By Lynn O’Rourke Hayes
From FamilyTravel.com
With a new year comes a bevy of new hotels and resorts to consider. Here are five to put on your radar.
VAI Resort, Glendale, Arizona
This bold new resort, set in the Arizona desert, will offer a wide variety of sun-drenched entertainment when it opens in late 2023. Within 60 acres, guests will discover a man-made island, where they can dine, or relax in a cabana or on the sandy beach. Expect more than a dozen culinary options, top-notch shopping, views from a tethered hot air balloon and easy access to the adjacent Arizona Cardinals stadium. Families can look forward to the Mattel Adventure Park, where some of their favorite toys and board games come to life in the first-ever Mattel-branded theme park. Thanks to hologram technology, Barbie fans can curate a special wardrobe in the Barbie Beach House Dream Closet Experience. Or why not speed your way around a Hot Wheels go-kart track before taking on the Hot Wheels Boneshaker roller coaster. Youngsters will want to talk with Thomas and his friends on the Thomas Adventure Train, a real-life electric Thomas the Tank Engine.For more: https://vairesort.com
Autocamp, Joshua Tree, California
You’ll find the newest addition to the Autocamp family on 25 acres in the heart of Joshua Tree. Expect the best elements of camping and luxury, combined to create a glamping experience in a remarkable setting. Stay in modern Airstream suites and luxurious tents with boutique-style amenities and mid-century modern design.The project was designed for minimal impact on the environment, incorporating low water use, native plantings, xeriscaping to minimize irrigation, on-site water treatment, a heavy reliance on solar power, and dark sky-compliant lighting to preserve the clear view of stars. Autocamp welcomes family members of all ages from “newborns to great-great grandparents.”
For more: www.Autocamp.com
Spark by Hilton
Road-trippers seeking a simple, clean and reliable stay can look forward to Hilton’s latest addition to their family of brands. Guests checking into a Spark hotel, considered a “premium economy” offering, can expect rates between $85 and $105 a night with locations off interstate highways near restaurants and other services. Spark rooms will feature a clean design with an open closet, in-room refrigerator, bright bathrooms and a workstation designed with a swivel surface that can double as a dining table. Families can look forward to a simple, free breakfast of coffee, juice and a bagel bar with the option to access a 24-hour market offering additional grab-and-go food selections. The first Spark properties are expected to open later this year.For more: www.Hilton.com
Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue Austin, Austin, Texas
This newly opened, 246-room hotel (Feb. 1, 2023) in downtown Austin provides easy access to the Texas state capitol and the historic theaters and other venues that comprise the city’s art and culture district. The 31-story hotel’s interiors evoke a modern, bohemian-chic gallery showcasing an extensive art collection created by artists from the Austin area and beyond. Colorful guest rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows, playful accents like a guitar-amp nightstand, plus welcome perks like Nespresso coffeemakers, BeeKind products, and Drybar hair dryers. Guests can look forward to dining in the highly anticipated full-service restaurant, Luminaire, where charcuterie and seasonal Texas fare will anchor the menu. Luminaire is helmed by San Antonio chef and six-time James Beard Foundation finalist Steve McHugh.For more: www.Hyatt.com
Sam Lord’s Castle, Barbados
This 422-room, eco-luxury, all-inclusive beachfront resort, situated on 72 historic acres, boasts a mile-long private beach for sandcastle building, sunning and a menu of water sports. Families can look forward to golf, tennis, coastal snorkeling, diving expeditions, boogie-boarding, spa time and deep-sea fishing while relaxing into the casual Caribbean vibe. Expect a surplus of family-centered activities and child-friendly amenities and menus designed to delight young travelers and their parents. A kids club for infants through age 12 will be run by professionally trained child-care experts and provide classes, games, outdoor fun and activities to engage and entertain the youngest guests. Opening Spring 2023.For more: https://www.slcwyndham.com
Lynn O’Rourke Hayes (LOHayes.com) is an author, family travel expert and enthusiastic explorer. Gather more travel intel on Twitter @lohayes, Facebook, or via FamilyTravel.com. Copyright 2023 FamilyTravel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
