Hotel: Hilton Curacao

The Spread:
The island of Curaçao is 40 miles long and 35 miles off the coast of Venezuela. The Hilton, located at Piscadera Bay, ten minutes from the international airport and four miles from the capital city of Willemstad on the island's southeast coast, combines the best of a tropical resort, offering the convenience of the city and its culture at mid-range prices. The 23 landscaped acres include 196 rooms, two private beaches, three pools, three restaurants, and plenty of water sports including a PADI dive center and a spa. Snorkeling, paddleboat outings, deep sea fishing, and diving are available for a fee.

Why Families Love It:
Hilton's family-friendly offerings include free stays for kids under 18 sharing a room with their parents, complimentary meals for children under five, and complimentary breakfast plus 50 percent off most other meals for ages five to 12 (with some restrictions). Families who book a

The Spread:
The island of Curaçao is 40 miles long and 35 miles off the coast of Venezuela. The Hilton, located at Piscadera Bay, ten minutes from the international airport and four miles from the capital city of Willemstad on the island's southeast coast, combines the best of a tropical resort, offering the convenience of the city and its culture at mid-range prices. The 23 landscaped acres include 196 rooms, two private beaches, three pools, three restaurants, and plenty of water sports including a PADI dive center and a spa. Snorkeling, paddleboat outings, deep sea fishing, and diving are available for a fee.

Why Families Love It:
Hilton's family-friendly offerings include free stays for kids under 18 sharing a room with their parents, complimentary meals for children under five, and complimentary breakfast plus 50 percent off most other meals for ages five to 12 (with some restrictions). Families who book a minimum three-night stay also get four complimentary hours of babysitting. The complimentary Paradise Kidz Club for ages four to 12 operates Monday to Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in a good-sized center with indoor and outdoor play areas. Children keep busy with PlayStation 2, ping-pong, mini-golf, nature walks, arts and crafts, beach games, and splashing in the kids' pool. Water-loving kids may also get an introduction to scuba diving through PADI's SASY program (snorkeling with scuba gear), for ages five to eight, and the Bubblemaker program (an introduction to breathing underwater) geared to ages eight to 12.

Special Events & Activities:
The Sunday night Beach BBQ is a tradition. It runs from 7:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and includes food and entertainment by a steel drum band. The cost is $25 per adult, ages five to 12 get a 50-percent discount, and four and under eat free.