We recently spent a long weekend at Embassy Suites by Hilton St Augustine Beach Oceanfront Resort and loved our stay. The oceanfront hotel opened in December 2018 and looks like a brand-new property. It’s modern yet comfortable and the staff is attentive and friendly. There is great signage with social distancing and mask requirements and the hotel ensures Hilton’s CleanStay cleanliness protocols are adhered to.
The resort offers gorgeous views of St. Augustine Beach and spectacular sunrises (see photo below) and is mere steps away from the sand. Old Town St Augustine and popular attractions like Castillo de San Marcos are easily accessed, 10 minutes away.
Sunrise on the Hotel Beach
Embassy Suites St Augustine Beach Oceanfront Resort would be appropriate for couples’ getaways, family vacations and even meetings and events as it provides over 25,000 square feet of meetings space.
Hotel exterior from the pool area
Accommodations
The resort features 175 guest studios and suites. There are even suites with bunkbeds for the ideal family accommodations. We stayed in a 2-room suite with partial ocean views. Our suite had a balcony with chairs that were perfect for reading my book and relaxing.
The hotel is working on an expansion with the addition of a new building which will house 44 new rooms on the north side of the property. While there was construction while we were there, it was contained and didn’t bother us and wasn’t loud. The project is expected to be completed by June 2021.
Amenities
As is true of Embassy Suites properties, this resort offers free breakfast and complimentary evening socials. The hotel offers valet parking with in and out privileges for $28 a day.
Seating at Castaway Cantina
The property features a great ocean-facing outdoor pool, a hot tub, a fitness center and a business center.
The expansive lobby is light and airy and provides comfortable couches and seating. There are even firepits with seating in a space between the lobby and the pool area where we sat in the evening and relaxed.
Hotel lobby
Food and Beverage
The hotel showcases several food and beverage options.
Harvest & Reel – this modern and inviting restaurant specializes in farm-to-table dining and in fresh seafood. It’s an open kitchen concept and popular with guests of the hotel and with locals. The space is used for the complimentary breakfast in the mornings.
Rhum Bar – this is the lobby bar and, as the name implies, it features a variety of rum-based drinks and other tasty libations. It has indoor and outdoor seating.
Firepits near Rhum Bar
Castaway Cantina – this is a combination of pool bar and an outdoor Latin-inspired dining venue. We enjoyed the setting with a long bar area and with table seating when we had lunch a couple days. There is also poolside service and we tried several frozen cocktails and some local beers.
Drinks at Castaway Cantina
Provisions of Ponce – the convenience market is open 24/7 and provides an array of sundries, food items and beer and wine.
Starbucks Coffee Bar – the hotel offers a full-service Starbucks adjacent to the lobby with all the favorites.
Location
Embassy Suites St Augustine Beach Oceanfront Resort is located at 300 A1A Beach Boulevard, St Augustine, Florida 32080, USA. Less than 10 miles from St Augustine Airport, 57 miles from Jacksonville International Airport and 45 miles from Daytona Beach Regional Airport.
Happy travels,
Veronique
I’m a travel industry veteran currently employed by Hilton. The views and contents of this post are my own and in no way in partnership with my employer. I wasn’t compensated for writing about this subject and these accommodations weren’t complimentary.
I recently had the pleasure of staying at the beautiful
Conrad Tokyo and can’t say enough about the accommodations, the service and the
amenities of the Tokyo luxury hotel. Prior to arrival, I was able to use the
Hilton Honors app to communicate with the concierge team and to secure various
activities during my stay, including reservations at Michelin starred
restaurants I couldn’t have booked on my own.
Conrad Tokyo Exterior
Immediately upon arriving in the lobby, we were warmly and
professionally-greeted by the staff. Service at this property is likely the
best we’ve encountered of any hotels we’ve ever stayed at. Throughout our vacation,
we enjoyed the help of the concierge team who was incredible and took great
pride in the service provided.
About the Hotel
Conrad Tokyo occupies floors 28 through 37 in the Shiodome
skyscraper in the Shimbashi business district overlooking Tokyo Bay and the picturesque
Hamarikyu Gardens.
The hotel offers direct Shiodome station access making it
very convenient to move around the city. We could also easily walk to the fashionable
Ginza neighborhood and to the outer market of the famed Tsukiji Fish Market
(the commercial fish auction relocated, but the outer market is vibrant and we
could have spent a day there).
