Casa Duckett, copyright Sun Cabo Vacations

One of the hallmarks of an excellent vacation rental villa is outside space that is just as lovely to bask in, if not more so, than the indoors. Casa Duckett, in the Palmilla section of Los Cabos, delivers that handsomely, with shaded courtyards and stairways, magnificent deck space, an infinity pool overlooking the Sea of Cortez, and even a putting green.

Casa Duckett, copyright Sun Cabo Vacations

On the pool level, you’ll find the master suite which holds a king-size bed and comes with full bath including a sunken bathtub and dressing area. A large terrace offers a stunning views. A children’s room is also on this level, with two twin beds and an ensuite bath.

Up one level are three more suites, each with ensuite bath. Two of these bedrooms have double beds and share an interior connecting door as well as a large terrace, while the third bedroom is queen-bedded and boasts its own private terrace.

The main living area includes a dining area and commercially equipped kitchen including a 6-burner gas stove. The comfortably-furnished sunken living room has direct access to the pool area, and also includes a wood-burning fireplace.

Casa Duckett Kitchen, copyright Sun Cabo Vacations

Casa Duckett living room & terrace, copyright Sun Cabo Vacations

Heading down a few steps past the infinity pool, you’ll find a huge palapa with sea views and a hammock, just perfect for napping. Steps on the other side of the pool lead to a jacuzzi and the putting green. Just a few more steps past the jacuzzi leads you to the glistening white sands of the beach.

Casa Duckett palapa, copyright Sun Cabo Vacations

Casa Duckett has 5 bedrooms and 5.5 baths. Rates start at $7000 a night. For more information or to book this villa, call Sun Cabo Vacations at 800.710.CABO(2226)

If you’re still up in the air about taking an Easter family vacation, here are some ideas (all packages are valid from April 5th to 9th unless otherwise indicated):

The Lapa Palace,Lisbon

Terrace view from garden view room, Lapa Palace

The Lapa Palace has a 3-night Easter package, that includes daily buffet breakfast and one dinner or lunch. Their concierge can guide you to various Easter festivities in the surrounding area, including a two-week long religious festival in Obidos that’s worth a visit. Depending on the age of your children, you can take advantage of babysitting, their VIP Kids program, or special teen programs.
Special Touches: Lapa Palace has its own cooking school. If you’re more into eating than cooking, several in-room dining menus include a Children’s Menu and one delightfully called “Snacks in Pyjamas”.

Gran Hotel La Florida, Barcelona

Chocolate dessert from Gran Hotel La Florida

Easter at La Florida includes 2 nights accommodation, buffet breakfast at L’Orangerie Restaurant, access to the hotel’s Zen Zone Spa and a 1.5 hour massage per person. The hotel can provide babysitting and will also arrange children’s activities upon request.
Special Touches: On Sundays the hotel hosts Indulgent Chocolate Afternoons, a special chocolate dessert and wine tasting that is absolutely decadent.

Hotel Baltschug Kempinski, Moscow

Hotel at night

Visit the Kremlin over Easter and receive a complimentary Easter gift, buffet breakfast, and early checkin/late checkout. The hotel also offers an Easter brunch, which is free for children under 9.
Special Touches: We’d actually recommend their year-round Family & Kids Programme, which goes all out to welcome the little ones. With that package the kids get (among other things) a teddy bear, bathrobes & slippers in their size, night turndown with milk & cookies and a destination information kit to tell them all about Moscow. Book that and reserve a spot at Easter brunch for a better vacation for the kids.

Mardavall Hotel & Spa, Mallorca

Junior Suite Terrace View

Celebrate Semana Santa, as its known in Spain, in high style at Mardavall. Their 7-night package for Holy Week (the week preceding Easter) features breakfast buffet, limousine transfers, Easter brunch with live music, fresh fruit in your room daily and free spa access. Kids will get to scamper around hunting Easter eggs, and if you attend Easter Mass at La Seu Cathedral in Palma, you might get a glimpse of Spain’s royal family.
Special Touches: Mardavall has amassed a huge collection of contemporary art by Mallorcan or Balearic artists, and each of the hotel’s room boasts two original paintings from the collection.

Villa d’Este, Lake Como

Villa d’Este

Villa d’Este hosts Easter in traditional Italian style. Book their 3-night Easter package(available from April 5th-10th) and stay in an Executive room with a garden or park view. In addition you’ll enjoy full buffet breakfast, one 3-course dinner at one of the hotel’s fine restaurants, a traditional Easter lunch and cocktail on the lake terrace and a special Easter gift.
Special Touches: Arrange for a private motor-boat tour on breathtaking Lake Como and take in the quaint towns and splendid villas that dot its shores.

Hotel Le Bristol, Paris

Room at Hotel Le Bristol

Although this hotel isn’t offering a special package for Easter, they do have a delightful family package available throughout the year whose rates include connecting rooms, breakfast for four and a special surprise for the children. On Easter Day, the family can attend the Pascal Brunch, which is sure to be a hit with the kids. On the itinerary: an Easter egg hunt with real white rabbits in attendance and a mini-pastry class, as well as other activities that parents can watch while enjoying the feast.
Special Touches: In a nod to eco-friendliness, the hotel offers two Smart Cars for guests to zip around Paris & shop. The cars’ minute dimensions are a perfect excuse to have your packages delivered back to the hotel.

If you’re not in the mood for the last-minute dash to Europe, check back on Friday for family vacation ideas in the US.

Many babymoon packages are just romantic packages for couples that have been rebranded. Not all of the babymoons we see boast baby-specific features, and while we agree that a romantic dinner and breakfast for two can be a wonderful treat, (particularly since once you have the baby it will feel like an unattainable dream), to us there are a few hallmarks of a real babymoon package:

-there should be a maternity massage involved, since pregnant women can’t take advantage of “regular” massages
-Mommy should definitely get special treatment, but partners should get something special as well
-ideally, the package should include a baby gift; this is, after all, about his or her impending arrival, and a onesie or baby album makes a great memento.

Casa Madrona Hotel & Spa in upscale Sausalito, California clearly thinks along the same lines we do. They have what they’re calling America’s first destination maternity spa (not to be confused with Destination Maternity the store). The spa, lovingly called Barefoot & Pregnant, has an entire menu of massages, facials and spa packages just for pregnant women, with a few Daddy and post-partum treatments thrown in for good measure. Several of these have been packaged with hotel accommodations to create a variety of babymoons for expecting couples. There’s even a package for two pregnant mommies on a girls getaway.

We particularly like the 5-day/4-night And Baby Makes Three package, which includes transportation to and from the airport, accommodation for two, in-room continental breakfast each morning, a romantic picnic lunch, dinner for two on two nights, a gift basket, a prenatal spa package for Mom and two spa services for Dad, and a private birthing session to prepare you for baby’s debut. With all that to take in, it’s no wonder it’s a 5-day package!

Nearby San Francisco has its own charms worth exploring, although we won’t blame you if you’re too busy being pampered to get out much. The hotel’s winding walkways and lovely bay views can be hard to pull away from, and with rooms sporting private decks and fireplaces, it might be hard just to get yourself to the spa. The good thing? You can always go back after baby is born: San Francisco is notoriously child-friendly, and we’ll be making recommendations for your family vacation there in upcoming posts.

The “And Baby Makes Three” package is $2700; there is also an Expecting the Best package which can be customized for an accompanying Dad or Mommy’s pregnant friend. The hotel also offers several package add-ons for an additional fee, including maternity photography. To book your babymoon, call Casa Madrona at 800.288.0502.