Hey there Sporty Mommas! How is your summer going so far?  I am almost settled back in after our family vacation to the Beaches Resort in Turks and Caicos. First of all let me say that it was pretty amazing. Some of you have already seen my pictures on Instagram or Facebook so you know that the Stew Crew had a blast. I wanted to share with you some of our favorite things about the trip and a few tips if you plan to visit.

Why Beaches? Every summer and sometimes spring break we always head to Atlantis. We actually spent the day there on our Disney Cruise back in March. My husband and I were talking with the kids and we all voted on trying something new this summer. I think it is a blessing to be able to take them to different places so they can experience new things. We love the beach and I’ve heard amazing things about the Beaches property so I figured hey let’s give it a try. However, I didn’t book the trip until early May and there wasn’t a lot of availability. (Tip 1: Book early)

We originally booked a five night stay in a family kids suite in the Italian Village. But, about a week before our departure I searched online one more time for any available upgrades. There were two suites available in the Key West Village and since it was five of us for so many nights, I went ahead and changed the room category. We were so glad that we did. The two story, two bedroom Key West Villa was just what we needed. It was equipped with two king beds, two full bathrooms, a kitchen, living and dining area, a cute little porch and two balconies. It was like having our own beach house for 6 days. (Tip 2: Check for upgrades/cancellations)

It was our first time staying at an all inclusive resort with the kids. All of the food, drinks, water activities, x-box lounge and shows were included in our package. We experienced great food and service and they made special accommodations for our son who has a gluten-free diet. The kids enjoyed riding in the golf carts, the slides in the water park,  going to the beach and playing video games in the X-box lounge every night. I even played Just Dance 2019 a few times. There was complimentary childcare and day camps for families that needed it but since we have a tween, we kept them all together.

The best part of the trip for me was to see the kids playing in the water with their dad. They laughed, made videos with the go pro and looked for fish and seashells. That reminds me, I have a bag of shells inside one of my purses. The water was so clear that we could see schools of fish in the shallow area of the beach. The sand was so soft it felt like baby powder under your toes. The sunsets each night were breathtaking. Besides overeating at the buffets and gaining four pounds lol, there were really no complaints.

We wrapped up our trip with an amazing photoshoot. All guests receive a complimentary 20 minute photo session on the beach. I am usually really good at planning our family pictures but I forgot this time. (#mombrain) At the last minute I threw together our outfits. All we needed was a white top and denim right? (Tip 3: Coordinate your family photo look in advance) So if you are looking for a great all inclusive vacation, I highly recommend Beaches. The service, food, beaches and smiles were worth every penny. Did you go on vacation yet?

XO,

Sharonda