15 Incredible Caribbean Resorts For A Family-Friendly Vacation
Frequent direct flights and warm weather year round have long made the most popular islands in the Caribbean a top choice for families looking for rest and relaxation. Whether you’re already scouting out a destination for an escape from the cold of winter or are planning a last-minute late summer getaway before the kids are back in school, these Caribbean resorts should be at the top of your list for your next family trip.
Half Moon | Montego Bay, Jamaica
Two miles of pristine private beachfront embrace Half Moon, one of the most iconic resorts in the Caribbean. Classic Caribbean design points to the property’s storied past while embracing every modern luxury, with lots to do for families. This includes a childrens’ village, professional babysitting and nanny service, and every imaginable watersport and beachfront activity for the older kids to love. Multiple swimming pools, 10 restaurants and bars, and an expansive property to explore by bike or golf cart make Half Moon a winner with the whole family.
Lopesan Costa Bávaro Resort, Spa & Casino | Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Few beach destinations in the Caribbean are quite as impressive as Bávaro Beach, stretching for miles along the coast at Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. Families will love staying at Lopesan Costa Bávaro Resort, Spa & Casino, a five-star resort offering seven different freshwater swimming pools, ten different dining concepts with sixteen bars, multiple beach clubs, and much more. There’s plenty for parents, too, with the property’s impressive spa, entertainment options, shopping, and more.
Oil Nut Bay | British Virgin Islands
One of the best ways to enjoy a family-friendly vacation in the Caribbean is by skipping traditional resort rooms altogether. Instead, private villas complete with kitchens, multiple bedrooms, and plenty of outdoor space can be the perfect option for the whole family to enjoy. Oil Nut Bay is one of the most exclusive luxury residential communities in the British Virgin Islands, but villa rentals make it a popular destination for shorter-term stays, too. Oil Nut Bay also offers plenty of activities perfect for families: watersports on its white-sand beachfront, the “Nut House” with a range of activities for kids, tweens, and teens, and miles of hiking trails crossing the resort’s stunning property.
Grand Velas Riviera Maya | Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Playa del Carmen, Mexico is a winner with families, with beautiful beachfront resorts and some of the best flight connectivity in the region. The AAA Five Diamond-rated Grand Velas Riviera Maya is one of the best options in the area, elevating the all-inclusive experience to a luxury one with three impressive dining concepts for families, beach games, kids’ and teens’ clubs, and plenty of outdoor activities like snorkeling, kayaking, and more.
The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa | The Cayman Islands
Families will love The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa in the Cayman Islands. Located on Seven Mile Beach, considered one of the best beaches in the Caribbean, the resort is steps from impossibly clear, tranquil waters that are perfect for younger guests while offering all the watersports equipment that older kids and teens need for hours of fun. It’s less than a 15-minute drive to the international airport and offers dining options the whole family will enjoy, making it an unbeatable destination for a hassle-free family trip.
Sandos Caracol Eco Resort | Playa del Carmen, Mexico
With the recent introduction of 336 new nature-focused rooms specifically designed with families in mind, Sandos Caracol Eco Resort is an excellent choice for your next family trip. In addition to a water park, the resort property includes lush natural areas popular with curious kids, as well as nature trails to explore and a natural cenote sinkhole with crystal-clear water, perfect for swimming.
Royalton Blue Waters, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort | Montego Bay, Jamaica
Escape to Montego Bay at the family-friendly Royalton Blue Waters, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort. This 228 all-suite resort offers spacious room layouts that families will love, as well as ten different restaurants, a kids’ club and activities for teens, and even a water park. There’s plenty for adults to love, too, with a weekly White Party and a state-of-the-art spa and fitness center.
