The Best All-inclusive Family Resorts
Vacationing families so often find themselves forced into a compromise: kids’ picky young palates cancel out those gourmet meals parents are craving; mom’s longed-for spa day cuts into the water sports the kids were promised; evening plans become a negotiation between bedtime, babysitters, or subpar on-site entertainment.
That’s why the best family-friendly resorts, the ones that parents return to again and again, never force you to take sides between grown-up activities and scheduling for the younger set. Instead, they make it easy to spend time together as a group, while also having plenty of alone time as needed. We’ve rounded up our favorite family vacation spots, all of which offer all-inclusive options for effortless planning. It’s time to make some memories.
Palmaïa House of AïA, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Best for: Broods looking to detox
Book a family suite (many of which have bunk beds and kid-friendly decor and can sleep up to four people) at this eco-friendly, wellness-focused beachfront paradise in Playa del Carmen, and get comfortable. With swim-out terraces, a private beach with crystal-clear waters, a dedicated kids’ pool with its own slide and waterfall, plus a children’s activities program with a full calendar of educational events, Palmaïa is a resort where the entire family can get pampered. Plant-based menus shine at all four restaurants and the 24-hour room service, with items like dense vegan chocolate cake and strawberry chia-seed pudding. For those looking to tap into a deeper spiritual awakening, the in-house shaman offers a program of guided rituals.
Curtain Bluff, Antigua, West Indies
Best for: Those who like to return to the same place year after year
For families who have been coming to this laidback, family-run resort in Antigua for generations, this feels just like coming home—if your home had two beaches (one for surf and one for swim, naturally) and nothing but oceanfront rooms, that is. For those averse to hectic schedules, this West Indies retreat is an ideal spot. Families can snorkel, sail, or swim all day, or take the lazy route at the beach or the on-site jungle gym. There are in activities ranging from bocce ball and tennis clinics to cocktail making (with mocktails for the kids). Either way, there are always early 6 p.m. dinners for hungry kiddos and on-site babysitters are available for an extra cost, which frees up evenings for parents to enjoy a little romance, dining by candlelight at the Tamarind Restaurant and tuning into nightly live music.
The Resort at Paws Up, Greenough, Montana
Best for: Families looking to keep older kids engaged—and off their phones
The families who gather at Montana’s Paws Up do so to get their adrenaline pumping together. This is the sort of resort parents dream of when they bemoan too much screen time, and for good reason. With pristine Rocky Mountain air and 37,000 acres of wilderness to explore, families can get way offline—there are horseback rides, fly fishing, and the chance to climb into ATVs, and they can even try their hands at paintball, rappelling, and white-water rafting. Executive chef Sunny Jin, an alum of the French Laundry, El Bulli, and Tetsuya, oversees the resort’s refined rustic cuisine, showcased in dishes like wild mushroom pithivier with foraged mushrooms, and grilled pork coppa with miso-creamed Swiss Chard and green garlic confit.
Spice Island Beach Resort, The Lime, Grenada
Best for: Families where lazing around is a priority
Grenada’s nickname, Spice Isle, is the inspiration for the name of this clean-lined beach resort, which sits on the yellow sands of the island’s Golden Anse Beach. In the Caribbean, where many resorts are adults-only and the family-friendly spots tend to skew heavy on kitsch, Spice Island is sleek, modern, and contemporary, while still delivering plenty of local flavor. Children are welcomed warmly here, but luxury and elegance aren’t sacrificed for a moment. Spice Isle’s kids’ club, Nutmeg Pod, has a full-day children’s activity program that keeps kids and tweens busy from morning till bedtime with board games, video games, supervised free play and—of course—plenty of snacks. The resort’s Seagrape Beach suites sit directly on the sand, making them a perfect spot for parents to sip on a cocktail at sunset before catching some evening entertainment, like live steel drum music.
Club Med Sandpiper Bay, Florida
Best for: All-inclusive stay with a focus on sports for families
You don’t have to travel to the Caribbean for a beachy family vacation. Club Med is known for their all-inclusive stays, and the company’s only U.S. property doesn’t disappoint. Located along the St. Lucie River, guests enjoy endless food and drinks, water and land sports, and entertainment. Kids ages 4-17 can join the Kids Club, while the ‘rents can get a moment of peace at the adults-only infinity pool.
Comments