Whether you spend your days relaxing on the beach or searching for adventure, the best family vacations leave you feeling rested, rejuvenated and inspired.
When you vacation at an all-inclusive resort, you have more opportunities to welcome those feelings of relaxation and discovery because there’s no need to worry about being nickel-and-dimed for every meal or activity — most of those costs are already included in your room rate. That’s not to say all-inclusive resorts are all the same, though.
Like all families are different, every all-inclusive resort is unique in terms of its locale, accommodations, dining options and service, among other factors. One thing they all have in common is that the price you pay covers your room, dining and many on-site activities. That means you can leave the everyday behind and enjoy a real, cost-conscious vacation without sacrificing quality.
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Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana is only 15 minutes from Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) along the shores of Juanillo Beach. The resort has 375 oceanfront suites, including swim-up suites for families with children ages 13 and older. Dining options range from local Caribbean specialties to a wellness-focused restaurant with smoothies and vegan offerings and 24-hour room service for a late-night bite.
The resort’s water park has winding waterslides for older kids and adults, a splash area with pint-sized slides for the littles, plus a lazy river the whole family can enjoy together. Parents who want to retreat to a private cabana for the afternoon can drop the kids off at the kids club (complete with an indoor treehouse). There’s also a teen club for guests ages 13 to 17.
Pricing starts at $730 or 42,000 World of Hyatt points per night for a family of four.
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The Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya is actually two resorts in one. The Hacienda section welcomes adults and kids, while the Heaven section is for adults only.
Kids ages 4 to 12 can play the day away at the Hard Rock Roxity Kids Club while parents relax and enjoy bottomless cocktails at the adults-only pool or indulge at the full-service spa (for an additional fee).
The family can meet back up for a swim at the resort’s private beach, enjoy family time at the Rockaway Bay water park and have a meal in one of the resort’s eight dining establishments, such as the wood-fired pizzas at Pizzeto.
The best room type for families is the two-bedroom Deluxe Family Room with one king and two double beds. It also has a balcony with a hammock, separate mini bars for kids and adults and cozy bathrobes for adults and kids (how adorable is that?). True to the brand’s rockin’ roots, you can have a Crosley turntable or Fender guitar delivered to your room to use during your stay.
Pricing starts at around $400 per night for a family of four staying in a room with two double beds.
[roundup-affiliate type=”hotel” capi-id=”8898″ post-id=”1442452″]
Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa offers 489 guest rooms located in one large building, meaning you are never too far from the resort’s exciting amenities. All rooms have a private balcony (or terrace if you are staying on the first floor) and picture windows that let you revel in the gorgeous Caribbean views even when you retreat to your room.
Related: 7 things to know before booking a stay at Montego Bay’s Hilton Rose Hall Resort
The resort boasts two private beaches — a small beach near the pool complex and an expansive beach area with shaded chairs and daybeds on the sand. Friendly staff will not hesitate to get you involved in the included activities — a befitting perk for outgoing families. Guests can also borrow kayaks and paddle boards to take out on the water.
Hotels with water parks are a key ingredient for successful family vacations, and Hilton Rose Hall’s Sugar Mill Falls water park is one of Jamaica’s largest.
The spa offers indoor and beachside treatments (for an additional fee). There are also separate clubs for kids and teens with age-appropriate games and activities.
Pricing starts at around $415 or 60,000 Hilton Honors points per night for a family of four. Children under age 3 stay for free.
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Giraffe Manor is not your typical all-inclusive resort. The resort has only 12 rooms — no two alike, but all are equally charming — split between the Manor House and Garden Manor. Some rooms are situated in such a way that the namesake giraffes may wander up to your window in search of a small snack, but there are ample opportunities to interact with all of the giraffes who reside here.
Related: Book this ultimate day pass in Nairobi to unplug and hang out with giraffes
You are likely to encounter a friendly giraffe poking his head in the window as you eat breakfast or strolling up to the terrace as you enjoy your afternoon tea. Don’t worry, the hotel provides feeding pellets so they won’t come after your meal (feeding pellets are provided in guest rooms with giraffe-feeding access, as well).
Pricing includes accommodations, airport transfers, all meals, most alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and select activities.
Fully inclusive pricing starts at $1,062 per person or adults and $732 for children.