Waves Hotel & Spa by Elegant Hotels | Barbados
Waves Hotel & Spa by Elegant Hotels is the first all-inclusive wellness boutique hotel in Barbados, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t the perfect fit for a family-friendly getaway. Children five and under stay free at this stunning oceanfront property, which also offers all-included motorized watersports and plenty of other fun activities for the whole family. Adults will love that the resort offers complimentary spa treatments on stays lasting 4 nights or longer.
Bluefields Bay Villas & Suites | Jamaica
Hidden along an untouched stretch of coastline just an hour from Montego Bay, Bluefields Bay Villas & Suites is a boutique resort perfect for families who are looking for something worlds away from an oversized all-inclusive. Curated experiences for families and professional nannies to care for the kids should you want some adults-only time make Bluefields Bay Villas & Suites a destination that welcomes many of the same guests year after year. The resort just announced the debut of an exclusive collection of suites with couples in mind, so come prepared with dates for your next parents-only escape and book your next vacation before you even leave.
Hotel Aguas Claras | Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
The Caribbean coast of Costa Rica offers many of the benefits of an island getaway with the sustainable, laidback luxury that has made Costa Rica such a popular destination. Hotel Aguas Claras, located on the golden sands outside of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, seamlessly combines a beach getaway with a jungle escape, making it a perfect choice for families with curious older kids ready to combine a little learning with a lot of fun. The hotel recently introduced new deluxe luxury bungalows with private plunge pools surrounded by the lush jungle for an unplugged, eco-friendly escape your family will be talking about for years to come.
Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa | Sint Maarten
The Dutch-French dual-sided island of St. Maarten is home to Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa, an exceedingly family-friendly spot designed with both kids and parents in mind. Home to the island’s largest pool and set along one of the Caribbean’s most impressive beaches, this resort offers everything from a kids’ club and teen zone to waterslides and family-friendly activities to fill every memorable day. The island is impressively well connected with flights from across the United States, making it a relatively hassle-free option that families with younger kids will greatly appreciate.
Ocean Club Resorts | Turks & Caicos
Step onto the famous Grace Bay Beach, considered one of the best beaches in the Caribbean, to experience the little luxuries at Ocean Club Resorts for yourself. The property features two all-suite resorts in one, including plenty of family-friendly offerings like multiple pools and sports courts, complimentary bicycles and beach activities like paddleboards and kayaks, and much more.
Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa | Playa del Carmen, Mexico
The white sands of Mexico’s Caribbean coastline are home to Grand Palladium Kantenah Resort & Spa, one of the more family-friendly resorts in the area. The resort offers a kids’ club, multiple pools, and even an on-site water park complete with wading pools for the littlest swimmers.
Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lords Castle All Inclusive Resort | Barbados
The dramatic cliffside location of the expansive 29-acre Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lords Castle All Inclusive Resort will take your breath away. This property includes multiple pools with cabanas and swim-up bars, plenty of activities and entertainment, and family-friendly options like babysitting services and a dedicated family pool. Older kids will love outdoor activities and nearby excursions to colorful reefs and tropical forests replete with wildlife. The property takes its name from the 19th-century castle next door, a fascinating destination for a visit with curious school-aged kids.
Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun | Cancun, Mexico
Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun is brimming with family-focused fun, making it our top choice for hotels in Cancun for families. The resort’s on-site waterpark is the largest in the Caribbean, including 14 waterslides, multiple lazy rivers, splash pads, and more. Other popular activities include the Mayan Odyssey show and dinner experience at the property’s Cave Restaurant, with flexible dining options to cater to every schedule – and even the pickiest palates.
Carley Rojas Avila is a bilingual New York-based travel writer, editor, content marketer, and the founder of the digital travel publications Explorers Away and Home to Havana. Carley is an expert on all things Latin America, the Caribbean, and Cuba, having lived and worked in four different countries in the region. Her writing has appeared on the Associated Press wires and in Travel + Leisure, Yahoo, MSN, Euronews, The Weather Channel, and more. When she's not writing about her travels, find her front row at a Bad Bunny concert, befriending street cats, and taste-testing every pizza in Havana.