24 Best Caribbean Resorts for Families to Visit
These family-friendly destinations and all-inclusive resorts offer fun and sun for everyone.
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For a refreshing escape with the kids in tow, head to the islands! Many resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico offer supervised kids' programs at no extra charge, so you can score some quiet time on the beach (or at the spa!) while your little ones are making friends with other kids their age. All-inclusive resorts, plentiful in these vacation spots, tend to be a good value for families as well.
Although winter and spring are usually the most expensive times to visit, the overall price tag will still likely be less than a European trip. Summer brings more deals, but the hurricane threat is higher. No matter when you go, purchasing travel insurance is a good idea.
Where exactly is the best place for your crew to take a break? We rounded up a list of 24 family-friendly beach resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico, including several Good Housekeeping Family Travel Award winners. Whether you're in the mood for non-stop activities or just want somewhere to chill, one of our picks is sure to match your vacation vibe. A tropical drink and supervised programs for the kids are waiting for you!
Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas
All-Inclusive: No
Passport Required: Yes
Kids' Club: For ages 3–12, plus a nighttime tween and teen club
Sweet Spot: Families with tweens and teens
Winner of a Good Housekeeping Family Travel Award for two years running, Atlantis wows with all its water features and marine life. Besides 18 slides of different thrill levels, the famously family-oriented resort offers a variety of pools to suit your kid's age and interest. "Each pool had a different feel and experience," said a Good Housekeeping staff member who visited with her 12-year-old twins. "Some had waterfalls and volleyball nets while others included mini slides and started at just a few inches deep."
Our staffer's kids loved the waterpark, tween club and dolphin experience the most. "Meanwhile, I found the gym to be surprisingly impressive," she said. "I took yoga classes almost every morning—and there's a lap pool nearby if you prefer a water workout."
Starting on Memorial Day, Barbie-themed activities and eats will arrive! Movie nights, special kids' club activities and a Barbie-inspired menu at the Sun & Ice cafe may leave you believing that Atlantis is really the new dreamhouse for summer vacations.
Hotel Xcaret Mexico, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
All-Inclusive: Yes
Passport Required: Yes
Kids' Club: For ages 4–12
Sweet Spot: Families with tweens and teens
A two-time Family Travel Award winner, Hotel Xcaret Mexico gives vacationers the best of both worlds — an all-inclusive experience plus exploration outside of the resort. Your crew can whisk off to one of the Xcaret parks and tours where you can zipline through a jungle or swim near an underground river and still get back to the hotel in time for dinner. Our tester raved about Ha Restaurant. While the resort does have a kids' club and sweet touches for the under-8 set, it's really best experienced by families with older kids who are up for both chills and thrills.
Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya, Mexico
All-Inclusive: Yes
Passport Required: Yes
Kids' Club: For ages 4–12
Sweet Spot: Families with preschoolers to tweens
This Family Travel Award winner is leveling up its fun programming this year. Summer of SpongeBob, running May 24 through September 3, introduces scavenger hunts, pajama breakfasts and new characters to meet, like Rubble from Paw Patrol and Chuckie from Rugrats. While there are plenty of slime-focused activities and nods to SpongeBob, our tester who visited with her family last summer thought the themed decor was "subtle and tasteful" and the swim-up suites (pictured) had the best vibes.
Four Seasons Resort & Residences Cabo San Lucas at Cabo Del Sol, Mexico
All-Inclusive: No
Passport Required: Yes
Kids' Club: For ages 5–12, plus a teen center
Sweet Spot: Families who are looking for a luxury vacation
Opening in May 2024, the newest Four Seasons property is a modern hacienda-style village featuring 96 guest rooms and suites all with views of the Sea of Cortez. Some of the casitas even include their own plunge pools. The resort offers three additional pools, and it has a swimmable beach to boot — one of the few in the area. Final touches are still being put on the kids' activities, but the brand's Kids for All Seasons children's program works local culture into the experience.
One&Only Mandarina, Riviera Nayarit, Mexico
All-Inclusive: No
Passport Required: Yes
Kids' Club: For ages 4–12
Sweet Spot: Families looking for an eco-conscious vacation
On a rare stretch of undeveloped coastline, this eco-minded resort immerses the entire family in nature. Kids have their own 42,000-square-foot playground with outdoor mazes, obstacle courses, 50 species of trees and a butterfly farm. While they're learning about the bug lifecycle from an in-house biologist, you can enjoy a treatment in the hidden rainforest spa or take a cooking class. Come back together for horseback riding or have a campfire under the stars. The cherry on top: You can even stay in a treehouse over the ocean! Talk about memorable!
Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, Bahamas
All-Inclusive: No
Passport Required: Yes
Kids' Club: For ages 3–12
Sweet Spot: Multigenerational families
At the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, families can hang with flamingos, nurse sharks, stingrays and sea turtles at the on-site sanctuary and explore a marine cavern inspired by one of the world’s deepest saltwater sinkholes. After a day of fun at Nassau’s Cable Beach, your crew can relax with casual beachside dining at colorful, kid-friendly Airstream food trucks. A minigolf course on site is fun for all ages to enjoy together. And when parents need a break, the Explorers Kids Club welcomes children from ages 3 to 12 in full-day and half-day sessions. Some themed sessions include Kids Carnival, Jr. Scientist and Kids Got Talent.
Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa, Montego Bay, Jamaica
All-Inclusive: Yes
Passport Required: Yes
Kids' Club: For ages 4–12, teen zone for ages 13–17
Sweet Spot: Multigenerational families
There's something for the whole family at Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa. Kids won't want to leave the Sugar Mills Water Park, packed with cascading waterfalls, a 280-foot waterslide, a lazy river and three terraced pools plus daily activities and games.
And for the adults? Picture yourself at the swim-up bar, in a private cabana or at the Radiant Spa while your kids are in one of the supervised clubs. The kids' club features shell searches and glass-bottom boat rides while teens have their own space with air hockey and other games.
Franklyn D. Resort & Spa, Runaway Bay, Jamaica
All-Inclusive: Yes
Passport Required: Yes
Kids' Club: Every family receives a private vacation nanny
Sweet Spot: Families with young kids
An under-the-radar gem on the island's Runaway Bay, the all-inclusive Franklyn D. Resort & Spa knows exactly what separates a family trip from a real vacation — someone to help out with the kids. That's why a CPR-trained vacation nanny stays with every family during the day for the entire visit.
If you want to play a round of golf, get a massage or soak in the blissful quiet, the nanny will take the kids to the beach, pool, playground or whatever their little hearts desire. When you just want to hang out as a family, the nanny will stay behind to tidy up your space and stock your fridge. Sweet!
Club Med Miches Playa Esmeralda, Dominican Republic
All-Inclusive: Yes
Passport Required: Yes
Kids' Club: For ages 4–23 months, ages 2–3, ages 4–10, teen club for ages 11–17
Sweet Spot: Families with kids who have a wide age range
On a 93-acre oasis between the beach and jungle, the five-star Club Med Miches Playa Esmeralda feels like paradise. Explorer Cove, one of the resort's four boutique villages, rolls out the red carpet for families. An array of supervised clubs, for babies through teens, will wow kids with next-level experiences, including trapeze lessons. While the kids are having the time of their lives, you can enjoy a yoga class, get a facial or just take a nap. La Perla family suites sleep six and have a shaded terrace, private pool and easy beach access.
Amanyara, Turks & Caicos
All-Inclusive: No
Passport Required: Yes
Kids' Club: For ages 5–14
Sweet Spot: Families with tweens and young teens
Amanyara translates to "peaceful place," and the resort's name lives up to the experience. Situated on the island of Providenciales, with a white-sand beach and rocky coves near some of the best diving in the world, the resort is a haven for holistic experiences.
While you dive into the wellness programming, your mini-mes can participate in an adventure camp that aims to inspire the next generation of environmental conservationists. Broken into two groups for ages 5 to 10 and 11 to 14, the camps provide hands-on science activities and experiences, such as kayaking and snorkeling guided by science educators.
Beaches Resorts, Multiple Locations
All-Inclusive: Yes
Passport Required: Yes
Kids' Club: For babies to age 2, ages 3–4, ages 5–7, ages 8–10, teen clubs for ages 11–14 and ages 15–17
Sweet Spot: Families with kids who have a wide age range
Beaches has taken its all-inclusive model to another level, becoming the first resort company to complete The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards' Autism Certification to provide extra support for children with autism.
Family Travel Award winners, Beaches Turks & Caicos and Beaches Negril in Jamaica, have released sensory guides that feature resort maps with public areas – such as pools, sports hubs and its 21 dining spaces – rated on a 1 to 10 scale for sensory stimulation. Other stand-out features of the resort include Sesame Street activities like shows, parades, baking with Cookie Monster and treasure hunts with Abby Cadabby, plus a massive pirate-themed waterpark with slides for kids of all ages. The Negril location recently debuted three-story Firesky Reserve Villas that sleep up to 10 guests!
Jumby Bay Island, Antigua
All-Inclusive: Yes
Passport Required: Yes
Kids' Club: For ages 3–11
Sweet Spot: Multigenerational families
Two miles off the coast of Antigua, this all-inclusive private island resort wows vacationers with luxe accommodations, including suites, villas and even private residence rentals. Catering to all skill levels and ages, Jumby Bay Island's Sailing Academy is a memorable activity for multi-generational groups.
Of course, kids and teens have their own space too. Supervised kids' programs include Jumby Bay Explorers, which takes 3- to 11-year-olds on a bike or boat ride to discover the island's unique wildlife. Teens can partake in activities like volleyball on the beach, mocktail mixology class, paddleboarding lessons, tennis clinics and nighttime constellation explorations.
While they're off having fun, you can schedule an island-inspired spa treatment. May we suggest the Soul Surrender?
St. Kitts Marriott Beach Resort & The Royal Beach Casino
All-Inclusive: No
Passport Required: Yes
Kids' Club: Ages 5–12
Sweet Spot: Multigenerational families
For a trip with a great mix of resort time and island exploration, the St. Kitts Marriott Beach Resort & The Royal Beach Casino delivers. The private beach, three pools and championship golfing entertain families on resort days. The property's concierge can help arrange island excursions like volcano hikes and zip-lining through a lush forest canopy. Just 4 miles from the airport, the resort's location is super convenient as well.