The luxury Tokyo hotel encompasses 290 luxury rooms and suites
featuring a contemporary Japanese design and high tech capabilities.
About the
Accommodations
There are four categories of king and twin rooms and 13
categories of suites. All accommodations boast a minimalist Japanese design,
the latest technology and panoramic views of Tokyo. There are also four types
of executive rooms. Executive rooms and suites offer private check-in and
Executive Lounge access.
King Executive Suite Bay View Bedroom King Executive Suite Bay View Living Room.
King Executive Suite Bay View
We stayed is a beautiful King Executive Suite Bay View with
a king bedroom with a separate living room, walk-in wardrobe and spacious
bathroom with rain shower and modern bathtub. The suite measured over 775 sq.
ft. which is sizeable for a Japanese room.
King Executive Suite Bay View Bathroom (vie from bedroom)
The living room featured a sofa and armchair and a desk with
a work chair smartly-placed by the floor to ceiling windows offering
breathtaking views of Hamarikyu Gardens and Tokyo Bay.
Coffee-lovers will enjoy the Nespresso machine in the living
room and the very well-stocked mini bar featuring premium liquor, including
Japanese whisky.
Mural Over the Bed
The suite was so large that it took us until the end of our
second day to realize there was a powder room right off the living room – what a
nice perk!
The bathroom could be accessed from the living room or the
bedroom and had pocket doors to close off the bedroom if guests in the living
room need to use the primary bathroom. There was a marble double vanity, a wonderful
rain shower and a modern freestanding tub. There was even floor heating, which
is a nice touch after coming out of the shower.
Walk-In Wardrobe
Since we were in an executive suite, we had access to the Executive
Lounge which serves complimentary breakfast, afternoon tea, snacks and evening
cocktails. We enjoyed before-dinner-drinks in the lounge where the staff made
us feel very pampered.
Guests staying in an executive suite also have access to the
full buffet breakfast experience at Cerise, the all-day restaurant off the
hotel lobby. The breakfast buffet is extensive with high-quality food made
using pristine ingredients. The offering ranges from pastries to western
options and Asian favorites. Each diner was also able to order a breakfast entrée
from the à la carte menu, but we were completely satisfied with the buffet.
Service at Cerise is very polished and incredibly helpful.
About the Food and
Drinks
Cerise is the perfect choice for all-day casual dining from breakfast, lunch and dinner to a ‘quick bite’ or late night meal. There are a variety of options ranging from salad, soup and sandwiches to pasta, steak and masterly-prepared desserts.
China Blue is an award-winning modern Chinese restaurant situated in a dining room with skyline views of the city through floor-to-ceiling windows. China Blue is open for lunch and dinner nightly.
Collage is an innovative interpretation of modern fine French dining combining the very best of European culinary style and ingredients with exceptional presentation. Collage is open for dinner nightly and for lunch Saturday and Sunday.
Kazahanatreats diners to traditional Japanese dishes with a contemporary twist. Specialties are innovative sushi, kaiseki and teppan dishes.Kazahana is open for lunch and dinner nightly.
TwentyEight Lounge
TwentyEight is the hotel’s lounge situated off the main lobby on the 28th floor. The popular Tokyo bar has an extensive selection of cocktails, beers, spirits and whiskies. In the evenings, there’s live music, a large fireplace and amazing city views. In the afternoons, tea service is offered with a tempting selection of scones, sandwiches and desserts.
About the Spa and
Fitness Center
Mizuki Spa is a 15,000 sq. ft. haven on the 29th floor of
the Conrad Tokyo. There are 10 private spa rooms where guests can indulge in massages,
facials or body treatments.
There’s also a fully-equipped fitness center with the latest
Technogym equipment.
Mizuki spa offers a range of classes including yoga, Pilates
and ballet.
Conrad Tokyo provides one of the best luxury hotel experience
we’ve had anywhere in the world.
I’m a travel industry veteran currently employed by Hilton.
The views and contents of this post are my own and in no way in partnership
with my employer. I wasn’t compensated for writing about this subject and these
accommodations weren’t complimentary.
We recently stayed at the gorgeous Pullman Phuket Panwa
Beach Resort and can’t say enough about the hospitality, the amenities and the
services provided. For those who’ve heard about the wild nightlife and overly
touristy side of Phuket, this isn’t it. The resort is located 45 minutes south
of Phuket airport in a quiet and secluded area that’s ideal for a relaxing
stay.
