Family Resorts are always a hot topic at Travel With Kids. Below you'll find properties in the Caribbean, Disney World, Mexico, more.
Family Resorts : Reviews- alphabetical
Note: these links are for reviews; see also profiles of many more Family Resorts.
Amelia Island, Florida Amelia Island-- in northern Florida near Jacksonville-- has lovely beaches, a historic fort complete with actors who play period characters, quaint historic town, delicious sea-food, and two family-friendly resorts: the Amelia Island Plantation and the Ritz-Carleton.
Animal Kingdom Lodge This luxury Walt Disney World property is not only fun, it has astonishing architecture inside and out: take an interesting tour of the African style and artifacts. Best of all, watch giraffes and zebras from your balcony.
Avalon Reef Club, Isla Mujeres, Mexico The Avalon Reef Club is on its own private islet, with gentle shallow beach, on Isla Mujeres (a 20-minute boat ride from Cancun.) Take short stroll and explore a laid-back little town. Guests at the Reef Club can eat and play at a sister resort.
Beaches Family Resorts: Beaches Boscobel, Jamaica This popular all-inclusive resort (re) opened as a "Beaches" in 2003 after an extensive renovation. Beaches Boscobel, on the north coast of Jamaica, has kids' programs, infant care, novelty pools, snorkeling, scuba (part of the "all-inclusive"), golf including a golf-for-kids program...
Breezes, Costa do Sauipe On the Bahia coast in Brazil, and part of the well-executed Costa do Sauipe complex, with beachwalk, village, golf, equestrian center, lake activity center. Endless beach; low land prices; many activities on-property and at the complex-- you might catch a free concert at the village one night. Guests can also take eco-tours or a day-trip to historic Salvador.
Breezes, Curacao New in 2002, Breezes Curacao is the first all-inclusive on this fascinating Dutch Caribbean island. This "super-all-inclusive" (sister to Starfish, above) includes daily scuba shore dives for ages 12 and up, with instruction; windsurfing, snorkeling, etc.; fine dining at Italian and Japanese restaurants; kids' club including theme dinners; and land fun such as trapeze and rock-climbing.
Center Parcs Center Parcs has 13 "holiday villages" in northern Europe: each with a huge domed area that houses a tropical pool (slides, waves, etc.), restaurants, shops, spa, and more. Large cottages, country settings, many outdoors activities, indoor playgrounds-- and reasonably priced. See a revie of Center Parcs Les Bois Francs, near Paris.
Club Med Cancun Yucatan Prime location, with 22 acres on its own peninsula, quiet beach areas; PassWorld (special space activities) for teens and tweens; active-style kids club; signature Club Med activities such as trapeze, full-scale theatre; snorkeling off-shore; concierge units extra amenities; Baby Welcome; access to wonderful outings in the Riviera Maya.
Club Med Punta Cana Features include terrific kids programs; The Ramp, for teens; trapeze; inline skating; long white-sand beach; watersports; huge freeform pool; Crunch Fitness; Hip Hop Kidz; Kids Club show with professional staging; and many more activities. Club Med family resorts have great ambiance.
Club Med Sandpiper, Florida On the St. Lucie River two hours from Orlando resort is an all-inclusive right in the US, with watersports (waterskiing, wakeboarding),flying trapeze, inline skating, golf, great ambiance and outstanding kids programs: Baby Club has separate groups for different ages and stages, and there are excellent clubs for older kids also.
Franklyn D. Resort, Jamaica FDR is a family all-inclusive where "all-inclusive" means everything, even snorkeling trips and scuba diving for ages 12 and up-- and best of all, a friendly vacation nanny for each family. Huge suites; friendly ambiance; great dining options.
FDR Pebbles, Jamaica Pebbles is the younger sister of FDR (above), and here too your vacation includes everything: from drinks at the swim-up bar to watersports, and vacation nanny also. Pebbles has special activities for teens/preteens, such as a campout on the Martha Brae River-- a great way to make friends.
Nickelodeon Family Suites by Holiday Inn Nickelodeon Family Suites by Holiday Inn has two two terrific waterplay complexes, Nickelodeon theming and characters, "Kidsuites", and pool games and entertainment designed by "Nick". A new level in on-property fun; free shuttles to theme parks; Kids-Eat-Free deals.
Old Faithful Inn One of the best features of Yellowstone National Park is its historic inns. The Old Faithful Inn is a masterpiece of "rustic elegance": the central hall vaults up 78 feet, with layers of wide balconies; it's the prototype for Disney World's Wilderness Lodge. Families will like the friendly atmosphere as guests wait around for the geyser's next blow. Prices are a bargain in the original section.
Portofino Bay Hotel, Orlando The Portofino Bay -- modeled on Portofino, Italy-- is part of the Universal Orlando complex: guests get FOTL (Front Of the Line) access to theme park rides. Other top features are: free shuttle boat to the parks; a large freeform life-guarded pool with waterslide, and a sandy beach-side; kids' activity center open in the evenings; visitors' privileges at sister resorts the Hard Rock Hotel and the Royal Pacific.
Pointe South Mountain Resort, Phoenix, AZ The Pointe South Mountain Resort, fifteen minutes from the Phoenix airport, has just made itself a magnet for families by building its own private 6-acre waterpark, The Oasis. Great golf and hiking, too.
Rancho de los Caballeros, AZ Low-key authentic "ranch resort" in Wickenburg Arizona has 60 years of history, kids' program, golf, spa, and of course, horses; guests can ride twice a day. Great chance to learn about Sonoran desert ecology.