Grand Velas Riviera Maya, Mexico
All-Inclusive: Yes
Passport Required: Yes
Kids' Club: For ages 4–12, teen club for ages 13–17
Sweet Spot: Families with kids who have a wide age range
Piñata workshops, Insta-worthy cooking classes and astronomy nights are on the lineup of family fun at the all-inclusive Grand Velas Riviera Maya resort. Every family member is treated like a VIP at this resort on a stunning white-sand beach. Babies get their own concierge who can coordinate a crib, toys, mini floats, gentle bath products and organic foods.
The resort also offers a kids' glamping experience and a bubble bath menu. The dedicated teens’ club has video games, a disco floor, karaoke and a spot for fun drinks and snacks. Adults can book treatments at the region's largest spa sanctuary, known for its authentic Mexican treatments and signature seven-step water journey. New fun includes eco-tours and honey tastings at Meliponario, a sanctuary to protect the local Maya Melipona Bee.
The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
All-Inclusive: No
Passport Required: Yes
Kids' Club: For ages 4–12, teen club for ages 13–17
Sweet Spot: Families with kids who have a wide age range
Located on the iconic Seven Mile Beach, this upscale resort seamlessly blends fun and learning. In its Ambassadors of the Environment program developed by Jean Michel Cousteau, families can take eco-tours like a mangrove forest adventure, a nature photography class and a nighttime snorkel expedition, led by trained naturalists. An array of accommodations, including two- and three-bedroom suites, provides plenty of space for extended families. There is truly something for every generation ranging from a toddler water-play area to a Greg Norman-designed golf course.
Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino
All-Inclusive: No
Passport Required: Yes
Kids' Club: For ages 3–12
Sweet Spot: Families with young kids
With newly remodeled rooms and a three-level pool complex with waterfalls and slides, the Hyatt Regency Aruba provides the perfect home base for family fun. A supervised camp entertains 3- to 12-year-olds with arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, tennis, sandcastle building, water balloon relays and lessons in the local language. And don't miss the wildlife feedings that take place daily! A farm featuring stunning tropical butterflies from around the world is a short excursion from the resort.
Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina, British Virgin Islands
All-Inclusive: No
Passport Required: Yes
Kids' Club: For ages 3–12
Sweet Spot: Multigenerational families
This private island resort less than 2 miles off the coast of Tortola (the largest British Virgin Island) fulfills every family vacationer's dream. Luxury villas with up to six bedrooms, high-end kitchens and private plunge pools provide all the comforts of home and much more.
If you don't feel like cooking, a private chef can do it for you. And the amenities are epic. For instance, the resort built a pool right on its pristine secluded beach, so no more arguing over whether it's a beach or pool day! As part of the Autograph collection, the resort accepts (and dispenses) Marriott Bonvoy points.
Park Hyatt St. Kitts
All-Inclusive: No
Passport Required: Yes
Kids' Club: For ages 3–12
Sweet Spot: Multigenerational families
This could be your view if you book a vacay at the Park Hyatt St. Kitts. Located on Banana Bay, this smallish hotel with just 124 guest rooms features sweeping views of the Caribbean Sea and neighboring island, Nevis. The resort also offers adult and family swimming pools, the Sugar Mill Spa & Sanctuary and the Island Fort by Camp Hyatt for kids ages 3 to 12. Excursions, including hiking, snorkeling and boat charters, allow guests to explore the island's natural beauty and rich history.
Wyndham Palmas Beach & Golf Resort, Puerto Rico
All-Inclusive: No
Passport Required: No
Kids' Club: No
Sweet Spot: Multigenerational families
This boho-chic resort, located in one of the island's most exclusive residential communities, just got a glow-up. Remodeled guest rooms give Anthropologie vibes just steps from a secluded beach. A new restaurant from James Beard-nominated chefs, Trova Coastal Kitchen, leans into the flavors of Puerto Rico. Besides the family pool and lazy river, your crew could head to the community's equestrian center and sign up for horseback riding. All skill levels are welcome.
Goldwynn Resort & Residences, Nassau, Bahamas
All-Inclusive: No
Passport Required: Yes
Kids' Club: No
Sweet Spot: Families looking for a luxury experience
The Goldwynn Nassau opened last year, and this luxury oceanfront resort on Cable Beach gives families a boutique-like experience. It's ideal for families who prefer to make their own fun rather than join organized programs. One place to start: at the heated infinity pool, which is just steps from the shoreline. You might even want to splurge on a private poolside cabana with comfy seating, butler service and a flat-screen TV.
Karen is a seasoned journalist who specializes in travel, book, lifestyle and food coverage. Cicero has visited almost every state with her family (look out Wyoming, she’s coming for you next!). She has spoken at several travel industry conferences, including PRSA and the Mid-Atlantic Tourism Alliance and was previously the senior editor at Parents. A mom who goes overboard for all the holidays, Cicero lives in the Christmas city itself: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
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