If your clients are looking for a great family vacation, one that gives parents the break they need with time to relax and unwind while the kids are kept busy and entertained, Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa should be at the top of their list. This luxury resort strives to make both parents and kids happy with plenty to see and do—take it from Adam Stewart, CEO, Sandals Resorts International.
“Beaches is about children. When kids are happy, moms are happy, when moms are happy, dads are happy, when dads are happy, the management here is over the moon,” he says.
This spring, Recommend had a chance to visit the resort for the grand opening of its latest accommodation offerings, the Key West Luxury Village, which officially opened in May.
“Through the years, we have observed more and more generations of families—grandparents, moms and dads, aunts and uncles, and kids—choosing to vacation at Beaches. The fact is today’s families, like my own, are getting away to get together, and the Key West Luxury Village was designed with these wonderful, extended families and groups firmly in mind,” adds Stewart.
After spending time in the resort’s new digs and scoping out what the resort offers in family-friendly amenities, here is a list of SIX simple reasons why this Beaches resort is ideal for a family getaway.
1. Kids Activities Galore. Not only will you find Sesame Street characters wandering throughout the resort and interacting with kids at any time of the day (even while they’re at the pool), but the resort also hosts dive-in movie nights, parades, kids’ dance parties, and various poolside games such as mom-and-me swim relays. During our stay, we witnessed a very competitive music trivia game at the pool in the Caribbean Village, where not only were the teenagers competitive in their efforts to win tokens, but parents, and even the little ones, were enthusiastically participating. Camp Sesame is a fun place where kids can play games, participate in learning activities and sing-alongs, and enjoy a dip in the shallow kiddie pool. Events are scheduled from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., which gives parents the option to have their kids entertained while they escape for a quiet dinner for two at one of three adults-only restaurants.
2. Big Kids Can Have Fun, Too. Older kids can get together at Pirates’ Island for some waterpark fun complete with winding slides and a lazy river; or they can head to the Xbox Play Lounge for some gaming. Music buffs can take a stab at DJing at the onsite recording studio in the Scratch DJ Academy. The fun isn’t over when the sun sets, as tweens and teens can head to Liquid nightclub where they can show off their dance moves in a parent-free zone (serving kid-friendly non-alcoholic beverages). The club turns into an 18-and-over venue after 11 p.m.
3. Eating Around The World. You can basically eat around the world at Beaches Turks & Caicos’ 19 dining venues. There’s Kimonos, a Teppanyaki-style eatery; Soy, a sushi bar, and our favorite spot at the resort serving fresh sushi rolls and speciality cocktails; The Cricketers Pub, with German fare; Marios for Italian; the adults-only Le Petit Chateau for French cuisine, and a whole lot more. Three of the 19 dining options are located in the new Key West Village—Bayside, Neptunes, and Sky Lounge. Incidentally, there are 11 bars on property, including five swim-up bars.
4. Watersports. Families will have plenty to do with various water-based activities included paddleboarding, snorkeling, and kayaking. For those who’d like to charter a snorkeling expedition, the 3-hour event takes guests snorkeling and swimming off a private island.
5. Lavish Accommodations. The recently opened Key West Village offers accommodations that range from standard guestrooms in the main building to private villas. We stayed in the Key West 1-Bedroom Concierge Villa Suite. The villas are perfect for families with a master bedroom, bathroom, full kitchen, dining area, living room with sleeper sofa, a washer/dryer, and the fridge is replenished daily with juices, soda, wine, and beer.
Those looking for a little romance, should definitely book a Key West Beachfront 4-Bedroom Butler Villa Residence with Private Pool—that latter amenity ideal for late-night dips under the stars. (Though the pool is private, passersby are able to steal a glance, so warn clients not to get any wild ideas.) Starting rates for the Key West Luxury Village are $460 pp per night for adults, and $47 per night for children; rates for the concierge suite are $610 pp per night for adults, $47 per night for children.
6. Romantic Escapes. Speaking of romance, parents looking for a little one-on-one time, can easily get it at Beaches thanks to the resort’s private nanny service ($15 per hour for up to three kids). This writer went sans kids, but not at any point did we feel out of place in this family resort. Couples looking for a bit of romance can snuggle up in any of the cozy areas around the resort or near the beach to listen to the ocean, cuddle up by the fire pits, or relax while listening to live jazz. Adults-only activities are scheduled nightly such as live performances or karaoke. The resort also has adults-only pools.
contact information
Beaches Turks & Caicos: (888) BEACHES; beaches.com or taportal.sandals.com