Tamarind Outdoor Seating. Photo by Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort.
About The Hotel
The resort boasts a beachfront location on Makham Bay. This
luxury Phuket hotel blends contemporary design with understated Thai accents,
making it a perfect leisure or business resort. There are 211 spacious
contemporary rooms, including 28 suites and 29 villas with a private pool. Many
of the rooms offer breathtaking views of the Andaman Sea, and all feature a
balcony or terrace. Free high-speed wireless internet is one of the amenities
that help keep business travelers connected and vacationers able to share
Instagram-worthy photos.
Pullman Phuket Panwa has its own private beach featuring
water sports and lounge chairs and three freeform pools with both quiet and livelier
areas to please all travelers.
The Rooms
There are six room types at Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort ranging from ‘deluxe’ to ‘pool villa with Andaman sea view’. Our YOLO (you only live once) mentality had us book the pool villa with Andaman sea view and we’re so pleased we opted for the upgrade. This was the nicest room I’ve stayed in, and I spend over 100 nights a year in hotels – this was THE room. Mind you that the deluxe room is nicer than most suites at other hotels.
Villa Bedroom. Photo by Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort. Villa Bathroom. Photo by Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort. Villa Private Pool. Photo by Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort. View of Villa from Private Pool. Photo by Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort. Outdoor Terrace at Villa. Photo by Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort.
The spacious villa with modern-yet-Thai-inflected-décor offered
separate living and sleeping areas and measure 1,614 sq. ft. Large
floor-to-ceiling windows provided sweeping views of the sea and of our private infinity
pool. We spent a good amount of time on the covered patio and in the private
pool enjoying the peace and quiet of the adjacent private garden and beach.
There was also a large work space and desk for guests
needing to do some work. We used the space to map out our excursions. There’s
also room service 24/7 and we would have opted for dinner on our private
terrace if we’d had an extra day – the villa was that special.
The Food & Drinks
Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort features two full-service
restaurants, Tamarind and Aqua, and two bars, one offering food – The Edge.
Tamarind serves authentic Thai cuisine, presented with
contemporary flair with beautiful views of Makham Bay. There’s indoor and
outdoor seating and we decided to take advantage of the air conditioning on the
warm evening we dined at Tamarind.
We’d opted for the included breakfast for our stay and the international
breakfast buffet at Aqua restaurant was outstanding. The variety of the food,
the modern and creative presentation of the dishes and the friendly staff made
Aqua a perfect place to start our day. There was an abundance of western and
Asian dishes including breads, pastries, cereals, cheeses and fruit are
accompanied by rice and noodle options and eggs made-to-order.
Aqua also serves lunch from 11AM – 4:30PM and dinner from
6PM – 10:30PM.
The Edge Pool Bar (See In-Pool Bar Stools). Photo by Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort.
When we visited the resort’s common areas, our favorite spot
was The Edge, the poolside bar with barstools in the pool. There were great
happy hour specials on drinks and food and the staff was friendly and funny.
The Spa
Talay Spa is a quiet, relaxing space designed to rejuvenate and re-energize guests with a variety of western and Thai services. The spa is open from 10AM until 9PM every day. See full review of our experience here.
Talay Spa Entrance.
Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort is an amazing resort in a
quiet area of Phuket that’s ideal for leisure and business travelers alike. I
can only wish to visit again someday.
The Duniway, located in the center of one of the nation’s most creative cities, gets its name and flair from the audacious essence of American pioneer Abigail Scott Duniway. The popular boutique hotel personified all that is Portland – art, authenticity, creativity and independent spirit.
Ideally situated in downtown Portland’s business and entertainment district, The Duniway is within a few steps of the MAX light rail makes it simple to discover the city.
Suite. Photo by The Duniway.
I had an opportunity to stay at this Portland boutique hotel and truly enjoyed the spacious king room I was offered with a 65-inch HDTV with StayCast technology, a seating area with a sofa and a Vittoria Coffee espresso machine. The bath products are by C.O. Bigelow and the linens are of the highest quality, bedding is 500 thread-count on Waldorf Astoria beds and robes are extra plush.
About Onsite Amenities
King Room. Photo by The Duniway.
The Duniway’s complete transformation includes the newly renovated heated indoor swimming pool, a fitness center equipped with top equipment and the already-popular rooftop patio, Abigail’s Hideaway. Abigail’s Hideaway features events including live music, wine tastings and various games. There’s even complimentary yoga classes every Saturday morning outside on the Hideaway.
