If you and your family want to get away this year, look into these all-inclusive resorts for families.
All-inclusive resorts are perfect for family vacations since everything—activities, food, beverages, and so on—is included in the ticket, so your expenditure is minimal once you arrive.
Furthermore, if your friends or extended family accompany your crew on the vacation, there will be no awkward moments regarding who will pick up the check.
of all, these resorts provide you with a well-deserved break. The supervised programs for children and teenagers are so appealing that your mini-tourists will want to spend the morning, afternoon, or perhaps the entire day checking them out. Here comes the spa!
With so many new openings in recent years, it’s easier than ever to choose an all-inclusive that fits your family’s vacation attitude while remaining within your budget.
While many family all-inclusive resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean are beach resorts, certain New England lakeside getaways, dude ranches in the mountains, teen-friendly health locations, and ski lodges also offer wonderful all-inclusive options.
Many of the resorts on this list have been thoroughly reviewed by our experienced Good Housekeeping Institute team, and several have received one of Good Housekeeping’s first-ever Family Travel Awards.
Now is the time to start looking for your crew’s next trip! It’ll feel great to get away.
20 Best All Inclusive Resorts for Families to Visit in 2023
The finest family-friendly all-inclusive resorts not only allow you to make a trip with your loved ones as peaceful or action-packed as you like (or, even better, a great blend), but they also make the entire experience of getting away and being in the present intuitive and worry-free.
Aside from the relief of having food and drinks taken care of, these resorts have truly thought of everything.
Their aim is to allow you and your relatives to enjoy immersive classes, cultural experiences, outdoor adventures, and more, making your vacation feel fun and exciting for every member of the family, regardless of age.
Below are the 20 best all inclusive resorts for families.
Hotel Xcaret México (Playa del Carmen, México)
The 900-suite Hotel Xcaret México, winner of a 2023 Good Housekeeping Family Travel Award, will delight adventurous families.
The resort offers entry and transportation to any of the brand’s eight adventure parks, in addition to an amazing pool area on the extensive grounds. The local parks are known for their bucket-list experiences.
For example, at Xplor, your group can zipline through a rainforest, float through an ancient cave, and swim in an underground river that leads to a waterfall.
“The resort is an especially great vacation spot for a family with elementary school-age kids and up,” observed our tester.
However, if you have a newborn or toddler, the company steps in to give a variety of equipment so you don’t have to bring or rent any.
“You are welcome to borrow a wide range of baby equipment, including bathtubs, bottle warmers, and even strollers designed specifically for beach use.” Our mental load is already lighter.
Franklyn D. Resort & Spa (Runaway Bay, Jamaica)
Every family at the Franklyn D. Resort & Spa gets their own CPR-trained “Vacation Nanny” for around eight hours a day, from morning to late afternoon.
They can take the kids to the pool, feed them, put them down for naps, and restock your refrigerator with snacks and beverages.
They may be an extra pair of hands for you, or you could delegate authority to them and go kayaking, book a spa treatment, or read a book on the beach.
There are only two-bedroom suites available. While they’re less fancy, not having to tiptoe around in the dark to avoid waking up a sleeping toddler more than compensates for the lack of 400-thread-count linens.
Beaches Turks & Caicos (Providenciales, Turks & Caicos)
Beaches Turks & Caicos was named “the ultimate all-inclusive” in the 2023 Good Housekeeping Family Travel Awards, and it appears to think of everything families need and want.
A wide range of restaurants? Beaches have over 20 options.
Clubs that are enjoyable and well-supervised? They provide programs for babies to teens and separate them into different age groups, so kids may hang out with other kids their age or younger.
They even have a program for children with special needs. Unique items that will blow your children’s minds.
Toddlers and preschoolers love their Sesame Street-themed programs, which include Cookie Monster baking and an Elmo dance party.
The pirate-themed water park’s exciting slides, lazy river, and surf simulator will keep older kids entertained. “Our kids went to the pool’s swim-up soda bar every single day,” our tester reported.
There’s also the spa and the opportunity to sit by the pool or beach with a drink in one hand and a book in the other.
Bring the grandparents or family friends, because many accommodations may accommodate larger parties.
Beaches in Turks and Caicos have everything you could possibly want—including convenience,” said our tester. It’s only a ten-minute drive from the airport.”
The Tyler Place Family Resort (Highgate Springs, Vermont)
The Tyler Place Family Resort, which is open from late May to early September, provides fantastic camp-like experiences for families from babies to high-schoolers.
The resort sells out quickly due to the high number of repeat visitors. Kids and teens, divided into eight age groups, participate in supervised nature-based activities on the lake, private shorefront, or neighboring fields in the morning.
