The Roaming Freelancer: Vacationing With Your Family When You Are Your Own Boss
by Joshua Goldstein

When you are self-employed, there is no vacation time to save up, and there is no one to cover for you when you’re away. For many that mean giving up on vacations altogether, and this is what I have been doing for awhile. After a couple years of this, however, I am starting to face a mutiny from my family. They are sick of spending their vacations at home every season, claiming that I am ignoring one of the greatest benefits of my job as a freelancer - the flexibility to work wherever the heck I choose.

I decided to take this as a challenge to research the very best places I can take my family on a vacation which will also have the facilities I really need to get my work done, keep the kids busy, and have nearby fun for the many breaks I will take to make it a fun vacation for everyone (including me). In my research I have found the following vacation resorts and destinations that look like they will provide the best chance to make us all happy while I manage to keep my business afloat.

(1) Meadowmere Resort in Maine

The first location that seems like it will meet my needs is the Meadowmere Resort in Maine (www.meadowmere.com).
They have a number of different room sizes, including a Family Suite, with a tv in a separate room. This would let me isolate myself a bit or at least send the kids to the other room if the TV is becoming too distracting. This resort also has a free business center, and a library area; two places I will likely find it comfortable and peaceful to work.
The kicker though is the free wireless network throughout much of the resort, including the suite. They have a dataport in the room as well if you want to be directly connected. ut being able to move around the suite freely, without getting tangled in cable, is a nice plus.

Meadownmere Resort’s rates are very attractive in their off season there is a nearby Summer Theater’s Children’s Camp. This half day program for young kids (full day for older kids) could provide some excellent time to relax with my wife on some days or get focused work done so I can spend quality family time later in the day when they get back. The camp then has the kids do a show at the end of the week which could provide some really fun memories.

(2) Valero Beach Resort

If you are looking to travel out of the country, one real up and coming travel destination is the Dominican Republic. This is a destination that has been popular for some time with travelers from other areas of the world, but is just starting to catch on more with North Americans. One resort I was researching that seems like a nice place for working travel is the Valero Beach Resort (http://www.velerobeach.com/). At first this resort seemed adequate, but not wonderful. It does have a free business center and it has DSL in many rooms. It also has a selection of suites available which like I wrote before I like because you can make your own little office away from people running around. The rates are also reasonable. The thing that I liked the most however was something I learned from the site Geek About

(http://www.geekabout.com/2007-01-18-78/top-10-beaches-with-wifi-internet%20-access.html)
In one of the comments, someone mentioned that Kite beach in Cabarete has wireless internet access on the beach. Well, Velero resort is also in Cabarete, and lounging on the beach with my laptop seems like a lot of fun. I’d be a little worried about sand, salt and theft but it might be worth the risk. If you want to learn more about travel experiences in the Dominican Republic, I found a nice personal experience article by some Canadian travelers at http://www.debbiesdominicantravel.com/expect.html

(3) Mountain Home Lodge in Washington

I’ve been concentrating on family travel, since that is what I would need, but did see an excellent location for just you and your significant other. Mountain Home Lodge in Washington (http://www.mthome.com/). The resort has rooms and suites in the main building, but also has beautiful individual mountain cabins and yes, all the cabins have wireless access too. The resort is very isolated, especially in the winter when travelers are often brought up on snow mobiles. This isolation, the private cabins and the wireless internet in the rooms I think combine into a very nice working travel spot.

Below You will Find 150 More Family Resorts That Are Great For Freelancers & Self-Employed Parents Who Want to Vacation with Their Kids But Still Get Some Work Done. Most of These All-Inclusive Family Resorts Have Kids Clubs in Which Your Child can enjoy supervised and fun activities while you and your spouse can have fun or get work done. Take a look below and enjoy! Have you traveled to a resort or other vacation spot that was particularly good for working and having fun with the family? Let everyone know your experience in the comments.

