Family All-Inclusive Resorts: The Best by Destination

The Short Answer

The best family all-inclusive resorts are on Mexico's Caribbean coast, in Punta Cana and in Jamaica, where big resorts run kids' clubs, water parks and family suites all year. Our top pick is Grand Palladium Kantenah in the Riviera Maya: its free kids' club takes children from age 1, it has a children's water park and a Teen Club, and its Family Selection rooms add a family pool and a family butler.

• Want a short transfer: Grand Palladium Select Costa Mujeres in Cancun, about 30 minutes from the airport, or Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos, which is minutes from the airport in Los Cabos.
• Kids who want water slides: Barceló Bávaro Palace in Punta Cana has two themed water parks. See all our resorts with water parks.
• On a budget: Riu Bambu in Punta Cana has a water park, a kids' club and a teen program at a lower tier. See our affordable family resorts.
• From the UK or Europe: Regnum Carya in Belek, Turkey, has a 20,000 m² water park and is open all year.

Choose Your Destination

Tap a destination for its family resorts, the kids' club ages at each one and how long the transfer takes.

Family Destinations Compared

Transfer ranges come from each resort's own figures or a route planner, and are for a car or shuttle without long stops. The Caribbean resorts and most Mexican ones run all year; in Turkey, some resorts open their beach facilities only from spring to fall.

One Great Family Resort in Each Destination

If you only want one name per destination, start with these. Each guide has more choices at every budget.

What to Check Before You Book

• Kids' club ages. Most clubs start at 4, including Majestic, Westin, Royalton and the H10 Daisy Club. Grand Palladium Kantenah's club starts at 1, and Grand Palladium Vallarta has a Baby Club for ages 1 to 3. The Westin Kids Club also requires children to be potty trained. Our toddler guide lists the resorts that do more for under-4s.
• How many people the room sleeps. A standard room usually takes two adults and two children. The Fives Beach Hotel's two- and three-bedroom residences sleep up to 8 and 10 but take only two minors, so check the split, not just the total. See our family suites guide.
• What costs extra. Palladium charges for its airport shuttle and doesn't include imported drink brands. The FlowRider and spa cost extra at Planet Hollywood Costa Rica, and the adults-only El Beso area costs extra at Ocean Riviera Paradise.
• Adults-only corners. Several family resorts have adults-only buildings or pools, such as the Mirage Club at Majestic Mirage and the Turquoize tower at Hyatt Ziva Cancun. Riu hosts adults-only RIU Party nights at Riu Caribe and Riu Dunamar.
• Can you swim in the sea? In Los Cabos, many beaches have rough surf and rip currents; Hard Rock Los Cabos says its ocean is unsafe for swimming. Our Los Cabos guide lists the swimmable bays.

We don't list child pricing, because it changes by date and room type. Enter every child's age on the booking page to see the real total for your dates.

When to Go With Kids

• Caribbean and Mexico's Caribbean coast: the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 and peaks around September 10. Sargassum seaweed typically peaks in June or July and is lowest in winter. The sea off Cancun averages about 79 °F from January to March.
• Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta: the Eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15 to November 30. Puerto Vallarta's rainy season is mid-June to mid-October; winter is drier but the sea is cooler, about 75 °F.
• Costa Rica: the dry season runs from November to April and the wet season from May to October, with September the wettest month in Liberia.
• Turkey: the sea off Antalya is about 70 °F in May and 84 °F in August. Regnum Carya, for example, runs its beach facilities from May 1 to October 31.

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to help you choose where to stay.

What is the best all-inclusive resort for families?

Our top pick is Grand Palladium Kantenah in the Riviera Maya, because its free kids' club takes children from age 1, it has a children's water park and a Teen Club, and it offers a three-bedroom suite. For a shorter transfer, Grand Palladium Select Costa Mujeres in Cancun is about 30 minutes from the airport.

What is the best family all-inclusive in Mexico?

In Cancun, Grand Palladium Select Costa Mujeres; in the Riviera Maya, Grand Palladium Kantenah; in Los Cabos, Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos; and in Puerto Vallarta, Grand Palladium Vallarta, which has clubs for ages 1 to 18.

At what age can kids join an all-inclusive kids' club?

Most clubs take children from age 4, and some require them to be potty trained. A few start younger: Grand Palladium Kantenah's club takes ages 1 to 8, Grand Palladium Vallarta has a Baby Club for ages 1 to 3, and Titanic Luxury Collection Belek has an activity room for ages 0 to 3.

Which all-inclusive resorts have the best water parks?

Barceló Bávaro Palace in Punta Cana has two themed water parks, Royalton Blue Waters in Jamaica has a pirate-themed one, and Riu has its Splash Water World parks at Riu Dunamar, Riu Bambu, Riu Ocho Rios and others. In Turkey, Regnum Carya's Aqualantis covers 20,000 m².

When is the best time to take kids to an all-inclusive?

For the Caribbean and Mexico, December to mid-May avoids the hurricane seasons and the summer sargassum peak, though the sea is a little cooler in winter. For Turkey, June to September has the warmest sea.