Kauai Luxe Family Eco-Adventures and Voluntourism Ideal for Active Teens
Hawaii has been hurting, so there are lots of value offers floating out there in the Pacific, with some on beautiful Kau'ai. We like two that bundle in lots of adventures, making them ideal family vacations for active adults and kids. And if you have any time and energy left after taking advantage of the activity programs to actually explore the rest of the island, Fran Falkin's comprehensive guide points out Kau'ai's highlights.
One great deal from the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort & Spa is a combination of two of the resort's most popular packages, making for extra family-oriented savings. Not familiar with this hotel? The Grand Hyatt Kauai is a luxury resort overlooking Poipu's Keoneloa Bay, with 602 spacious rooms tucked around 50 oceanfront acres of manicured gardens. It has seven restaurants and six lounges, a water playground with a river pool, waterfalls and a 150-foot water slide, a saltwater lagoon, tennis, the award-winning Anara Spa, and it offers guests a chance to golf at the adjacent Poipu Bay Resort.
Their new Family Plan offers a 50% discount on an adjoining room, a 5th free night and more. And in addition to this, families are offered complimentary daily breakfast buffet for 2 adults and 2 children, an upgraded room view category for both rooms, one free in-room movie, and a bottomless cup for soda and juice for those 12 and under.
Stay for a week and the resort estimates you'll save about 45% off the regular rate -- which comes out to a discount of $2,300-$3,600. With these savings, you can design your own ideal vacation, though of course the skillful concierges at the Hyatt have lots of ideas. Six days on Kauai could include time at the resort's water playground; swimming in their saltwater lagoon or beautiful beach; participating in lei making, hula, or ukulele lessons so you can feel really "local;" trying sea kayaking; snorkeling, surfing or sailing; touring the botanical gardens or hopping an ATV; joining the Camp Hyatt or frolicking in the spa; watching whales or sea turtles offshore.
Additionally, the resort has partnered with four diverse non-profit organizations on Kauai to develop voluntourism programs that guests may choose to join for all or part of a day excursions. Options include trail clearing, working with local animals and beach cleanups at the area's popular surfing spots. Intrigued? To take advantage of this special rate and these opportunities, call your travel agent, or the resort at800/447-3334 and request offer code FAMSUM. This offer is valid June 1 – December 19, 2009. For more information, visit grandhyattkauai.com.
Another offer we also like, because eco-adventures and active daytrips can be expensive, is at the Kaua'i Marriott Resort and Beach Club. Here, super active eco-adventures for a family of four are included in hotel room rates. Isn't that a great incentive to get your teens out of bed early?
The Kaua'i Marriott is offering the "Kaua'i Eco-Adventure Package" for guests until October 2, 2009 (blackout dates may apply). For a minimum four nights' stay, the well priced "Kaua'i Eco-Adventure Package" offers a wide range of outdoor activities that's sure to please teens. The 365-room resort is situated on Kalapaki Beach in Lihu'e, and this package offers rates starting at $455/N for a pool, partial ocean, or ocean view room, or an oceanfront one-bedroom suite, as well as daily breakfast for two. Two kids under 18 can share parents' room at no cost, and other amenities include babysitting, room service and valet dry cleaning.
During their 4N stay, guests will have a choice of two out of the five outdoor adventures offered, complimentary for two people (kids rates apply). Adventures include Napali Coast Snorkeling, Zip Line Adventure Tour, ATV Ranch and Mountain Tour, Waterfall Picnic Horseback Ride, and Mountain Tubing Adventure.
Well, we've all haerd of snorkeling, but Emele Freiberg, an adventurer whose PR firm represents Kau'ai, was regaling us during her recent New York visit with Kau'ai's unique types of adventure. "One thing the locals love is mud-bug touring," she began. It took a few minutes for us to understand that this "messy" sport is all about taking ATVs out in the winter rainy season, and splashing around off-road. Fun! Next up, Emele loves mountain tubing. "Teens really like this sport, which is navigating through the island's irrigation ditches on an inner tube." Hmmm... "Imagine when it's dark, navigating with a headlight on your helmet, very cool." Way to go Emele, we'll follow you anywhere on Kau'ai!
There's plenty of non-adventure activity for other days, because the family-friendly Kau'ai Marriott also offers complimentary activities including surf lessons, stand up paddling, snorkeling, kayaking, sailing and outrigger canoe paddling on Kalapaki Beach. For more information and reservations for this resort, contact your travel agent or call 800/228-9290 (visit the Kauai Marriott website for online reservations and toll-free phone numbers outside the US). Be sure to mention promotional code ZJL.
