Favorite MVC resort for tweens

[rmclain73]

Looking for some idea for a warm climate MVC property for 2026 that you feel would appeal to to tweens. We own at the Marriott Aruba Surf Club, but looking to try and exchange to a different resort for 2026. We traded for Disney in 2024 so we are looking for something other than Orlando. This would be for our spring break which does not align with Marriott's platinum plus spring break week. We have discussed Hawaii in the past, but not sure what resort there would be best. Atlantis sounds fun, but I know the resort on II doesn't have the best reviews. Thanks for all of your input.

 

[Dean]

The top 3 Marriott's in HHI, Crystal Shores and the West Palm options come to mind. Also the Desert Springs area resorts would be a consideration. HI is a long way just for a week unless you're on the West Coast with several great resorts and a couple of just good ones IMO.

 

[rmclain73]

The top 3 Marriott's in HHI, Crystal Shores and the West Palm options come to mind. Also the Desert Springs area resorts would be a consideration. HI is a long way just for a week unless you're on the West Coast with several great resorts and a couple of just good ones IMO.

We will be coming from Boston. The distance is probably the biggest drawback for only a week. But the only other time I was in Hawaii was for the Pro Bowl years ago when I got there late Thursday and flew back first thing Monday morning.

 

[Dean]

I personally wouldn't do just a week from the East Coast even if you can fly direct but YMMV. We do love HI though, will be back there for 2 weeks in a couple of months.

 

[rmclain73]

I personally wouldn't do just a week from the East Coast even if you can fly direct but YMMV. We do love HI though, will be back there for 2 weeks in a couple of months.

Which resorts do you like best in HI? Would there be anything at the resort to keeps 12 year old boys entertained? Plan B is just to go back to Aruba. Could be worse.

 

[pedro47]

Suggestion only Marriott's Ocean Watch in Myrtle Beach, SC.

 

[aandmrun]

I highly recommend the Desert Springs Villas in Palm Desert. Either the Villas I or II are great, but the Villas 1 are more spacious. We have taken our granddaughters there plenty of times and there is always something to keep them busy. The grounds are great and going into Palm Springs also has a lot to offer.

 

[ljmiii]

Looking for some idea for a warm climate MVC property for 2026 that you feel would appeal to to tweens....This would be for our spring break...We have discussed Hawaii in the past...

We did a fair number of 7-8 day trips to Florida when our kids were about that age where we would do 3-4 days on Marco Island and 3-4 at WDW or South Beach or Disney Cruise Lines. But while South Beach was great with tweens in February I wouldn't go there during Spring Break. I also wouldn't do a whole week at Crystal Shores (I know our kids would have gone bonkers) leaving some form of Disney or maybe one of the other Atlantic Coast MVCs to fill the other days. Or...

Which resorts do you like best in HI? Would there be anything at the resort to keeps 12 year old boys entertained?

We've gone to Hawaii at least once every other year since before the kids were born and did 7 night trips there twice when our kids were tweens-ish (the 8th night is spent sleeping on the flight back). It's not impossible (particularly since HA has a nice nonstop into Logan) and was harder on us than them. Waiohai would be my first recommendation...but since you will be pressed for time Ko Olina on Oahu (so no second flight to/from HNL) might be a better option. But no matter which island and resort you choose (except perhaps Kauai Lagoons) you and your kids will find plenty to do. My standard MVC HI advice follows...

“Everyone finds their own Island” is a Hawaiian saying I love.

Kauai is the lush tropical paradise of most people's dreams of Hawaii and I can't recommend it highly enough. Lots of opportunities for hiking and water activities on Hawaii's only navigable river. Waiohai is our favorite MVC Hawaiian resort and sits on Poipu beach - one of the world's best beaches with a reef, snorkeling, swimming, wildlife, etc. Kauai Beach Club sits on a bay not the ocean and has calmer water and an enormous pool complex. Lagoons has beautiful 2BR and 3BR villas but no beach or onsite dining.

The Big Island is beautiful....but for better or worse the MVC is located in the planned resort community of Waikoloa. The beach the MVC resort sits on (A-bay) is fine but there is a wonderful beach about 15 minutes north (Hapuna) and the towns of Hawi, Waimea, and Kailua-Kona are close-ish and worth visiting for dining and shopping. Farther afield are the snow, volcanos, pasture, orchids, lava, coffee, waterfalls, snorkeling, and taro fields that make the Big Island unique. But all those are quite a drive - the Big Island is *Big*.

