Simpson Bay Beach Resort

THE VILLAS AT SIMPSON BAY BEACH RESORT & MARINA

Photo Credit: Simpson Bay Beach Resort

Simpson Bay Beach Resort

Since my younger daughter was having fun at sleepaway camp, we thought it was the perfect time for my husband and I to take our oldest daughter away on a trip since she will be heading off to college a year and a half. Since we’d been to St. Martin two times before and always loved it, we knew it would be an amazing destination for our getaway. The Simpson Bay Beach Resort had everything we would need for our stay.

After a long day of flying from Boston (we had a delay and a long layover…yuck.), we finally felt the Caribbean sun on our face and could smell the salty air. Check-in was fast and informative and we couldn’t wait to head to our suite since we didn’t know what to expect.  Our jaws dropped when we saw what our accommodations looked like.

Click here to read all about our stay


De Palm Island, Aruba

De Palm Island

(Aruba)

De Palm Island is a wonderful place to escape to spend the day relaxing and playing in the sun. Swim, eat, drink, and enjoy a stunning little island.

Getting to the Island

If you have your own transportation, you can drive yourself to the ferry terminal. However, if you have no car, no worries…you can get picked up from your hotel by the De Palm bus and they’ll drive you over.  Once you get to the terminal, jump on the small ferry and take a lovely 10-minute ride over to the island.

boat ride to flamingos on De Palm Island, Aruba

Check Out the Beach

We found a great spot in the first row of papillons and had an amazing view of the stunning beach area.  Just look at this view! To warn you, a lot of the beach had rough coral at the entrance.  We figured out that if you went in through the left side of the beach, there was no coral.  I felt bad for people walking into the water and twisting their faces in pain.  You may want to bring water shoes. The beach is smaller than I expected, but it was fine since people seem to spread out on the island.

Snorkel Time

This was our favorite activity we did n the island and we actually did it twice. They provide flippers and snorkels and everyone must wear a floatation device.

You enter the water off this dock.

dock on De Palm Island, Aruba

As soon as you enter the water you start seeing fish.

snorkeling at De Palm Island, Aruba

The reef is not colorful, but it is still really pretty.  There were so many different fish and many of them come right up to you.

We had such a great time! You may want to bring an underwater camera.

snorkeling at De Palm Island, Aruba

Adorable Flamingos

These adorable birds were so beautiful and we couldn’t get enough of them.

flamingos on De Palm Island, Aruba

You could take turns going into the enclosure to take pictures with them but you can’t touch or feed them.

flamingos on De Palm Island, Aruba

Look at how beautiful they are!

flamingos on De Palm Island, Aruba

Slides

A set of cement steps (lots of them) bring you to a Body Drop Slide.  I was in awe of my daughter as I watched the tube close around her, heard the countdown, and then watched the floor drop from under her as she slid down the steep slide.  I didn’t do that one, but I loved the two twisting slides.  They were especially fun when you’re racing each other down.

Kids’ Waterpark

Young kids looked like they were having a blast in the kids’ waterpark. It has water cannons, tipping water buckets, slides, and more.

Time to Eat

The island has two spots to eat…the grill and the buffet.  The grill has items like burgers, French fries, and hot dogs.

There is also a buffet with salads, potato salad, coleslaw, fish, chicken, desserts, etc. All food on the island is all-you-can-eat! Look at the gorgeous view you have as you eat.

lunch flamingos on De Palm Island, Aruba

There is also a bar that has cocktails, beer, and soft drinks.  Best part…it’s an open bar!

What Else Can You Do There?

For an extra cost, you can do Sea Treks, Snuba, hair braiding, massages, temporary tattoos, and premium seating.

How Long Can Your Stay on the Island?

It is open daily from 10:00- 5:00.

How Much Does it Cost?

Adults (13+) $119

Kids (4-12) $95

Kids under 4 are free

Tips for a Perfect Day

You can rent beach cabanas and private cabanas but you may want to do it in advance because there was none left when we got there.

They offer daily salsa lessons.

Banana boat rides are offered throughout the day.

Bring a change of clothes.  There are outdoor showers to get all the sand and salt off your skin.

You need to bring your own towels.

Don’t forget sunscreen, sunglasses, and hats.

