Photo courtesy of Bahamas Ministry of Tourism

With just weeks left until March Break families are starting to shift into spring getaway mode. Although experts are predicting that many Canadians will stay closer to home this season, there are still plenty of people planning to head south in search of a warm escape.

The tightened pinch on travel budgets is especially being felt by family travellers this season, who must factor in the extra costs associated with keeping their most-demanding junior travellers happy.

Enter Sunwing Vacations, which is launching its new family-friendly travel program, Kidcations.

Sunwing Vacations offers vacation packages to family-friendly resorts throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, the USA and Central America. Sunwing's Smile Resorts™, for example, come with extra perks that help stretch the holiday budget, including Kids Stay, Play and Eat FREE deals, no supplements for single parents, special teen pricing and complimentary kids clubs.

Sunwing's kidcations start as soon as families board the plane, when younger travellers receive a knapsack filled with surprises to keep them entertained throughout the flight. Meanwhile, adults can indulge in complimentary sparkling wine, food and beverage service and in-flight entertainment.

While family vacations are all about the kids, the ideal vacation is one that also provides a break for parents. To that end, Sunwing has enlisted some of Canada’s leading family travel experts -- including Lena Almeida, Stephanie Holmes, Candace Derickx, Sheri McDonald, Andrea Traynor and Jamie Damak to provide advice and tips on how to plan a getaway that appeals to all members of the family.

The experts provide a range of insights, from the general--how to pack to flying with toddlers—to the specific—including suggestions on the best resorts for families and advice on the best adult amenities like spas and gourmet dining.

A unique aspect of the kidcation program is that it also comes with the stamp of approval from actual younger travellers who have contributed travel photos and diaries from their favorite getaway spots. Their reviews can be found on Sunwing's website and also in the Kidcations magazine, which can be requested from travel agents across Canada. The Kidcation magazine can also be downloaded at www.sunwing.ca.

Gen Z’s take on top getaways were accumulated by a select group of children who entered and won Sunwing's nationwide contest last year. The contest-winning kids and teens were invited to tour some of Sunwing's most popular family-oriented resorts in return for their unvarnished opinions.

The contest has returned for 2016, and parents hoping to net a free family getaway can enter their child as the next kidcation tester through June 30, 2016.

For more information, visit www.sunwing.ca/kidcation. 

Follow @MonicaPoling