c o u r t e s y v i l l a aq ua m a r e

Families have room

to roam at the Villa
Aquamare in the
British Virgin Islands.

82 N o v e m b e r 2 0 0 9 isl a n d s . c om
 The best
family
islands islands
�
it’s easy to pick the island
with the biggest water slide and
Best
of the
just take the kids there. Harder world
— but worth it — is finding the
place where the entire family can bond
while spying giant sea turtles, searching
for hidden beaches and sharing more
island experiences. Easy accessibility,
fun amenities and big accommoda-
tions are important too for any family
getaway, and islands’ experts consid-
ered those factors as well. Whether
for a young family’s first island trip or
an extended family’s best reunion ever,
these 14 destinations can spark lifetime
memories and a lifelong love of travel.

b y c h r i s ta u b e r
and tony perrottet

N o v e m b e r 2 0 0 9 isl a n d s . c om 83
 the best

family to explore. Kids can enroll in

Heron Island,
Australia the Junior Rangers Program, complete
with Ranger hat and workbook. They
can then earn badges as they wander
the forest paths filled with thousands
of squawking seabirds, discover coral
at low tide with naturalists or venture
out at night to spy the giant sea tur-
tles nesting on the beach. To see the
fish, sharks and rays of the reef only a
five-minute boat ride from the resort,
children at least 8 years old can snorkel
and certified divers at least 10 years old
can go deeper with a parent. Just 500
yards offshore lies “the Bommie,” an
underwater pillar of coral-encrusted
rock that Jacques Cousteau declared
one of his favorite dive sites. Jump in.
Rates from $160. heronisland.com

Best for learning

f r o m to p : c o u r t e s y h e r o n i s l an d ; s t e fan o aman t i n i / c o r b i s
Barbados
> Marvel at the green monkeys of the
Barbados Wildlife Reserve and the
green pools of Harrison’s Cave. But
marvel too at the Barbados school sys-
tem, which has led to one of the world’s
highest literacy rates at 99.7 percent.
Let that be an example to the kids as
you explore Barbados. Then relax at
Best for family reunions your ­extended family frolicks in the Sir
the luxurious, 112-room Sandy Lane
Virgin Gorda, Francis Drake Channel, by all means do.
resort, where the likes of Tiger Woods
British Virgin Islands After all, your work is done. Weekly rates
have stayed. There through the compli-
> A big reunion does not have to per villa from $13,750 (easily split among
mentary Treehouse Club for children
be a big amount of work. In a quiet family members). ­villaaquamare.com
ages 3 to 16, you can all try a game of
nook of ­Virgin Gorda, book all three
cricket, practice how to dive, and get
8,000-square-foot villas at Aquamare, Best back-to-nature trip
a chance to swim and snorkel with
which opened just last year. Then let Heron Island, Australia
the staff cater to your group of 36. If > Focus entirely on Australia’s nature
you’d like to join your private chef at the at Heron Island. This mango-shaped Sandy Lane,
­local dock to pick the freshest lobsters droplet of fauna-filled national park- Barbados
for dinner, you can, of course. If you’d land, 44 acres in size, is planted off the
like to take the 62-foot yacht out, climb Great Barrier Reef ’s southern tip. The
aboard. But if you just want to lie in the 109-room eco-friendly resort, shel-
suspended “Dream Bed” floating over tered by pandanus trees and ringed by
the sand at the private beach park while white-sand beaches, encourages every

The resort, ringed by trees and beaches,

­encourages every family to explore.

