, or November (there is a week in early November when schools in NJ close for 2 days so I'd pull S out of school for just a few days)


Has anyone done the Nickelodeon all inclusive in Dominican? There are some good sales going on, and it has pretty good reviews.


If not, any other suggestions?  I do not want to do Disney till B is 4 or 5 so not Disney.  Preferably somewhere easily accessible from the NY area.  

Help me plan my life!

[tgrimes]

Do y'all like Sesame street?

sesameplace.com/philadelphia/

[jewels]

tgrimes, We have been there (it's super fun) and will be going again this summer when MH's family visits from Germany. It's like 1 hour away so it's perfect for a day trip... I'm looking for somewhere to go to for 5-7 days, preferably where there is an option for some pampering for me while we are there

[tgrimes]

Mar 5, 2019 13:42:49 GMT -6 jewels said:

tgrimes , We have been there (it's super fun) and will be going again this summer when MH's family visits from Germany. It's like 1 hour away so it's perfect for a day trip... I'm looking for somewhere to go to for 5-7 days, preferably where there is an option for some pampering for me while we are there

Then I'd go to the dominican.  Lol.

[tgrimes]

Have you ever looked at cruises leaving from NY?

[jewels]

Mar 5, 2019 13:45:19 GMT -6 tgrimes said:

Have you ever looked at cruises leaving from NY?

I have looked into it.  I actually started today researching Disney cruises and that let me to the Nickelodeon resort.  I'm a little nervous about S feeling seasick - he gets funny on some rides, and if he feels weird even for a minute, I feel like he wouldn't be able to get out of his head about it.  I think I'd rather a resort with tons of options or an area with tons to do (we did Hilton Head a few years ago and where we stayed didn't have much, but the area we were in was great for kids). 

[jewels]

I'm tagging Cher and sweetp in here b/c I know they travel with the kids a ton.

Some stuff I didn't put in the first post - middle of the road budget, not southeast Florida (we have tons of family there so it turns into all family time and not relaxing time)

I want to spend a majority of the time w/ the kids but would be open to kids club etc for some kid free time.

[lfig]

jewels we did Cozumel with S when she was 1 and 3. Here is where we stayed...

www.barcelo.com/en-us/allegro-hotels/hotels/mexico/cozumel/allegro-cozumel/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=my_business&utm_content=h388

It’s all inclusive and has a fabulous kid’s area for swimming. They have a kids club with activities and babysitting if desired. We did not utilize it at all because of S’s seizures/lack of communication abilities, I wasn’t comfortable leaving her. But would totally do it now if we went back. They have a spa on site too! I believe peachsmama went to the same place on vacation about a year ago. But it was a pretty affordable trip. Unlike our trip to Fiji which broke the bank.

[wedding]

Mar 5, 2019 14:04:47 GMT -6 jewels said:

I'm tagging Cher and sweetp in here b/c I know they travel with the kids a ton.

Some stuff I didn't put in the first post - middle of the road budget, not southeast Florida (we have tons of family there so it turns into all family time and not relaxing time)

I want to spend a majority of the time w/ the kids but would be open to kids club etc for some kid free time.

I think you mean SweetPotato who also has an N13, right?

[Cher]

brux has been to the DR resort.

[Cher]

Bermuda is a really quick flight from NY. It also has the best weather in the summer.

[Cher]

You can do Caribbean but you do risk hurricane season in the summer. Florida too, though.

[brux]

We spent a week at the Nick Resort in Dec 2017. DS was 4, nearly 5. And he was really into Paw Patrol, Dora, getting into the Ninja Turtles, etc. How old are your kid/kids? I'll tailor my opinion accordingly.

We really enjoyed our trip there. I can give you as much or as little info about how we spent our days, nights, how we ate and drank.

One thing to note is that the kids club takes kids 4-12. I think there is some options for kids younger than 4, but it might be limited hours when parents have to stay with the kids and/or you hire a babysitter to take your 3 yo to the kids club.

[brux]

If your kid/kids are younger than 4, we did two vacations in a row at Paradisus La Esmeralda in Playa Del Carmen. When DS was nearly 3 and nearly 4. It was GREAT for a family vacation with a kid that age and older, too.

Let me know if you want my detailed recap on that one too.

[brux]

oh lol. I see I'm on an N13 board. so...you have at least one kid who is 5.5.

[jewels]

Mar 5, 2019 14:25:43 GMT -6 wedding said:

Mar 5, 2019 14:04:47 GMT -6 jewels said:

I'm tagging Cher and sweetp in here b/c I know they travel with the kids a ton.

