These are the best all-inclusive resorts for families all over the world, from dude ranches in the United States to beachfront properties in the Caribbean and Mexico.
Vacations are supposed to get you away from the stresses of everyday life so you can relax and reset — but that’s nearly impossible when the kids beg for an expensive outing and you’re already over budget.
If you want a truly worry-free vacation, it’s best to pay in advance for an all-inclusive family resort so your group can enjoy unlimited food, drinks, entertainment, and activities. It doesn’t matter if you order another round of drinks or your kids can’t get enough of the water park at an all-inclusive resort — it’s already paid for. As a result, there will be less stress and more quality family time.
The best part is that there are all-inclusive family resorts all over the world. Whether you envision your family lounging in a cabana on a white-sand beach or riding into the sunset on horseback under the big Montana sky, a top-tier all-inclusive resort awaits you.
To get you started, here are the best all-inclusive family resorts in Kenya, Vermont, and Turks and Caicos.
1.Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana, Dominican Republic
This all-inclusive resort on Cap Cana’s Juanillo Beach is a fantastic tropical getaway with fantastic amenities. Children will enjoy the water park, which includes a lazy river and slides, while adults can enjoy the resort’s sprawling infinity pools and swim-up bars. Guests also have access to the adults-only Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana, the sister property to the Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana, making the resort ideal for mixed-age groups or multi-generational families.
Unlimited food and drink at the property’s 13 venues (including top-shelf liquor and wine), all non-motorized water sports and dedicated beach butlers ready to refill that cocktail or drop by for another round of chips and salsa are all included in one flat all-inclusive rate.
2.Bluefields Bay, Jamaica
This resort welcomes families to explore the island’s less-traveled South Coast. The all-inclusive resort offers spacious villa accommodations as well as numerous family-friendly amenities such as a 24-hour butler, a chef, and private pool and beach access. If that isn’t enough, how about up to nine hours of child or adult care per day? Everything is included in the all-inclusive rate at Bluefields Bay. The six villas at the resort range in size from two bedrooms for a family of four to six bedrooms for a family of thirteen.
3.Beaches Turks and Caicos, Turks and Caicos
This all-inclusive resort is ideal for those looking for a beachy, Caribbean experience. The water park’s 650-foot lazy river, water cannons, and surfing simulator will keep kids entertained for hours, while adults can relax along the 12-mile beach or in their private villa with butler service.
Unlimited food and drinks (including snacks and premium liquor), a well-stocked mini bar, kids camp, airport transfers and activities such as PADI-certified scuba diving and daily live entertainment are all included in the rate. You can also save money by bundling your flights with your stay (they offer nonstop flights from major cities such as New York, Boston, and Miami).
4.C Lazy U Ranch, Colorado
For over 100 years, this year-round resort in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains has welcomed families to its dude-ranch-style property. Here, you can escape the stresses of everyday life with a long trail ride or retire to your cosy cabin at the end of a long day in the hot Colorado sun.
Three daily gourmet meals (think dry-aged ribeye, fresh trout, and homemade bread) are included in your stay at C Lazy U Ranch, as are enough activities to make your head spin — you can go on a trail ride, go fishing, visit the spa, or play tennis. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice skating are added to the schedule in the winter.
5.Coconut Bay Beach Resort and Spa, St. Lucia
It doesn’t matter if you imagine chasing your kids up and down endless water slides or relaxing in an adults-only oasis — you can have both at this two-in-one all-inclusive resort. The island’s largest water park provides endless fun, while the adults-only wing delivers peace and quiet.
The property is located on 85 acres along St. Lucia’s south coast and provides guests with all-inclusive access to the property’s nine restaurants and seven bars (including top-shelf liquor), nightly entertainment, and activities that range from dance class and yoga to paintball and kayaking.
6.Woodloch Resort, Pennsylvania
This Poconos resort has been family-owned since 1958 and is consistently rated as one of America’s top all-inclusive family resorts. The all-season resort is nestled on a mountain lake and offers fun for the entire family, with over 30 daily activities, a massive rock climbing wall, indoor and outdoor pools, water sports, and nightly entertainment.
All reservations at the main Woodloch Resort include a daily meal plan, whereas guests staying at the Woodloch Springs campus can either dine locally or add a meal plan to their stay. Daily excursions such as snow tubing, fishing, water skiing, and boating are included in any Woodloch stay.
7.Paradisus Playa del Carmen, Mexico
This family-friendly haven is nestled in a protected mangrove forest on Mexico’s Caribbean Sea. The massive all-inclusive resort has 24 restaurants and bars (some of which are only for adults) as well as a water park with multiple pools and slides. While parents enjoy a spa treatment or a dance class, their children can spend the day in the Kids Club, which offers workshops, activities, and crafts.
Reservations at Paradisus Playa del Carmen include food, drinks, water sports, and entertainment, as well as activities for adults such as wine tastings and dance lessons, and access to the water park for children.
8.Mohonk Mountain House, New York
If you — or your children — have always wanted to stay in a castle, this is the property for you. This iconic Victorian castle property, founded by the Smiley family in 1869, welcomes families to enjoy its farm-to-table cuisine and the 40,000 acres of forest that surround it.
Every reservation includes three meals per day (plus afternoon tea and cookies and a weekend brunch) as well as unlimited activities. In the winter, there are more than 30 miles of cross-country ski trails and ice skating in the open-air pavilion, while in the summer, you can explore Mohonk Lake by paddleboard or kayak.
9.Rancho de los Caballeros, Arizona
This dude ranch is located on 20,000 acres of desert in Arizona, with views of the Bradshaw Mountains. This stunning property, which dates back to 1948, brings families together through activities such as horseback riding, tennis, and guided nature programmes. A Kids Club is also available, where children aged 5 to 12 can participate in daily crafts and activities.
Keep in mind that Rancho de los Caballeros isn’t a one-size-fits-all destination; instead, you can customise your own all-inclusive package. All reservations include three meals per day, but some include extras like a round of golf or an activity credit redeemable for a day of horseback riding, skeet shooting, or spa time.
10.Tortuga Lodge and Gardens, Costa Rica
Tortuga Lodge and Gardens is designed to reflect its natural surroundings, so there will be no blaring TV in your bedroom or background music in the lodge. The property is located on the Caribbean coast in its own private nature reserve, making it a nature and adventure enthusiast’s dream destination.
Tortuga Lodge’s Full Board rate includes daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner (drinks not included) at the highly regarded Green Turtle Restaurant. If you select the Tortuguero Jungle Experience Package when making your reservation, your stay will include daily a la carte breakfast, lunch and dinner, roundtrip boat transportation from La Pavona or Cao Blanco, and two special experiences — think boat and kayak tours, hiking trips or a twilight tour of the private beach.