84 N o v e m b e r 2 0 0 9 isl a n d s . c om

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N_010908_ISL1109.indd 1 8/18/09 11:18 AM
the best
t­ urtles alongside a “turtle tutor.” You cent lagoon surrounding Bora Bora the
can’t help but learn something new. world’s biggest, best, bluest swimming
Rates from $1,000. sandylane.com pool. For even more aquatic ­delight,
the new Four Seasons Bora Bora has
Best all-american escape an infinity pool (with attendants bear-
Duck Key, Florida ing chilled towels). Next door is the
> Imagine a Norman Rockwell version Tamari’i Club for 5- to 12-year-olds,
of the Florida Keys. Duck Key is a place with a splash pad, turtle visits, snor-
where families can enjoy the island chain’s kel sessions and French-food tastings.
isolated, timeless beauty minus a big leap Teenagers get their own isle, Chill Island,
offshore. Within a sprawling 60 acres with a private beach, hands-on reef
of landscaped waterways, the resort of ­research and stand-up paddleboarding.
Hawks Cay has more than 100 suites and Everyone can go into the inner lagoon
villas, five pools and five restaurants gen- with the Four Seasons’ marine biologist.
teelly placed on tree-lined lanes. Stay in a The only downside to this vacation: No
two-, three- or four-bedroom villa with other pool may ever compare. Rates
a full kitchen, and leisurely stroll along from $1,000. fourseasons.com
boardwalks as sailboats drift past and
fathers fish with sons. A serene ocean- Best for history lessons
side enclosure has marine biologists on Capri, Italy
hand for small-group encounters with > If your kids think that history is
bottlenose dolphins. The AquaJam pro- boring, give them a more interesting
gram sets up teenagers for three days of ­lesson in the infinity pool at the Hotel
snorkeling, diving, sailing and fishing. At ­Caesar Augustus on the island of Capri,
dusk, families gravitate toward the open Italy. Perched on the edge of a 1,000-
fires magically lit around the main pool, foot cliff, it has a magnificent view of
snuggling in towels. There you can still the Mediterranean — a jaw-dropping
enjoy the most delicious mojitos north of panorama across the sparkling Bay of
Havana. Rates from $149. hawkscay.com Naples. Capri was where the ancient
Romans chose to spend their vacations,
Best swimming pool and on a clear day you can see ­Vesuvius,
Bora Bora, Islands of Tahiti the volcano that buried Pompeii in A.D.
> “How big is the pool?” Kids often zero 79. At the hotel, a statue of ­Augustus
in on that one amenity to pick a vacation himself recalls the first emperor who
destination. So consider the magnifi- admired Capri’s beauty so much that
Hotel Caesar
Augustus, Capri
h e l e n c at h c a r t / a l a m y
86 N o v e m b e r 2 0 0 9 isl a n d s . c om