Some stuff I didn't put in the first post - middle of the road budget, not southeast Florida (we have tons of family there so it turns into all family time and not relaxing time)

I want to spend a majority of the time w/ the kids but would be open to kids club etc for some kid free time.

I think you mean SweetPotato who also has an N13, right?

yes that's what I meant, thank you

[jewels]

brux, My N13 is 5.5 (obviously) - probably 6 when we travel and my second boy is 2.5 - he'll be 3 in August. But he's a very young 2.5 who probably wouldn't be ok in a kids club without me anyway.

I don't so much need a detailed recap, more just was it worth it, enjoyable for adults as well as kids, pointers, etc. I'll take them on both places

[nam2013]

jewels maybe not for this trip, but Cooperstown is close by and is really fun for a few days/short week. There’s a lake you can go swimming in, a cute living museum, a brewery, a cider mill where you can feed the ducks & drink the best apple juice slushies ever! It’s also pretty to drive around .

ETA oh and of course Cooperstown itself is really fun! We went there just the two of us, when ds was 20mo and will be going this summer.

[jewels]

Cher, I'll check out bermuda if we go in July or August. November I'd imagine it's not that warm there. Any great places to stay?

[jewels]

Mar 5, 2019 15:40:04 GMT -6 nam2013 said:

jewels maybe not for this trip, but Cooperstown is close by and is really fun for a few days/short week. There’s a lake you can go swimming in, a cute living museum, a brewery, a cider mill where you can feed the ducks & the best apple juice slushies ever! It’s also pretty to drive around .

ETA oh and of course Cooperstown itself is really fun! We went there just the two of us, when ds was 20mo and will be going this summer.

Thanks! We did Cooperstown and a bunch of the Caverns around there years ago (prekids) but now we are looking for of a longer/nicer vacation

[jewels]

lfig, I have the window open for that place, I'll take a look at it!

[snoopmommymom]

Mar 5, 2019 14:58:20 GMT -6 brux said:

If your kid/kids are younger than 4, we did two vacations in a row at Paradisus La Esmeralda in Playa Del Carmen. When DS was nearly 3 and nearly 4. It was GREAT for a family vacation with a kid that age and older, too.

Let me know if you want my detailed recap on that one too.

I went here based on brux’s recommendation last April. We loved the resort, pools, and restaurants. However, the beach was super smelly during the month we went.

[brux]

Mar 5, 2019 15:40:02 GMT -6 jewels said:

brux , My N13 is 5.5 (obviously) - probably 6 when we travel and my second boy is 2.5 - he'll be 3 in August. But he's a very young 2.5 who probably wouldn't be ok in a kids club without me anyway.

I don't so much need a detailed recap, more just was it worth it, enjoyable for adults as well as kids, pointers, etc. I'll take them on both places

Perfect!  In general, H and I enjoy all inclusive hotels that have decent to good food.  We're not all that picky or high maintenance.

I'll respond in my next post.

[brux]

Mar 5, 2019 15:51:55 GMT -6 snoopmommymom said:

Mar 5, 2019 14:58:20 GMT -6 brux said:

If your kid/kids are younger than 4, we did two vacations in a row at Paradisus La Esmeralda in Playa Del Carmen. When DS was nearly 3 and nearly 4. It was GREAT for a family vacation with a kid that age and older, too.

Let me know if you want my detailed recap on that one too.

I went here based on brux ’s recommendation last April. We loved the resort, pools, and restaurants. However, the beach was super smelly during the month we went.

truth.  we aren't beach people, or more accurately, I don't care if the beach sucks as long as the pools/resorts are good.

[brux]

Paradisus La Esmeralda
Lots of options for large one bedroom suites. Perfect for families. Main buffet is large and good. Other restaurants range from meh to really good, but you need reservations for everything expect the buffet. The hotel's concierge level helps you get dates/times better than you can yourself. The kids club takes even babies, but my kid wouldn't be left there, so I get it. There is a kids waterslide pirate ship in the main pool area and we literally spent hours there each day. Since we've been there, they've also built a water park/splash pad that would be a hit with your N13.

Beach is expansive, can be seaweedy, but a bit of a hike from the rooms, and the ocean views are blocked by mangroves. So we didn't visit the beach much and stuck with the pools.

We usually watched some/part of their evening entertainment, but the space where they do it can be crowded, so having a good post-dinner evening can take a little strategy.

We went two years in a row because we felt it was really good value for the level of food/drinks/amenities and also a great mix of kid-friendly with enough relaxation for H and I too. Got the best price via Costco Travel here.

Nick Resort in Punta Cana
Newer than Paradisus, smaller rooms but you can still get a room where the bedroom closes off from the living room if you want to stay up after kids go to sleep. I thought they did a good job of peppering in kid friendly colors and designs, but it's not in your face. Buffet was really good and we ate most meals there. Tried a lot of the other restaurants, and for those, we preferred Paradisus. But truly, I still gained 5 pounds so it wasn't all that bad.