Agadir Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Morocco)

Aime La Plagne Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in France)

Allegro Resort Playacar (Located in Mayan Riviera)

Allegro Nuevo Vallarta by Occidental Resort (Located in Puerto Vallarta)

Almond All-Inclusive Resorts (Located in Barbados)

Alpe D’Huez La Sarenne Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in France)

Athenia Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Greece)

Bali Indonesia Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Bali, Indonesia)

Beach Club Colony Resort (Located in the Grand Cayman)

Beach Palace Resorts (Located in Cancun, Mexico)

Beaches / Sandles Boscobel Resorts & Gold Club (Located in Boscobel, Jamaica)

Beaches / Sandles Boscobel Resorts & Gold Club (Located in Boscobel, Jamaica)

Beaches / Sandles Sandy Bay Resorts (Located in Negril, Jamaica)

Beaches / Sandles Turks and Caicos Resorts and Spas (Located in Turks and Caicos)

Beldi Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Turkey)

Blue Bay Youth-Friendly All-Inclusive Resort (Located in Cancun, Mexico)

Blue Bay Getaway Resort and Spa (Located in Cancun, Mexico)

Blue Waters Resort for Families (Located in Antigua)

Breezes Curacao Resorts (Located in the Caribbean in a place called Curacao)

Canoa Coral by Hilton (Located in the Dominican Republic)

Caprera Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Sardinia)

Cargese Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Corsica, France)

Caribbean Village Family Resort (Located in Cancun)

Casa De Campo All-Inclusive Family Resorts - (Located in The Dominican Republic)

Caesars Pocono Resorts (Located in Poconos, Pennsylvania)

Cervinia Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Italy)

Cherating Beach Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Malaysia)

Club Kawama (Located in Cuba)

Club Maeva Tulum (Located in Tulum, Mexico)

Club Med All-Inclusive Resorts (Located in many locations including Sandpiper in Port St. Lucie Florida, Crested Butte in Colorado, Ixtapa on the west coast of Mexico, Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and Caravelle in Guadeloupe)

Club St. Lucia by Splash All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in St. Lucia)

Comfort Inns All-Inclusive Resorts in Montego Bay (Located in Montego Bay, Jamaica)

Coral Beach Israel Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Israel)

Costa Caribe Coral by Hilton (Located in Dominican Republic)

Crested Butte USA Colorado Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in USA - Colorado)

Crown Paradise Club Kids-Friendly All-Inclusive Resorts (Located in Cancun, Mexico)

Crown Plaza Hotel Los Cabos Resorts (Located in Los Cabos, Mexico)

Dreams Cancun Family Resorts and Spas (Located in Cancun, Mexico)

Divi Aruba All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Aruba)

Dreams Cancun Resort and Spa Resorts (Located in Cancun)

Dreams Los Cabos Suites Golf Resort & Spa (Location in Los Cabos)

Dreams Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa Resorts (Located in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico)

Dreams Tulum Family Resorts and Spa (Located near Tulum)

Earthshine Mountain Lodge (Located at Lake Toxaway, North Carolina)

El Cozumeleno Beach Resort (Located in Cozumel, Mexico)

Forges Les Eaux Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in France)

Franklin D. Resort Family All-Inclusive Resorts (Located in Jamaica)

Gala Resort Huatulco (Located in Huatulco, Mexico)

Gala Resort Playacar (Located in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico)

Gran Caribe Club Kawana (Located in Cuba)

Gran Costa Real Cancun Resorts (Located in Cancun, Mexico)

Gran Costa Real Manzanillo All-Inclusive Family Resorts

Gran Porto Real Playa Del Carmen Resort (Located in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico)

Grand Paradiso Bavaro (Located in The Dominican Republic)

Grand Xcaret by Occidental All-Inclusive Family Resort (Located in Playa del Carmen, Mexico)

Great Bay Beach Hotel and Casino All-Inclusive Resort (Located in St. Maarten)

Gregolimano Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Greece)

Grenadian by Rex Resorts (Located in Grenada)

Grotto Bay Beach Resort (Located in Bermuda)

Halcyon Cove All-Inclusive Rex Resorts (Located in Antigua)

Hamaca Coral by Hilton (Located in Dominican Republic)

Hammamet Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Tunisia)

Iberostar Playa Dorado(Located in Costa Dorado, Dominican Republic)

Iberostar Dominicana (Located in Costa Dorado, Dominican Republic)

Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus (Located in Dominican Republic)

Iberostar Paraiso Beach (Located in Dominican Republic)

Iberostar Paraiso Lindo (Located in Dominican Republic)

Ibiza Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Spain)

Itaparica Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Brazil)

Ixtapa Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Ixtapa, Mexico)

Kabira Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Kabira, Japan)

Kamarina Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Sicily)

Karmina Place All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Manzanillo, Mexico)

Kos Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Greece)

La Jolla de Mismaloya Resorts (Located in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico)

La Palmyre Atlantique Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in France)

Lindeman Barriere De Corail Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Australia)

Marien Coral by Hilton (Located in Dominican Republic)

Meliá Azul Ixtapa All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Ixtapa, Mexico)

