A family vacation in the Caribbean means more these days than booking a room with a view, lining up for the breakfast buffet or leaving the kids in the game room. Getting off the beach chair is the new ‘cool’ with Canadian families who want more from a winter break than a few extra pounds and another recipe for a rum cocktail.

Competing for your vacation dollar, family-friendly resorts have upped the ante with discounts on adjoining rooms, cooking classes for kids and tours to play with the friendly iguanas.

All about family vacations, St. Kitts Marriott invites with the ‘Super Escape! Inclusive’ package which includes discounted room rates and meals for the whole brood. Valid through December 21, the tempting package also includes a round of golf, massage in the spa and coupons for casino play. Under the watchful eye of a Canadian, the big resort on the beach is a top pick for families, big and small. “Being from Montreal, I understand what Canadian families are looking for when it comes to travelling to the Caribbean,” says Jacques Hamou, general manager. “We have it all including three sprawling pools, breathtaking beach, entertaining kids club, unlimited adjoining rooms and direct access to island activities.” www.stkittsmarriott.com

The circular driveway leading up to the open-air lobby lends a grand feel to the Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort in Ocho Rios. An hour from the airport in Montego Bay, the 730-room all-inclusive beachfront resort puts a big emphasis on families with one-bedroom suites with sleeper sofas, menus that please even the pickiest of appetites, teen disco, five pools and a gigantic waterslide. “Our repeat visitor rate has consistently been high due to the great value we offer for the vacation dollar,” says Clifton Reader, general manager. “We welcome our Canadian guests who bring their entire family for a week away every winter.” www.sunsetresortsjamaica.com