The big feature is the Nick Water Park It's a splash pad style water climber with slides. It's a 15-20 minute walk from the rooms because the whole resort is laid out in a narrow tract radiating away from the ocean. There are golf carts that will take you between the rooms and the water park, but we usually walked. It just means that you'll get your steps in. Water park was also next door to the kids club and my son enjoyed a couple solo visits there. There are also free character meet & greets near the water park, and a handful of other kid-friendly activities throughout each day.

Fun kid-friendly evening show most nights. All in all, we recommend it to anyone who asks and we had a lovely time there.

For us, when we went, it was a few hundred total $ more expensive than Paradisus. I wouldn't pay significantly more than Paradisus prices for it, though. Like, it's good, but not $10k good, you know?

[Cher]

Mar 5, 2019 15:41:13 GMT -6 jewels said:

Cher, I'll check out bermuda if we go in July or August. November I'd imagine it's not that warm there. Any great places to stay?

Fairmont Southampton. SO good for kids. They eat free, gorgeous gentle beach, kids pool, there’s like ten restaurants at the hotel so you don’t need to leave if you don’t want to but if you do, there’s a ferry from the hotel to town so you don’t need to figure out car seats.

[jewels]

Thank you Cher brux for your recommendations. I’ll take a look and hopefully get MH to commit to a date!

[jewels]

So I'm resurrecting this thread as I am finally ready to book.

I am 99% sure I have decided on the Paradisus La Esmeralda in Playa Del Carmen that brux and snoopmommymom stayed at. I was looking last week and now the prices are almost 1K cheaper for the week we are going. 1 Question though... I am looking at the 1 bedroom master suite and debating between the swim up and not swim up. What did you guys do? Did the kids like the swim up? Or was it annoying to have the water come up to your room? Also, silly question, but is there a separate entrance to the bedroom? I'm thinking if 1 of us wants to sneak out for a drink or something while the kids are asleep.

any other tips from those who went there?

So excited...

[brux]

May 1, 2019 10:02:44 GMT -6 jewels said:

So I'm resurrecting this thread as I am finally ready to book.

I am 99% sure I have decided on the Paradisus La Esmeralda in Playa Del Carmen that brux and snoopmommymom stayed at. I was looking last week and now the prices are almost 1K cheaper for the week we are going. 1 Question though... I am looking at the 1 bedroom master suite and debating between the swim up and not swim up. What did you guys do? Did the kids like the swim up? Or was it annoying to have the water come up to your room? Also, silly question, but is there a separate entrance to the bedroom? I'm thinking if 1 of us wants to sneak out for a drink or something while the kids are asleep.

any other tips from those who went there?

So excited...

First of all, if you're a Costco member, look for packages there.  I just priced this hotel out for my BFF over the weekend and she booked it for December.  The costco packages include airfare, hotel, shuttle service, and a costco cash back card.  Plus, IIRC, they offer payment plans for no additional cost.

1 bedroom master suite is the way to go.  The room is massive.  It has a dining room and living room with a door that closes off the bedroom.  You can access the bathroom from both the dining/living area and the bedroom (via a big closet with the tub), so it's a perfect set up for hanging out in one area after kids are asleep.  

Both times I've been we did swim up, but never used it all that much.  The primary reason I didn't use it is because the swim-up pools don't connect to the main pool, so practically speaking, you can go out your patio to the swim-up section, swim across it, then have to climb out to walk over to the main pools.  But, it's pretty and nice and I did float around in there from time to time.

The other feature to consider is the Family Concierge feature.  When I priced it out for my friend, it as about $350 more for the week.  H and I agree that it's worth that.  The concierge butler person can probably do a ton of stuff for you, but we used them primarily to make dinner reservations for us, which was a total PITA DIY effort the year we didn't have concierge.  Our butler also did some fun kid things like an in-room treasure hunt and a balloon filled hot tub bubble bath that DS really enjoyed.  They give you a phone to be able to call your concierge person if you need anything, which is also nice.

[brux]

Other tips off the top of my head...

There are employees who are there to basically get you to buy into their time share. They tend to be really helpful and friendly and offer to get you things like reservations. I think the hotel check-in process makes you think you need to meet up with those people to make restaurant reservations, but that's not the case. They'll call your room or track you down. They also hang out around the restaurant areas. So beware, unless you want to sit through a two hour sales pitch. They're friendly and take no for an answer, but the hard part is not knowing you're in a sales pitch. Basically we just "thanks but no thanks, we don't need anything." and kept it moving.