Wherever you are in the world, a good kids club can be the key to a truly relaxing holiday. Some have a proven track record and have been on our radar for years, while others are new on the travel scene. Whether you’re blowing the budget on the holiday of a lifetime, or looking for all the fun for less, there’s plenty to choose from. Featuring surf schools, zip-lining, stargazing and even an outdoor gym for under-18s, this is our global round-up of the best places to check the children into…

Eden Roc Cap Cana

It’s no surprise this Relais & Châteaux resort is prized as a top family-friendly hotel in the Caribbean. Striking in design, Eden Roc Cap Cana’s Koko Kids Club resembles a treehouse on its own island, surrounded by a man-made lagoon. It’s equipped with a mini spa, expansive play area and storytelling snug. Children aged four to 12 can enjoy supervised play in the enclosed sandy beach next to the club, and kayak around the safe lagoon (lifeguard on watch), while experienced staff organise scavenger hunts, arts and crafts, contests and numerous other activities. The new ‘Fly the Nest’ package is designed to enrich family time together before teenagers strike out into the world. IT includes memorable experiences such as private beach picnics, all-day boat trip adventures, and golf and cooking lessons.

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International Dark Sky Week takes place April 15–22. Hotels around the world celebrate nocturnal tourism with a variety of special programming.

Eden Roc Cap Cana

This Relais & Châteaux resort in the Dominican Republic offers a Cenote Wellness Retreat. The experience for up to two adults and three children includes private starbathing in a cenote at night.

Read full article on globaltravelerusa.com

Blame it on the lingering effects of surviving in a post-Covid world, or the fact that it’s an election year, or just the truth that most of us are perennially overworked, but it seems like scheduling spa time on vacation has gone from “nice to have” to “absolutely, unequivocally necessary.”

But in a new world where many travelers no longer keep so-called regular office hours or work remotely on a schedule far from 9 to 5, that 6 p.m. cut-off for spa appointments can be, to put it lightly, a real bummer. And, at some point in the last year or so, the requests for longer wellness hours at properties around the globe seemed to reach an inflection point: “We were receiving a ton of demand for evening hours,” says Amanda Schmiege, spa director at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, of their decision to add in nighttime programming. “And so far, the guests who have utilized it have found it to be very special.”

Eden Roc Cap Cana

At Eden Roc Cap Cana, a resort at the scenic, easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic, relaxation often comes in the form of lounging at your villa’s private pool or wiggling your toes in the soft sand at the on-site beach. However, their newest wellness experience takes advantage of a feature not many other hotels can boast: an on-site cenote or underground cave with water.

“We found that activating in the cenote during the peaceful evening hours is a wonderful way for guests to have a different experience and one that can take place underneath the stars,” says spa and wellness director Nayra Llinás. Guests can choose from various facials and massages, and as long as the hotel has 24-hour notice, there is no limit to how late you can reserve it.

Read full article on travelandleisure.com

The exact experience to picture when you think, “I need a luxurious beach getaway.”

Why book?

For a quintessential Caribbean escape with unbeatable staff and golden sunsets that linger over white sand beaches.

Set the scene

As the Dominican Republic’s only Relais & Châteaux member hotel, the property manages to meet (and exceed) a standard of excellence while still maintaining a sense of warm Dominican hospitality. Drawing a moneyed crowd, you’ll find all types of vacationers, from families to couples to celebratory friend groups. Be sure to pack your chic bikini and wide-brimmed hat for days at the beach and breezy linens for nightly outdoor dinners, and get ready to relax in the epitome of paradise.

The rooms

The property boasts 67 accommodations, including beachfront suites, private villas, and four new oceanfront lodgings for complete and utter privacy. Featuring bath amenities by Acqua di Parma, spa robes and slippers, rain shower heads, and dedicated butler service, the accommodations pamper your stay. Earth tones—creams, tans, and jungle greens—are abundant in the rooms, melding to the floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors’ paradise beyond. While chair-side service at the onsite beach club is a can’t-miss experience, guests in the luxury villas will find themselves tempted to hole up next to their very own private pool drinking rum with fresh passion fruit juice. That is, unless you find yourself called away from basking in the sun to head indoors for the giant (seriously, giant) freestanding tub surrounded on three sides by glass walls with a view of a private, lush garden—complete with your very own outdoor shower.

Read full article on cntraveler.com

Dig deeper to discover one of the jewels of the Caribbean with a kosher stay this Passover

It’s easy to think of the Caribbean islands as all the same — silvery-white sandy beaches, waving palm trees and crystal- clear turquoise water. And while that’s (broadly) correct, dig just a little deeper and you’ll quickly discover each island has its own distinct personality.

The Dominican Republic is no exception. Famous for its all-inclusive resorts, it’s well worth venturing outside the gates — here’s why….

Passover in the Dominican Republic

Enjoy matzah in the tropical sunshine this year, with a Passover package at Eden Roc Cap Cana. The ten-day package runs from 22 April until 1 May, with the option to arrive on 21 April, and includes all food and non-alcoholic drinks.

Morning services, group study sessions and workshops on the first two days are followed by chol hamoed guided tours of local cultural and historic sites, with a focus on the island’s Jewish heritage, plus a spiritual group excursion and a spa day inspired by Jewish wellness practices.

Guests can also take part in morning Torah readings and discussions on the weekly Torah portion, plus an eco-adventure tour on the final days, focusing on nature’s role in Passover, along with a group matzah baking activity and traditional lunch.

Read full article on thejc.com

7 Romantic Hotel Packages to Book This Valentine’s Day

Chocolate and Champagne are only going to get you so far with your main squeeze. To really light their fire (and yours), don’t overthink it. Instead, lean on the wisdom of your favorite hotel’s concierge.

True, every hotel in the world will be offering some cheesy Valentine’s Day extra tomorrow (typically something involving those aforementioned chocolates and Champagne). But the best hotels go well beyond cliches. Dinner in a cenote, anyone? Or perhaps a cocktail date inside a glacier? A private jet to paradise?

Here’s a look at some of the most decadent and original Valentine’s Day packages on the market.

Eden Roc Cap Cana

Eden Roc Cap Cana is offering a unique experience for couples looking for a gastronomy adventure. Lovebirds will receive two nights at the resort, private airport transfers, daily breakfast, and a romantic turn-down service on the second night. When you tire of lounging on the beach, you can partake in a wine-pairing masterclass and a private cooking class on the beach at La Palapa restaurant. That’s all fairly standard. What stands out here is the opportunity to have a romantic dinner in the hotel’s prized cenote (a cave made from limestone). You’ll dine on a candlelit private deck next to a waterfall, accompanied by a violinist to ensure the ambience is perfect. After dinner, you’ll receive a bouquet of lush red roses to take back to your villa.

Read full article on robbreport.com