All-Inclusives

 Beaches Turks & Caicos, Turks & Caicos Islands 

Situated on a large stretch of soft white sand and turquoise water in Grace Bay, Beaches Turks & Caicos is just a 10-minute ride from the airport. It’s great for letting kids explore because food and activities are included in the price. Ditto for the supervised kids’ clubs, which are broken down into several ranges for more age-appropriate experiences. Toddlers in particular relish the Sesame Street family programming, especially the dance party with Elmo.

Our Thoughts:  This resort’s impressive range of accommodations fit both small and large family groups. There are lots of restaurant choices too. An especially impressive aspect is that all the staff has completed at least 40 hours of autism-sensitivity training. 

 Garza Blanca Resort & Spa Cancun (Cancun, Mexico)

 This new oceanfront oasis on Playa Mujeres beach makes it more fun to travel with kids. Instead of lugging your own gear, Garza Blanca Resort & Spa has strollers, car seats, baby monitors and other necessities to borrow. You'll find plush kid-size robes and slippers alongside the adult versions so you can match your mini-me. You can do a ton as a family, like visit the water park, play tennis and take electric beach bike tours, but this is also a supervised club for kids ages 4 to 12 so you can take some much-needed R&R or head to the adult-only rooftop bar. Multi-bedroom suites and residences that would be ideal for a family reunion are available. Complimentary souvenirs, like a Mexican coloring book and handmade toys, help kids remember the vacation. 

Big plus: kids eat and stay free! 

 Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa, Vieux Fort, St. Lucia 

 The Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa provides child-care services for babies as young as 3 months so you can unwind during an oceanfront spa treatment, take a kite-surfing lesson or just relax. Starting at just a few inches deep, the resort’s Splash Pool is perfect for a baby’s first dip. Tots will enjoy feeding the on-property rescue animals, including ducks, goats and sheep.   This resort is known for the island's largest water park and boasts a variety of room layouts that fit families of various sizes. Lazy river races, sandcastle building and glow parties are among the daily activity lineup. 

Our Thoughts: If your family wants a relaxing all-inclusive vacation without worry about keeping your kids entertained, this is a great resort.  There are a lot of daytime activities for all ages, and the resort is particularly great for parents who might worry about vacationing with kids 10 and under.

 Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas, Paradise Island, Bahamas 

 The older-kid crowd isn’t an afterthought for Atlantis; it has water slides, private gaming cabanas and a nightclub with a DJ spinning records until 1 a.m. Younger sibs will have plenty of fun, too, in a massive kids’ club with a dollhouse and a Lego-building zone. Families come together for marine encounters that range from paddleboarding with dolphins to sea lion meet-and-greets. 

Our Thoughts: This resort is huge and has so much to do. It’s better for people who don’t want to leave the resort as well as larger groups because there are so many things to keep a wide range of people happy.

 Hilton Cancun, an All Inclusive Resort, Cancun, Mexico 

 The new Hilton Cancun, an all-inclusive Resort, situated on a secluded stretch of the Mayan coastline, helps immerse kids in the culture of the destination. Little travelers can make Mayan art, paint ceramics and learn traditional dances. There’s authentic Mexican food for adults and kids as well as an all-you-can-eat ice cream and churro shop on the property. If your kids are 10 or older, you can book a “swim-up poolside room” with access to the pool just a few steps outside your door. A kid-friendly waterpark area has slides, fountains and dumping water buckets. 

 Los Cabos, Mexico 

Los Cabos is chock-full of animal experiences like whale-watching from December through April, taking part in sea turtle releases, riding camels or donkeys in the desert and snorkeling in coral-rich Chileno Bay.  While this stunning escape on Mexico’s West Coast offers lodging for all budgets, the high-end Montage Los Cabos on one of the area’s few swimmable beaches is worth every penny.

Southwest Airlines will soon be offering non-stop flights from Kansas City to Los Cabos!

