Being off the tourist track, Las Terrenas retains a traditional charm. Yet thanks to an influx of European expats, you can enjoy authenticity without feeling isolated—or sacrificing amenities like French restaurants and cybercafés. You won’t compromise on accommodations either at Les Hibiscus: a collection of four funky cottages by a turquoise, palm-fringed bay. Brightly decorated in island style, the matching two-bedroom units, each boasting its own kitchen and private terrace, are clustered around a communal pool.
And the price? Individual cottages cost just $590 (€400) per week. So you and fifteen of your nearest and dearest can rent the lot of them for about $21 per person per night. The caveat is that you have to consider the workload (and ways to share it fairly!). Thrice weekly cleaning, for instance, is included but guests are responsible for preparing their own meals. The good news is that while cooking can be a drag, it does create the perfect opportunity for heart-to-heart talks. For more vacation rental options, click HomeAway: this reputable site features over 80,000 properties worldwide and has advance search capabilities that let you pinpoint properties sleeping thirteen-plus people.
Whichever route you choose, bear in mind that the key to a really successful family reunion is keeping everyone happy. That means you must take into account not only individual group members’ specific needs—such as childproof or wheelchair accessible rooms—but also their tastes and travel styles. (Is one of your relatives prone to seasickness or morally offended by the site of a man in a mouse suit? It’s better to determine that before you book your trip than after.) Above all, you must carefully weigh the amount of time and money guests are willing to set aside for the event. Sensitivity is essential here. Ditto for flexibility.
Life would be much simpler if everyone you loved had precisely the same amount of money to spend on a vacation—or even the same number of vacation days per year. Well, they don’t. So your group might agree to even the playing field by traveling off-season when rates drop, or opting for an abbreviated break (like a three-day cruise) instead of a longer, more expensive vacation. Making such compromises for the sake of a well-attended and resentment-free trip is worthwhile. With so many reunion options available, it’s easy enough to substitute one for another. But the people you want to reunite with are one of a kind.