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As soon as you pull up to Nickelodeon Resort Riviera Maya, there’s no denying it’s a vacation destination designed for kids … and kids at heart. Included activities range from pajama character breakfasts to live game shows. Dining, kids club access (for kids ages 4 to 12) and water park admission also come with the cost of your stay.
Brightly decorated are a nod to popular Nickelodeon cartoons “SpongeBob SquarePants” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.” There are daily character meet-and-greets, and, yes, you really can have gallons of green slime dumped over your head (you’ll even get a photo to commemorate the experience).
Another perk kids and parents will love — all rooms have swim-up access to either the main resort pool or your own balcony pool.
Pricing starts at around $1,000 per night for a family of four. Certain dates require a three-night minimum.
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Club Med has probably the most comprehensive lineup of activities and experiences of any all-inclusive brand.
For those with relaxation in mind, Club Med Punta Cana has three outdoor pools, shaded loungers lining the beach and spacious, ocean-facing family suites where you can listen to the waves gently crashing when you need some downtime. The family suites have a sleeping area for parents with a king bed, a separate room for kids with two twin beds and a living area that opens to a furnished terrace.
Restaurants serve international and local cuisines and are convenient to the beach, the lagoon pool and the resort’s main bar.
If you prefer an always-on-the-go vacation, you can perfect your acrobatic skills at circus school, head out on the water in a kayak or on a stand-up paddle board, or test your skills with a bow and arrow.
While most all-inclusive resorts do not provide complimentary care for infants and toddlers, Club Med’s kids clubs are available to kids as young as four months of age.
Pricing starts at around $163 per adult per night. Children ages three and under are free. Children ages 4 to 11 receive a 50% discount, and children ages 12 to 15 receive a 20% discount.
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The Sheraton Samui Resort is a budget-friendly resort located directly on Chaweng Noi Beach. Chaweng Noi is quieter and more secluded than other nearby beaches, leaving its wide swaths of soft sand and calm, crystalline waters (don’t forget your snorkeling gear) wide open for families looking for a laid-back tropical vacation.
Unlike traditional all-inclusive resorts, you must choose the all-inclusive package to receive all-inclusive benefits. Room-only rates are also available. The base all-inclusive package includes meals, nonalcoholic beverages, activities, a one-hour beachside massage, a cooking class and airport transfers. You can upgrade to packages that include alcoholic beverages and additional spa treatments.
Related: 5 Reasons to Visit Koh Samui, Thailand
The resort has two pools — one freshwater and one saltwater — where kids can swim while parents lounge on one of the poolside daybeds. There’s also a beachfront kids club with toys, games and activities that kids can enjoy while parents visit the spa for a massage or hit the tennis courts for a friendly competition.
All-inclusive room rates start at around $211 per night for two adults and one child (most rooms sleep up to three guests). Marriott Bonvoy points cannot be redeemed for all-inclusive packages.
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Spice Island Beach Resort is an upscale resort on pristine Grand Anse Beach, a two-mile expanse of fine white sand and cerulean waters. Its location also offers stunning views of Granada’s tree-covered mountains in the distance. And with only 64 suites, you may feel like you have the beach (practically) all to yourself.
Each villa-style suite opens to the beach, pool or gardens. Some even have their own private plunge pool and furnished terrace. Spice Island Beach Resort is Granada’s only AAA Five Diamond-rated property, and you’ll experience the luxury that earned such a prestigious designation in all-inclusive offerings like fresh, flavorful cuisine, creative cocktails and activities like cycling, golfing, snorkeling and beachside yoga. An on-site kids club is available for kids ages 3 to 12.
Pricing starts at around $1,100 per night for a family of four.
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Want to switch up your typical family vacation? Look no further than Colorado’s C Lazy U Ranch.
This luxury, all-inclusive dude ranch is open year-round, with activities that vary per season. Visit in the summertime, and you can try your hand at archery, fly fishing, hiking, mountain biking, swimming and more. In the winter, activities shift to cold-weather favorites like skiing, ice skating, sleigh rides and snow tubing. Horseback riding is available all year long.
There are seemingly endless activities that families can enjoy together. However, you may have trouble pulling your kids away from the supervised activities designed just for them. Kids ages 3 to 17 are split into groups for age-appropriate excursions, including preparing for the weekly “Shodeo” that’s held weekly throughout the summer. During the Shodeo, kids have the opportunity to take to the riding ring and show off the skills they’ve learned during their time at C Lazy U.
