Hot and Cool Travel Deals: Riviera Maya, Greenland and Bahamas

Esencia Family Fun

<strong>Esencia, a luxurious Riviera Maya resort near Playa del Carmen, is offering a five-night “Family Fun in the Sun” package, which includes daily breakfast, an on-call free nanny service, free accommodations for children under 12 and roundtrip airport transfers from Cancun International Airport. The package also includes two-hour Mexican cooking classes for kids, with tours of the resort’s organic vegetable garden and a lesson about sustainable harvesting. The resort features 29 spacious rooms, a 2,500-sq.-ft. palapa-roofed spa, complimentary yoga classes and an array of nearby outdoor activities including snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking and exploring Mayan ruins. The main house was once the home of a European duchess. Family Package rates start at $1,999. For more details go to www.hotelesencia.com or call 877-528-3490.

Eco-vacations in Greenland

Save money and help save the planet by booking an eco-vacation to Greenland! ExperienceGreenland.com offers two Arctic tours during the peak of summer that introduce travelers to Greenland’s unique ecology, endangered Artic environment and Inuit culture. ExperienceGreenland’s eight-day Icefjord and Arctic Capital Package takes visitors to the towns of Nuuk (the capital) and Ilulissat. Activities include a whale safari excursion, a helicopter tour of the famous Egi glacier and a tour of a former Inuit settlement. Package starts at $5,980 and includes roundtrip airfare from Baltimore, M.D., a two-night cruise on Disko Bay, some meals, guided tours and lodging at two hotels: the eco-friendly Hotel Arctic and the Hotel Hans Egede.

The eight-day Ilulissat and Kangerlussuaq Package features an adventure tour exploring the ice worlds of Greenland. Guests will visit the Ilulissat Icefjord and Inland Ice Cap, and can participate in a variety of activities such as ice climbing, caving, mountain biking, backcountry hiking, musk ox safaris and kayaking. Package rates start at $4,490 per person including roundtrip airfare from Baltimore, lodging, guides and some meals. Go to www.experiencegreenland.com for more information, or call 877-245-0739.

Kids Free in Bahamas

Who says a family vacation in tropical paradise has to cost a fortune? Spirit Vacations offers great savings to the Bahamas where kids up to 12 years old (limit two children) stay free with five nights at a resort of your choice. The Sheraton Grand Bahama Island at Our Lucaya is a family-friendly resort with championship golf courses for the adults and a spiral waterslide at the onsite kids’ zone, Camp Lucaya. The Camp is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and also offers lessons in Bahamian crafts and folklore. Other resort features include swim-up pool bars, tennis courts, direct beach access, and an array of outdoor activities including snorkeling, scuba diving, windsurfing, kayaking and sailing. Packages start at $299 and include for more information on restrictions, or call 800-617-3325.