Recently I booked a trip for a family vacation. This can be a little bit of a challenge with three little ones under the age of six. We need to have a flight that is manageable (under five hours) for sure – preferably a water vacation with lots of beach and sand to play in and a casual atmosphere where we can walk through the lobby with a wet dripping bathing suit. A few restaurants and an ice cream shop is a huge bonus.
We chose the JW Marriott in Cancun. Even though we haven’t been to this hotel it got rave reviews and frankly the short flight to Mexico and almost guaranteed weather is a huge plus.
Here are the Forbes Top 10 Luxury Family Resorts that might be perfect for your family:
- “Las Vegas meets SeaWorld” — Atlantis, Bahamas
- All Inclusive — Club Med Ixtapa, Mexico
- Luxury and Comfort — Deer Valley Resort , Utah
- Five Pools & Two Water Slides — Fairmont, Scottsdale, Arizona
- Kids Entertained All Day — Kona Village Resort, Big Island, Hawaii
- “Best of Both Worlds” — La Jolla de Mismaloya, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Perfect for Sporty Families — Palmetto Dunes, Hilton Head, S.C.
- Who Has More Fun? — Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island , Florida
“Heaven on Earth” — Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida Have you been to any of these? Where do you go? Help me out. I will be looking for another location very soon.
I look forward to reading your comments.
Vince Cutaia says:
I have been to several Mexico resorts and a couple in Jamaica, and hands down Atlantis is the best! For kids it cannot be beat. The thing that really won us over is that you can stay there for a few days and never leave without getting bored. The things to do during the day mixed with the nightlife was great. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND A STAY THERE!!
Brian Ottum says:
Just returned from the all-inclusive Riu Resort in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. I can highly recommend it for families with teens like mine. Brand new, fantastic property. Tons to do. Food (including ice cream) available in multiple locations around the clock. However, some reviews at TripAdvisor.com were neutral toward the low level of kid’s club activities. Price is excellent now as they try to build business.
Karen Dawson says:
Merrill you know my feelings on this one: My recommendation of course is to use a Travel Professional like myself for many reasons: we can tell you what you DON’T read on TripAdvisor.com. So often travelers will choose resorts based solely on what they see on the internet; not a good decision. The resort is only going to show you its best features. For me, I need to fall out my door on to the beach. A resort that has great water views or a great pool would never be enough…and the description will never tell you online there is no beach there.
I have some great family resorts that are my favorites, but they vary greatly based on the ages of the children, and that is the real key. One of my latest favorites is the Iberostar Paraiso Lindo in the Riviera Maya area.
I will be most interested in reading the responses you receive here…
Merrill, I’ll send you some suggestions for your next trip.
Tom Champion says:
Merrill,
While Atlantis supposedly has great programs for kids the property is just too big. Last time there stayed in beach front tower and still had 30 minute walk to beach!