Note that the hotel is pet-friendly with food/water bowls, beds and other pet amenities ($50 deposit).
Self-parking is $33.00/night with in/out privileges and valet is $50.00/night with in/out privileges.
Guests who stay at The Duniway can enjoy all the benefits of Hilton Honors.
About the Food and Beverages
Jackrabbit. Photo by The Duniway.
Guests should be ready to be wowed with the food and beverage program at The Duniway. The hotel’s lobby restaurant, Jackrabbit Restaurant, is by celebrity chef Chris Cosentino and specializes in sharable foods and divine house-cured meats. There are also well-made craft cocktails available in the restaurant and at the adjacent bar.
The hotel also offers 24-hour room service also by Chef Chris Cosentino for those who prefer to dine in the comforts of their spacious rooms or suites.
The Duniway is redefining luxury in the heart of Portland.
I’m a travel industry veteran currently employed by Hilton. The views and contents of this post are my own and in no way in partnership with my employer. I wasn’t compensated for writing about this subject.
I recently spent a leisurely weekend at The Diplomat Beach Resort (www.diplomatresort.com) and had an outstanding stay. I’ve always loved staying at the property located in Hollywood Beach, Florida (between Ft Lauderdale and Miami) because of its prime beach location, great food outlets, world-class spa and great rooms with amazing views. The hotel recently underwent a $100 million remodel and the results are spectacular – new, grandiose lobby, modern, chic rooms and award-winning food outlets.
The Venue
This is a large property with a 200,000 square foot conference and events center attached. The Diplomat completely overhauled its food and beverages program and offers 10 food outlets ranging from the award-winning Monkitail to casual Bristol’s Burgers (see my recap on that here).
Lobby Level Pool. Photo by The Diplomat.
There is a 14,000 square foot spa overlooking the Atlantic Ocean with a variety of indulgent services.
There are two beachfront pools at the Diplomat and the property offers The Ocean Ambassador’s Kids’ Club with Kids’ DIP + SLIDE. One pool is located at lobby level depicted in the image I’ve included here. The pool I typically sit at is on the lower level and adjacent to the pool bar (coincidence?). I love sitting at a pool and looking out at the beach and ocean. This pool is ideal for this.
For more active, adventurous guests, the hotel offers Jet Ski, ocean kayak, paddle board rentals and volleyball. There’s a private marina with water taxis and city trolleys for local exploration.
The Rooms
Presidential Suite. Photo by The Diplomat.
The resort has 1,000 guestrooms including 96 suites. The style of the accommodations is bright and coastal contemporary. Each room and suite offers views of the Atlantic Coast and/or the Intracoastal Waterway (see a video of the gorgeous accommodations).
We stayed in the north tower in connecting rooms: a king room and a double bedded room decorated in shades of creams and blues. Some of the features of the rooms are floor-to-ceiling windows, vintage-inspired art, plush bedding, luxe robes and Bigelow bath amenities. The hotel offers several types of rooms with ocean front, partial ocean front, Intracoastal and partial Intracoastal views. Rooms are approximately 400 square feet and suites range up to 2,500 square feet.
King Room. Photo by The Diplomat.
The Diplomat Beach Resort is part of Curio by Hilton so guests can earn Hilton Honors points for their stays.
With easy access to Ft Lauderdale and Miami Beach, The Diplomat and its prime beachfront location and great beach and Intracoastal views is a fantastic accommodations option for both leisure and business travelers.
Happy travels,
Veronique
I’m a travel industry veteran currently employed by Hilton. The views and contents of this post are my own and in no way in partnership with my employer. I wasn’t compensated for writing about this subject.
We just went on a family vacation to the Las Vegas area. Since we were 7 guests and had two kids ages 11 and 13, we didn’t want to stay on The Strip, so we opted for a vacation rental home in nearby Summerlin. Here’s a link to the house we rented for a week.
There are several things we loved about this rental, including:
We liked that it was near enough to The Strip but far enough from it also. The neighborhood was quiet but near major highways. It was also close to tennis courts and great golf courses. For me, it was near a renowned spa where I took a $6 Uber to get a massage.
