By Jill Martin

Everyone is looking for a deal these days, and a free kids club included with your resort stay is a great way to cut costs. Read on to discover how to score big savings.

Favorite Freebies

The Colony Beach and Tennis Resort  on Longboat Key has complimentary kids club (Kinder Kamp and Kidding Around) programs, Thursday - Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon, for ages three to 12. This is also a  five-star diamond resort so mom and dad will have a wondrous time as well.

Harbor Beach Marriott Resort and Spa in Fort Lauderdale has a free-standing kids club called The Surf Club, for ages five to 12. Holy moly! It's a childhood fantasy come to life. They have a surf simulator, games galore, computers, a theatre with stadium seating and digital underwater cameras they can use to create souvenirs and crafts. It's fun-tastic.

Club Med Sandpiper in Port St. Lucie is the only all-inclusive resort in the U.S. and some of their kids’ programs are included in your package (ages four to 17 are included for no charge). You can pay extra for the kids younger-than-four and babies program. Yes, babies – as young as 3 months old.

The Holiday Inn Resort Panama City Beach has the amazing Splash Kids Club  - all included – and ages four to 12 are welcome. The fun begins around 9 a.m. and goes all day, till around 4 p.m. Kids can do karaoke, crafts, treasure hunts, limbo and hoola hoop contests… you’ll wish you were a kid again.

The Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Resort offers free morning sessions for their kids clubs. Ages for participation are 5-12. Your kids can stay longer as there is an afternoon session, they can even have lunch, available at an additional cost. Got to love free mornings, though!

Seasonal Specials  

Some resorts offer free programs in conjunction with a special promotion, for either a half day or full day. For example, The Breakers hotel in Palm Beach has offered a complimentary kids club called the Coconut Crew Interactive Camp, during the week (Sunday to Wednesday), and kids can be as young as three. They tend to offer this special in the summer and include things like free kids meals, free continental breakfast and more. Make sure to check for specials at your resort.

Not Free But Worth It

Since I travel with my boys constantly, we've thoroughly investigated our share of kids clubs and we have definite favorites. The programs listed below aren't free, but were my boys’ favorites because of the activities and the staff.

Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach has an amazing area for kids and teens. There is SO much to do and they’ll feed them, too. The decor, the activities, the staff. All are superb. My teen is pretty darn picky and loathes the term kids’ club, but at Coast, he could be cool and entertained.

Hawks Cay Resort in the Florida Keys is the only full-day kids program and, boy oh boy, do they have a list of activities. From feeding fish off the dock to treasure hunts and all kinds of crafts, the list is long on fun. They also offer a Kids Night Out, which gives parents a night off. Did it, loved it!

D-Dawgs KidsZone at the Hilton Daytona Beach Resort is a winner. Seven days a week, from noon till 8 p.m., your kids ages five 12 will beg to come here. There is 1,000 square feet of play area that overlooks one of their outdoor pools. There’s room for arts and crafts, ping-pong, Wii play, games and more. And Every Friday and Saturday night from 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm, it’s Kids Night Out.

By Jill Martin

Everyone is looking for a deal these days, and a free kids club included with your resort stay is a great way to cut costs. Read on to discover how to score big savings.

Favorite Freebies

The Colony Beach and Tennis Resort  on Longboat Key has complimentary kids club (Kinder Kamp and Kidding Around) programs, Thursday - Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon, for ages three to 12. This is also a  five-star diamond resort so mom and dad will have a wondrous time as well.

Harbor Beach Marriott Resort and Spa in Fort Lauderdale has a free-standing kids club called The Surf Club, for ages five to 12. Holy moly! It's a childhood fantasy come to life. They have a surf simulator, games galore, computers, a theatre with stadium seating and digital underwater cameras they can use to create souvenirs and crafts. It's fun-tastic.

Club Med Sandpiper in Port St. Lucie is the only all-inclusive resort in the U.S. and some of their kids’ programs are included in your package (ages four to 17 are included for no charge). You can pay extra for the kids younger-than-four and babies program. Yes, babies – as young as 3 months old.

The Holiday Inn Resort Panama City Beach has the amazing Splash Kids Club  - all included – and ages four to 12 are welcome. The fun begins around 9 a.m. and goes all day, till around 4 p.m. Kids can do karaoke, crafts, treasure hunts, limbo and hoola hoop contests… you’ll wish you were a kid again.

The Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Resort offers free morning sessions for their kids clubs. Ages for participation are 5-12. Your kids can stay longer as there is an afternoon session, they can even have lunch, available at an additional cost. Got to love free mornings, though!

