Families love their beach resort getaways; and conversely nearly every beach resort, these days -- including the luxury brands-- welcomes families.
Below are some tips for finding a beach resort for your family.
All-inclusive?
Perhaps the first question to ask is, do you want an all-inclusive beach resort? The advantages, for families, are many:
- kids can help themselves to unlimited snacks and drinks
- buffets are an easy quick way to feed the kids
- kids can sample watersports, stop if they get tired, come back later, whatever; it's all-included so who cares?
- some kids love the kids clubs; baby care and teen clubs are offered, too, at some beach resorts
- families may feel safe enough, within an enclosed AI, to let older kids run around on their own
Remember, you won't find all-inclusives in Hawaii; best bets are Mexico, and the Caribbean.
Read more about all-inclusive beach resorts: Why, What, Where, and Which to Choose?
Beach Resort Tips
Hurricanes: read about hurricane season, and various ways you can protect your holiday, including "weather guarantees" by beach resort companies or vacation packagers (-- always read the fine print!)
Conditions at the beach: beaches change, due to hurricanes and erosion; some areas are particularly vulnerable. (For example, Cancun beach resorts.) Always check recent visitor comments about the conditions at any beach resort. Also, check that the beach is swimmable! At many beach resorts in Hawaii, for example, surf is beautiful but too rough for swimming.
Tipping, at all-inclusives: some all-inclusives strictly forbid it; at others it's expected. Read comments at a site like TripAdvisor.com to know the score at a particular beach resort. Bring dollar bills; $100 should be sufficient for a week. (For tipping in general, see this Tipping Guide.)
Pools: swimming pools, somewhat ironically, are a huge draw at beach resorts; often, the actual beach is much quieter than the luxurious pools with meandering lagoons, islands, waterfalls, waterslides... Note, however, that most pools in Mexico and the Caribbean aren't heated, except by the sun; sometimes the weather gets cool, and the pools do too.
Lounge chairs just have to mentioned, too. Visitors frequently complain that a particular beach resort doesn't have enough lounge chairs at the pool or beach; guests feel forced to get up early in the morning to throw a towel over an empty chair and claim it for the day.
Meanwhile, some beach resorts have strict policies about pool towels(!) For example, guests may be issued a card that they exchange for a pool towel; they're expected to reclaim that card and turn it in on departure day.
Again, TripAdvisor.com comments will have the latest about the pool scene at a particular beach resort. If you feel that hassles for lounge chairs or pool towels will annoy you, try another beach resort!
Miscellaneous Tips
Families with older teens: note that in Mexico, drinking age is 18; at an all-inclusive beach resort, your kids will get "adult" wristbands which means unlimited access to alcoholic drinks.
Time-share sellers: can be aggressive at many properties, in Mexico and the Caribbean.
Day-Trips: highly recommended! Take the opportunity to explore a country, venture beyond the boundaries of your beach resort.
And remember, for any beach resort, always check recent visitor comments at a site like TripAdvisor!
Head to:
- Beach Resort Ideas - Where to Go
- Caribbean, Hawaii, Florida, California, the Southeast US, and more
*photo of Club Med Cancun Yucatan beach resort © Teresa Plowright