Toddlers are taken on nature walks, fishing for perch, or to the playground by counselors, while pre-teens ride mountain bikes and tackle a ropes course.
Meanwhile, you can drink your coffee quietly or attend a yoga class or tennis lesson. In the afternoon, families gather for maple snow cones, arts and crafts, bike rides, and other activities.
The 72 cottages and suites come in a variety of sizes and layouts, with the largest, Farmhouse West, sleeping up to 10 people.
Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana (Punta Cana, Dominican Republic)
Fans of SpongeBob SquarePants will go crazy at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana and its new sister hotel in Riviera Maya, Mexico.
Character breakfasts, meet-and-greets, and selfies with the golden SpongeBob ensure that there’s always something entertaining to do. Families can participate in Slime Time Live or arrange a personal slime session.
Club Nick caters to children aged four to twelve, while you relax on a butler-serviced Bali beach bed.
While the kids may just want Krabby Patties, you’ll be well-fed thanks to Gourmet Village’s incredible dining experiences and gourmet pop-ups.
Guest rooms are tastefully decorated with orange accents and come in a variety of sizes. Some first-floor accommodations even have a tiny pool just outside the door.
Woodloch Resort (Hawley, Pennsylvania)
Look no further than this four-season all-inclusive Pocono Mountain getaway, winner of a 2023 Good Housekeeping Family Travel Award, for an easygoing vacation with nostalgic vibes in the best manner imaginable.
“If you want the amenities of a hotel with the advantages of a lake house, Woodloch Resort is it,” our tester stated.
From bumper cars to boat cruises to baking contests, activities are geared to bring families together.
“You’re assigned a table, and that’s your table for the entire stay, so you just walk in and seat yourself when you’re ready,” says the waiter.
The Ranch at Rock Creek (Philipsburg, Montana)
The Ranch at Rock Creek offers a bespoke schedule for your family’s glamping vacation. Your daily plan will include two guided activities as well as recommendations for things you can accomplish on your own.
Among the fun group activities are sapphire mining, archery, and horseback riding.
After dinner at the Western-themed Granite Lodge, go bowling at the Silver Dollar Saloon’s four-lane alley.
Canvas cottages for families sleep six people and include a reading corner, balcony, and private bathroom.
Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos (San Jose del Cabo, Mexico)
The Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos, nestled between desert dunes and ocean rock formations, fascinates both parents and children.
The kids have their own water park, complete with slides, a splash pool, and a sandy playground.
Adults can enjoy a swim-up bar and a cutting-edge gym. All ages are entertained by Mexican-inspired nightly entertainment ranging from magic acts to tropical dance music played by the resort band.
The Ziva suite, in particular, is family-friendly, with a separate bedroom space for the kids, two bathrooms, and a prime position near the kids’ club and water park.
Because of the strong currents, most beaches in Los Cabos, including this one, are not suitable for swimming. But if your children like the pool anyhow, it’s not a big deal.
Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort (Labrelotte Bay, Saint Lucia)
Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort, nestled on a verdant mountain top overlooking a bay, will enchant the entire family.
Sunbeds and in-water hammocks make a beach day feel extra special in the tranquil and protected bay, which is ideal for kids to splash around in.
Active families can enjoy the seaside volleyball net. The resort’s parrot mascot gathers families on the beach at night for storytelling.
The resort will deliver warm milk and cookies to the youngsters at Turndown for an additional fee. Mediterranean-style multi-bedroom houses carved into the hillside are ideal for larger gatherings.
The beach, six swimming pools, and tennis courts are all accessible via a short shuttle. A range of off-property excursions are also available.
A Rainforest Arial Tram and Sunset Cruise are among the “Jammin Tours” available.
Garza Blanca Resort & Spa Cancun (Cancun, Mexico)
This new oceanfront paradise on Playa Mujeres beach makes traveling with children more enjoyable.
Instead of bringing your own equipment, Garza Blanca Resort & Spa provides strollers, car seats, baby monitors, and other items available for borrowing.
Plush kid-size robes and slippers are available alongside adult ones, so you can match your mini-me.
You can do a lot as a family, such as visit the water park, play tennis, and take electric beach bike rides, but there is also a supervised club for kids aged 4 to 12, so you can get some R&R or head to the adult-only rooftop bar.
Club Med Cancún Yucatán
This all-inclusive resort is located on the scenic Riviera Maya’s tip and is feet away from the world’s second-largest coral reef.