Elbow Beach, Bermuda
A Mandarin Oriental managed property - is the
ultimate island getaway. A combination of main
hotel and cottage colony, the resort enjoys prime
locale overlooking stunning South Shore.
1-800-223-7434 • 441-236-3535
ebbda-reservations@mohg.com
www.mandarinoriental.com/bermuda
Grotto Bay
Full service recently renovated resort spread
among 21 lush landscaped acres along the water’s
edge. Tennis, watersports,diving, nearby golf,
spa, 3 great restaurants! All Inclusive package
available. Special: Save $400 on 4 nights or more.
BERMUDA’S BEST VALUE!
1-800-582-3190
lsimons@grottobay.com • www.grottobay.com
Rosedon Hotel
Quiet, friendly and relaxed, Rosedon offers the
most discerning visitor a wonderful vacation away
from it all. Surrounded by lush tropical gardens,
Rosedon Hotel offers 44 rooms individually
decorated with traditional English and Island flair.
Located in the heart of Bermuda, within walking
distance of Hamilton.
1-800-742-5008 • 441-295-1640
info@rosedon.bm • www.rosedon.com
WWW.BERMUDATOURISM.COM
the best
he took the island as his private pre-
serve. In ancient times, these giddy
heights, which could only be reached
by a ­thousand-step stone stairway called
the Scala Fenicia, were dotted with lux-
ury villas, whose excessive grandeur the
55-room Hotel Caesar Augustus casu-
ally echoes today. Sit down to an alfresco
banquet at the Lucullo Terrace restau- Castaway Island, Fiji
rant, and the kids (the hotel welcomes
ages 10 and up) might even declare that
history is pretty cool after all. Rates pools and six estate homes. La Casa, for
from $600. www.caesar-augustus.com example, has a three-bedroom main
house, plus three guest cottages. And on
Best unplugged experience the grounds of this compound are a cro-
Kauai, Hawaii quet lawn, lighted tennis court, pool with
> The spirit of Old Hawaii remains Jacuzzi and gym. To get around the island,
vibrant on the north shore of Kauai. every family member gets a bike on ar-
Here, you’ll find the makings of a hik- rival — except for babies, who get Silver
ing and snorkeling adventure from the Cross prams. Children can enroll in the
cliffs of the Na Pali Coast to the beach- new Camp Jumby to see the natural side
rimmed waters of Hanalei Bay. The very of this island, and camp staffers can help
laid-back Hanalei Colony Resort is as the whole family on reservations, outing
much known for its proximity to those ideas and the ever-important babysit-
wonders as it is for its “no phones, no ters. Rates from $950. jumbybayresort.com
TVs, no stereos” room policy. Family
reunions can take up as many as needed Best easy exotic
of the 48 two-bedroom condos, each Castaway Island, Fiji
with full kitchens. Not that you’ll be > There’s a long list of reasons why any
in them much. Instead, have breakfast island traveler will love Fiji. Thankfully,
together on the beachfront lanai; then there’s also a long list for why any parent
enjoy a morning of ecological “volun- will love Castaway Island, including fash-
tourism” for ages 14 and up, tending to ion shows with make-your-own ­Fijian
c o u r t e s y c as taway i s l a n d ; o p p o s i t e : c o u r t e s y r i t z - c a r lt o n , K a pa l ua
plants in the nursery at nearby Limahuli costumes, legends of Fiji told around the
Garden. At the resort’s intimate restau- bonfire and crab hunting by torch light.
rant, a new weekly luau fires up kalua In fact, the staff can keep kids and teens
pork, fresh fish and more, capped with entertained for most of the waking hours
a family of fire-knife dancers. Learning from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. And of the 66 bures
how to dance like that can be your next on the western tip of this otherwise natu-
adventure. Rates from $240. hcr.com rally green private island, many sleep up
to five people. Bigger families will want
Best family compound to reserve the one 10-person bure on the
Jumby Bay, Antigua beach. After the activities and amenities,
> The family compound is a great idea. If the sunset over the South Pacific is at
you can’t collect all the generations under the top of any list about why to come to
one roof, use multiple roofs. In Antigua, Fiji. Rates from $325. castawayisland.com
a 300-acre private island is the setting
for Jumby Bay, re-opening Nov. 1 after a Best off-road fun
multimillion-dollar, resort-wide renova- Green Turtle Cay, Bahamas
tion. The luxurious hideaway features 40 > Even for theme-park-savvy kids, the
suites (including 28 new ones steps from Unstoppable Golf Cart is an unbeatable
Jumby Bay Beach), 16 villas with private ride. Rent a rugged, knobby-tire golf
88 N o v e m b e r 2 0 0 9 isl a n d s . c om
cart on-site at the sunny 32-room Green
Turtle Club here on Green Turtle Cay,
just 180 miles east of Fort Lauderdale,
Florida — and hold on. The only real
paved road is to the old English town of
New Plymouth, which is like an outdoor
museum in miniature complete with a
graveyard and jail. Veer off onto the
seemingly secret dirt roads to find your
own beach on the east side and claim
it as your own. Or if you’re very brave,
head up a rocky bluff for a world-con-
quering view of the Green Turtle harbor
and beyond. Unwind back at one of two
new three-bedroom luxury town homes,
available starting this ­November, and
plan the next day’s secret mission. Rates
from $90. greenturtleclub.com %NERGIZEIN!RUBA
Best for eco exploration
,ARGESTEXPANSEOFBEACHON!RUBA´S0ALM"EACH
Maui, Hawaii
> If the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, only 'UESTROOMSANDSUITESEACHWITHPRIVATEBALCONYORPATIO
offered it’s lomi-lomi massage and 0LAZA#LUBWITHPRIVATELOUNGEANDCONCIERGE
access to D.T. Fleming’s Beach, it 2ESTAURANTS
INCLUDING!!!&OUR
$IAMOND3UNSET'RILLE
would be a dream vacation. But the
new Ambassadors of the Environment
,ARIMAR3PASALONAND½TNESSCENTER
VOTED±(OT3PA²BY#ONDm.AST4RAVELER
Program, in partnership with Jean- 4WOZERO
ENTRYFREE
FORMSWIMMINGPOOLS
Michel Cousteau, makes this family (UBOF!RUBA´SNEWSHOPPINGDININGANDENTERTAINMENTCENTER
trip a meaningful one too. Interactive
#ASINOMARTINIBARANDNIGHTLYENTERTAINMENT
adventures let kids explore a coral reef
like a marine biologist, discover the 3CUBADIVINGANDWATERSPORTSPLUSGOLFANDSIGHTSEEING
“fires of Pele” in a lava-flow hike and
follow the stars as if they were early
Polynesian navigators. In one of the 2ADISSONCOM!RUBA,ARIMAR3PA!RUBACOM
107 roomy residential suites, families
can gather around the Calabash table

