A beach getaway may be the standard vacation, but that’s only because it’s such a classic. You and your family can lounge on beach chairs, make sandcastles, dig holes, collect seashells, walk along the shoreline, swim, and watch glorious sunrises and sunsets.
What’s not to adore?
The only way to make a beach vacation better is to stay at an all-inclusive resort. The following 10 resorts provide the best amenities, excitement, fun, accommodations, dining, and attractions around.
1. Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas
For more than 25 years, the Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas resort has made family dreams come true against a wistful backdrop of sapphire blue waters and white, crystalline sands.
The resort includes five miles of photo-ready beaches, 14 pools, and a water park that’s more than 140 acres. To say it’s a hub for families is a massive understatement.
Dolphin Cay is the resort’s central spot for one-of-a-kind dolphin and sea lion experiences, including snorkeling or swimming with the animals.
It’s not all fun and games here; you can also learn about aquatic animal conservation. Your day in Dolphin Cay also supports the Atlantis Blue Project Foundation.
More animals await you as you explore the resort grounds, as Atlantis Paradise Island features 14 lagoons. Altogether, more than 250 marine animal species and 50,000 creatures live amongst the eight million gallons of fresh seawater.
Aquaventure is the resort’s water park, with complimentary access available for guests. The park offers 11 pools and 20+ swimming areas, private cabana rentals, and a Rapids River. This is not your average lazy river, as it features seven-foot drops!
No water park is complete without slides, which is why Aquaventure has so many. Drop 200 feet straight down on the body slide The Abyss, ride the waterslide rollercoasters The Surge or The Falls, or enjoy the thematic Mayan Temple Slide.
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Kids’ clubs for children 1 through 6, 7 through 12, and 13 through 17 offer incredible activities, but more awaits the kiddos even if you don’t partake in these programs. For instance, little girls can live out their doll fantasies in the Victorian Dollhouse.
The Grocery Store is a kid-staffed experience for the young ones to feel more adult, and a LEGO Construction Zone lets kids build to their heart’s content.
Even the dining options are family-friendly, with a Ben & Jerry’s for cooling off, Marina Pizzeria, Murray’s Donut Cart, Starbucks, Shake Shack, and kids’ meals like burgers and nachos at Shark Bites.
Hotels within the resort include the Atlantis Marina, Harborside Resort, The Reef, The Coral, The Royal, and The Cove. Your stay at the resort includes Wi-Fi access, complimentary tennis clinics, fitness center access, complimentary reusable water bottles, tea and coffee, and a shuttle service between the hotels.
2. Beaches Negril
Taking home awards from Travvy, U.S. News, and TripAdvisor, Beaches Negril is the place to be. This family resort in Negril, Jamaica, has a seven-mile private beach, a waterpark overlooking the sea’s edge, and entertainment aplenty.
Let’s play! Pirates Island Waterpark is the aforementioned waterpark and one of the largest in the Caribbean. Its range of slides and lazy rivers has something for kids who appreciate fast-paced thrills or younger ones who need something more easygoing.
What do you do when picture-perfect weather is a little less than? Don’t stress, as the Port Royal Arcade has plasma televisions, electronic basketball, air hockey, and foosball.
The only thing more fun than days at a Beaches Negril resort are nights! Sesame Street stage shows, kids’ parties, and live entertainment will put an ear-to-ear smile on the whole family’s faces. Talent shows, fashion shows, and stage shows always have a winner.
Beaches Kids Camps are some of the best you’ll find in any family resort, with programs for infants, toddlers, kids, and teens.
Certified nannies will care for your children and provide varied, fun entertainment, from arts and crafts to sports and video games.
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The Beaches Negril dining options are some of the finest on the island, and with 11 five-star gourmet establishments, you’ll eat good for your whole vacation.
The kids should definitely love the Southern casual atmosphere of Bar.B.Q. and the dessert spot YoYos, but if they’re in the mood to expand their horizons, the resort offers Jamaican, Peruvian, French, and Asian flavors.