Sandestin, Florida This giant 2400-acre resort has a beach side on the Emerald Coast, and a bay side: kids' sailing, kayaking, putting course; kids programs for ages 4-6 and 7-12; body-surfing and Boogie boards (complimentary); Junior Golf Academy, with excellent instructors. A picture-perfect Village attracts visitors by land and sea.
Starfish Resort, Jamaica Not specifically a "family resort", but full of families: this "value" property by SuperClubs was lots of fun, with two pricing options. Buy basic, and pay extra for motorized watersports, premium dining, etc.; or pay a bit more to get it all. For all guests, kid-friendly fun includes trapeze, rock-climbing, waterslides pool in the pool, kids club, minigolf, "ice-skating"...
Turtle Bay, Hawaii On the beautiful north coast of Oahu, Turtle Bay Resort has 880 acres, file miles of beach, five different bays, pool with waterfall and slide, on-site snorkeling, horseriding, surf lessons....
Westin St. John USVI This popular resort is on St. John in "America's Caribbean", the US Virgin Islands: two-thirds of St. John is a National Park. Stay in style at the Westin while you explore land and sea. Bring your snorkel gear!
Wyndham Rose Hall, Jamaica This Wyndham property has 110,000 sq. ft. waterpark, which has two waterslides and a lazy river float; you can float right up to the swim-up bar. The resort also has a golf course and a 1000' beach, and is near historical Rose Hall great house-- take a tour.
Amelia Island-- in northern Florida near Jacksonville-- has lovely beaches, a historic fort complete with actors who play period characters, quaint historic town, delicious sea-food, and two family-friendly resorts: the 
The Avalon Reef Club is on its own private islet, with gentle shallow beach, on Isla Mujeres (a 20-minute boat ride from Cancun.) Take short stroll and explore a laid-back little town. Guests at the Reef Club can eat and play at a sister resort.
This popular all-inclusive resort (re) opened as a "Beaches" in 2003 after an extensive renovation. Beaches Boscobel, on the north coast of Jamaica, has kids' programs, infant care, novelty pools, snorkeling, scuba (part of the "all-inclusive"), golf including a golf-for-kids program...
On the Bahia coast in Brazil, and part of the well-executed Costa do Sauipe complex, with beachwalk, village, golf, equestrian center, lake activity center. Endless beach; low land prices; many activities on-property and at the complex-- you might catch a free concert at the village one night. Guests can also take eco-tours or a day-trip to historic Salvador.
New in 2002, Breezes Curacao is the first all-inclusive on this fascinating Dutch Caribbean island. This "super-all-inclusive" (sister to Starfish, above) includes daily scuba shore dives for ages 12 and up, with instruction; windsurfing, snorkeling, etc.; fine dining at Italian and Japanese restaurants; kids' club including theme dinners; and land fun such as trapeze and rock-climbing.
Center Parcs has 13 "holiday villages" in northern Europe: each with a huge domed area that houses a tropical pool (slides, waves, etc.), restaurants, shops, spa, and more. Large cottages, country settings, many outdoors activities, indoor playgrounds-- and reasonably priced. See a revie of Center Parcs Les Bois Francs, near Paris.
On the St. Lucie River two hours from Orlando resort is an all-inclusive right in the US, with watersports (waterskiing, wakeboarding),flying trapeze, inline skating, golf, great ambiance and outstanding kids programs: Baby Club has separate groups for different ages and stages, and there are excellent clubs for older kids also. 
FDR is a family all-inclusive where "all-inclusive" means everything, even snorkeling trips and scuba diving for ages 12 and up-- and best of all, a friendly vacation nanny for each family. 
Nickelodeon Family Suites by Holiday Inn has two two terrific waterplay complexes, Nickelodeon theming and characters, "Kidsuites", and pool games and entertainment designed by "Nick". A new level in on-property fun; free shuttles to theme parks; Kids-Eat-Free deals.
One of the best features of Yellowstone National Park is its historic inns. The Old Faithful Inn is a masterpiece of "rustic elegance": the central hall vaults up 78 feet, with layers of wide balconies; it's the prototype for Disney World's Wilderness Lodge. Families will like the friendly atmosphere as guests wait around for the geyser's next blow. Prices are a bargain in the original section.
The Portofino Bay -- modeled on Portofino, Italy-- is part of the Universal Orlando complex: guests get FOTL (Front Of the Line) access to theme park rides. Other top features are: free shuttle boat to the parks; a large freeform life-guarded pool with waterslide, and a sandy beach-side; kids' activity center open in the evenings; visitors' privileges at sister resorts the 
The Pointe South Mountain Resort, fifteen minutes from the Phoenix airport, has just made itself a magnet for families by building its own private 6-acre waterpark, The Oasis. Great golf and hiking, too.
Low-key authentic "ranch resort" in Wickenburg Arizona has 60 years of history, kids' program, golf, spa, and of course, horses; guests can ride twice a day. Great chance to learn about Sonoran desert ecology.
This giant 2400-acre resort has a beach side on the Emerald Coast, and a bay side: kids' sailing, kayaking, putting course; kids programs for ages 4-6 and 7-12; body-surfing and Boogie boards (complimentary); Junior Golf Academy, with excellent instructors. A picture-perfect Village attracts visitors by land and sea.
This Wyndham property has 110,000 sq. ft. waterpark, which has two waterslides and a lazy river float; you can float right up to the swim-up bar. The resort also has a golf course and a 1000' beach, and is near historical Rose Hall great house-- take a tour.
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