The backyard was ideal for a large family getaway. The pool is super with its diving board and slide – kids loved it. At night, there were lights that changed colors in the pool and hot tub that were so relaxing! The kids are avid basketball fans and the court was the greatest for them. My golf-crazed hubby practiced his putting on the brand new putting green. There were plenty of pool toys, basketballs, putters and golf balls also.
The kitchen was huge and included everything this cooking aficionado could have dreamed of. From pantry items like spices, coffee and paper goods to small appliances like a crockpot, a blender and even a toaster oven, this was a dream kitchen and I enjoyed cooking and grilling almost every night (there are numerous restaurants nearby and delivery menus if cooking on vacay isn’t your thing).
The amenities were super like premium bedding, plenty of towels – both bath and pool, tons of pillows and more. There was laundry detergent and we did a bit of laundry during our stay.
There is a double car garage with a remote door opener where we could park our car to keep it cool(er).
Home Exterior
Gourmet Kitchen
Downstairs Living Room
Master + Upstairs Living
Basketball Court
We could not be happier with our stay in this ultra-clean home. The host was there to greet us, even with our flight being 2 hours late. She walked us through how things work (TVs, pool, hot tub, etc…) and was great at communicating with us during our stay.
We highly-recommend this house and look forward to staying here again.
I’ve traveled to Las Vegas for work more times than I could ever count. Before this year, I’d never thought about taking kids to Sin City, but with family coming to visit from Europe and yearning to visit the west coast, Vegas ended up on the itinerary.
In researching family-friendly hotels in Las Vegas, I found that there were many great options – surprise! There are multi-room accommodations, kid-friendly shows, amazing pool complexes and various activities perfect for the little ones.
We were looking for hotels on the Strip, and found everything from lazy river pools to shark aquariums to giant circus-tents to knights jousting.
Regarding price, there are options ranging from budget-friendly to break-the-bank luxurious, so travelers with any size wallets will find the right property for their families.
Circus Circus
Photo courtesy of Circus Circus
Photo courtesy of Excalibur
Circus Circus is an iconic Las Vegas hotel has been one of the most family-friendly properties for decades. There is a wide variety of accommodations available from the most basic room to luxury suites to even an RV park. What really attracts families at Circus Circus are the attractions. Adventuredome, a five-acre indoor theme park, offers everything from rides to clown shows to arcade games and will keep kids busy for hours. There is a midway with over 200 games and the popular daily free circus with its daring acts.
Elara, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club Hotel
Photo courtesy of Elara
Elara, a sleek 52-story glass tower offers spacious studios, plus 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-bedroom suites and is a member of the Hilton family. The non-gaming hotel is set back a bit from the Strip and offers adjoining access to the Miracle Mile, which has 21 restaurants and bars and 100 retail shops, and is adjacent to the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino complex featuring a renowned casino, nine restaurants and the Mandara Spa. For families, perhaps the best part of staying at Elara is access to kitchenettes in studios and full kitchens and separate living and sleeping spaces in larger units. That means cost savings through breakfast and snacks in the units and adult beverages in the fridge for the parents.
Excalibur Hotel & Casino
It’s hard to miss Excalibur with its center-Strip giant King Arthur themed castle. Accommodations range from standard rooms to 2-bedroom suites, perfect for families. Fun Dungeon, the Excalibur arcade, is a favorite with the kids. The resort has four pools with 30,000 square feet of deck space making it easy to find seating for the whole family. There are also a water slide and 19 well-stocked cabanas with all the essentials to keep cool. The ultimate family dinner adventure awaits at the medieval Tournament of Kings dinner show where guests sit in an arena style theater and watch and cheer on the knights as they battle with sword fights and jousting.
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino
Mandalay Bay is a fantastic property for families on so many levels. First, there’s Mandalay Bay Beach, the hotel’s pool area that features a quarter mile lazy river, a gigantic wave pool and a beach area with real sand. Another must-visit attraction is the 1.6 million gallon Shark Reef Aquarium with 15 species of sharks, Piranhas, stingrays eels and many other fish numbering over 2,000 animals. Room types vary from a standard room to multi-bedroom suites and there are dozens of restaurants to choose from for families.
