We got back from our vacation last night and it was great. The Club Med Sandpiper Resort in Florida was amazing, and totally suited to our family right now. As promised, the resort revolved around young children and the staff there went out of their way to assist us with our toddlers.
I had never done an all-inclusive vacation before, and was nervous prior to going. The thought of being confined within a defined space made me feel claustrophobic and nervous. However, it was exactly the opposite: not having to worry about the next meal, planning activities for my kids (there was a staff of 40 keen twentysomethings devoted to doing just that) or transportation was amazingly liberating and allowed us to focus on the important stuff – spending time with each other and the kids. The Petit Club Med program, which provides expert childcare throughout the day and evening (included in the price) allowed us to drop the kids off for a few hours here and there so we could lounge by the pool, share a meal together or try the watersports. My son, who’s 4, really enjoyed the kids’ programs and made a bunch of friends with whom he socialized throughout the week. At dinner, he would politely excuse himself from our table: "I’ll be right back, Mummy, I just need to go say hi to Tom/Danny/Mark/Willem." My daughter, 2, was somewhat less enthused with her crew of toddlers. Unfortunately, she was separated from her brother due to her age, and this caused her some distress.
My husband and I went on a 3-hour jet-ski tour of the Lucie river, with an informed guide who shared his detailed knowledge of Floridian botany and wildlife. As our jet ski (or Wave Runner, as it’s now called in its most recent incarnation) whizzed past a sleeping alligator, my heart pounded with fear and exhilaration at being that close to nature. Getting out on the water with my husband and then again with the four of us on a chaise lounger boat were definitely the highlights of our trip. I have a lot of trouble relaxing and I found being close to the water was extremely effective in helping me to unwind.
Great!! Water sports i like most and wake-boarding is my favorite… I have seen at Dick’s Sporting Goods store many coupons on sporting goods through couponalbum site…
I always thought those sounded like great holidays – where they look after your kids for you part of the time. When we sent the kids to “kid’s night out” at Panorama this winter they came home saying it was too boring! Actually, I think it WAS boring, to be fair. Hanging out with 8 kids in the daycare centre colouring isn’t that much fun in my book, either ;P Glad you had a great time, and I’ll just have to live in envy for now 🙂
Wow, Am! That sounds AWESOME! WOW! I want to go, too!!!!!
sounds like it was perfect! i’m so hesitant to go on vacation with my children (since then it really is no longer a vacation) but yours seemed to work well for ya!
Sounds like a great holiday Amreen. I am envious of the three hour jet ski (I’m still old school on the nautical terms) but would be quite happy to live my life without whizzing by an alligator. It sounds like your holiday was the perfect mix of kid time and adult time. I hope that relaxing feeling doesn’t wear off too quickly.