Top 5 Beach Resort for Kids

Top 5 Beach Resorts for Kids

For most people, the word "vacation" conjures up mental images of sinking your toes in the sand, splashing in the ocean, lounging by a beautiful pool, and maybe even sipping a tropical drink under a palm tree. Of course, not all resorts are ideal for families.

We've rounded up some of our top picks for beach resorts for families. Whether you prefer a vacation filled with relaxation and pampering, or an action-packed adventure, there is something for your family on this list…

Here are our top 5 recommended beach resorts for kids…

Hilton Waikoloa Village - Big Island, Hawaii

photo @hilton Waikoloa Village

Looking for an option that is equal parts luxury and fun? The Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Big Island of Hawaii fits the bill! 

 Situated on a peaceful lagoon and packed with amenities, the Waikoloa Village resort has something for everyone. The kids can play the day away at one of the three unique pools while Mom relaxes at the spa, and Dad heads off to one of the two championship golf courses. 

The list of activities, with an impressive amount of variety, seems endless! Swim with dolphins, snorkel with sea turtles, dine at the authentic Polynesian Luau, slide down the 175-foot waterslide, explore the property to admire the 1,800 museum-worthy paintings, masks and carvings, take in a hula class (not into dancing? How about lei making or 'ukulele classes?), bike around the sprawling village, or send the kids off to enjoy the crafts, games and water activities at Camp Menehune (the hotel's kids' program) while you relax in the spa with a Hawaiian lomilomi massage

Azul Beach Resort - Riviera Maya, Mexico

@photo Azul Beach Resort

When you arrive at the Azul Beach Resort Riviera Maya, located about 20 minutes from the Cancun airport in the quiet town of Puerto Morelos, it feels like a boutique spa resort. You are met with the scent of aromatherapy as you take in the amazing view of the azure Caribbean waters framed by rows of candles and flowing fabric. But don't let that first impression fool you! This all-inclusive resort is ULTRA family-friendly and caters in particular to young families. 

The friendly staff will greet you with a glass of chilled champagne. The kids aren't left out of the special treatment! They will be welcomed with delicious fruit smoothies and an exclusive check-in just for them! 

The resort partners with Fisher-Price and has toys available for your room or suite along with baby monitors, strollers, bottle warmers, changing tables and more. They even have the most adorable child-size bathrobes for the kids to enjoy!

 The Azulitos kids' clubs have a massive list of activities for kids up to age 12 each day. Activities include immersive and interactive activities that involve local art, music, and dance to give little ones a chance to experience the culture of Mexico. The resort even offers babysitters that can watch the kids on the property if Mom and Dad want to head off to the spa or have a date night at one of the Gourmet Inclusive restaurants. Teens aren't left out of the fun either! They'll enjoy their own space to chill and hang out at Extreme Breeze Teens. 

To top off the evening, order up a "Family Movie Night!" The resort will deliver family-friendly DVDs, popcorn, and drinks to your room or suite so you can relax and enjoy a family evening in!

Hotel Del Coronado – Coronado, California

photo @travelandlei

If you've ever visited Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa at Walt Disney World, the Hotel Del Coronado, or "The Del" as the locals call it, will feel quite familiar. Disney mimicked the red-roofed, turreted towers, elegant white verandas, and glittering grand lobby (complete with a birdcage elevator) of the Del when they built their flagship resort. 

The hotel may have a glamorous and elegant vibe, but don't worry about the kids being out of place. They'll receive VIP lanyards at check-in that will guide them on a scavenger hunt around the sprawling property. They'll also receive a schedule of all of the kid-friendly activities such as surf or boogie board lessons, pool times, and where to find all of the tasty snacks and treats. 

The beach at the resort is often featured in lists of the best beaches in North America. There is never a shortage of teens catching a wave on surfboards, boogie boards, or just body surfing. Younger kids are found splashing in the waves and building sandcastles on the shore. They'll also enjoy spotting military helicopters and jets flying overhead and navy ships in the distance. 

Be sure to watch two blocks down to the Old Town Trolley and hop on one of the 90-minute narrated tours of San Diego's top attractions. The kids will love the corny jokes along the way! You can even catch another trolley to the world-famous San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, the harbor and USS Midway, or Old Town San Diego. 

The Breakers - Palm Beach, Florida

photo@theBreakers

Looking for an East-Coast option within the US? The Breakers Resort in Palm Beach is one of the best beach resorts in Florida. Not only does it have a prime-beach-front location, but it also boasts a huge list of family-friendly activities for all ages. 

What is there to do? Well, let's start with four oceanfront pools, a top-notch 6,100-square-foot Family Entertainment Center, snorkeling on a fantastic coral reef just off the beach, scuba diving lessons, beach bonfires, ecotours, kayak and paddleboard rentals, basketball, dodgeball, two pet tortoises (with scheduled daily feedings), a playground, golf, tennis, croquet, bike and beach-cruiser rentals, saltwater aquarium, an enormous game room, kids clubs for ages 3-12, shopping, a world-class spa, and excellent restaurants. 

To top it all off, the service is exceptional! The staff is there to make sure that everyone in your family is well taken care of at all times.

Beaches Turks & Caicos – Turks & Caicos

photo @Beaches.com

If you've ever looked into an all-inclusive vacation for your family, you've likely come across Beaches Turks & Caicos. This resort is consistently ranked as the top Caribbean all-inclusive resort for families, and it's easy to see why. 