Photo courtesy of Mandalay Bay
Photo courtesy of Mirage Last Vegas
Mirage Las Vegas
The Mirageis perhaps best known for its volcano with waterfalls and palm trees. Kids are fascinated by the volcano show that erupts nightly starting at 8 p.m. complete with a sound effects, 150 fireshooters and a giant eruption finale shooting 60 feet into the air. Children will also enjoy the 20,000-gallon saltwater aquarium and the tropical rainforest atrium that has waterfalls, a lagoon and lush foliage. Another must-attend exhibit at The Mirage is the Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat where guests can explore, learn and play in an enchanting world of bottlenose dolphins, white tigers, white lions and leopards. Accommodations are very wide ranging from standard rooms to three-bedroom villas with their own yards and pools.
Happy travels!
Veronique
Veronique Deblois is a travel industry veteran who’s currently employed by Hilton. The views and contents of this post are my own and in no way in partnership with my employer. I wasn’t compensated for writing about this subject.
A family vacation does not mean discerning parents need to do away with luxury accommodations. World-class resorts have smartly developed kids programs to keep the little ones entertained while providing their parents with much needed R&R of their own.
Here are ten luxury hotels with amazing kids programs where guests will easily create family vacations to remember.
The Cloister at Sea Island – Sea Island, GA
Sea Island’s Camp Cloister is fun-filled with activities for the kids, like baking classes, archery lessons, themed dinner night, baby sea turtle viewing, fishing, nature walking, swimming, scavenger hunts and storytelling.
There are also endless activities for teens like sailing, paddle boarding, swimming in the ocean or the pool, beach volleyball and more. Teens 15 through 18 years old will also enjoy Waterfront Lounge, Sea Island’s haven made just for teens where they can watch the game, play pool or shuffleboard and meet other teens from different destinations.
Grand Summit Hotel at Mount Snow Resort – West Dover, VT
Grand Summit Hotel is owned by the Mount Snow ski resort making all ski school programs very conveniently located. A full day of ski school is offered to kids ages three (Cub Camp), found through six (Snow Camp) and seven through 14 (Mountain Camp for skiing, Mountain Riders for snowboarders). Non-skiers can enjoy snowshoeing and tubing.
In warmer months, there is Adams Farm, a working seven-generation farm with seasonal activities and agricultural experiences. Kids can enjoy feeding the farm animals, wagon rides, sleigh rides, paintball, and with many other seasonal special events. There is also bowling, fishing, boating, miniature golf and more.
Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort – Wailea, HI
The Grand Wailea kid and teen program, Camp Grande is a supervised children’s program for kids ages five to 12 years old. The program is held at The Rock, a 20,000 square foot facility that also houses Ohana Hale – the gaming lounge with countless video games and The Spot – a lounge for teens 13 through 17. At The Rock, kids can find activities like fresh orchid lei making, hula lessons, video games, the Lego wall and much more. There are also a whale-shaped outdoor wading pool, a play kitchen and tool set, a private movie theater, snack bar, craft room and a full-sized soda fountain. The game room offers foosball, ping-pong, pool and an arcade.
Photo by Hawks Cay Resort
Hawks Cay Resort – Duck Key, FL
Hawks Cay Resort offers kids’ activities for young ones five to 17 years old. Camp Hawk at Hawks Cay Resort is for children five through 12 years old offers activities like nature hikes, scavenger hunts, swimming in the resort’s two pools, snorkeling and kayaking in the resort’s saltwater lagoon, and feeding tarpon from the marina’s dock.
Teens (ages 12 through 17) can play basketball, volleyball and kickball. They can also hit the ocean and kiteboard, kayak, snorkel and fish. For teens looking to just unwind, the five pools are perfect for laying out and video games in the play area are where they can make new friends.
Hotel Del Coronado – Coronado, CA
At the DelVentures activity center atHotel Del Coronado, children four through 12 years old can enjoy beach-themed activities and play rooms, underwater murals, funhouse mirror and more. Exciting 1-hour activities and 3-hour evening adventures are popular with this age group, The free adventure pack provided at check-in includes a treasure map and compass to use to explore the property and uncover the hidden clues, leading kids to a “treasure” at the end.
The resort also has a space dedicated to teens ages 13 to 17 – VIBZ, a hip lounge with computers, karaoke and foosball tables. Teens over 14 years old can also visit the spa for special massages and facials.
Summertime activities for the whole family include dive-in movie nights, surf camps and family s’mores night.
Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa – Santa Ana Pueblo, NM
Hyatt Regency Tamaya takes great care to develop its children’s program with local culture and flavor. The 500-acre property is located on part of a Native American Pueblo and provides kids three to 12 years old the opportunity to experience the art and history of this culture within prearranged activities at Camp Hyatt. Camp Hyatt works with National Geographic Kids to construct eco-friendly and locally inspired activities.
