Advice for Booking a Resort Vacation

Our vacation plans started out simply enough: my husband pined for golf; I craved a beach--and secretly hoped to sneak in a massage--and we both wanted time alone, meaning we needed a well-run children's program for our girls, ages 7 and 5. While our trip turned out okay in the end, we discovered a few things after our arrival that we wished we'd known ahead of time. Naturally, what works for one family may not work for another. So, to better prepare you for your visit--or to help you in making a choice--here are some things to think about before you book your vacation.

• Find out exactly what the kids' program provides. The best are divided into age groups (many even have groups for teens), and are creative, educational, and age-appropriate. If you and your spouse would like to eat dinner in peace, ask if the kids' program has dinnner time events. Also, kids' programs usually cost extra. You can expect an average fee of $30 per child for a full day of activities. Last, make sure to find out about program availability when you book: Some resorts offer their programs only part of the week, or part of the year.

• Ask whether the resort offers a babysitting service, if that's important to you. Find out who the babysitters are and how much the service costs.

• Make sure there is something for everyone, such as spa treatments, tennis, golf, or fitness classes.

• You should know ahead of time that some resorts charge extra for umbrella and chair rentals when you're sitting at the pool or on the beach. You might also like to find out about the availability of boat and water sport equipment rentals.

• Resorts that have condos in addition to hotel rooms might offer washer/dryers and kitchens, which are a plus when traveling with small children.

• Many resorts rent items like videos (as well as VCRs) and video game systems, baby joggers, and strollers. Again, factor in cost.

• When you're traveling with kids, you need to consider proximity to the beach, restaurants, and game room, as inevitably one child will want to do something (i.e., go back to the room and rest) that the other child will not. Ask how close your room is to the action.

• Think about if there are any fun spots--theme parks, tourist towns--near the resort. These can provide a fun diversion if you're tiring of the beach.

• Try to find out whether your resort of choice is primarily a business resort that caters to families or a pure leisure destination. Personally, I like to relax and forget anything that screams "business," so the sight of families waiting poolside for Dad/Mom to get out of their meeting wouldn't thrill me.

• Think about whether you'll want a car. On our recent vacation, we weren't even in walking distance of the beach. If you think you'll want to go into town or get to the airport without relying on a shuttle service, then a rental car might be right for you. Ask how far away things like the town, the grocery store, and the beach are from your hotel room. Some resorts are so big that you can't even get around the premises without a tram service.

• You might like to know ahead of time whether you'll have to make reservations for dinner (personally, I don't like having to rush anywhere or worry about getting to a restaurant on time while on a trip). You might even like to make a few reservations before you leave home.

Jeanne Muchnick is the former Travel Editor of WOMAN'S WORLD magazine, and now writes parenting and lifestyle stories for such publications as PARENTS, CHILD, FAMILYLIFE, PARENTING, and WOMAN'S DAY.

Please keep in mind that phone numbers, addresses, and prices are subject to change. Updated August 2005.