It's Almost Time For The Family Vacation!

Mike Thiel of Hideaways International, Inc. Offers Tips

On Making The Most Of This Year's Summer Getaway

PORTSMOUTH, NH (April 22, 2009) — Summer is fast approaching and, as families start planning their summer 2009 getaway, Mike Thiel, President and Founder of Hideaways International™, Inc. (www.Hideaways.com) offers tips on how to survive traveling with the kids and how to make the most of quality time together.

KEEPING-UP-WITH-THE-KIDS VACATIONS

Kids are balls of energy, so it helps to plan a family vacation with lots of action to take the steam out of them. There is nothing quite like a shared activity like sailing or scuba diving to keep everyone learning and having fun together.

Bitter End Yacht Club on Virgin Gorda, for example, has Junior Water Sports (ages 13-17) and Kids Camp (ages 5-12), plus sailing and windsurfing lessons, snorkeling and fishing trips, the use of a fleet of Boston Whalers, evening movies, and three square meals a day. A 7-night stay for a family of four is priced from $6,020 for a North Sound Suite for travel until August 15, 2009. Hideaways Aficionado® Club members receive a complimentary romantic dinner for two on the beach.

VACATIONS WITH TEAM SPIRIT

There's nothing quite like a vacation that requires teamwork to bring the family together. That could mean bareboat chartering a sailboat in the Caribbean or barging self-hire style along the canals of France, with learning "chores" for all along the way (e.g., taking the helm, managing the locking process, tying up to wharfs, shopping for food supplies, etc.).

VILLA VACATIONING

Some of the most relaxing — and affordable — vacations a family can have are at staffed villas in Mexico and the Caribbean. At a private villa, the pool is your own for rowdy water games, the kitchen and laundry facilities are a huge convenience, and it's better than visiting one family member's home because it's neutral territory. A staffed villa rental is even better — you can totally relax, and interacting with the staff teaches everyone about the local culture. There's no learning experience quite like accompanying the cook to the local markets to shop for dinner.

Two places which are highly recommended include Half Moon in Jamaica and Windjammer Landing in St. Lucia. Windjammer offers a wealth of recreational activities including a full menu of motorized and non-motorized water sports, tennis, nearby golf, and island tours to introduce travelers to local culture. Windjammer also provides kids' and teens' programs plus nanny and babysitting services. Rates for a one-bedroom villa at Windjammer are priced from $310 per night. Hideaways Aficionado® Club members save 10% off these rates and also receive a sunset cruise for two.

Half Moon offers an equally wide selection of activities, and, as at any top villa resort, the villa usually has a dip or larger pool, so families have a place to gather privately.[Back to Press Releases Main]