The Stables at Tamaya, where over half of the horses at are rescue animals from the Tamaya Horse Rehabilitation Program, is another popular place with kids. The stables offer free pony rides to kids three through eight years old and lead-arounds for children ages four through eight.
Photo by Langham Huntington
Langham Huntington – Pasadena, CA
Modestly priced at $30, The Langham Huntington Kids Program offers kids 12 years old and under a teddy bear backpack filled with goodies like a special kids’ craft from Little Junebugs, Langham newsletter which includes family-friendly dining and activities in the area, free kids’ dinner in The Terrace restaurant (must dine with an adult who orders an entrée from dinner menu and a complimentary Langham chocolate bar from the Flavours of Langham Luxury Gift Boutique.
There is also the Imagine Tea, designed for kids and featuring junior performers from the famed Magic Castle who do close-up magic while the kids dine on a specialty tea menu of sandwiches and fun desserts, accompanied by pink lemonade, milk and a selection of fruit-infused, caffeine-free teas.
Photo by Mohonk Mountain House
Mohonk Mountain House – New Paltz, NY
The Mohonk Mountain House, a National Historic Landmark resort, is nestled in the private woods of the Hudson River Valley. The resort’s castle-like appearance is sure to fascinate kids and parents alike and the kids’ program is built in a way that puts children in touch with nature and area wildlife through a variety of outdoor activities. Mohonk accepts children two years and older and the full-day program is available from mid-June through Labor Day for kids two to 12 years old. Activities range from nature hikes, to pony rides, to swimming and boat rides.
There are also activities for kids from seven to 12 years old that include learning rock scrambling, tennis and golf clinics and sporting events and tournaments. The Teen Lounge accommodates teens from 13 to 17 years old and entails listening to music, watching movies, playing video games and simply hanging out. In the winter, children can take ice-skating lessons, go snow tubing or snow shoeing.
Photo by Resort at Paws Up
The Resort at Paws Up, Greenough, MT
At The Resort at Paws Up, families will get reacquainted, reconnected and revitalized. The resort offers activities ranging from horseback riding, fly-fishing, river rafting, paintball wars and chuck wagon riding. Families can stay on luxurious homes with wrap-around porches or plush family tents outfitted with separate sleeping quarters for the children and full bathrooms with heated floors. The property has a newly added perk of complimentary kids club – Kids Corps of Discovery, an immersion program that “replaces screen time with serene time” for children. Age-appropriate itineraries are available for toddlers, teens and tweens.
The Ritz-Carlton Naples – Naples, FL
Ritz Kids at The Ritz Carlton Naples is a nature center with 11 aquariums and touch tanks (home to eels, baby alligators, sharks, and jellyfish), a laboratory and a computer room. The program, available to children from five to 12 years old, is a place where kids can learn about and discover nature in a colorful, living eco-sanctuary.
The full and half day program provides hands-on discovery activities in the Nature’s Wonders facility that use a science-based curriculum and kid-sized lab featuring microscopes and visual stimuli like preserved reptile skeletons—all the tools to help a budding marine biologist explore a new world.
Happy travels!
Veronique
Veronique Deblois is a travel industry veteran who’s currently employed by Hilton. The views and contents of this post are my own and in no way in partnership with my employer. I wasn’t compensated for writing about this subject.
The stylish, contemporary property is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Denver, and as the name suggests, near the Denver Convention Center. The all-suites hotel is a stroll away from the Denver Center for Performing Arts, the 16th Street Mall and the Denver Art Museum. I walked to several downtown Denver restaurants during my stay.
As is true of Homewood Suites, a hot full breakfast is served free of charge each morning. There are also complimentary evening socials from Monday through Thursday evenings. The hotel has full kitchen in its suites and smartly offers a complimentary grocery shopping service – brilliant! For on-the-go-items, there’s a 24-hour on-site convenience store. There is also complimentary internet access. Guests can re-energize in the fitness center, I did and it’s a great spot, or refresh with a dip in the indoor pool or hot tub.
The Suite
I stayed in a spacious one-bedroom king urban studio with panoramic mountain view suite and it was fabulous. My bedroom had gorgeous views of the snow-capped mountains and large windows were prominent throughout the suite. One of the bedroom features I loved during my stay – a ceiling fan over the bed! The bed linens and pillows were of premium quality, an important element to a comfortable stay. There’s a large flat screen TV in the bedroom.
