Candyce Stapen: You don't say whether you want to visit the Bahamas, the Caribbean, the U.S or another destination. Hawaii is a great place for families, especially for active 'tweens.

On Maui you can bike down a volcano, on the Big Island you can tour Volcanoes National Park, and on Maui, Kauai, Oahu and the Big Island you can enjoy great beaches, as well as hike, swim, snorkel and find out about Hawaiian culture. On Maui, I recommend the Grand Wailea or the Hyatt Regency Maui. On Kauai, try the Grand Hyatt Kauai and on the Big Island, consider the Four Seasons Hualalai or the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. On Oahu, I like the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

Another option: consider a family-friendly dude ranch. Along with riding, many ranches offer fly-fishing and hiking. Paradise Guest Ranch, Wyoming, and Rock Springs Guest Ranch, OR, are good ones for families.

The Caribbean also has great resorts and island activities. The Westin St. John, USVI, puts you near the beautiful national park and there's always much to see and do in Puerto Rico. Consider the Hyatt Dorado.

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Pittsburgh, PA: What are some tips on keeping expenses down when cruising with 4 children? I have 4 daughters (ages 22, 19, 17, and 16). The 2 oldest are in college with different breaks, the 2 youngest are in high school, soon to also be in collge. They don't need ships with a lot of bells and whistles (which seem to be more expensive) but like cruises with other kids their ages.

Thanks
Nancy

Candyce Stapen: Good cruise choices for families with teens and twentysomethings include Carnival because it often attracts a "younger" crowd and the bigger ships on Royal Caribbean (RCI ) because their onboard activities such as ice skating, rock climbing and with the debut of the new ship, surfing.
To keep costs down, look for family cabins that sleep 5 plus people. Some Carnival, RCI, NCL and Disney ships feature these. Also, consider booking two interior cabins. Check to see if you can get adjoining cabins.

Another way to keep costs down is to do most shore tours on your own. Research ahead of time where you want to go and how to get there. Taking a taxi to an out-of-the-way but beautiful beach may be much less expensive than booking the ships' beach excursion for 5 -6 people.

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West Lafayette, Indiana: Would you please compare the advantages of visiting Roatan and Utila, the Bay Islands of Honduras. Important to us are the ease of snorkeling access, how far to the reef from hotels, for instance; what else is there to do on the island besides dive, swim, and lie on the beach; are midpriced hotels equally available and livable?

Candyce Stapen: Anthony's Key Resort on Roatan, along with offering dive boats, typically features a designated snorkel-only boat, an advantage for snorkel enthusiasts. Snorkeling, diving, and sunning are the prime activities.