Your room is guaranteed to have a view, and you get your pick of what you’ll wake up to every morning. Perhaps you’ll opt for a pool-view room, one with beachfront or oceanview rooms, or even the lovely tropical garden rooms. Special offers are always available.
The villas include up to four bedrooms, so you can bring your whole brood, and everyone has a place to sleep. The luxuries in the finest villas include private pools (yes, that’s pools, plural), split-king beds, and queen-sized bunks.
3. Sandpiper Bay Resort
The Port St. Lucie Sandpiper Bay Resort will get the kids off their phones and playing as they partake in sports, swimming, water sports (for an additional cost), and kid-friendly activities through the kids’ clubs.
Young children will learn the value of arts and crafts in the Baby Club for children four months through three years. The kids will practice their cooking chops in the Mini Club for children 4 to 10 years old. Latitude 27 is catered toward older kids between 11 and 17.
Elevate your taste buds with fine dining experiences at Slice Terrace, Slice Bar, Happy Croissant, and Marketplace. The latter has a rotating menu of options that updates daily.
The rooms offer unparalleled amenities, including spacious sleeping quarters, large windows for an airy seaside atmosphere, a tub and shower combination, rollaway beds, and garden or bay views.
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4. Bahia Principe Grand Jamaica
The family-friendly Bahia Principe Grand Jamaica features six restaurants, three swimming pools, a kids’ waterpark, and all-inclusive amenities.
Your stay grants access to transport facilities, an amphitheater, 24-hour reception service, the Bahia Principe Village, three dinners at a la carte restaurants per week, one hour a day of free water sports, a Kids Club, a waterpark, and parking.
The resort just opened its waterpark, which includes water slides and pools. The attached Pool Bar for Mom and Dad serves cocktails.
Bahia Principe boasts its own secluded, 800-meter cove, complete with 300 beach umbrellas and 600 recliners awaiting guests. This private beach is always sunny and warm.
Play all day on the Caribbean Sea with jet skiing and scuba lessons, kayaking, and snorkeling. You might even spot a green sea turtle!
How about some family sports? The resort grants guests access to a Mini Club with kids’ games, golf courses, the Scubaquatic Activities Center with poolside scuba diving, or aerobics and dancing classes.
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The a la carte restaurants as part of your all-inclusive dining plan are the Dolce Vita Restaurant (Italian), The Knife Restaurant (grilled food), Mikado Restaurant (Japanese), Don Pablo Gourmet Restaurant (modern food), and the Restaurant Food Market (international).
Cozy family rooms include comfy amenities like direct telephone, satellite TV, and air conditioning. The Junior Suites have the space for two children and two adults, with configurations like two queen-sized beds or one king.
Balcony or terrace access allows you to enjoy unparalleled views of the ocean from your private enclave.
5. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana
Live life the Hard Rock way at this all-inclusive Punta Cana resort.
Don’t worry about family friendliness here, as it’s very abundant. The all-ages activities and amenities range from playing on the Dominican Republic beaches to swimming in one of 13 pools, playing water sports, partaking in the Kids Clubs, and so much more.
For example, this all-ages resort has an Arcade Center, pool parties, a FlowRider, water sports, and live music.
We’re just getting started! Rockaway Bay Waterpark features twisting tube slides, perilous body slides, and a wave pool. Complimentary snacks will keep your family fueled up and ready for fun in the sun.
The Roxity Kids Club keeps the young ones entertained all day with music, crafts, and games for children of varying ages.
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Your room comes with standard amenities such as a 55-inch LED television, free wireless internet, a minibar with alcoholic and nonalcoholic options, a furnished balcony, a hydro spa tub, a private bathroom with double vanity and shower, guitars as part of the PICKS Program, and a Crosley Turntable courtesy of the WAX Program as requested.
The Family Suite is 1,715 square feet and includes two queen-sized sofa beds and a king-sized bed. The private bathroom will delight the parents, while kids will go crazy over the Xbox 360 console and games available upon request.
