A reader wrote in to ask: Could you offer some ideas for Christmas holiday packages? My husband and I plan to go with our young adult daughters, one of whom is mentally disabled. We get a little nervous taking her to places outside the United States for safety and health reasons. We're looking for a resort setting with restaurants, golf, fun shops and opportunities for suntanning. We're not into the night life; usually after dinner we like to watch movies. I thought the U. S. Virgin Islands (USVI) would be nice.

A I went to a pro Renata Faeth of AAA Minneapolis Travel Agency, for advice.
Faeth likes the USVI, though she warns that availability may be limited and airfares and resort stays can cost more than nearby destinations. "I often find all-inclusive five-star resorts in the Dominican Republic to be less expensive than a three-star in St. Thomas," she said. She has had luck with the Westin in St. Johns, the Ritz-Carlton in St. Thomas and the Palms in Pelican Cove in St. Croix.
She calls Hawaii "one of our American jewels," with "an abundance of sea life, land and water sports and, of course, breathtaking beauty." Kauai is an especially low-key island. Don't let the distance intimidate you, Faeth said. It is just four hours from Los Angeles, and it can take longer to get to some Caribbean islands with the two plane changes some require.
Faeth is also a fan of Sanibel Island, near Ft. Myers, Fla., and California. "San Diego is a lovely city with plenty of sightseeing possibilities," she said, but warns that the average temperature in December is 66.
I'd add to her enticing list one destination: Phoenix, Arizona. I went a few years back and stayed at a resort that fits your requirements perfectly (and others in the area could, too). The Arizona Biltmore has a eight swimming pools and access to stellar golf courses.