When I was growing up, my grandmother, aunt, uncle and two cousins lived down the block from me.  Within walking distance, or maybe a short subway or car ride away lived many other relatives, and it was quite common for us to all get together for dinner on Sundays, especially while my grandmother was alive.  While the grown-ups chatted, gossiped and complained, the cousins would play games (usually made-up ones), tease each other and make mischief.  When I told my son about these get-togethers, he couldn’t imagine what it was like to have so much family nearby.  Of course, many of his relatives live in Florida, North Carolina, Connecticut, New Jersey, Illinois, Colorado and California, so visiting with them is a rare event.  Today, the concept of "extended families" is somewhat unusual and due to jobs, climate and just personal preference, we find ourselves spread out across the country, or even in foreign lands.

In answer to this phenomenon, family reunions have become increasingly popular and, according to the Travel Industry Association of America, 34% of American adults have traveled to a family reunion in the past three years, and 22% have done so this past year. These events can range in size from a multi-generational trip with a few relatives to a genealogist’s fantasy of a few hundred people. If you choose the right location, everyone can reunite while enjoying favorite activities as well as a break from their normal routine. 

Planning such an event can be a large undertaking.  While there’s lot of practical information out there about the logistics of organizing the group, dividing the tasks and setting a budget, perhaps the biggest question is "where should it be."  Considering several criteria such as geographic location (35% of reunion attendees travel 500 or more miles from home), available transportation, the variety of accommodations in different price ranges, activities to please every age, unique attractions, dining options and group discounts, FTF has selected the following as the “Top Ten Getaways for Family Reunions."  More detailed information about each venue is available elsewhere on FamilyTravelForum.com.

TOP ALL-INCLUSIVE GETAWAY

Club Med Sandpiper
Port St. Lucie, Florida
800/CLUB MED

Club Med offers over 50 years of experience providing all-inclusive getaways to travelers throughout the world.  Long-known for outstanding facilities and a wide array of activities, great childcare programs, excellent food and nightly entertainment, Club Med is ever popular with families and children.  Recently, their Total All-Inclusive initiative has added up-graded dining and all-day snacks, as well as complete bar service to their packages, which now caters to reunion groups.

The Club Med Sandpiper village is located on the Saint Lucie River, 45 minutes drive north of Palm Beach and two hours from Orlando.  Unique in North America as the only Club Med village offering childcare for children from 4-months-old through 13-years-old, plus a teen program during school holidays, it could be just right for your reunion.

In addition to a myriad of watersports, Sandpiper’s extensive facilities include a tennis complex with 19 courts, a recently renovated 18-hole golf course, four pools, a Big Top Circus tent with flying trapeze and an in-line skating school.  Plus, excursions are available to the Kennedy Space Center, Seaworld, Disney World and Universal Studios as well as to Miami and Palm Beach.

Twenty-seven balconied Family Suites, which are located near the center of the village, close to the pool and restaurants, consist of two connected rooms each with their own access door and full bathroom.  Bedding configurations in the suite include one room with a king bed and a sofa, and the other room with two full size beds, a sofa, and extra room for a crib.  Families are provided with a stocked mini fridge full of kid-friendly snacks and drinks, a DVD player with a selection of family favorite movies and cartoons, and turn-down service with fresh baked cookies for the kids, turning these rooms into multi-purpose reunion lounges.  Handicapped-accessible rooms are available.

You can contact Club Med on line, by telephone, or through a travel agent to arrange your reunions.  To be assured that the accommodations your group requires are available, recommended lead time is three to six months.  7N family reunion special rates start at $500/pp.  While camp programs for kids over 4-years-old are included in Club Med’s rates, there is a charge for the infant and toddler programs.  However, guests of the Family Suites receive a 25% discount off the Baby and Petit Club rates.  When offered, special Reunion Packages (visit www.clubmedgroups.com) include a free room for your group's organizer if the group exceeds 20 people and books a minimum of 10 rooms.  Additionally, your family can enjoy a private beach picnic and, to complete the package, take home a group portait photo as a great souvenir.