Beach Vacations for Two Generations

A reader writes that several years ago, she promised her daughter that she would take her on a wonderful trip of her choice (within reason, of course) for graduation, which is this spring. The daughter likes beaches and dolphins. The mother wants this trip to be memorable for both of them.

What would I tell this reader? What matters most on this trip is your time together at a pivotal moment in your daughter’s life. I recommend choosing a special place where you can stay put; forget rushing from site to site. You both deserve to be pampered--because she finished college and because you helped her achieve that milestone.

With all this in mind, my suggestion is Hawaii. It’s guaranteed to produce memories to last a lifetime while allowing you to stick to your budget.

Your new graduate will love learning to surf, relaxing in the lavish resort spas and the chance to get a massage under swinging palms. Talk about her future as you watch a glorious sunset. She can even swim with the dolphins at the Hilton Waikoloa Village on the island of Hawaii (telephone [800] 445-8667, Internet https://www.hilton.com) or on Oahu at the Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hotel (tel. [800] 367-2525, https://www.mandarin-oriental.com/kahala).

Los Angeles-based Pleasant Holidays says it offers more packages to the Hawaiian Islands than any other travel company, with many budget-priced deals starting at under $1,000 per person, per week, including air fare. Tel. (800) 2-HAWAII (242-9244), https://www.pleasantholidays.com.

I encourage other readers to write or e-mail me to tell where you’d suggest going for a “special” trip with the kids--or where you’ve traveled that’s been especially memorable. (E-mail me at eogintz@aol.com or write Taking the Kids, Tribune Media Services, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611.)

Here’s good news for the scuba-diving parents who asked for “places to go where we will feel confident leaving our child while we dive.” The San Francisco family travel agency Rascals in Paradise is run by two diving moms who can recommend several resorts that offer first-rate child care and diving.

“You’ll want to seek places where the dive destinations are close to the resort,” suggests co-owner Theresa Detchemendy. Rascals in Paradise has suggestions from Akumal Club Caribe, south of Cancun, to Coyaba Resort in Grenada. Tel. (800) U-RASCAL (872-7225), https://www.rascalsinparadise.com.

If your budget is flexible, one option is Beaches Turks and Caicos, an all-inclusive resort that offers excellent diving as well as child care for all ages, even newborns. Rates this winter start at about $700 per night per couple, without air fare. Ask about Champagne express charter service from major U.S. markets. Tel. (800) BEACHES (232-2437), https://www.beaches.com.

Budget-minded divers whose children are at least 2 can try Club Med in St. Lucia and the Dominican Republic; both offer diving and child care. Costs start at less than $1,000 per week per person, plus air and diving; $84 for toddlers, $322 for kids 4-11. Tel. (800) CLUBMED (258-2633), https://www.clubmed.com.

The time I vacationed with my kids at Club Med, there were many single parents--divorced, widowed and, like me, with spouses who couldn’t leave work.

One of the best deals going is Club Med’s Family Escape: You choose the week, and they choose the family village for $899 per person per week, including air fare.

Cruises can also be a good bet, though more expensive for a parent with one child because discounts are based on third and fourth passengers in the same cabin.

Divorced and widowed parents tell me they often successfully join forces with other families on vacation, splitting costs and child-care chores. Dad gets some adult company and time to himself; Junior travels with built-in playmates.

It’s often easier to connect with other families at smaller resorts, especially if there are some organized family and children’s activities.

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Taking the Kids appears the first and third week of every month.