The Hard Rock quality you’ve come to expect from the brand’s restaurants translates to the food available at its resorts. The Market Food Hall serves meals morning through night, with made-to-order meals made with local ingredients.
Ciao Trattoria is another kid favorite for its ooey, gooey cheesy pizzas!
6. Paradisus Playa del Carmen
As a Melia hotel, you’re right to expect a lot from the Paradisus Playa del Carmen. This destination-inclusive beach resort in Mexico’s Riviera Maya will cultivate family togetherness.
How about a family block party to kick off your vacation? This mini carnival features plenty of snacks, skill tests, and interactive games. Surprise events are also in store!
The Aquazone is another party central on the grounds. Bubbles, snacks, events, and music happen every day here. Even if you miss the party, it will always happen again tomorrow. In the meantime, play at the resort waterpark, splashing your troubles away.
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International cuisine tantalizes the taste buds at Naos, where show cooking is on display. Fuego, the next restaurant on the resort grounds, serves Latin-fusion cuisine and ceviche not to be missed. Sal Steak Cave prepares authentic Argentine meat grilled to perfection.
A two-bedroom master suite at the Paradisus Playa del Carmen ought to suit most families fine. The room includes one king-sized mattress or two double beds.
Enjoy all-inclusive amenities, such as a separate lounge, bathroom amenities, a living area with dual sofas (one of which is a bed), a whirlpool tub, and garden views.
7. Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos
The San Jose del Cabo resort, Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos, has everything needed for a fun-filled, cherished family getaway.
Your all-inclusive stay has activities day and night, Wi-Fi, a fitness center, swimming pools, a water feature play area for the kiddos, shade shelters, unlimited beverages, live performances and other entertainment, and a la carte dining.
You and your family can share in so much, and better yet, it’s all included with your stay! Swimming pool access is complimentary, including the two water dump buckets and five water slides at the KidZ Club mini waterpark, an adult-only swim-up bar, an infinity plunge pool, and the KidZ pool.
Dry off and play some basketball, volleyball, or tennis. You should always scope out the daily activities calendar, which is fresh and fun.
The KidZ Club includes everything a child needs to stay entertained, including a sandy playground with a jungle gym, indoor arts and crafts, and other exciting supervised activities.
Cap off a perfect day with nightly shows, including live music, performances, and other entertainment authentic to the Mexican culture. You might see a contemporary music performance, tropical dancing, or a magic show, depending on the night.
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The largest rooms at the Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos are close to 600 square feet. Some offer double beds for sleeping larger groups, and others only king-sized mattresses. Pool views will enchant you every morning when you wake up.
Amenities include a dressing table, complimentary minibar, fully-equipped bathroom, hydro massage tub, high-end electronics, rain dance shower, and room service.
8. Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort
Windjammer Landing, St. Lucia’s premier villa beach resort, has something for all types of travelers, including couples and families.
The Jacquot Fun Club is a haven just for the kiddos. It’s the unique place to partake in the most fun activities for young ones on the resort.
Children can make their own puppets and then entertain an audience once a week during the Jacquot Funatic Puppet Making and Show experience.
The Kiddies Island Chef Cooking Class will find the next lead chef in the making, as the Windjammer’s best chefs instruct children how to make authentic St. Lucian dishes.
Movies, arts and crafts, mocktails, kids’ yoga, storybook reading, horseback riding (for an additional fee), and Creole dance class are other experiences within the Jacquot Fun Club.
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The VIP Kid Program includes complimentary services for children 4 through 12, such as movie nights, storytelling on the beach, and visits from Jacquot the Parrot. Jacquot is the resort’s mascot, and he’s bundles of fun.
Indulgent dining experiences await you. It’s all about indulging at the Upper Deck, which specializes in decadent dishes and desserts. Papa Don’s is a cozy restaurant with Mediterranean meals, Ember’s has a casual menu, and Jammers is a restaurant right on the beach.