Pricing starts at $525 per person per night for adults and $335 per night for kids.
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Each of the 197 rooms and suites at Dreams Curaçao Resort immerses you in the resplendent beauty of the Caribbean Sea and the lush, green terrain surrounding the resort. All rooms have furnished balconies overlooking the ocean, the island or the gardens.
Related: The zero-cost vacation: 100+ all-inclusive resorts you can book with points
Spend your days in one of the resort’s three pools, participating in the “Beach Olympics” competitive games on the beach or snorkeling and kayaking in the ocean. At night, the resort hosts live entertainment, parties and dance classes. At the oceanside Barefoot Grill, you don’t even need to leave the sand to grab a lunchtime hamburger or hot dog, or you can try one of six additional restaurants.
While there is plenty to keep you busy at the resort, make time to visit the pastel buildings in Willemstad’s historic district, just a short 15-minute drive from the resort.
Pricing starts at around $166 per person per night, and rooms sleep up to three guests.
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You wouldn’t expect the farm-to-table cuisine, countless activities and a fun-filled kids club to be included in the cost of staying in a castle-like Victorian hotel in the middle of New York’s Hudson Valley, but that is exactly what you’ll get at Mohonk Mountain House. This historic 143-year-old resort offers elegant accommodations with postcard-worthy mountain or lake views.
Related: 8 quintessential summer resorts offering fun for the whole family
Included in your stay are three gourmet meals per day, unlimited activities like boating and paddleboarding in the summer and ice skating and tubing in the winter, evening educational lectures and music, access to hiking trails and, in the summer months, supervised kids’ programming.
Activities vary by season, but you’ll be happy to know that when it’s too cold to swim in the lake, you can head for the heated indoor pool.
Pricing starts at around $1,200 per night for a family of four. Children ages 3 and under are free.
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Open since late 2021, the Hilton Cancun feels modern and fresh because it is. The all-ocean-view resort caters to families with children with a host of family-friendly offerings like two-bedroom suites, an all-you-can-eat ice cream and churro shop, a family pool and water playground and fun-filled clubs for kids ages and teens ages 13 to 17.
Related: Great for families: A review of the stunning new Hilton Cancun, an All-Inclusive Resort
The resort has two large beachfront infinity pools, but families will most likely gravitate to the one near the kids club — this is where you’ll find the waterslides and splash playground. With five specialty restaurants serving everything from Mexican cuisine to Southeast Asian delicacies and 24-hour room service, you can try something new every day during your stay.
Pricing starts at around $450 or 133,000 Hilton Honors points per night for a family of four.
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When you book a vacation at the Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa, you’ll be whisked away on a scenic seaplane or speedboat ride and taken to your private-island retreat.
Spanning the entire island, the resort is designed to blend in with the natural landscape. Of the 120 luxury villas, 60 are located on the beach, and 60 are overwater bungalows located directly over the crystal-clear sea.
The all-inclusive rate includes fitness facilities, nonmotorized water sports, a kids club with indoor and outdoor play spaces and unlimited meals and drinks from the resort’s high-end dining outlets. For an additional fee, you can bliss out at the on-site spa, embark on scuba or snorkeling excursions or take to the waters on a jet ski.
Pricing starts at around $980 per night for a family of four.
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Beaches Turks & Caicos is a sprawling island resort with five “villages” designed to resemble locales such as Key West, the Italian Riviera and a charming French village.
Its large size means you’ll have access to 21 restaurants, 12 miles of beach, 10 pools, a 45,000 square-foot waterpark, scuba diving and more. These are situated around the various villages, so you are never too far from your next dip in the pool or a bite to eat.
Older kids will love the surf simulator, splash playground, slides, lazy river and kids-only swim-up bar at the Pirates Island water park. Younger kids will relish the opportunity to meet their favorite “Sesame Street” characters at Camp Sesame.
Pricing starts at $408 per night for adults and $38 per night for children.
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Tamarindo’s beaches are a hotspot for surfing, fishing and water sports for visitors to Costa Rica. If that sounds like your family, make Occidental Tamarindo the home base for your seaside adventures.
Occidental Tamarindo’s accommodations put you just steps away from the rolling surf. It also provides spa treatments, local and international cuisine and daily activities and entertainment … not to mention the views of Marino Las Baulas National Park.