Your stay includes unlimited gourmet dining at one of the four on-site restaurants, as well as unlimited snorkeling, sailing, water skiing, windsurfing, archery, flying trapeze, tennis, and other activities.
You’ll also have access to Club Med’s kids clubs, where children aged 4 to 17 can participate in kid-friendly activities led by trained childcare providers.
If your child isn’t quite old enough (under the age of four), you can look into on-demand options such as babysitting and the Petit Club Med club.
The resort renovated its Aguamarina family area with an additional 60 rooms and a new oceanfront pool in July 2018.
Separate bedroom quarters (allowing parents and children to have their own private space) and big balconies allow you to enjoy the coastal breeze after the kids have gone to bed.
Royalton Bavaro Punta Cana
At this new all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana, your water babies will quickly get into the swing of things.
The splash pad or lazy river will be the most important decision of the day at Royalton Bavaro.
In addition to the slides, fountains, tubes, and 1,200 feet of twisting river, older children can learn to surf on the FlowRider surf machine.
In addition, parents with little children will welcome the shade umbrella at the kiddie pool, where everyone can cool off with an icy drink.
Kids aged 4 to 12 may hang out at the supervised Kids Club, which has daily visits from renowned TV characters Max and Ruby, Xbox stations, an air hockey table, a craft room, and much more.
While the kids are occupied, parents can easily pass the time with a cappuccino at the coffee shop, a sweat sesh at the well-equipped gym, or a visit to the on-site spa for a massage, facial, or hydrotherapy circuit.
There’s something for everyone (even your pickiest eater!) at any time of day or night thanks to nine restaurants, a poolside food truck, and a 24-hour room service menu.
Sunwing Vacations will handle all of the arrangements, from flights to hotel transfers, so that even Mom can relax as soon as you get to the airport. Did we mention you get a free glass of champagne during the flight? That is correct.
Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya
There’s no need to worry about your tween or big youngster being bored when lounging by the pool at Hard Rock Riviera Maya.
They can spend hours at the skatepark, launching down ramps on a BMX bike (available for rent), bouncing on trampolines, plunging into a foam pit, or conquering a ninja-themed obstacle course with an on-site Woodward facility.
Kids who are more technologically savvy can film the activity with high-resolution cameras or gain DJ experience through Hard Rock’s Music Lab program. Of course, you can’t go to the Riviera Maya and not spend some time in the ocean.
The whole family may snorkel or kayak in a secluded bay right off the beach, or the kids can swim and jet down the water slide in the large family-friendly pool.
Hilton La Romana, Dominican Republic
Hilton La Romana is a magnificent, expansive resort on a peaceful portion of Bayahibe Beach on the Dominican Republic’s southeast coast.
It has an abundance of aquatic activities, such as a large water park, a lazy river, accessible beach access, and non-motorized water sports equipment.
Kids & Teens Clubs offer age-appropriate amusements such as field trips, foam parties, social events, and a night of beach camping.
A casino, scuba diving facility, a wonderful spa, a game of golf at a neighboring course, or a tour of any of the Dominican Republic’s popular tourist sites are available as extras.
Select suites have interconnected rooms.
All suites have their own balcony with a spectacular view, a minibar, 24-hour room service, and air conditioning.
The ground-floor suites offer optional swim-out decks, however, visitors must be 13 or older to use them.
Barcelo Bavaro Palace, Dominican Republic
When it comes to luxurious all-inclusive family resorts, visitors to the Dominican Republic are truly spoiled for choice.
The Barcelo Bavaro Beach is located in a popular location of Punta Cana and features 11 restaurants, many bars, a 24-hour tapas bar, a disco, a casino, a golf course, and several swimming pools.
This resort is so large that it has its own shuttle to help guests get around.
Barcelo Palace has nearly 1400 rooms and suites, as well as an adult-only portion of the resort.
The Palace Deluxe, the main building with family-friendly accommodations and easy access to all of the services, is where most guests choose to stay. Because of the large number of visitors, the atmosphere is lively and joyful.
On the pool deck, there is always something going on, such as dancing and games. There are four swimming pools, including one for children, where Kids Club participants spend at least part of their day.
A short stroll across the grounds will bring you to the Barcy Water Park, a big play area complete with waterslides and climbing walls.
There is an adults-only pool in the spa for a more relaxed atmosphere.
Beaches Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Beaches Ocho Rios is set on 22 acres of natural Jamaican land, complete with a private beach, a calm sea excellent for swimming and snorkeling, and a lush, green tropical garden.
It is well-known among families as one of the greatest all-inclusive resorts in Ocho Rios for families.
A massive pirate-themed water park, a golf program for kids, scuba diving and other water sports, unlimited dining and drinks at 7 restaurants and 6 bars.
