As a parent, you have an entirely different set of priorities when choosing a hotel that’s fit for your family. Instead of swim-up bars and late-night comedy shows, you’re probably keen on having room to spread out, an awesome kids club and play-focused pools.
Keeping your littles happy is essential for a successful family vacation, and these hotels and resorts with eye-popping perks for kids will have your brood buzzing with excitement.
As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.
Wailea Beach Resort – Marriott, Maui
With direct beach access to calm and family-friendly waters, incredible whale watching and panoramic sunset views from almost anywhere on the property, Wailea Beach Resort – Marriott, Maui has it all.
Older kids can snorkel with resident turtles and kayak along the coastline, while younger kids (ages 5 to 12) will love the Keiki (Kids) Club, which offers storytelling, arts and crafts, and learning stations. Plus, the Te Au Moana Lu`au is fun for everyone.
JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort
The three-mile-long strand of sand outlining Marco Island is the main attraction at this southwest Florida paradise. And the wide beach at JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort is well-manicured and prime for sandcastle contests. Young swimmers will also love splashing around at the Tiki Pool, which has a waterslide to level up the fun.
For kiddos, the beach resort features the Tiki Time Day Camp, where kids ages 5 to 10 become wildlife explorers for the day, learning and, of course, making some new friends along the way. Other family resort activities include outdoor games, movie nights, bowling, mini golf and story time on the beach.
The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto
While Ritz-Carlton hotels might be known for epitomizing the lap of luxury, they also have a fabulous family-friendly side — and The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto is no exception. This Toronto property offers some captivating opportunities for little ones. Sign up for a Ritz Kids Toronto Discovery Scavenger Hunt throughout the city, where your child will learn about its rich history and document the day’s adventures with a Polaroid camera.
The Play Kitchen Experience promotes your little foodie to executive chef with a play kitchen in your hotel room. Among other perks, kids will also get a personalized apron and a tour of TOCA restaurant that includes a photo with the chef. If your kid loves gazing at the sky and stars, the Space Adventure Experience — featuring an in-room rocket-ship playhouse, a starlight projector, a stuffed toy, a book and glow sticks — makes little astronaut dreams come true.
Le Méridien Ra Beach Hotel & Spa
Families will feel connected to Catalonian culture at Le Méridien Ra Beach Hotel & Spa, a traditionally designed Sant Salvador beach hotel. Kids won’t be bored when they can choose from not one, but two, kids clubs: one for littles focusing on art and one with a more active program for tweens and teens (ages 11 to 17). You can choose a dining package that include some or all meals with your stay, which makes dining with kids stress-free.
Plus, the hotel’s Costa Daurada location is only 35 minutes from the Barcelona airport, so getting the littles from the plane to the hotel is a breeze.
Penha Longa Resort
Penha Longa Resort, nestled in Portugal’s Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, is spectacular for any outdoor enthusiast, but its Atlantic Championship Course will take the cake for golf families. Golfers who are 15 and younger are even invited to enjoy a complimentary round at the 27-hole course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Other offerings include camping, painting, movie nights, cooking classes and pajama parties. For families with babies, the resort offers cribs on request, as well as car seats, highchairs and bottle warmers. Leave the diapers at home and prepay to have a box delivered to your room when you arrive.
Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort
Step away from the glitz of Dubai and settle into the Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort on Fujairah Beach, with the peaks of the Hajar Mountains as the backdrop and azure Indian Ocean views. The enormous freeform swimming pool is a major draw for kids of all ages, and the kids clubs have a full range of activities to keep them busy on dry land.
For the most adventurous teens and tweens, the Al Aqah Challenge will ignite your young thrill-seeker: It includes two zip lines, plus walls for climbing and rappelling.
The Westin Turtle Bay Resort & Spa, Mauritius
Snuggled among the paradisiacal island nation of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, The Westin Turtle Bay Resort & Spa, Mauritius is as stunning as it is family-friendly.
The Westin Family Kids Club is tucked away in a tropical garden and is open from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. daily. Kids can play all day and make new friends while they participate in arts and crafts, sandcastle competitions, campfire nights, cooking classes and mini water aerobics in the kids club pool.
Royalton Antigua, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort
Fronting a stunning Caribbean lagoon and a spacious beach, with plenty of room to play at the pool, this all-inclusive island resort is tops for families. At Royalton Antigua, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort, kids ages 4 to 12 can enjoy games and activities at the Clubhouse Kids Club. Teens up to age 17 will love the chill vibes at the Hangout Teens Club, complete with PlayStation lounges, billiards and pingpong tables.
Book a swim-out suite, or opt for one of the overwater bungalows for the full Caribbean experience — and a stay the kids will never forget.
Marriott Cancun, An All-Inclusive Resort
Marriott Cancun, An All-Inclusive Resort is designed to surprise and delight travelers young and not-so-young. Families have their pick of pools, including a huge main pool and a special kids pool with waterslides and splash pads. The nearby beach features nonmotorized water sports for kids, including kayaking.
At CAMP by Marriott Kids Club, the resort’s recreation team develops a full range of activities for children throughout their stay. And dining is plenty of fun, too — at the Sports Bar restaurant, kids and parents can compete in arcade games or sing karaoke.
JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa
The Maldives might not immediately come to mind when you’re looking for a family destination (after all, it is a top romantic destination), but JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa does it all.
This resort features more than 100 activities for kids at the incredible Family by JW Little Griffins Kids Club, with a design inspired by a pirate shipwreck that includes huts, a 43-foot-long pirate ship and a dedicated kids pool. With interactive island exploration guided by the kids club staff, there’s plenty of fun to be had for kids ages 3 and up.
For your Maldives family vacation, consider booking a two-story Duplex Beach Pool Villa overlooking the Indian Ocean, which has two bedrooms and a pull-out sofa to accommodate your whole crew.
Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Inspired by Bali’s serene culture and surrounded by the verdant rice fields of Ubud, Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve will inspire a sense of wonder and adventure. Two- and three-bedroom pool villas are perfect for families.
The resort’s open-air kids club has plenty to explore, and kids will love to spot the resident chickens and rabbits. Mandapa Camp offers a range of immersive, creativity-boosting activities for kids to have fun and learn about local Balinese culture. Families can choose from programs focused on sustainability, art, healing traditions and more.
The resort’s Mini Explorers program caters to the littlest kids, with half- and full-day programs. Kids 5 and up can attend on their own; those under 5 can join with their parents (though adults are always encouraged to join their kids of any age).
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