Nothing beats a beach resort getaway for families, especially at an all-inclusive with activities and kids programs.
Below are some possibilities...
Find a Caribbean Beach Resort
Families flock to Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and other islands for their all-inclusives, with watersports, kids clubs, and elaborate pools. At some Caribbean beach resorts, kids' programs are outstanding, with separate activities for many different age groups; teen programs and nurseries, too. Prices can be high, but drop May to December; and yes, hurricane season is within those months, but some resorts do offer weather guarantees.
Noteworthy choices:
•Franklyn D. Resort and FDR Pebbles - each family has their own vacation nanny
•Club Med Punta Cana, with amazing kids' programs for many different ages, and innovative "The Ramp" for teens
•Beaches resorts, with kids' programs and infant care
-- see these and more Top Caribbean Resorts for Families.
And for affordability, try Starfish in Jamaica, or Sunset Beach Resort (also in Jamaica, with waterpark), or Coconut Bay Resort in St. Lucia (with lazy river and giant kids' club play zone)-- see these and other Value-Priced All-Inclusive Beach Resort Choices.
You may also want to have a look at: Which all-inclusive beach resort is right for you?
Find a Mexico Beach Resort:
Though tourists still zip down to Mexico and "do their own thing" at a condo or small hotel, most families choose an all-inclusive beach resort. Kids clubs tend to be the "small friendly club-house" type, rather than the mega-type with differentiated age groups that you're more likely to find in the Caribbean.
Cancun, Los Cabos, and the Riviera Maya are three popular areas for all-inclusive beach resorts in Mexico. The Riviera Maya -- an hour south of Cancun-- has the second largest barrier reef in the world, Mayan ruins, and many activities to explore outside the resorts. Read about Mayan Riviera Highlights, including major beach resorts.
Cancun Beach Resorts, meanwhile, offer the urban-style pleasures of Cancun's 25-kilometer Hotel Zone (dining, shopping, etc.) plus access to the Mayan Riviera for day trips. Families can find all-inclusives, some with baby clubs; also several luxury brand (non-all-inclusive) beach resorts in Cancun welcome families.
- • See popular areas for Mexico Beach Resorts
Find a Hawaii Beach Resort
Don't expect to find all-inclusives in the Aloha state!
Hawaii is known for lush luxury beach resorts, such as the Grand Wailea, on Maui, with water park; or the properties on the Big Island's Kohala Coast. Kids' programs are definitely part of the picture at Hawaii resorts, but typically entail a (daily or half-day) charge
For more affordable options: check out the Ka'anapali Beach Hotel (Maui's "Most Hawaiian Hotel", featuring Hawaiian activities in its kids' programs). Also, the Waikiki Beach area is beautified, fun for families, and offers many lodging options, and many places to eat outside your hotel. The Hilton Hawaiian Village is the most resort-like of the Waikiki properties.
• See Hawaii Beach Resorts
Find a Florida Beach Resort
So many different areas...
- Amelia Island, in the northeast: with a family-friendly Ritz-Carlton, and giant Amelia Island Plantation Resort
- Space Coast: long stretches of great sand to walk on; and also estuaries and nature reserves to explore
- the Treasure Coast, in the southeast: home of Disney's Vero Beach Resort
- Sanibel and Captiva Islands: known for pristine shores, and shelling
- Clearwater Beach/St. Pete: beautiful shores, affordable prices
- Emerald Coast: the giant Sandestin resort has sugar-white sand, bay activities such as sailing, popular "village"
Find a Beach Resort in the Southeast
In the Carolinas and Georgia, some beach resorts have the stature of institutions, to which families return year after year (for generations, in some cases).
New England Beach Resort Ideas
For summer season, About's Guide for New England has many ideas for Cape Cod Beach Vacations, including several family-friendly resorts.
California- Beach Resort Ideas
In Northern California --where the sea is cold even in summer months-- the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay sits on scenic bluffs 40 minutes from San Francisco, and combines luxury with kid-friendliness and Ritz Kids Club. Meanwhile, about 100 miles north of The City, on the dramatic Sonoma-Mendocino coast, visitors can rent vacation homes at Sea Ranch, or stay at Sea Ranch Lodge.
In Southern California, Huntington Beach bills itself as "Surf City USA", and offers surfing lessons, proximity to Disneyland, and the Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort. About's Guide for California for Visitors has more Orange County Beach Hotels.
Further south, in San Diego an iconic California beach resort is the Victorian-era Del Coronado Hotel, which has kids and teen activities.
See also other California beach vacation ideas beyond resorts. (Scroll down.)
