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Old Jun 16, 2006 | 10:08 am
  #1  
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Help finding the perfect spring break

I am trying to find the perfect spring break hotel for next April. I have a 12 yr old and 13 yr old. They are not strong swimmers but love to snorkle. My wife insists we go some place very safe. What Marriott's would you experts suggest. I am Marriott Plat and AA Exec Plat. Points and miles are no problem. I am just looking for a great place.
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Old Jun 16, 2006 | 10:23 am
  #2  
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Have you considered Discovery Cove in Orlando? Great snorkeling adventure for the kids, lots of great hotels to choose from, and of course the theme parks.
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Old Jun 16, 2006 | 10:24 am
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Are you looking to stay somewhere in the states?
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Old Jun 16, 2006 | 10:28 am
  #4  
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I don't care where in the world we go as long as I can get there with AA miles
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Old Jun 16, 2006 | 10:32 am
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"I don't care where in the world we go as long as I can get there with AA miles"

How many miles do yo have to spend?
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Old Jun 16, 2006 | 10:34 am
  #6  
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About 420,000 and my wife has about 120,000 we also have about 250,000 Marriott points
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Old Jun 16, 2006 | 10:51 am
  #7  
 
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Originally Posted by aaexecplat
I am trying to find the perfect spring break hotel for next April. I have a 12 yr old and 13 yr old. They are not strong swimmers but love to snorkle. My wife insists we go some place very safe. What Marriott's would you experts suggest. I am Marriott Plat and AA Exec Plat. Points and miles are no problem. I am just looking for a great place.

Grand Cayman.

While some will argue that the Marriott there isn't the best (I personally liked it), there is a man-made reef right off the hotel beach/shore that the kids can snorkle to. There are also many fish in the water that they can see at knee-depth.

Additionally, you can take an excursion out to Stingray City, where the kids can interact with the stingrays. The water is about 5 feet deep there and little or no real swimming is necessary as you basically stay stationary.

Also, a great Turtle Farm if that interests them (interactive, but just exhibits; no snorkeling there.)

The island is extremely safe.

If that doesn't do it for you, Cancun would work. Both the Marriott and the JW there are beautiful resorts. The immediate beach there has high waves and looks dangerous but I've found on several visits that there really is no undertow. No snorkeling from the beach there but you can go on snorkel excursions all over Cancun. Take a ferry to Isla Mujeres and they can snorkel there as well.

A third option would be Aruba. No real snorkeling at those resort beaches either but many snorkeling excursions are available. We just took the Jolly Pirates snorkel cruise from in front of the Marriott Surf Club in Aruba. They stopped at 3 sites, including a WWII sunken ship wreckage that was AMAZING! Kids wouldn't have to be strong swimmers to do this but they did provide good quality life vests that would work very well for them. The excursion was about $30 pp (many local discounts available as well) and included free booze. Crew was fantastic and friendly. They had a rope swing in the front that everyone had a ball jumping off the ship from. Great way to spend an afternoon.

Snorkel sites were close to land so there is no intimidation factor.

The Marriott complex in Aruba is great and has a fantastic pool area for the kids at the Surf Club. Aruba is safe as well.

Hope that helps.
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Old Jun 16, 2006 | 1:13 pm
  #8  
 
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For our Spring Breaks, I always tried to go somewhere there would be no college/teenagers running around in groups unsupervised. I like the JW Cancun, JW Ihilani in Hawaii & Marriott Frenchmans Reef in St Thomas. All very beautiful!!!!!

Last edited by janhigginskcmo; Jun 16, 2006 at 4:20 pm
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Old Jun 16, 2006 | 3:08 pm
  #9  
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While I love the suggestions below I'd recommend Costa Rica, Los Suenos is terrific
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Old Jun 20, 2006 | 11:12 pm
  #10  
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JW Ihilani on Oahu is located on a lagoon that is not bad for snorkeling.
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Old Jun 21, 2006 | 9:41 pm
  #11  
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Aruba

I would give Aruba serius consideration
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