A stay at a Windjammer villa is transformative in the best way possible. Guests can enjoy 64,000 square feet of private white beaches, resort shuttles, a fitness center and conference room, a dive center with certified instructors, water sports, six pools, room service, and Wi-Fi.
The villas have one or two bedrooms and opulence around every corner, with mystifying views and high-end luxuries that will relax you and put you in that vacation frame of mind.
9. Moon Palace Cancun
The Dreamery is the Moon Palace Cancun kid-friendly experience that caters for fun.
Not only can kids under 17 stay free at this Cancun resort, but Moon Palace’s activities through The Dreamery are simply unreal. The Wired Lounge has arcade games, video games, and plenty of snacks.
Kids can customize their rooms with fun features like glow lights, bath toys, and rubber faucet covers shaped like sharks (for an additional fee). Children will be greeted with their own pirate or princess kit with hats, shoes, and gear so they can let loose and play.
Talent night is a regular event at the Moon Palace, granting kids the opportunity to showcase their stuff. Kids can also learn to make pizza from scratch (always a good skill to have) or go behind the scenes with instructions on how to perform magic tricks.
The circus course teaches children skills like juggling, while the puppet course lets them build a handmade friend for entertaining.
For an additional fee, moms and daughters between 4 and 12 can experience The Royal Treatment, a family-friendly glam session.
You can also book an experience baking oversized cookies that you can then decorate together (for an extra fee).
Moon Palace has an outdoor waterpark, and did I mention the Candy Girl? She roams around the hotel and hands out sweet treats to those lucky enough to spot her! Hopefully, it will be your children, who can take what they want.
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The kid kingdom that is the Moon Palace takes your taste buds on a world tour as they soak in the sumptuous flavors of Italy and the Caribbean at the various resort restaurants as part of your inclusive dining plan.
The Superior Deluxe rooms are available for up to four. This suite includes snacks and a mini bar, peaceful garden views, and one king-sized bed or two double beds.
10. Franklyn D Resort & Spa
Find out what the FDR Family Experience is all about on a vacation to the Franklyn D Resort & Spa. This all-inclusive beach resort vacation is designed to keep the kids active and off their phones, which we’re sure sounds great to parents!
Included with your stay are free ground transfers to the local airport (the Donald Sangster International Airport), hotel taxes, beach Wi-Fi, kids’ beach games (including evening games), recreational facility use, live nightly entertainment, goat races, Family Fun Day Picnics, kids’ clubs, and Ice Cream Tree House access. Yes, I said an Ice Cream Tree House.
Your all-inclusive vacation experience also boasts Jacuzzi access, bikes, fitness center access, sports like tennis and AcroYoga, glass-bottom boat rides, instructor-led kayaking, a private kids’ beach, three meals per day, and a vacation nanny.
The Yellow Bird Kids’ Club for kids of every age is jam-packed with thrilling activities. Get ready for biking, basketball, tennis, kayaking, boating, and snorkeling. Kids can ride the 100-foot Big Blue waterslide, play on the beach into the night, enjoy the kids’ playground, and play some video games indoors.
The Franklyn D Resort & Spa has teen entertainment, from reggae dance classes to volleyball, supervised outings, discos, bike and kayak races, snorkeling, sports tournaments, video games, and computer classes.
The suite life is within reach in a two-bedroom suite with beachfront views. This 1,080-square-foot space includes a television, internet, and Vacation Nanny access.
When you get hungry, don’t miss the Kidz Buffet, which occurs daily between 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. The buffet includes all of a child’s favorites, like burgers, hot dogs, peanut butter and jelly, salads, fish sticks, chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, and spaghetti.
For dessert, don’t miss ice cream, mocktails, and chocolatey treats. What kid wouldn’t be in heaven?
The other dining options are The Peppa Shrimp Restaurant (seafood), The Sea Cotton Tree Grill (authentic snacks and small bites), Overproof Restaurant (Jamaican cuisine), The Pier (French, Indian, and Italian), and the Honeycomb Shore Restaurant, which serves buffets for breakfasts, hot and cold lunches, and yummy desserts.