Category: Travel & Leisure

15 Best Family-friendly Beach Resorts in the Caribbean

Ginna

When it comes to a family vacation full of fun in the sun, the Caribbean is particularly appealing with picture-perfect weather, beautiful beaches, and vibrant cultures. Direct flights from many East Coast airports to popular Caribbean islands such as  Jamaica, Aruba, the Bahamas, Grand Cayman, and the Dominican Republic mitigate the need for parents to deal with the stress of running through the airport to catch a connection. Once you touch down in paradise, family-friendly beach resorts with water sports, kids clubs, splash pads, playgrounds, endless activities, and multiple restaurants guarantee guests of all ages will find something to smile about. 

To help you pick the right spot for your crew, we’ve rounded up 15 of the best family beach resorts across the Caribbean for every travel taste. (Prefer all-inclusive resorts? Give this article a read.) 


Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas

Courtesy of Atlantis Paradise Island

Want to win extra cool points with the younger generation? Bring the whole crew to Atlantis Paradise Island. This legendary resort boasts six beaches, kids and teens clubs, junior aquarist trainer day programs, the Predator Lagoon tunnel, the world’s largest open-air marine habitat at Dolphin Cay, a movie theater, and a 141-acre water park with waterslides, the longest river ride in the Bahamas, an aqua-play fort, and 11 swimming pools.



Rosewood Le Guanahani St. Barth, St. Barts

Courtesy of Rosewood Le Guanahani St. Barth

Parents (and by extension, children) who like luxury love Rosewood Le Guanahani St. Barth. As one of the largest and most well-equipped resorts on St. Barts, travelers can expect a slew of family-friendly amenities — including two pools, placid beaches, snorkeling, the Rosewood Explorers club for kids ages four to 11, babysitting services, and a world-class spa — in a plush, private setting.



Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Puerto Rico

Courtesy of Puerto Rico Tourism Company

Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, in Puerto Rico makes a splash with luxury lovers of all ages. You’ll find plenty of water sports, pools, sandy beaches, and activities like bike tours through endangered Pterocarpus wetlands to keep everyone busy — and, more

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How to Take a look at Beaufort, South Carolina

Ginna

Charleston could get most of the attention when it arrives to South Carolina’s a lot of cities, but the historical past, culture, and (of training course) Southern charm that make it so particular can also be discovered in more compact and much less pricey destinations in the location. If you have ever watched “Forrest Gump” or read anything by the late writer Pat Conroy, you may possibly be common with Beaufort, a harbor city on Port Royal Island. Its slim streets, oak trees, and historic district that pre-dates the Civil War are equivalent to these in Charleston, but Beaufort is remarkable and magical in its have ideal. As well as, it doesn’t draw the identical crowds that are inclined to flock to notable Holy Town hangouts like King Street, Folly Beach front, and the Battery. 


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In advance of you study any further, although, you require to know how to appropriately pronounce the title. Not to be puzzled with Beaufort, North Carolina (reported like “bow-fert”), the coastal town has a pronunciation extra akin to “bew-fert.” Mistaking the two will promptly identify you as a tourist — and it will not sit also perfectly with the locals. Once you have that squared away, you can get started preparing your trip to Beaufort, the next-oldest city in South Carolina.







Ideal Items to Do in Beaufort, South Carolina

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In 1969, Beaufort grew to become just one of the several U.S. metropolitan areas with an full downtown designated as a historic district by the National Rely on for Historic Preservation, so discovering the neighborhoods loaded with Victorian, Greek Revival, Neoclassical, and Federal-type households is at the top rated of most travelers’ lists. At Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, you’ll place Woods Memorial Bridge, recognizable from the aforementioned Tom Hanks blockbuster. Stretching your legs is also inspired together the Spanish Moss Trail, a 10-mile greenway that weaves by Beaufort’s marshes and via trees draped in Spanish moss. Offered its waterfront site, Beaufort should also be seasoned by boat ebook a Dolphin & History Boat Cruise with Coastal Expeditions or an

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15 Best Places to Visit on the East Coast

Ginna

“West Coast, best coast” has a nice sound to it, but the debate is far from over when it comes to which side of the country wins the ultimate showdown. Although California weather is lovely, and the Pacific Northwest’s vivid green forests and majestic mountain views are a sight to behold, the East Coast is a true four-season region with diverse landscapes, ecosystems, and climates — each as gorgeous as the next.

Have you ever experienced an East Coast autumn? There’s nothing quite as intoxicating as witnessing the foliage of the Appalachian Mountains turn into bright oranges and reds seemingly overnight. What about a New England summer, when the hydrangeas bloom all over Nantucket Island and Martha’s Vineyard? The cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C. draw crowds from around the world in the spring, and there’s a reason so many people can’t get enough of the South’s beaches in the wintertime.  

You could spend a lifetime exploring this section of the country, bookended by Maine and Florida, and still never witness all the glory of its many mountains, rivers, small towns, historic sites, national parks, and bustling cities — but it doesn’t hurt to try. While countless East Coast destinations can be described as “beautiful,” only a few made our list. From the glimmering waters of New York’s Lake George to the untouched wilderness of Cumberland Island, Georgia, here are 15 of the best places to visit on the East Coast.


Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia and North Carolina

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The full Blue Ridge mountain range spans 550 miles from Pennsylvania to Georgia, but Virginia and North Carolina lay claim to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The meandering drive grants visitors access to over 200 scenic overlooks, where they can stop to take in the sweeping views accented by the blue haze that gives these mountains their name.



Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, North Carolina

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Western North Carolina is home to more than 250 waterfalls, many of which are found in the breathtaking Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, a mountainous area 70 miles from Asheville. Whether you’re visiting during the lush summer or vibrant fall, a

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This Journey Organizer Is a Will have to-have

Ginna

Nothing slows you down speedier than an unorganized bag. Or, at minimum, that is been my experience when traveling. If you are an individual which is normally holding up TSA protection mainly because your equipment are scattered all in excess of your bag, wrestling tangled up USB cords when you last but not least come across a free of charge outlet, or battling to uncover your earbuds any our bag because they’ve fallen to the bottom, then you will need to increase the Bubm Tech Organizer to your journey equipment. 


Stocked with compartments galore, the handy vacation accessory assures that all of your devices and their add-ons have a protected, quick-to-identify location in your individual bag or have-on with its streamlined style. And, it characteristics a protective, padded and drinking water-resistant shell so you can have peace of intellect that nothing will get weakened throughout your vacation working day. 


Amazon



To buy: amazon.com, $23 with on-internet site coupon (originally $26) 


Measuring 10.7 inches by 8 inches, the Bubm Tech Organizer has a two-layer design and style for optimal storage house. In point, there’s even a padded sleeve that can in good shape an iPad, e-Reader, or tablet up to 9.7 inches in size. And, depending on your packing type, you can stick to the organizational plan the row of elastic bands are fantastic for USB cables, headphones, and other wires. The smaller pouches can be utilised for flash drives, excess batteries, and other tiny extras. If you are someone that travels with a electricity lender or portable charger, you can expect to want to tuck it absent in one particular of the zippered mesh pockets. And, the significant mesh compartment is ideal for notebook chargers, travel adapters and converters, and other cumbersome merchandise. 


But recall, the prospects are unlimited. If you will not have a whole lot of equipment and extras to load up all of the pockets and pouches, you can very easily use the Bubm Tech Organizer for other essentials that will need arranging (assume: jewelry, toiletries, vacation files, and so forth.). What is a lot more,

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Hong Kong Travel Advice

Ginna

Hong Kong is an incredible city filled with incredible sights and experiences; to get the most from your visit, do your research and plan well in advance.

Your accommodation should be your starting point – be it an affordable budget hotel or luxurious digs – there are a variety of choices available. Cathay Pacific offers flexible fares for all clients looking to visit Hong Kong.

1. Book your hotel well in advance

One of the key steps when traveling is booking your hotel well in advance. Doing this will save you a great deal of hassle during peak seasons, and also ensure you secure a great room at an acceptable price.

Studies have demonstrated that it can be more cost effective to book rooms 15 days in advance versus at the last minute, regardless of their price range (high-end hotels or mid/low range hotels).

Booking early with a Free Cancellation policy will ensure you find the best hotel deal, while enabling you to change or rebook as prices drop during your journey.

Book early to give yourself more time for trip planning. By researching available local attractions and events happening during your travel dates, booking early allows you to create a more tailored itinerary which makes exploring Hong Kong much more pleasurable.

Booking early increases your odds of finding availability at lower award rates at your chosen hotel, since revenue rates usually decrease as the date approaches while award rates usually stay the same or may increase slightly.

Booking early when using hotel loyalty programs to earn free nights is even more crucial, since doing so allows you to quickly accumulate points and take advantage of rewards nights as soon as they become available.

2. Take the Octopus card

The Octopus card provides a quick and convenient way of paying for public transportation in Hong Kong. By eliminating individual metro and bus tickets that can cost as much as HK$50 each, as well as offering discounted fares which could save money during your journey, the Octopus card makes paying public transit easier than ever.

Octopus cards can also be used … Read More...

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This Comfortable Summer Gown Is on Sale at Amazon

Ginna

It might arrive as a shock to understand that even travel writers struggle with packing often. I, for 1, am a infamous overpacker (just request my partner!) because I in no way know what I’ll really feel like putting on. Plus, I tend to be much more spontaneous on my visits and have to have adaptable outfit options. Because of this, I gravitate toward items that are trendy and relaxed nevertheless also flattering.


That’s why I certainly love the Merokeety T-shirt Costume at Amazon. The costume operates so nicely for just about any party, whether or not I’m at dwelling or out exploring a new destination, and it’s so comfortable. It doesn’t harm that the tie-front design and style is very forgiving about the midsection, either. And ideal now, the dress is on sale for up to 18 p.c off (additionally an excess 10 percent with an on-web-site coupon), building it a should-have for vacation plans this spring.


Amazon



To obtain: amazon.com, $31 with on-web-site coupon (initially $40)


The gown is built from 95 per cent rayon with just a sprint of spandex to give it the correct sum of extend for all-day ease and comfort. I have observed that these dresses pack quite effectively, and I do not have to stress about wrinkles thanks to the easygoing material. I just roll them up to optimize place in my checked bag, then shake them out ahead of I want to use one particular.  


I have the costume in 3 colors (yes, it is that magnificent) and all three produced the trek with me on my modern vacation to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, due to the fact I can have on them with almost just about anything. The plum costume was just correct for a stroll along Puerto Vallarta’s Malecón a person night. Its rolled limited sleeves weren’t really warm plenty of for the 60-ish diploma Fahrenheit temperature on the oceanfront boardwalk, so I layered a white denim jacket with the costume for a minor heat. Greatest of all, my go-to slip-on sneakers have been the perfect finishing contact that stored

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