With summer vacation just around the corner, it’s important to start planning that big family trip if you haven’t already. Fortunately, there’s plenty in the works when it comes to warm-weather getaways that are well-suited for the whole family.
Travel Agent has scouted two properties in the Caribbean to keep on your radar:
Zemi Beach House in Anguilla is a popular pick for families. It is a 76-key boutique hotel spread across six acres on Shoal Bay East. Guestrooms have spa-style bathrooms and private furnished balconies. There is also a selection of two- and three-bedroom beachfront villa suites and penthouses — perfect for families, ranging from 1,592 square feet to 2,826 square feet —that have large living rooms, fully equipped kitchens, spacious bathrooms, expansive furnished private terraces and private pools.
Good to know: All rooms include private furnished balconies, a personalized Caribbean minibar, Malin + Goetz bath amenities, nightly turn-down service, an espresso machine, complimentary beach bag and sandals, and more.
Dining options include Stone Restaurant for sea-to-table fine dining; 20 Knots for toes-in-the-sand, casual dining; Rhum Room for small-batch, single-estate rum; Shoal Bay Beach Club for cocktails; and the Bohio Bar & Lounge serving pre- and after-dinner champagne and wines by the glass. New on the dining front, Zemi Beach House has added a sushi counter, helmed by a master chef, for made-to-order Japanese fare.
That said, a recommended dining experience is a private gourmet Zemi signature “Dinner On The Beach” under the stars for the entire family (available for two to 100 people). You may even choose to accompany dinner with a live saxophonist and fireworks during dessert to crown the moment. (Less on the family side and more on the romance side, we hear that Paris Hilton and Carter Reum recently spent their honeymoon at Zemi Beach House and enjoyed more than one private dinner on the beach during their stay.)
The Kids’ Club at Zemi is complimentary and offers swim lessons in the main pool for the little mermaids and mermen in the family, complete with the fishtail outfits!
For parents: The Zemi Thai House Spa, located in an authentic Thai house brought over from Thailand in the ‘80s, has a heated gobek tasi (Turkish bath), sun deck, outdoor showers and vitality pool. Other amenities and services at the resort include around-the-clock concierge services, non-motorized water sports, three pools with cabanas, a tennis court and Precor fitness center.
Good to know: Zemi Beach House in January joined Virtuoso’s portfolio of hotels and was named among its “Best of the Best.”
Elsewhere, Mount Cinnamon Hotel & Beach Club in Grenada is another popular pick for families. Although not on site, the hotel just opened Azzurra Castle — a privately set villa behind Moorish-style walled gardens steps away from a private shore and bay — for guest stays. Perfect for a luxurious multi-generational stay, this villa is complete with six bedrooms, extensive living areas, two separate dining areas filled with plants and large Moroccan lanterns, and more. The space is complete with two courtyards, including one with a central swimming pool, bright with mosaic and fretwork and glimpses of the bay below. Large sunbathing patios and four suites surround the pool. (Each suite has a large adobe-style bathroom, small private patio garden at the rear and the master room has a large sitting room/study.)
Back at the property, the luxury villas are best for families; they vary in size from one, two and three bedrooms and all offer full kitchens, large living areas and patios overlooking the sea. Tip: At the client’s request, chefs will come up into the villas to cook for the families.
Separately, Mount Cinnamon recently added another six Cinnamon Suites to its inventory. The suites, however, are well-suited for couples. Set above Grand Anse Beach, the Cinnamon Suites offer travelers views across the bay to the capital of St. George’s. The neutral-colored, 500-square-feet suites include a king bed with an upholstered headboard, a dressing table and an airy seating area with sofa, chair and media console that connects to an outdoor patio.
Back to families: There are many family-friendly activities at Mount Cinnamon, including the Beach Club and non-motorized water sports such as kayaks and paddle boards. You can also sail on a Hobie Cat or snorkel directly off the beach. Croquet, shuffleboard, horseshoes and a giant garden chess set are available, as is beach volleyball and a swimming pool. For those interested, yoga and tennis are also available, while the hotel’s onsite dive center, Dive Grenada, is available to book snorkeling and diving for families. Tip: Grenada is home to the Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park, which is a must-see for divers or snorkelers.
For dining, the Friday night BBQ and Beach Bonfire down is a must. The menu includes freshly caught fish, chicken, lobster, shrimp and steak, as well as authentic Grenadian side dishes. There’s live music and dancing — and you can also make own s'mores.
Good to know: Mount Cinnamon Hotel & Beach Club’s property is split by a road. Set up on a hill, across the street from the beach, you will find many of the rooms, the lobby, a restaurant and the pool. Follow the path down to the beach, and you’ll come upon the beach bar and restaurant, a volleyball court and croquet field, as well as a single treatment room for beachside massages from the spa.
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