Honolulu is a multicultural urban paradise with a beach and a plethora of Hawaiiana and WWII history and some of the best food in the world. The rest of O'ahu is home to beautiful mountains, beaches, and towns all more or less linked back to the mother city. That said, Ko Olina is on the west coast of O'ahu far from Oahu's major attractions and sits on a man made lagoon. But there is also a new MVC in Waikiki off the beach with a rooftop pool.

Maui Ocean Club has great pools and sits next to a beach which isn't great for swimming but has good snorkeling up by Black Rock. It is in Kaanapali which has unfortunately devolved into a dense suburban sprawl. But, once you get out of that area Maui has some of the most amazing scenery and outdoor activities in Hawaii - Hana is enchanting, Haleakala revelatory, and Molokini is our favorite snorkeling spot in Hawaii.

There are also five Sheraton and Westin Hawaiian resorts now available through Abound Points at which we have not yet stayed. The Sheraton Kauai Resort is reputed to be quite nice (though not as nice as Waiohai) , Princeville has lovely villas but no beach, and the three in Kaanapali are not appreciably different than MOC (unless you are staying in a studio in which case the Vistana properties are superior).

P.S. We've been to all of the Hawaiian MVC resorts multiple times (except for Kauai Lagoons) and would be happy to answer questions you might have.

 

[Pamplemousse]

Which resorts do you like best in HI? Would there be anything at the resort to keeps 12 year old boys entertained? Plan B is just to go back to Aruba. Could be worse.

Are you looking for things at the resort to keep the boys entertained or are you asking about the area?
What would they find entertaining? You can see the amenities and the resort activity schedule on the app if that is what you are thinking.

I‘m guess you are looking for Patriots day week- HHI & Myrtle Beach are both fun but it won‘t be beach weather then.
HHI would give you biking, horseback riding, zip line, golf, day trip to Savannah. Indoor pools at Grande Ocean and Surf club.
Myrtle Beach gives amusement park activities (Broadway at the beach & the boardwalk), aquarium, mini golf- there is also indoor pool.

Marco Island will be warm then and is under an hour to the Everglades for boat tours etc. Mini golf and restaurants across the street.

Lots to do in the Phoenix area and it will be warm- hiking, day trip (or better overnight) to the Grand Canyon, botanical garden and zoo.

Palm desert is also warm and fun- jeep trip and hiking in Joshua tree, the living desert garden & zoo, horse back riding, golf.

There is lots to do in/ around Orlando other than disney- only about an hour to the space coast, science museum in downtown Orlando, parks, biking, etc.

We did all of these places with our kids that April break week through the years.

 

[Wahusky]

Fun. Lucky kids. HI is not too far IMO, I have taken several 3 and 4d weekends to HI. While I do live in Nevada, it's well worth the trek, as I feel I can relax and unwind even with the abbreviated time. It's helpful that the islands are well served by large airports.

My children (I have 5 children, oldest 20, youngest 11) have preferred the Maui resorts - because they can roam around to adjacent properties. We allow our children a fair amount of room to roam, so you'll want to consider that. South of the black rock is our preference (the Westin properties are north of the rock, nicely appointed, but more isolated). MVC is south, next door to the Hyatt. Both of these properties are quite nice. Walk north to the rock, stopping on the way at Whaler's Village where one of the best happy hours remains at Monkeypod. Food and beverage. Kids love it. At the black rock (which is at the Sheraton hotel) the water is calm and you will see locals. Safer for the weaker swimmers. Down south, towards MVC and Hyatt, the water is harder to enjoy for weaker swimmers. But the snorkeling in front of Hyatt and MVC is better IMO, if you are capable. Few are out in the water, many turtles and healthier reef. In front of the Westin properties far north, the snorkeling is mediocre. I actually was terrified in December as an 8' tiger shark swam to me in front of the southernmost of the Westin properties. Tigers are all over the islands, we are usually just ignorant of them.

My kids also like Ko'olina but it's isolated, no mall, and the snorkeling is zilch.

Skip Princeville. On a bluff.

 

[rmclain73]

Thank you all for your replies.