For tourists who wish to walk in the ocean, sit on a beach on the sunset or have adventurous experiences they can't get at home, there's no better place than the tropical areas of the world. These places of paradise offer opportunities to have cultural experiences, relax in the sun, push the limits of your body and see new things. There are as many choices for a tropical destination, however, as there are grains of sand on a beach. A vacation in the tropics can be many things at once --- engaging, exciting, relaxing and unforgettable. Choosing a destination or package that fits the needs of your tour group is not only a fun decision --- it's a smart one.
Decide what you and your family want out of your tropical vacation. Do you wish to have a lot of relaxation and down-time, or do you want something a little more adventurous? This will point you in the direction you want to go and will help you choose which area to focus on.
Amateur archaeologists can climb the Aztec ruins on Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. Sports enthusiasts visiting Hawaii can go surfing in the early morning in Maui and hiking on Lanai, while the small Central American country of Belize, often considered the diving capital of the world, is a great place to get some snorkeling and scuba experience. Either way, there are plenty of options for visitors who want to stay active during their vacations.
Perhaps you're not into scaling mountains and kayaking; you'd like to sit on the beach and be catered to instead. Nearly every resort from Barbados to Mauritius can claim a corner on the relaxation market: Whether it's sipping drinks on a beach chair, relaxing by the pool, unwinding at a spa or eating a slow, relaxing dinner to island music and candlelight, that's one thing that is common throughout any tropical vacation you'll choose.
The island nation of Tonga isn't overrun by tourists, and the crystal-blue beaches there are simply a part of the culture. Go whale-watching there to hear the humpback whales sing in June through November. The island of Vava'u is a good place to start. Aruba, the Bahamas, Grand Cayman and the U.S. Virgin Islands have a number of beaches that attract people from all over the world. Of specific interest to many is St. Croix's Cane Bay Beach, which is home to the Cane Bay Wall, a diving paradise.
Take your family's needs into account. Vacationers who have no children are going to need radically different activities and space requirements and facilities than those who do.
A cruise can be ideal for families; with so much to do and see, and ports-of-call in hundreds of tropical destinations, there's little chance of anyone in the family being bored, no matter how different a family's desires are. Disney Cruise Line, departing from Port Canaveral, Florida, even offers a child-oriented activity track with trained teachers and babysitters, so parents can have the time of their lives while getting a little break from the kids, and the kids can play with others their own age in a supervised place.
Other cruise lines that provide services all over the board --- and hit tropical destinations everywhere in the world --- include Princess, Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Lines.
Beaches resorts, located in Jamaica and Turks and Caicos, are geared toward families with small kids --- there are tons of supervised activities for kids, and Elmo even shows up for a show on the beach. Rooms and suites are specially geared and sized for groups who need a little more room.
No kids? Sandals Caribbean Vacation Resorts are specifically geared for honeymooners and couples, with meals, accommodations and even beach furniture made for two.
Decide how engrossed in a new culture you'd like to be. Perhaps you'd like to go a little further than the Caribbean, and visit the Polynesian islands of Tahiti and Fiji. In many tropical destinations, such as Belize and Costa Rica, the official language is Spanish. Brazilians speak Portuguese. In the South Pacific, more exotic languages are common. Then again, if you don't want to worry about speaking something other than English, pick a destination where English is the main language, such as the U.S. Virgin Islands or Barbados.
Tour groups in Borneo take groups up Mount Kinabulu or in learning about the island of Mulu and the island's indigenous culture, including headhunters and caves. Many resorts in Hawaii have regular luaus, and the Tropical Adventures Volunteer Program connects Costa Rican families with travelers wanting to volunteer their talents to the less fortunate of that country and have a little fun while they're at it.
Figure out how autonomous do you want to be. Cruises and all-inclusive resorts make sure you'll never lack for food, drinks and spa treatments --- but if you're more interested in a backpacking adventure or hopping from island to island, it'll be best to book residence in a place where it's easier to make your own plans. If you want to "do your own thing," an all-inclusive resort will feel like a prison.