The 758-room resort is a destination in itself with four distinct villages – Caribbean, French, Key West, and Italian – that are themed in keeping with the architecture of their namesakes. 

The kids are sure to love the massive 45,000 sq foot water park that features eight waterslides, a Body Glove Waves surf simulator, a 650-foot lazy river, and the SkySlide – the tallest in Turks and Caicos. If that isn't enough water fun for you, the resort also has TEN other freshwater swimming pools, four whirlpools, and a scuba diving pool. And let's not forget the drop-dead gorgeous, world-famous 12-mile stretch of Grace Bay beach, which is often ranked as the #1 beach in the world!

This all-inclusive resort has 21 restaurants, 15 bars (including swim-up bars) a massive kids camp with certified nannies, teen night club, Sesame Street character visits, Xbox Play Lounge, Hobie Cats, paddleboards, kayaks, beach volleyball, basketball, pool tables, tennis, a luxurious spa, and so much more!

Don't miss the nightly entertainment experience, Voilà. Beaches has partnered with Creativiva Caribbean to produce this "storytelling spectacle featuring art, theatre, acrobatics, and must-see surprises." As of this writing, there are four weekly live performances on the resort's main stage: Alice in Wonderland, Treasure Island, Jungle Book Live, and Dolce Vita. The Creativiva performers will also be joining in the fun at the weekly Beach Party Night, bringing with them a carnival vibe you won't want to miss!

A Great Vacation on the Island of Hawaii with your Kids

       When most people plan a family vacation to Hawaii, the first thoughts are going to Honolulu and the island of Oahu or the island of Maui.  But if you want to experience something really different and special on your trip; and want more variety than the perfect beach and perfect weather, (which you will still have). then you owe it to your family to explore going to the Big Island of Hawaii.    The Big Island is just that, big.  And with all that room it has plenty of adventure waiting for the traveler willing to explore it.  On the south side of the island, Kilauea Volcano is the world's most active and usually stuns visitors with its pyrotechnics show.  The Big Island's east shore is home to Hawaii's capital, Hilo, which is the wettest place in the United States.  The west shore is known for its drier climate and sunshine.  Most of the big resorts are located along the coast north of Kona.  Between the east and west ends of the island you will find everything from lush tropical rain forests to areas that look like like your on the surface of the moon, to snow and being able to ski and and hour later being on a perfect tropical beach.

Kilauea - Volcanoes National Park
       One of the most active volcanoes on the planet, Kilauea is the main attraction in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where  visitors can see hardened lava flows, feel and smell volcanic gases steaming from cracks in the earth, hike through lava tunnels, and if their lucky, view active lava oozing or exploding down the hillside  to the ocean below.  An interactive museum explains how the Hawaiian islands were formed and the continued volcanic process (some of the newest land on earth is being formed here - and the island is the youngest island in the Hawaiian chain).  Affects of the volcanic activity can be seen all along the west coast of the island, but if you are looking for more stellar volcano, you can drive up the side of Mauna Loa, the world's biggest volcano and take a peek at the heavens at the Mauna Kea Visitors Information Center.  If you lucky it may have just snowed and you will be able to go skiing.

Kona and the West Coast
       The Big Island of Hawaii's west coast is all sunshine and beaches and therefore attracts the bulk of the tourists.  It's an arid environment with lots of lava rock everywhere.  To get a bit of Hawaiian culture in on this coast visit "City of Refuge" National Park.  The park was used as a place of refuge inc ancient times, and later used as asylum from a death sentence for breaking Kapu, a local series of laws regarding conduct.  Kids love the huge ki'i, large carved wood statues, which are still carved on premises.  Kids also love playing lonane, a Hawaiian version of checkers played with lava rocks.

Along with some spectacular beaches, Kona is known for some fantastic scuba diving and snorkeling.  Up the coast is the Hilton Waikoloa Village, a great place to stay or just spend a day.  The village resort features ocean view pools, canals and lagoons filled with boats and kayaks, a train tram running through the resort to the beachfront, oceanfront golf putting course and more.  In the oceanfront lagoon, the resort hosts Dolphin Quest, a really fun interactive dolphin program.  Its really amazing getting up-close and seeing how fast a dolphin really moves underwater.

Hilo and the East Coast
       The east coast of the island is much wetter and therefore much greener than the west coast.  Hilo receives some rain an average of 275 days a year.  The benefit of all that rain is spectacular vegetation and scenery.  On the way to Hilo, stop in the Waipi'oValley, for an incredible view over the first of seven sacred valleys on the Hamakua Coast.  Hiking into the valley is a popular activity, or you can hike to 'Akaka Falls.  The easy path to the Falls winds through superb a tropical rain forest and past lookouts over two amazing falls, Kahuna Falls and 'Akaka Falls, which plunges almost 500 feet down a moss-covered gorge.  In Hilo, kids will love the Pana 'ew Rainforest Zoo where tropical birds and turtles share billing with the white tigers.  The monkey enclosure, which features a tunnel shape fence that goes straight through the center of the cage, will give your kids an up close view of squirrel monkeys, plus the kids will like watching the tiger feeding.

Getting to and Around the Big Island
       There are a number of direct flight to both Kona and Hilo from most major cities on the West Coast.  In addition, Hawaiian Airlines offers dozens of flight daily from Honolulu with more connections to the mainland.
The Big Island is huge, and therefore driving around the island takes a long time (6-8 hours to drive around the island; about 4 hours between Hilo and Kona).  Some of the more spectacular features are remote and require a 4WD vehicle to reach them, (but its worth it).