Click here for their website.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/depalmisland/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/depalmisland

 

 

 

 


Marriott Aruba Ocean Club

Marriott Aruba Ocean Club

Photo Credit: Marriott

Marriott Aruba Ocean Club

Our next stop on our mother/daughter Aruba trip was the beautiful Marriott Aruba Ocean Club.  We chose to stay here because we wanted a little more space to stretch out after sharing a room for the first two nights. This hotel was more of a condo style, so we had a bit more privacy. We didn’t have far to walk since the hotel is right next door to the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, where we had spent our last two nights.

CLICK HERE TO READ ALL ABOUT OUR STAY!


Itinerary for Nassau Bahamas

beach in Bahamas

Bahamas is a gorgeous Caribbean island that has powder-white sand, emerald water, and a tropical feel.  It’s close location to Florida makes it an easy flight. It is perfect for families, couples, girlfriend getaways, solo travelers, and couple’s trips.  Here is an itinerary for a perfect week in Nassau, Bahamas.

Where do you fly in?

The best place to fly in is

CLICK HERE TO FIND AN AMAZING FLIGHT

Day 1: Pool & Straw Market

I usually spend my first day in the Caribbean hanging out by the pool/beach of my hotel/rental.  Make yourself a cocktail and lounge in the sunshine

In the afternoon, head over to the Straw Market to take in some of the local culture. It’s a great place to buy handwoven straw crafts.  (Their baskets are amazing.) It is also a nice place to buy souvenirs.

straw market nassau bahamas

Photo Credit: Expedia

Day 2: Sandy Toes

Take a 25-minute boat ride to the island.  So, what is the best thing to do here? SWIM WITH PIGS! I was shocked at how clean the beach/water was with pigs walking around, but it was spotless.  They were so adorable and we had fun petting them.

swimming with Pigs in Bahamas

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Bermuda…Armchair Escape

We continue to believe that in the future the borders will be open, airplanes will cross oceans, people will fill restaurants, and we will all get out our passports.

As for now, take a peek at these pictures to inspire your next big adventure!

Today’s Armchair Escape is BERMUDA…

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Bahamas…Armchair Escape

We continue to believe that in the future the borders will be open, airplanes will cross oceans, people will fill restaurants, and we will all get out our passports.

As for now, take a peek at these pictures to inspire your next big adventure!

Today’s Armchair Escape is BAHAMAS

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St. Lucia…Armchair Escape

Armchair Escape…St. Lucia

We continue to believe that in the future the borders will be open, airplanes will cross oceans, people will fill restaurants, and we will all get out our passports.

As for now, take a peek at these pictures to inspire your next big adventure!

Today’s Armchair Escape is ST. LUCIA

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Sandy Toes: Rose Island, Bahamas

I remember when I was a kid, I was jealous of the characters on Gilligan’s Island because they had this beautiful piece of paradise all to themselves.  I dreamed of being Maryanne (Ginger’s voice drove me nuts!)  Well, with Sandy Toes, on Rose Island you can live that dream as you spend the day on your own private island. 

 Your adventure begins when you are picked up at the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal in their double decker catamaran. Since we decided to take a water taxi to cross under the bridge (huge mistake!!!) we ran to catch the ferry because it only leaves once…10:00…after that you’re out of luck.  We were thrilled that we made it and with our complimentary rum punch in our hands, we settled in for our ride.  Check out where my youngest got to sit.

  During your 25-minute boat ride, you’ll enjoy stunning views of the Bahamas coastline as the wind blows through your hair. Sit back and watch the crystal blue water soar under you as you head to Paradise. 

The biggest surprise of the day was that no one else except the people on our boat would be on the island.  We would have this paradise all to ourselves.

 The sand was a white powder and the water was transparent.  The beach was immaculately clean, which I had wondered about since I knew there were pigs that swam here.  We grabbed one of the many lounge chairs and settled in for a bit before we couldn’t resist the water anymore. 

The crystal-clear water was calling to us and we were so excited to spend our day basking in the sunshine and having more fun. 

After a quick dip, we decided to hang out in one of the beach hammocks. 

As I lounged, I stared at the rocky coastline and listened to the waves crashing onto the shore.

