Picks & tips for traveling with tykes...
Lancaster travel agent Amy McHugh of Dream Makers Vacation Services shares her favorite resorts for families, plus must-pack items for every vacation
“Beaches Turks & Caicos is the best for families,” saysAmy McHugh, the owner of the award-winning Lancaster-based travel agency Dream Makers Vacation Services and mother of four, who flies with her family to the Caribbean, Florida and elsewhere several times a year. "We’ve been everywhere.” She and her family love it so much, in fact, that they’ve vacationed there eight times.
For starters, the tropical resort is situated on what McHugh calls one of the top 10 beaches in the world. Next, traveling there is a breeze, with nonstop flights from the Philadelphia, JFK and Newark airports. The resort itself is just 10 minutes from the airport.
And once you arrive? “It ticks off all the boxes,” McHugh says. “It has everything.”
The all-inclusive resort offers activities and programs for kids and teens, as well as childcare for children ages 4 weeks and up in a secure area supervised by certified nannies. Children can spend time at the kids’ camp while their parents spend some alone time relaxing on the beach or getting pampered at the spa. For together time, families can take a tour of the islands or splash around in the pirate-themed waterpark.
Azul Beach Resort; Puerto Morelos, Mexico
This Mexican beach spot is a real gem, McHugh says. The all-inclusive boutique resort is located in Cancun and features smooth, pristine beaches, gourmet food and lots of activities for children. Even the resort’s tagline proclaims that it’s “designed for families.”
The resort partners with Fisher Price, McHugh says, so kids can borrow an array of toys during their stay. The rooms include DVD libraries, snacks and other amenities.
The greatest part of Azul Beach, McHugh says, is the level of service, including special touches such as butlers who bring picnic lunches, sunscreen or magazines to you on the beach.
“It’s very easy to fly to, and Mexico is a lot cheaper [than other resort locations],” says McHugh. “It’s very safe. They have connecting rooms, which is really nice. They really excel at personalizing things.”
The Reunion Resort (Orlando, Florida)
If you’re going to do Disney, McHugh says, Reunion Resort is the way to do it.
One of the surprising perks about Reunion is that it’s not right next to the theme parks; instead, it’s located about 6 miles away.
Going to Disney World can be stressful for families, says McHugh, so the distance offers a bit of a respite from the craziness while still being close enough to travel to easily.
“It's close to Disney,” she says, “but it’s also worlds away.”
Reunion is actually a gated community of houses and villas, and not being smushed into a cramped hotel room for a week is a huge plus, in McHugh’s book. “It’s better for families to [be able to] spread out,” McHugh says.
Reunion, while not all-inclusive, offers all of the comforts of home, including full, stocked kitchens, laundry rooms, multiple bed and bathrooms, and private patios and pools.
Although the big draw to Reunion is certainly the Magic Kingdom, there’s plenty to do at the resort itself, with its three golf courses, waterpark, kids’ camp, spa, fitness center (with yoga and water-fitness classes), and tennis courts (lessons are available).
A stay at Reunion is a vacation all by itself, McHugh says, adding, “Kids can go to Disney, but parents don’t come home feeling like they need another week off.”
What to Pack:
Sure, you know to pack clothes, a swimsuit and your toothbrush, but did you remember the laptop charger? How about your family’s passports and birth certificates?
Dream Makers Vacation Services provides its clients with a (very) detailed packing list. Here are some items you may not think to bring until it’s too late:
• rechargeable batteries of all sizes and a battery charger
• power cords and USB cables, for phones, laptops, iPads, etc.
• plastic rain ponchos and umbrellas
• dress-up clothes for a nice dinner out
• trash bag for dirty laundry (plus a stain stick and safety pins for clothing mishaps)
• zip-lock bags (handy containers for snacks, seashells, coins, retainers, wipes, leakable shampoos and other liquids, and all sorts of other small items)
• sunscreen, sun hats and aloe gel
• earplugs (for sleeping and swimming)
• first-aid supplies and medication for swimmer’s ear, ear infections, earaches, toothaches, headaches, allergies, colds, and upset stomachs
• a corkscrew/bottle opener
• snacks and bottled water or juice
