Celebrating Valentine’s Day with the family By Michelle Rae Uy
Turtle Beach Resort (Courtesy Turtle Beach Resort)
Valentine’s Day is not just about romance, it’s also about showing your friends and family how much you love and appreciate them. This means that this much-loved yearly celebration is not just for lovers, it’s for families too! This year’s day of hearts falls on a Sunday, which means it’s a perfect time for a short, family Valentine’s Day getaway to spend some much needed quality and bonding time. Here are five family-friendly Valentine’s Day getaways to consider this year.
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Turtle Beach Resort, Barbados
Luxurious and all-inclusive, Turtle Beach Resort‘s darling property on a 1,500-foot stretch of white sand beach in Barbados is just the romantic Valentine’s Day getaway for couples, thanks to its elegant-casual look, beautiful beach and slow-paced atmosphere. Yet the idyllic resort caters to families as well, with family-friendly activities and programs such as scavenger hunts, non-motorized water sports and even limbo lessons! This Valentine’s Day, kids bring out their inner chefs and participate in island-inspired pastry classes under the direction of Chef Ezra Beckles. And later, mom and dad can enjoy a private, romantic dinner on the beach.
CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa, Mexico
CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa (Courtesy Marriott)
Puerto Vallarta is an idyllic and affordable destination with all the makings for a romantic getaway, with its picturesque downtown, its lovely beaches and nearby Banderas Bay attractions like the small town of Yelapa. But it’s a great getaway destination for families too! At the family-friendly CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort, couple with kids can enjoy 4-star accommodations complete with marble fixtures, day excursions and onsite activities like the resort’s special Valentine’s Day pastry class, which gives kids a chance to decorate Valentine’s cookies for their favorite persons. And while the kids are having fun at the kids’ club, mom and dad can indulge in a bit of R&R and a Huichol-inspired treatment at the spa.
Club Med Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Club Med Punta Cana (Courtesy Club Med)
It’s no secret that this Club Med property in Punta Cana, DomRep, is a fantastic family-friendly resort destination, what with its plethora of activities and programs that both kids and adults will enjoy like kayaking, paddle boarding, archery, and windsurfing. Add to that list the new CREACTIVE by Cirque du Soleil in which guests can immerse themselves in the circus arts. But the resort has also just upped its ante as a romantic destination with the launch of its gorgeous, adults-only area Zen Oasis late last year. The area boasts luxurious hamlets, its own lagoon pool and an adults-only private beach. Make it a multi-gen family affair so that mom and dad can have a night or two alone at Zen Oasis while the kids share some quality time with grandma and grandpa at the five-trident, oceanfront area Tiara. The best part, the resort is all-inclusive so it’s worry-free!
El Conquistador Resort, Puerto Rico
El Conquistador Resort (Photo: Michelle Rae Uy)
There’s a reason why families and travel experts rave about this paradise in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. The sprawling tropical resort is not only situated atop a cliff overlooking the ocean so that your hotel room balcony comes with a spectacular view, it also comes fully-loaded with features that not many resorts have, including its own private island and an oceanfront waterpark. Spend some quality time as a family on Palomino Island, which offers a number of water and land activities like kayaking, paddle boarding, horseback riding and snorkeling, and let the kids enjoy the 2.4-acre Coqui Water Park. The next day, mom and dad can drop the kids off at Camp Coqui, the resort kids’ club, so they can spend a romantic day together.
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Velas Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta
Velas Vallarta (Courtesy Velas Vallarta)
All-inclusive is definitely the way to go for families, so long as you pick a good resort. And Velas’ affordable property along Mexico’s Banderas Bay is a terrific choice. Its hacienda-style architecture, its tropical gardens, the several peacocks that roam its grounds, and its very own Mariachi band provide a romantic setting for a Valentine’s Day getaway. Its assortment of kid-friendly offerings, however, like the kids’ club, the all ages pools, and nightly entertainment make it a great destination for families. While the kids are at the kids’ club, mom and dad can enjoy a relaxing couple’s spa treatment on a grass-covered jetty along the beach under a white canopy.
Michelle Rae Uy contributed this to MiniTime. She is a travel writer based in Los Angeles and MiniTime’s Head of Content, who spends her free time on adventures and film photography.
