Recommend September 2013 - (Page 68)

 WHAT TRAVEL AGENTS ARE SAYING... “The charm and small town vibe of the Keys plus the proximity to Miami is a main reason why people love Hawks Cay. It’s the only family-friendly property in the Keys—great for all ages. It’s also a year-round property, great for people up north to get away from the cold in winter, and great for Floridians for a weekend getaway with the kids.” —Josh Alexander, Travel Advisor, NY-based Protravel International Sunset Village is one of the resort’s villages. Late last year, the resort underwent a million dollar renovation in its culinary offerings that included the debut of new restaurants, a poolside tiki bar and a lobby cafe serving a full Starbucks menu. One of the new restaurants is Ocean, the resort’s main dining room. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and is the place for a big family sit-down meal with dinner options including seafood, pasta or pizza. Alma, meanwhile, the resort’s signature restaurant serving Nuevo Latino cuisine, is actually a great choice for the couple looking for a more intimate night out, so tell mom and dad to leave the kiddies with grandma and grandpa for the evening (everyone can get back together after dinner around the ﬁre pit, located by the main resort pool, to listen to live music). Families hanging out at the Indies Club can pick up some quick snacks at the Indies Grill, and there’s also casual lounge chair-style dining available at the resort pool and the lagoon from the Beach Grill. Or, if you book clients a villa accommodation, they’ll have a fully equipped kitchen and they can make breakfast, lunch and dinner on their own, and cut down on costs. There’s a grocery store at the marina, for those “oops, I forgot the butter” moments. PALOMA VILLAVERDE DE RICO accommodations to please everyone There’s everything from parasailing and jet ski adventures, to paddleboard rentals, sunset cruises, kayak rentals and offshore and backcountry ﬁshing. To give your clients an idea of the offerings and pricing, the 1-hour jet ski adventure is with a guide and costs $149 per jet ski, while a 2-hour guided kayak tour is $50 pp. The latest addition to the resort is the JetLev ﬂying experience, and a must for all families is experiencing the Dolphin Connection. The facility, in fact, is the only on-property resort dolphin program in the continental U.S., and families can opt to do an in-water dolphin program, where they swim with the dolphins, interact with them dockside, or become a trainer for a day. dining delights Beyond the assortment of activities, dining can become a priority when it comes to planning a family vacation, so when recommending Hawks Cay, let clients know that the resort offers several restaurants, plus pizza delivery service right to the guest’s front door. Oh, and there’s the delectable Emack & Bolio’s Ice Cream Shop at the marina. 68 september 2013 66-69 NA HawksCay.indd 68 And that brings us to the accommodation choices. The resort is divided into villages, plus the main resort itself. In fact, says Lawrence, “we have 37 different room types, including the 2- or 3-bedroom villas. A lot of families really enjoy the villas because they have a washer/dryer, a full kitchen, all the conveniences of home. If it’s an extended stay—say around ﬁve days or more—the villas are the best option because they can unpack and relax and make that space their own while they are here.” The villas are located within the aforementioned villages: Marina Village and Sunset Village, both offering 2-bedroom accommodations; Harbor Village, with 2- and 3-bedroom accommodations; and the Sanctuary Village, featuring 2- and 3-bedroom vacation homes with a private splash pool, roomy backyard, open verandah, spacious living area, and upscale amenities. Additionally, the main resort building itself offers standard guestrooms as well as the very popular lanai guestrooms that walk out directly to the main resort pool. “These are ideal for shorter stays,” says Lawrence, “and they offer two queen beds, so small families really enjoy that. They are unique to our property and are deﬁnitely in high demand.” Rates for the fall are $349 for a 2-bedroom Sunset Villa, and $600 for a 3-bedroom Sanctuary Villa. getting there Hawks Cay is approximately 90 miles south of Miami International Airport (MIA) and 60 miles north of Key West International Airport (EYW), with service from American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and other major airlines. ● Archived related articles (available on recommend.com/magazine/issue-archive): Florida’s Islands: Amelia, Captiva & Sanibel (April 2013) contact information Hawks Cay Resort: (877) 484-9342; hawkscay.com recommend.com 8/22/13 8:58 AM GC13- http://www.recommend.com/magazine/issue-archive http://www.hawkscay.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend September 2013

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: Aston Hotels & Resorts
Tour Talk: Learning Journeys
Norwegian Breakaway
Family-Friendly Cruise Options
Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort
Top Family Resorts
Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo
Panama Travel Planner
Adventures by Disney's Scotland: A Brave Adventure
Club Med Punta Cana
Top Family Resorts
Hawks Cay Resort, Florida Keys
New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom
Globus Bridges Generation Gap With Exciting China Tours
Far-Flung, Family-Friendly Destinations

Recommend September 2013