If you prefer calmer waters, the resort’s large zero-entry pool has a section for children and a hot tub. There’s no traditional kids club where you can drop off your tykes for a while. However, the friendly staff organizes daily games and activities for kids and parents to participate in as a family.
Pricing starts at around $200 per night for a family of four.
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With only six villas that sleep from 4 to 13 guests, Bluefields Bay Villas offer comfort, privacy and an expertly trained staff who can help you bring to life the all-inclusive vacation of your dreams.
Villas boast ocean and island views, private pools, a personal chef and a 24-hour butler to coordinate meals (including beach snacks and cocktail hours) and activities during your stay.
Pricing at this ultra-exclusive resort includes chef-cooked meals served in your villa’s dining room, watersports, snorkeling, glass-bottom boat cruises, hiking and more. Child care and complimentary laundry service are also included in the cost of your stay. We can’t think of anything better than returning home with a suitcase full of clean laundry.
Pricing starts at around $1,500 per night for a family of four, and a four-night minimum stay is required.
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When you stay at Paradisus Playa del Carmen, you’ll spend your days splashing in the clear, warm waters of Mexico’s Caribbean coast, swimming in the pool (or resting in one of the submerged loungers) and climbing and sliding at the resort’s on-site water park.
There is fun to be had outside the water, as well, with a kids club and daily activities like crafts, dance classes and more. You can indulge your carnivorous side at Sal Steak Cove or take your pick of global cuisines at the Naos buffet, all included in the cost of your stay.
If you choose to splurge and upgrade to the Nikte package, you’ll receive a premium suite, access to a VIP pool and beach area, concierge service and priority dining and activity reservations.
Pricing starts at around $430 per night for a family of four on a standard package or $590 per night with the upgraded Nikte package.
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Falcon’s Resorts by Meliá began a phased opening in January 2023, introducing an exciting new concept into the world of all-inclusive resorts. As part of a larger entertainment destination called Falcon’s Beyond Destination – Punta Cana, guests will have access to a shopping, dining and entertainment district (currently in development) and the Caribbean’s first true theme park, Katmandu Park.
It’s easy to find fantastic water parks in the Caribbean, but you won’t find funhouses, virtual roller coasters or 4D laster-shooting games unless you visit Katmandu Park. Theme park admission is included in the cost of your stay, but how often you can visit depends on which package you purchase.
The entertainment extends to the resort itself, where families can experience a pool with underwater music, a water park, a supervised kids camp and more.
The resort’s Beyond program includes upgraded accommodations (including swim-up suites), multi-day passes to Katmandu Park, concierge and turn-down service, priority reservations for activities and dining and seating at a poolside dinner show.
Pricing starts at around $371 per night for a family of four booking a standard package and $537 per night with the Beyond package.
[roundup-affiliate type=”hotel” capi-id=”9285″ post-id=”1446942″]
Moon Palace Cancun has more than 2,000 guest rooms divided between two distinct sections: Moon Palace Cancun — Sunrise and Moon Palace Cancun — Nizuc. Guests have access to fun, games and dining in both sections.
Families with younger kids may prefer Nizuc, which is where you’ll find a pool with a winding waterslide and family suites with connecting bedrooms — one with a king bed and the other with two double beds.
Families traveling with tweens and teens should opt for the Sunrise section for easy access to the surf simulator in the pool and the Wired Lounge with table and arcade games that kids and adults will love. This is where you’ll also find the resort’s Noir Night Club for drinks and dancing when the sun goes down (and the kids are having the time of their lives at the kids club, open until 10 p.m. daily).
Pricing starts at around $411 per night for a family of four, with additional discounts available if you pre-pay in full.
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Even though Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa is less than two miles from St. Lucia’s Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) and less than an hour from popular area attractions like the Pitons and the Sulphur Springs, it feels like a secluded island paradise.
It helps that the resort sits on a one-mile stretch of beach and has eight restaurants, seven bars and five pools to serve only 250 guest rooms. Among the dining options, don’t miss the Jerk Treehouse on the beach or the Silk fine dining fusion restaurant for dinner.
The rooms are split between an adults-only Harmony section and a family-centered Splash section. At Splash, families can stay in spacious rooms with private balconies that overlook the waterslides, lazy river and water playground at the water park.
In addition to the typical kids club activities, children have access to an animal sanctuary, nature walks and meet-and-greets with the resort’s larger-than-life coconut mascots, Coco and Loco.
Pricing starts at around $630 per night for a family of four.
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