Seasonal Specials  

Some resorts offer free programs in conjunction with a special promotion, for either a half day or full day. For example, The Breakers hotel in Palm Beach has offered a complimentary kids club called the Coconut Crew Interactive Camp, during the week (Sunday to Wednesday), and kids can be as young as three. They tend to offer this special in the summer and include things like free kids meals, free continental breakfast and more. Make sure to check for specials at your resort.

Not Free But Worth It

Since I travel with my boys constantly, we've thoroughly investigated our share of kids clubs and we have definite favorites. The programs listed below aren't free, but were my boys’ favorites because of the activities and the staff.

Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach has an amazing area for kids and teens. There is SO much to do and they’ll feed them, too. The decor, the activities, the staff. All are superb. My teen is pretty darn picky and loathes the term kids’ club, but at Coast, he could be cool and entertained.

Hawks Cay Resort in the Florida Keys is the only full-day kids program and, boy oh boy, do they have a list of activities. From feeding fish off the dock to treasure hunts and all kinds of crafts, the list is long on fun. They also offer a Kids Night Out, which gives parents a night off. Did it, loved it!

D-Dawgs KidsZone at the Hilton Daytona Beach Resort is a winner. Seven days a week, from noon till 8 p.m., your kids ages five 12 will beg to come here. There is 1,000 square feet of play area that overlooks one of their outdoor pools. There’s room for arts and crafts, ping-pong, Wii play, games and more. And Every Friday and Saturday night from 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm, it’s Kids Night Out.

By Wiebke Flegel-Wulf

Überlegt ihr den schönsten Tag eures Lebens in Florida zu feiern? Vielleicht barfuß an einem der langen puderzuckerweißen Strände oder in historischem Ambiente oder doch lieber Unterwasser? Viele Paare reisen jedes Jahr in den Sunshine State, um hier ein unvergessliches Fest zu erleben. Vielleicht wäre das ja auch etwas für euch?

Seid ihr zertifizierteTaucher? Dann könnt ihr in Key Largo euer Ehegelübde an einem Korallenriff oder an der bronzenen „Christ of the Deep“ Statue ablegen. Das Amy Slate Amoray Dive Resort ist spezialisiert auf Unterwasser-Hochzeiten, egal ob eine intime Zeremonie nur für euch gewünscht ist oder eine Gesellschaft von 200 Gästen euch begleitet. Nach dem Auftauchen kann an Bord der Amoray gefeiert werden oder im dazugehörigen Resort direkt am Meer.

In Miami gilt das Luxushotel The Biltmore nicht umsonst als DIE „Grande Dame“. Al Capone hat das Hotel u.a. berühmt gemacht und noch immer gibt es die „Al Capone Suite“ im Turm des Hauses, die viele frisch verheiratete Paare als Hochzeits- oder Flitterwochensuite nutzen. Vielleicht wäre ja die wunderschöne Anlage des Hotels etwas für eure Trauung? Hier gibt es eine große Auswahl an romantischen Spots, beispielsweise der beleuchtete Pool oder das Gartenrestaurant.

Im Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando könnt ihr euch auf einer Insel das Jawort geben und wer ist ein besserer Gratulant als Mickey und Minnie? Eine traumhafte Kulisse bieten außerdem die Hotels im Universal Orlando-Resort - von italienischem Küstenflair bis hin zu Südsee-Romantik. Aber auch Heiraten am Strand, Biker-Hochzeiten oder das Ja-Wort während eines Heißluftballonfluges ist möglich. Der Audio-Podcast von Visit Orlando bringt euch bestimmt auf weitere ungewöhnliche Ideen.

Rund um St. Petersburg und Clearwater sind die langen Sandstrände mit ihren berühmten Sonnenuntergängen die beliebtesten Hochzeitspots. Das Naturschutzgebiet Honeymoon Island nahe Dunedin ist geradezu prädestiniert für eine romantische Trauung am Strand, denn wo sonst gibt es eine komplette Insel, die speziell ausgerichtet ist auf diesen ganz besonderen Tag?

Die natürlichen Strände sind in der Region Anna Maria Island & Long Boat Key immer eine romantische Kulisse! Eine Zeremonie im historischen Powel Crosley Estate, einem luxuriösen Anwesen aus den 1920er Jahren, hat aber auch das gewisse etwas für euren schönsten Tag.

Ihr sucht nach weiteren Ideen und Infos rund um das Heiraten im Sunshine State? Dann klickt auf diesen Link hier.

The Don CeSar Beach Resort and Spa, A Loews Hotel

The Don CeSar Beach Resort and Spa, A Loews Hotel

- St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area CVB

Royal Tea at Powel Crosley Estate

Royal Tea at Powel Crosley Estate

- Rod Millington