White sand beaches and gentle turquoise waters seem ever-more alluring during winters when the days are curtailed and cold. But preparing for a long-haul trip with children can sometimes feel a bit of a chore. Forget images of jet lag and nightmarish journeys because long distance travelling is easier than you think and the rewards are endless.

Many exotic, luxurious places can seem assigned to honeymooners or romantic get-a-ways but there is an abundance of family-friendly resorts just waiting to be discovered.

Jamaica and luxury are words that don’t always go together. Jamaica and massive all-inclusive hotel, yes. Jamaica and wild spring breaks, also yes.

When we were invited to review the luxury property Bluefields Bay Villas, we weren’t sure what to expect. They told us we would have “staff” and that “every need would be met”. This turned out to be an understatement.

When it comes to beating the winter blues, a family vacation to the Caribbean is a no brainer. For one thing, island resorts offer some of the best supervised children’s programs in the industry, entertaining kids with age-appropriate activities that mix plenty of indoor and outdoor fun. For another, Caribbean destinations offer entire menus of activities that families can do together, from kayaking and snorkeling to even smooching a dolphin or two. The best news is that family travel deals abound in a range of price points, from budget to downright posh.

The trick, however, is deciding which island is the best match for you and your …

I know it sounds crazy, but I had a terrific girls getaway on the Disney Dream.

When I received the invitation for the Disney Dream christening cruise, I immediately had visions of the adult beach at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. White sand, colored umbrellas and fruity drinks (not the lunch box kind). The perfect opportunity to check out the adult amenities I missed on my family’s Disney cruise last summer to the Bahamas.

I was invited down to cover the inauguration of the new “Disney Dream,” the third ship of Disney’s cruising fleet. I had many preconceptions about what the ship would be like (see Hello Disney Dream for details), but here’s what I found most surprising:

Just how much my son loved it

My son kept saying, “This is the best vacation of my life!” Now, this kid has been all over France, Italy, England, Ireland, Caribbean, and the USA — this is the best vacation of his life. Wow!

CB’s Nancy Solomon and Kristi Marcelle are lucky enough to be on the Disney Dream inaugural cruise this week. Talk about media buzz! There’s been a stream of constant chatter. I even saw a tweet yesterday calling the cruise, “The event of the decade.”

We’ll publish official reports from them when they return, but in the meantime, Nancy has sent fun photos for a peek at all the action.

When I received an invitation to the inaugural voyage of the Disney Dream Cruise ship, believe it or not, I paused. While I think it’s fun to go to a Disney park every so often, I’m just not the type that can use my vacation dollars to go to Disney ever year. Plus, I’m terrified of cruises (funny, right?).

One of the things I love about traveling is discovering new things. When planning a trip, there’s always a strong urge to jam in as much vacation fun as possible. But packing your days too tight can be a recipe for disaster. When kids get tired, they get cranky and cranky kids take all of the fun out of even the best family adventures. I always plan trips with the thinking someday I’ll be back. It sets the tone for more relaxed, better vacations.

At Ciao Bambino, we all have long “must go back to” lists. The destinations that top our lists …

Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season in the US. It’s hard to believe Thanksgiving is here Thursday … this also means that the Passports with Purpose travel blogger fundraiser is in full swing.

We announced our incredible Passports with Purpose prize last Monday—a 5-night stay in a suite plus dinner at the Riviera Palm Springs. In addition, we are also thrilled to be part of another truly wonderful prize, a 5-night stay at any of the nine Paradise by Marriott resorts …

The Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas is an amazing seaside playground for kids and grownups. From the large water park, to the amazing number of marine animals, to the 11 pools, Atlantis offers tons to do – all of it with a beach view.

I stayed at Atlantis with my then four-year-old son in the winter of 2010 (we were hosted by the resort, LEGO, and JetBlue) and we spent our three days there exploring every corner of this enormous resort …