FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

5 of the Best Resort Kids Clubs for Teenagers

by Susan Finch

Oct 25, 2017

© Goodween123 | Dreamstime

Age Specific / Kids

Traveling parents reared their kids on toddler and pint-sized kids clubs with arts and crafts, watersports and a camp-like setting. But teens have largely been left out (or worse) forced to hang out with their younger siblings. Today more resorts offer teens their own clubs that go beyond basic game rooms and rolled out night clubs and adventures. Here are five of the best to look out for before booking your next vacation.

Tropical Beach Resort

© Nadezhda1906 | Dreamstime

Beaches Resorts

Parents may know the Beaches Resorts brand from its Sesame Street kids club and branded daytime parades, but there is plenty for teens to do too. There’s an XBox lounge, scuba and watersports just for teens. Beaches also has a tween- and teen-only hotspot called Club Liquid where they can get away from their parents for a few hours, talk and listen to music. Musically minded kids will love the Scratch DJ Academy while teens looking to contribute can join the Sandals Foundation and visit local schools to donate books and read to kids.

Mohonk Mountain House

Tucked away in the mountains of New Paltz, N.Y., the Mohonk Mountain House designed a casual, supervised teen program for 13- to 17-year-olds with rock scrambles, tomahawk throwing and disco golf. There’s also a Teen Lounge with a PlayStation 2 and Wii for video game lovers with movies and games for kids who want to hang out and talk. Adventurous kids who want to get into the mountain air can sign-up for mountain biking and archery to brush up on their skills and brag about to their friends later.

Teen girls tubing

© Susan Leggett | Dreamstime

Windjammer Landing

St. Lucia’s all-inclusive Windjammer Landing is reminiscent of a Mediterranean Village with all the luxuries you expect from a beachside resort like fine dining and private villas. Teens have plenty of activities to choose from to stay busy all day from water skiing to tube riding. There’s also pool volleyball and coconut bowling on the beach. And if your teens dare to be seen with you in public later, they can join you to see the limbo dancers and fire eaters at night.

Grand Velas Riviera Maya

Grand Velas Resorts earned some street cred with teens when they opened high-tech teen lounges. Their Riviera Maya location draws teens to its activities like Play Stations, air hockey, billiards and nighttime karaoke with 45,000 songs in multiple languages. That way they can show off to their new friends while the parents enjoy a quiet dinner at one of the resort restaurants.

Smuggler’s Notch

Your teens might take the “Hang out, have fun, be cool, and no parents allowed” motto at Smuggler’s Notch a little too seriously. Kids ages 13 to 18 can indulge in some XBox, play ping-pong and hit the snack bar. And when your teens are ready to venture outdoors, they can hit the slopes with Alpine skiing, snowboarding or telemark skiing with more than 310 acres of ski and snowboarding trails.

The point of kids and teen clubs isn’t so much to give families separation, but just make the entire experience more enjoyable. Everyone needs downtime away from each other on vacation, so you might as well indulge your teens in age-appropriate activities where the staff keeps an eye on them while you relax.

#WhereverFamily

Insta Feed
Destinations / North America
Sep 25, 2023

Are you Brave Enough to go to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios?

Only the bravest of family travelers should venture to Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights. Every year, Universal Orlando turns into the spookiest place in Florida, if not in the country. On select nights throughout the season, visitors and locals alike can head to the popular amusement park for frights, scares and thrilling adventures. Explore 10 terrifying haunted houses; five scare zones; live entertainment; and themed attractions, food and merchandise.

Interior Upgrades Begin Rolling Out Across United Fleet

United Airlines is in the midst of a major initiative to modernize its fleet over the next several years. After first announcing the plan in 2021, planes fitted with United’s signature interior are finally beginning to appear across the airline’s narrowbody fleet of Boeing and Airbus planes. United flyers are sure to notice these enhancements from the moment they step on board: Each new or updated plane sports remodeled seats, seatback entertainment screens for everyone, Bluetooth connectivity and more, all adding up to a better experience on every journey.

Destinations / North America
Sep 25, 2023

South County, Rhode Island, Is Made for Families This Fall

With kids back in school and the grueling temperatures of summer finally behind us, life is starting to get back into the routine of fall. That doesn’t mean, however, that family fun has to stop. Big international trips may not be practical for all family travelers this time of year, but places like South County in Rhode Island offer so many fun things to do for families, a quick trip to this East Coast haven is practically a must.

Destinations / Europe
Sep 22, 2023

Take Part in England’s Exmoor Dark Skies Festival Dusk Wildlife Safaris and Children’s Art Competition

Planning a trip to the United Kingdom soon? Time your travel for the Exmoor Dark Skies Festival in Somerset, England, from Oct. 13 to 29. The setting is Exmoor National Park, located within a gorgeous mix of farmland, wild forests, stunning valleys and moorlands in South West England.

United Airlines Celebrates its First Class of United Aviate Graduates

As the only major U.S. airline to own a flight school, United Airlines already hit a major milestone, and now the carrier celebrates another important — and historic — step as the inaugural class of United Aviate Academy pilots graduates, leading the next generation of aviators. The 51 students in the graduating class were majority, at 80 percent, women and people of color — another stride toward United’s goal of training 5,000 new pilots by 2030 with half women or POC.

Destinations / North America
Sep 22, 2023

These Omni Hotels and Resorts Have Haunting Ghost Stories for a Spooky Stay

Part of a family who just loves a good scare or ghost story? This fall, wherever your travels might take you, chances are you’ll be near an Omni hotel or resort with a history of haunted sightings and other scary happenings. So, why not learn a bit about where you’re staying to make the experience all the more eerie …