Melia Caribe Tropical Resorts (Located in Dominican Republic)

Meliá Puerto Vallarta All-Inclusive Resort (Located in Puerto Vallarta)

Melia Turquesa (Located in Cancun, Mexico)

Metaponto Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Italy)

Moon Palace Family Resorts (Located in Cancun, Mexico)

Nabeul Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Tunisia)

Napitia Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Italy)

Oasis Cancun Child-Friendly All-Inclusive Resort (Cancun, Mexico)

Occidental Gran Bahia (Located in The Dominican Republic)

Opio Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in France)

Our Lucaya Beach and Golf Resort (Sheraton) (Located in The Bahamas)

Palmiye Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Turkey)

Pakostane Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Croatia)

Palace Resorts (Located in Cancun, Mexico)

Paradisus Puerto Rico All-Inclusive Resorts (Located in Puerto Rico)

Paradisus Riviera Cancun All-Inclusive Resorts (Located in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico)

Pebbles All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Jamaica)

Phuket Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Thailand)

Point Village All-Inclusive Resorts (Located in Jamaica)

Pompadour Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in France)

Presidente InterContinental Ixtapa All-Inclusive Resorts (Located in Ixtapa, Mexico)

Puerto Maria Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Spain)

Punta Cana Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic)

Presidente InterContinental Los Cabos All-Inclusive Resorts (Located in Los Cabos, Mexico)

Puerto Vallarta Holiday Inn Family All-Inclusive Resort (Located in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico)

Puerto Vallarta Family Resort and Spa (Located in Puerto Vallarta)

Radisson Cable Beach & Golf Resort (Located in The Bahamas)

Ria Bintan Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Indonesia)

Rio Das Pedras Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Brazil)

Riu Caribe All-Inclusive Kids-Friendly Resorts (Located in Cancun, Mexico)

Riu Cancun All-Inclusive Kids-Friendly Resorts (Located in Cancun)

Rocking Horse Ranch (Located in Highland, NY)

Royal Rex Resorts (Located in St. Lucia)

Royal Solaris Los Cabos All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Los Cabos, Mexico)

Sahoro Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Japan)

Sandpiper Florida Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in USA Sandpiper, Florida)

Sant’Ambroggio Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in France)

Smir Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Morocco)

Sol Melio Hotels and Family Resorts (Located in Cancun, Mexico)

Sol Sirenas Coral Resort (Located in Cuba)

StarFish All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Jamaica) -

St James Club Resort (Located in Antigua)

Sugar Bay Club Resort (Located in St. Kitts - Eastern Caribbean)

Sunscape The Beach All-Inclusive Resort (Located in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic)

Sunscape Puerto Aventuras Resorts (Located in Puerto Aventuras, Mexico)

Sunscape Tulum All-Inclusive Family Resort (Located in Tulum, Mexico)

Sunset Beach All-Inclusive Family Resort (Located in Montego Bay, Jamaica)

Sunset Jamaica Grande (Located in Ochos Rios in the Caribbean Islands)

SunSpree Resort (Holiday Inn Resorts) Partially-Inclusive Family Resort (Located in Lake Buena Vista, FL - One Mile from Walt Disney World Resort )

Tamarijn Aruba All-Inclusive Resorts (Located in Aruba)

Tobago Rex Resorts (Located in Turtle Beach, Tobago)

Trancoso Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Brazil)

Tryp Peninsula (Located in Cuba)

Turtle Beach Resorts (Located in Barbados)

Tyler Place Family Resort (Located in Highgate Sprints, Vermont)

Vallarta Palace Family Resorts (Located in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico)

Villars-Sur-Ollen Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Switzerland)

Viva Wyndham Azteca All-Inclusive Resorts (Located in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico)

Viva Wyndham Maya All-Inclusive Resorts (Located in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico)

Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach Palace Resorts (Located in the Dominican Republic)

Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach Resorts (Located in the Dominican Republic)

Wengen Palace Club Med All-Inclusive Family Resorts (Located in Switzerland)

Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort and Hotel (Located in St. Lucia)

Wyndham Aruba Beach Resort and Casino (Located in Aruba)

Wyndham Rose Hall Resort and Country Club ( Set between the Blue Mountains and the blue waters of the Caribbean Sea )

Wyndham Sugar Bay Family Resorts (Located in St. Thomas)

Have you traveled to a resort or other vacation spot that was particularly good for working and having fun with the family? Let everyone know your experience in the comments.

Find Out More Information on This All Inclusive Family Resort Resource Page

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