 It really was Heaven…see…

I could have spent hours there and was considering taking a nap when all of the sudden I saw these cutie pies come out for a swim.  I jumped up and ran over to give them a pat. We loved hanging out with these big guys!

And we fell in love with the 14-week-old piglets!  Seriously…how could you not!!! They were so well-behaved and knew more tricks than my puppy…sit, stay, come, heal.  It was very impressive. 

My girls got to swim with them

And give them some love.

We wanted to take them home with us!!  The staff loves them so much and you can see the care that they take in keeping them healthy.  I love that they never make the pigs do anything they don’t want to do.  These adorable pigs have been raised here since birth. They are vet checked and cared for on the regular, and only given the cleanest diet.  They are given plenty of love, sunshine, shade, and even sunscreen!

Since we had brought snorkel equipment to use at the condo, we decided to bring them.  We had so much fun swimming around the coral reef and felt comforted that a guide was with us. We saw huge fan coral, tons of tropical fish, and lots of brain coral.  We couldn’t get enough of it, and they didn’t rush us.   They have snorkel equipment for all ages and they also provide life jackets.  This is where we started our snorkeling adventure.

Lunch was served from 1:00-2:00. They had a buffet that served a variety of local cuisine such as barbecue chicken, peas and rice, vegetable pasta salad, hot dogs, garden salad, and fresh rolls.  There was a beautiful view from the dining area. There were also lounge chairs if you’re too full to go too far…lol.

The Beach Bar had sweeping views of the water!

I enjoyed a frozen margarita…ok ok…I enjoyed three!

And my girls loved their frozen virgin Pina coladas.

I can’t believe how inexpensive it is to spend the day here!

$119 for adults and

$75 for children ages 4-12.

Tips for a perfect day

The island offers restrooms, changing rooms, and shower facilities.

There is a gift shop on the island.

Kayaks are available to rent for $15.

Tubes are available to rent for $10

You can purchase a bus transfer from your hotel.

Boat leaves daily at 10:00 from the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal.

Boat leaves Rose Island at 3:30 to take you back.

Get there early so you don’t have to rush like we did!

Take a cab across the bridge…NOT the water taxi because they only run when they’re full.

Guests should bring:

Towels

Sunscreen

Money (Cash, Visa, or Mastercards)

Swimsuit

Camera (waterproof camera is even better)

Give them a follow!

Website: http://www.bahamasbluelagoon.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DolphinEncounters/?fref=ts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlueLagnIslnd

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluelagoonisland/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/BlueLagnIslnd/

  A warm THANK YOU to Sandy Toes for having us as your guest.  We had an incredible last day in the Bahamas and it was the perfect place to sit back, relax, and enjoy all the sun, sand, and water that is so unique to your lovely island.  I would recommend it to anyone visiting the Nassau area.  As always, all experiences and opinions are 100% that of MyTravelingKids.com.


Blue Lagoon Island

Who doesn’t daydream of spending the day on their own private tropical island? A trip to Blue Lagoon Island will let you live out this dream as you spend the day lounging on a pristine beach or having water adventures…whatever your heart desires. 

It all starts as soon as you are picked up in their high-speed, double-decker catamaran.  We enjoyed stunning views of Nassau Harbor and Paradise Island as crystal blue water soared under us.  When we pulled up to the island the sand was a white powder and the lounge chairs called to us as we walked down the dock. 

The clear turquoise waters looked like a scene from a movie and we couldn’t wait to jump in. 

As you lay in the hammocks, or sit in lounge chairs, you hear the chirping of tropical birds as the breeze flows through the coconut palm trees…but there was no time for sitting around because we had some adventures to do first!

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Atlantis Aquaventure Day Pass

When you think of Nassau, it’s hard not to picture the picturesque towers of Atlantis Resort.  This 141-acre water scape can be your playground for the day when you buy an Aquaventure Day Pass

So, what is included in your Atlantis Aquaventure Day Pass?

Water Slides – 18 thrilling water slides

River Rides – The Current & The Rapids

Pools – 11 distinctly different pools

Beach – Miles of white sand & crystal water

The Dig Aquarium

Lounge Chairs & Towels

My girls were at Atlantis for one reason…the water park! With 18 different water slides, it was hard to decide which to go on first.  Here were some of our favorites:

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