to share the day’s stories — and memo-
ries. Rates from $299. ritzcarlton.com
ARUBA
Ritz-Carlton, RESORT, CASINO & SPA
Kapalua

BN_010956_ISL1109.indd 1 8/21/09 3:51 PM

 the best

Best Quaint island of the island’s origins. The great drive up

Anna Maria Island, Florida
> Big resorts? No. Chain restaurants?
No. Miles-long beach? Oh yes. All that
makes for beautifully charming days on
Anna Maria Island, just a drawbridge
removed from the Florida mainland.
Start by watching the kids engulf slabs of
crème brûlée French toast at Ginny and
Jane E’s at the Old IGA — part bakery,
part country store, part flower shop
in an old corner grocery. At the beach,
let the kids run free. Have lunch at the
Sandbar, where the dining patio spills
onto the sand. Swim in the warm Gulf
of Mexico water. Take out jerk grouper
famous Mount Teide is also a must-do.
The otherworldly sights prevent any “Are
we there yet?” comments. Rates from
$875. gran-melia-palacio-de-isora.com
Anna Maria Best quick weekend trip
Island, Florida Catalina Island, California
> Many visitors to Catalina hop off the
Best direct-flight surprise ferry, tool around Avalon, then head
Tenerife, Canary Islands back. Stay and feel like your family sum-
> The Canaries are in reach with a new mers here at the Banning House Lodge
direct flight from Miami to T ­ enerife on in the much smaller town
Air Europa. Put your stay in the hands of Two Harbors. ­You can
i s l a n d s . co m /
of the new family concierge at the Gran enjoy the Cliff House East best
­Meliá Palacio de Isora. The resort’s ser- or West — king bed, queen-

sandwiches from the Banana Cabana for
a sunset picnic at Coquina Beach. Re-
tire to one of the Bay Front villas at the
Tortuga Inn Beach Resort and schedule
one of the new in-room massages from
Acqua Aveda Salon & Spa while the
kids swim in the pool. Sleep and repeat.
Rates from $120. tortugainn.com
c o u r t e s y b r ad e n to n ar e a c v b
vice will open the door to a dedicated pullout bungalows detached from the
family check-in area, family-friendly main house with harbor views. Lounge
suites, a social area reserved for fami- in the main lodge under an enormous
lies with its own waiter service and if buffalo head, or see the buffalo still
you ­really need it, a Wii. Kids should be roam in the island’s interior. Take the
­happily occupied at the palatial resort, free shuttle down to the village of Two
but wonders farther afield include the Harbors. You’ll feel at home in no time.
­Crater de Bandama, a volcanic ­reminder Rates from $95. visitcatalinaisland.com

Calm all the way down.

Unkink your body. Soothe your spirit. Book your next vacation getaway at the
Westin Casuarina Grand Cayman Resort & Spa, where the mind and body
are always renewed.
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1 Night FREE with a 4 Night Minimum Stay*

*Travel Period Sept. 8TH - Dec. 15TH, 2009. Booking Period Aug. 15TH - Dec. 10TH, 2009. Guaranteed upgrade on Islandview &
ocean view bookings. ©2009 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. All rights reserved. Westin is the registered
trademark of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, INC, or its affiliates.