 Condado Vanderbilt Hotel, San Juan, Puerto Rico 

On a white sand beach in the center of vibrant San Juan, the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel appeals to families looking for a beach vacation in a destination rich in history and culture. The century-old property maintains its magnificent Spanish Revival architecture while adding perks for families, including large suites with 24-hour butler service. Three high-end restaurants, helmed by renowned chef Juan Jose Cuevas, have kid-friendly menus. And beach butler service ensures that you won't have to carry a bunch of gear to the water. Boogie boards, snorkels and beach toys are provided.  In addition to being kid-friendly, the hotel is also pet-friendly, our tester said. There are plenty of paths for walking dogs, and they’re welcome in outdoor seating at several of the resort’s restaurants.

Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts

 SpongeBob fans, young and grown, will lose their minds at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana and its new sister property in Riviera Maya, Mexico. Character breakfasts, meet-and-greets and selfies with the golden SpongeBob ensure that there's fun around every corner. Families can complete in the Slime Time Live show or book a personal slime session. Four- to 12-year-olds can hang out at Club Nick while you sink into a Bali beach bed that has butler service. While the kids may just want Krabby Patties, you'll be well-fed thanks to the amazing dining experiences at Gourmet Village and culinary pop-ups. Tastefully themed guest rooms with splashes of orange come in a variety of sizes. Some first-floor rooms even have a small pool directly outside the hotel-room door. 

Moon Palace Cancun

Since kids stay free, just under $2000 gets you a week in a Superior Deluxe Ocean Front room (great for a family of four) at the Moon Palace Cancun, one of the best all-inclusive family resorts in Mexico.  Guestrooms at this five-star resort include an oceanfront balcony, double whirlpool tub, free Wi-Fi and a Smart TV.  The all-inclusive package covers everything from top-shelf drinks and paddleboard yoga for parents to brick-oven pizza, a Wired Lounge arcade and a Flow-Rider wave simulator that kids love.  Depending on how many nights you stay, you'll receive a resort credit that can be used either onsite at the spa and Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course or offsite for a dolphin swim, snorkeling tour or other activity.  

Franklyn D. Resort & Spa, Runaway Bay Jamaica

At the Franklyn D. Resort & Spa, every family receives their own CPR-trained "Vacation Nanny" for about eight hours daily, from morning to late afternoon. They can take the kids to the pool, make sure they have lunch, put them down for naps and re-stock your fridge with snacks and beverages. They could be an extra set of hands for you, or you could put them in charge and go kayaking, book a spa treatment or read a book on the beach. All the accommodations are all two-bedroom suites. While they're more practical than posh, not having to tip-toe around in the dark to avoid waking up a sleeping toddler more than makes up for the lack of 400-thread-count sheets.

Who needs a Butler when you can have a Nanny!

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana  

The music vibes are strong at this all-inclusive that welcomes rockers of all ages. The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana encourages families to choose one of two experiences at its music lab: Your crew could star in a music video or play in a jam band in front of a live audience. A Rock Specialist will get you ready! The new Roxity Kids Club is groovin' too: Dance lessons, karaoke and other music-themed activities are part of the action for 4- to 12-year-olds. Tunes play at the resort's huge array of pools — hit up the family pool for teen-friendly music. Family suites sleep up to six, and you can even request to have a turntable and 10 iconic records brought to your room. That's music to our ears!

 Hotel Xcaret México, Playa del Carmen, Mexico 

 Hotel Xcaret México on the Rivera Maya serves as the home base for included excursions to all the brand's adventure parks and tours.  See all the options below! Your crew could be shuttled to explore an underground cave or zoom above the treetops on a zip line. There are kid-size lounge chairs next to adult ones along with a huge octopus slide at one of the lifeguarded pools, and you can even borrow a stroller specifically designed to be used on the beach. There’s also a drop-off kids’ club for children 4 and up. 

Our Thoughts: Plan on staying a few extra days to explore all the included Xcaret brand of adventure parks.

SEE MORE INFO on Xcaret BELOW