10 Reasons Beaches Makes Luxury With Children Possible

lux·u·ry
noun, luxury
the state of great comfort and extravagant living
normally not reconcilable with children

I own no white furniture. No high end nic nacs adorn my home. I keep the good china packed away for special occasions. I am a Mom after all and while I like to admire the lux life from afar it’s not a reality I live, because well, sticky hands and luxury don’t play nice together. Until a few years ago, even luxury vacations were reserved solely for my husband and I.  Then we found Beaches Ocho Rios and suddenly living the lux life while  on vacation was no longer a dream, it was a reality.

Beaches Resorts make luxury with children possible, and with the opening of their new Key West Luxury Village on their Turks & Caicos property, they’ve managed to raise the bar even higher. This incredible resort boasts 3 and 4 bedroom villas on the water, with their own private plunge pools. If you don’t want something quite as large, they have large 1 and 2 bedroom accommodations, as well as studios, each with their own full-sized kitchen. Not that you’ll be cooking because as with all Beaches and Sandals resorts, it’s all-inclusive. Although I did enjoy having a kettle in my room for my tea in the morning, as opposed to trying to run my tea through a coffee maker. Blech. But I digress, Beaches Key West Luxury Village is without a doubt the crown jewel of the Beaches properties (for now, new and exciting properties are in the works).

Situated along Grace Bay Beach in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos, this Beaches property truly offers it all in terms of luxury for parents and fun for kids. Here are ten reasons you’ll love Beaches Turks and Caicos.

The Food. This is huge for me whenever I travel because I am so past the toys with meals stage. In the five days I was there, I tried my very best to visit all 19 restaurants but to no avail. What I can tell you is that Arizona’s, Mario’s, Kimonos, Schooner’s, Cafe De Paris, Barefoot By the Sea, Bayside and Sky Lounge pass the test. What test is that you ask? They all kept a food snob and finicky kid happy. Not exactly an easy thing to do. I am determined to go back someday and try out the rest, although the jerk chicken at Barefoot By the Sea still calls my name.

Pirates Island Waterpark. What’s lux about this? Well, while your kids are having the time of their life floating down a lazy river, careening down water slides, and learning how to surf, you my friend are enjoying an ice cold umbrella drink. You can’t get that at your local splash pad, can you? Of course, you’re welcome to join them too if the mood strikes, and then you can go back to your book and your drink. It’s win/win.

The Spa. I’m a big fan of leaving my kids with my husband and partaking in the serenity of the Beaches Red Lane Spa at any of their resorts. This trip however, I was able to take part in a fun new addition for teens and tweens. Ginger Lily is inspired by teens and offers services geared towards a younger set, but you can also book yourself in for Mother/Daughter treatments and for the men, Dads and Dudes. There are hazards of course, introducing your children to the finer things in life this young, but heck as long as you get to enjoy yourself too, I can’t find any harm in that.

The Children’s Programming. How is this luxe you ask? Did I mention there is a couples massage available at the Red Lane Spa? Or that the beds in your rooms are made with super soft linens? Or that there’s a restaurant called Sapodilla’s where the little darlin’s can’t join you? Don’t feel bad for two seconds either because trust me, your kids are not going to miss you. With activities that run from 9am to 10pm, with incredible, professionally trained staff, they’ll be asking, “Mom and Dad, who?”

Voluntourism. I LOVE Beaches (and Sandals) for this. As far as I know they are the only company who actively involves their guests in making the communities they’re in a better place. Be it through a Reading Road Trip to local schools to help with literacy efforts or through helping plant mangroves, the Sandals Foundation, should be as much a part of your vacation at Beaches as a trip to the spa is. And let me tell you this, the spa won’t make you feel this good. It’s true, giving back wins every time.

Butlers. Seriously, do I even need to go on about this? Okay fine, but only to tell you that all butlers at Beaches are trained to exacting standards by the Guild of Professional English Butlers. If you’re in love with Downton Abbey, this no doubt just got you very excited. I’m honestly a little afraid to even try the Butler service because I don’t think I’d ever come home.

The Excursions. Beaches only deals with the best tour operators so you’re almost guaranteed to have an amazing time on any trip you take. If you’re looking for a day to remember forever though, you can’t beat the Kitty Kat with Island Routes. This incredible 65 foot catamaran takes you out on the turquoise waters of Grace Bay for a day of snorkeling, swimming in the ocean and frolicking along the beach of a pristine private cay. Yes, I said frolicking, because that’s what people who don’t have a care in the world do. They frolic.

Sesame Street. I know you’re thinking I’ve gone off the deep end with this one but stay with me. You know and love Sesame Street from when you were a kid. This makes them “vintage” which is considered a form of luxury, right? Maybe it is a stretch, but I will say, getting to hang out with the characters and your kids who now know and love Sesame Street, makes for a very unique bonding moment.  The Sesame Street character breakfast is also by far the best character experience anywhere. Kids are not rushed along, everyone gets time to spend with their favourite furry muppett and there’s even a dance party at the end. I have done this three times and it never gets old.

The Shopping. Oh snap, that’s right, a 7,000 square foot retail village. Here you’ll find high-end jewelry, fashion, candies and souvenirs.

The Company They Keep. You can tell a lot about a person by the company they keep. The same could be said for a business. Beaches has partnerships with Sesame Street, Scratch DJ Academy, The Guild of Professional English Butlers, International Nanny Association, X Box Play Lounge, and Beringer Wines. Oh and you. You’re pretty good company to be with too.

Special thanks to Beaches for inviting Life in Pleasantville to attend the Grand Opening of the Key West Luxury Village in Turks & Caicos. Instead of chanting “serenity now” when I’m stressing, I use “Beaches now”…instant stress relief.