Toddler Travel to Hilton Head Island

It's been over a year since SGT talked a little toddler travel. In keeping with this week's general theme, South Carolina travel, it's time we touched on the subject again.

Some of the best places to stay while you're vacationing on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, also offer excellent childcare, and award winning golf. Here are four, with additional information about the resorts/spas.

Hilton Head Marriot Beach and Golf Resort - Five championship golf courses, 25 tennis courts, four on-site restaurants, high-speed Internet connectivity. Highly rated by both guests and experts. Around $200 to $250 per night.

Hilton Oceanfront Resort - Easy access to all of Hilton Head's fabulous golf courses, corporate and fitness facilities, parasailing, tennis, and all in a luxurious setting. Around $150 to $200 per night.

Crowne Plaza Resort - Overwhelmingly recommended as perfect for families. The amenities are plentiful: again, fabulous golf; tennis; high-speed Internet; and much more. All in an upscale environment. Around $150 to $200 per night.

Daufuskie Island Resort and Spa - All the great courses of the Hilton Head area are nearby. Daufuski, adjacent to Hilton Head, still a bit unknown, which makes it a more serene getaway. The resort has all the amenities one could want, and it is highly rated by guests. Around $200 to $250 per night.

Since we first featured these four resorts, the prices may have changed. Typically, they would have gone up in price, but given the current economic conditions, they may be lower than we've projected.

If you elect not to stay at the resort hotels, in favor of renting beach-front villas through companies like Beach Properties of Hilton Head or Island Getaway, they can also recommend local babysitting services and other activities.

Want to travel a little bit lighter? Try leaving the beach toys at home and renting them while you're on Hilton Head. Baby's Away has a great selection of toys that will be delivered to your door upon arrival and picked up after you leave for home. So much simpler and easier than bringing them all with you.

Tips for Choosing Vacation Childcare

There's nothing wrong with using childcare services while on vacation. Many resorts and hotels have certified, top-quality people on staff that will take fantastic care of the little people.

If you're wondering what to look for as you make your decision to use their services, here are some tips, courtesy of BabyCenter.com, that will help you make a decision and establish peace of mind:

• Do the caregivers know CPR and other emergency procedures?
• What are the program hours?
• Is there any flexibility to come and go? (Your child may want to leave the group to spend some time with you, for example, then return later.)
• What are the prices?
• Are there discounts for siblings?
• Which meals (if any) are provided?
• Are both indoor and outdoor activities offered? What are they?
• How many children are expected to be there at the time of your visit? Will the program operate if only a few children show up?
• What's the ratio of caregivers to children? (The National Association for the Education of Young Children recommends an adult-to-child ratio of one to four for infants; one to five for 12- to 18-month-olds; and one to six for 24- to 36-month-olds.) Are extra staffers added if more children unexpectedly join the group?
• Are children grouped by age? If so, what are the age ranges? What are the minimum and maximum ages?

In addition to those suggestions, you may want to ask for the qualifications and any certification of caregivers. You could also, in advance of your trip, try and locate childcare reviews for your particular destination. A good place to look for reviews, and local caregivers, is CareSquare.com.

At Suite Golf Travel, we believe vacations are essential to healthy family development. If you have recommendations for resort or hotel childcare, please leave comments below for others to see. We need all the help possible to protect and nurture our little ones, and not so little ones.

Happy traveling.