Whether a high-end vacation is a matter of course for you and your family or a treat reserved for a special occasion, we present Family Travel Forum's 2006 Top 10 Getaways for Luxury Travelers awards.

Top Luxury Beach Resort

Half Moon
Rose Hall
Montego Bay, Jamaica
West Indies 
866/648-6951, 876/953-2211
Travelers who are reluctant to abandon the more traditional elements of luxury, such as formally-attired wait staff, crystal chandeliers and colonnades --even when vacationing on the islands -- might have found their match at the posh Half Moon Resort.

The 398-room property illustrates why bigger can be better:  set on 400 private, lushly landscaped acres with a staggering 51 swimming pools -- including an Olympic-size lap pool -- a Robert Trent Jones Sr. championship golf course, 13 lit tennis courts and serious croquet lawns. Although Half Moon is discreetly undertaking a multi-million-dollar nip and tuck, it has retained that friendly laid-back vibe and cultural richness that make Jamaica so special. Improvements have included a beach restoration project, suite renovations and an upgrade to the already famous golf course.

While there are various types of grand seafront accommodations, we especially like the Royal Villas, which come in four to seven bedroom configurations. For half a century, these sanctuaries have offered families individual swimming pools, laundry service and private staffs, comprising a chef, butler and housekeeper. Recent upgrades have added personal golf carts, bicycles and en suite computers.

There are enough activities to keep even the most finicky family busy, but we think the private two-mile white sand beach deserves special mention. Not only can families swim, snorkel and scuba dive, but there is even a Dolphin Lagoon where children can engage in a variety of age-appropriate dolphin encounters. Horse lovers can ride along the beach through the on-site equestrian center, where offerings go well beyond the usual trail ride to include everything from pony rides for the kids to formal dressage and show jumping lessons.

For more aquatic adventures, children will be happy to know that in May 2007, the Half Moon introduced the Supplied Air Snorkeling for Youth (more simply known as Sasy), for children aged 5-10.  As the kids suite in up in their specially designed children-sized scuba gear, they explore the various pools of the resort as they learn the basics of scuba diving.  Older children, 12 years and up, can participate in the Bubble Makers course which takes scuba education to the next level, allowing the kids to explore the ocean.  Finally, teens 15 years and older are qualified to go over the Open Water Certificate.  And for parents, while the kids are experiencing the wonders of scuba, the Half Moon has just introduced a new parasailing and tubing activities on the waves. 

For a break from the sun, adults can relax at the BodyWorks Spa and Fitness Center or time their visit to coincide with the newly opened and even more luxurious Fern Tree Spa. And for those who think you can’t dine well in the Caribbean, Half Moon boasts six restaurants, including the newly redecorated Il Giardino for Italian fare, Sugar Mill for Jamaican and International cuisine, Akbar/Thai Garden for Thai and Indian food, Royal Stocks for an English Pub lunch and our favorite, the barefoot, beachfront Seagrape Terrace.

Youngsters aged 3 to 12 are among the recipients of the resort’s most exciting renovation: the addition of the new Anancy Children’s Village, named for a clever spider who, with pal Brer Rabbit, is a hero of Jamaican folklore. The brightly colored facility, designed to look like a rural Jamaican homestead, is comprised of five buildings for three age groups, as well as an arts and crafts center. Outdoor equipment has also been added, from swings and sandboxes to a Roger Rulewich-designed putting green adjacent to center. Activities include everything from puppet shows for small fry to tennis clinics for older kids, supervised by caregivers certified in Penn State University's "Better Kid Care" program and taught by the appropriate recreation pros.

2007 rates based on double occupancy from US$250-$470/N for a one-bedroom, two-bath duplex suite to US$680-960/N for a Royal Villa depending on season.