Dining Area
Living Room / Office
Kitchen
Bedroom
Bathroom
I had a fully-equipped kitchen with a twin burner stove, microwave, full-sized refrigerator, coffee maker and a dishwasher. While I didn’t have an opportunity to cook in my suite, I appreciated being able to store beverages and snacks in the refrigerator. This is a great feature for families traveling with kids as well as business travelers not wanting to dine out each night.
The work area with comfortable desk chair is adjacent to the living room featuring a sofa bed. I found myself stretching out on the sofa and watching TV on the flat screen a few evenings during my stay.
The modern bathroom was clean and spacious with a walk-in shower and a granite vanity. Kudos for the great water pressure and the small foot rest perfect for leg shaving.
I’m looking forward to visiting Denver again so I can stay at this great property.
Happy travels!
Veronique
Veronique Deblois is a travel industry veteran who’s currently employed by Hilton. The views and contents of this post are my own and in no way in partnership with my employer. I wasn’t compensated for writing about this subject.
The Wentworth Mansion, a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, is a historic hotel in downtown Charleston. Through my social media efforts, I won a three-night stay at this illustrious property and our stay was simply perfect on all levels: luxurious accommodations, gracious hospitality, an award-winning restaurant and exclusive amenities.
Richard Widman purchased The Wentworth Mansion in 1997 and proceeded with an extensive $7 million renovation that preserved and restored historic features including the original staircase, the inlaid floors, and Tiffany glass while adding modern conveniences.
Wentworth Sunroom
We loved that the property, which had been a private residence, was not in a commercial and bustling part of Charleston, yet, it was just steps from award-winning dining, art, history and shopping.
The property’s grounds are lush with green lawns, century-old trees and flowers. There is a private, complimentary parking lot that was welcoming as street parking is common in the neighborhood. A bell person is available to gather belongings from the car and transport them to guest rooms.
All guests receive a complimentary house-made breakfast and nightly chocolates from the restaurant in the mansion’s original carriage house.
When I hear that my room comes with complimentary breakfast, I am not often excited but at Wentworth Mansion, breakfast is an absolute treat. More on Circa 1886 in a bit.
In proper southern hospitality, the property offers afternoon hors d’oeuvres & wine in the Charleston Parlor. There, we had an opportunity to meet other guests and unwind before heading out for the evening. Upon returning from our evenings out, we were greeted by evening port, sherry and brandy.
The Accommodations
Each of the 21 guest rooms has a unique size, shape and architectural features. The property offers pet-friendly guest rooms for patrons with pets have easy access to the lawn and homemade dog biscuits.
Mansion Bathroom
Mansion Room
Our room was one of the Mansion Rooms, once the bedrooms of the family that built the Mansion. The elegant guest room is spacious (averaging about 475 square feet) and beautifully appointed with a king-size bed with premium linens, an expansive bathroom with oversized whirlpool tub, a walk-in shower and luxurious bath products and a gas fireplace. There was a sitting area where I enjoyed reading a book and a desk where we could have worked comfortably, but did not. There is nightly turndown service.
Rooms also feature refrigerators with complimentary soft drinks and bottled water, flat screen televisions, DVD players, hair dryers, irons and ironing boards, cozy robes and safety deposit box. Rooms and common areas offer complimentary internet access.
Wentworth Lobby
The Food
Tucked away in the gardens behind Wentworth Mansion in the original carriage house, Circa 1886 Chef Marc Collins honors Charleston traditions while creating contemporary cuisine beautifully crafted with the finest, locally-sourced ingredients from the area’s fields, pastures and waters.
The delicious breakfast that comes with stays at Wentworth Mansion features homemade pastries, delectable coffee and local favorite dishes. Service is friendly and polished but not stuffy and the setting is beautifully appointed.
We also enjoyed dinner at Circa 1886. We opted for the five-course Chef’s Tasting Dinner. The typical cost of this $75 dinner is reduced for hotel guests. It is a considerable value for food that is so fabulous.
More about Circa 1886 in an upcoming post.
The Spa
Originally the Mansion’s stables, The Spa provides everything guests needs to rejuvenate and replenish amid 14-foot vaulted ceilings, exposed beams and rustic beauty.
A stay at Wentworth Mansion is an absolute treat and pampering experience and I look forward to returning.