There are also sports courts and equipment, 5 swimming pools, a Kids’ Camp, and an activity program for older kids among the activities at Beaches Ocho Rios.
Dunn’s River Falls and the famous Blue Hole natural plunge hole are both nearby attractions. Exciting activities like off-roading, river rafting, and mountain biking can also be arranged through the concierge, though trips are not included.
Hotel Riu Vistamar, Spain
Hotel Riu Vistamar in Gran Canaria, located on one of the Canary Islands, is the ideal all-inclusive hotel for visitors looking to soak in the sun in Spain.
There are two outdoor swimming pools with stunning views of the lake, as well as a free bus service to the nearby Playa de Amadores beach.
Scuba diving, water skiing, and windsurfing are all local options for maritime excursions.If you prefer to relax on land, there are three onsite restaurants offering a variety of cuisines and al fresco eating.
Traveling with children? They’ll like the RiuLand Kids’ Club, which plans unique activities to keep kids engaged while they’re away.
Giraffe Manor, Nairobi, Kenya
Giraffe Manor, a boutique hotel located on 12 private acres amid a 140-acre woodland in Nairobi’s Lang’ata area, is fashioned like a 1930s Scottish hunting lodge.
The highlight of the family-friendly all-inclusive resort is its resident herd of Rothschild’s giraffes, which are famed for pushing their long necks through the dining room windows for lunch.
Arrival and departure transportation, all meals, beverages (including house wine, beer, and spirits), wireless internet, laundry, and access to the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife Giraffe Center are all included in the all-inclusive pricing.
You can hike around the grounds after breakfast with the giraffes, visit (and sponsor) orphaned elephants at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, explore nearby Nairobi National Park in a private vehicle with a guide, relax at the full-service spa, or play classic family lawn games like croquet and boules.
Grand Velas Los Cabos
The Baja Peninsula of Mexico offers an unrivaled confluence of luxury resorts set against a backdrop of rough coastal nature, but Grand Velas Los Cabos stands out when it comes to curating family fun in Cabo San Lucas.
All 307 apartments feature views of the ocean, where frolicking whales make frequent appearances as they travel close to shore during the winter months (you and your children can gasp at the sight of them practically from your bed).
The property’s recently reinvented kids club is open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. to give parents a respite.
This assures campers never want to leave with a never-ending stream of activities such as cooking courses, foam parties, surfing, beach parties, and more.
The resort’s all-inclusive pricing includes premium brand beverages as well as gourmet meals at the resort’s five trademark restaurants, which serve Mexican, French, Italian-Mediterranean, and other cuisines.
The concierge can arrange a variety of family activities, such as Mexican cooking classes to learn how to create the best tacos, a private yacht excursion at sunset, or a snorkeling expedition with the sea lions in Cabo San Lucas.
Heritance Aarah
The Maldives is a favorite for an all-inclusive family holiday, with visions of kicking back along broad crescents of powdery sand lapped by warm, clear water.
Also, it’s hard to match the ocean or beach villas at Heritance Aarah on Raa Atoll if you want to completely amp up your Indian Ocean experience.
The resort’s premium all-inclusive rates include far more than dining and drinks.
Think snorkeling and diving trips to legendary reefs beyond the atoll’s lagoon frequented by manta rays, spa credits redeemable at treatment rooms perched over the turquoise water, and whiskey and wine tastings, to name a few extras.
The resort’s infinite watersport diversions, including fly-boarding instruction, kitesurfing, waterskiing, windsurfing, and more, will delight active families.
The resort’s kids club provides hours of entertainment while also attempting to widen child perspectives in educational ways with activities such as Dhivehi (Maldivian language) classes, crab hunting, and lessons on the Maldivian drum, the Boduberu.
Conclusion
Now that you’ve learned about some of the best all inclusive resorts for families, I believe you’ll have no trouble deciding where to spend the holidays with family and loved ones.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best month to go to all-inclusive resorts?
The “high season,” which begins around Thanksgiving and lasts until April.
How many days should you stay at an all-inclusive?
A week is the perfect length of time to spend on an all-inclusive vacation. Many folks, on the other hand, may choose a lengthier stay of 10-14 days.
What’s the difference between an all-inclusive and a resort?
All-inclusive resort vacation packages typically include lodging, meals, drinks, and other services. Instead of a predefined package, a la carte resorts allow you to select the amenities or services you’d want to include.
Is it cheaper to go all-inclusive?
That is dependent. All-inclusive resorts provide excellent value by including all snacks, meals, and drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.
