Bonus: They all include Kids’ Club programs
You might hear “all-inclusive” and envision crowded buffets and packed pools, but the truth is, all-inclusive resorts can be kind of perfect for families. Not only is there a smorgasbord of activities to choose from (usually gated off from the outside world, so relatively safe for older kids to explore independently)—but you won’t be hit with an exorbitant bill that’ll zap always all those breezy vacay vibes as fast as you can say, “Check, please.”
What’s even better? There are all-inclusive resorts where your kids can stay free, meaning you get a whole crew’s-worth of perks for the price of two parents (single parents can usually get one child free).
So whether you want to bask on the beach in Mexico, ride a horse in Colorado, or binge at the buffet in Aruba, the world is waiting. Here are our favorite all-inclusive resorts where your kids can stay free.
Note: Unless otherwise mentioned, the “Kids Stay Free” programs usually include up to 2 children per 2 adults.
Mexico All-Inclusive Resorts
Moon Palace | Cancun
Why we love it: Home to three sister resorts—Sunrise, Nizuc, and The Grand—the 123-acre Moon Palace is located just 25 minutes from Cancun’s busy hotel zone but feels worlds away. Besides the gorgeous beach, warm breezes, and turquoise waters, kids will be ready to say “See ya!” to Mom and Dad when they see the water park, and even younger travelers will love the innovative “Dreamery” kids program, which includes unique play areas, beach and pool games, special room amenities and more.
What’s included: All meals, snacks, and drinks (including top-shelf liquors) spread throughout 15 eateries; multiple pools; fitness activities; paddle boarding, kayaking, tennis, and basketball. There’s also a spa and a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course available for an extra cost.
Kids will want to head straight for the water park, which has a lazy river, multiple water slides, and a FlowRider surf simulator. The massive “Play Room” is designed for kids 4-12 and has a dizzying array of activities including a full arcade, ice rink, mini movie theater, and obstacle course (Psst: It’s at the Nizuc resort, so if this is something your kids will want, book this resort for easy walking access). There’s also a dedicated teen space.
For teeny littles, the resort aims to please, with amenities including baby soaps and lotions, as well as cribs and high chairs delivered to your room before you arrive (upon request). There is even a baby puree menu for your tiny foodie.
Price: Starts at $490 per night (includes two kids under 17; conditions apply.)
Online: Amrcollection.com
Villa del Palmar Cancun Luxury Beach Resort & Spa
Why we love it: Located on the eastern coast of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula—and nestled into the unspoiled vistas of the Loreto Bay National Marine Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site—this sprawling AAA Four Diamond-rated resort offers a secluded beachfront oasis stocked with a plethora of free activities for families and plenty of R&R opps for Mom and Dad.
What’s included: All meals and drinks (including four restaurants featuring Mexican, Italian, and international cuisines), a floating water park; kayaking, paddle boarding, dance lessons, snorkeling, yoga and stretching classes, culinary events, Spanish lessons, wine and tequila tasting, and more. Family amenities include bouncers, strollers, kid-sized robes and slippers. Want a few hours to yourself? There’s a kids’ club where you can drop your kids under 12, and a nanny service is available for an extra fee.
Price: Starts at $218 per night, includes up to two kids (under 12) free.
Online: Villapalmarcancun.com
Related: 19 All-Inclusive Resorts That Really Deliver What Families Want
Garza Blanca Resort & Spa Los Cabos: Mexico
Why we love it: A five-star luxury resort that caters to kids as much as their parents? Sign us up! Located on the sandy beaches of Los Cabos, the resort offers a multitude of room types including spacious 1 to 4-bedroom suites big enough for your brood (and with kitchen and dining areas so you don’t have to eat every meal out). It was listed in Conde Nast’s list of the “Best Resorts for Families with Infants and Toddlers,” and it’s easy to see why.
What’s included: Six restaurants (Mexican, Japanese, Chinese, and a steakhouse), eight pools (including a kids’ pool), an inflatable water park, tennis, pickleball, electric beach bicycle tours, paddle boarding, kayaking, snorkeling, fitness and yoga classes, and a sprawling sandy beach. There’s also a kids’ club where kids under 12 can be treated to a daily roster of activities including craft making, sandcastle building, dance lessons, face painting, video games, and more. Babysitting services are available at an extra cost.
You’ll know you hit Mom and Dad gold right at check-in when kids will receive a drawstring bag that’s stuffed with special gifts including a handcrafted Mexican toy, a coloring book, and a plush doll. Got tiny tots? Cribs, bouncers, baby bottle sterilizers, car seats, and strollers can be delivered to the room free of charge.
Price: Starts at $306 per person, per night (up to 2 kids under 12 are free). Be sure to reserve the “Gourmet Culinary All-Inclusive” package to ensure your meals and drinks are included.
Online: Cabo.garzablancaresort.com
All-Inclusive Resorts in the Caribbean
Tamarijn Aruba (and Divi) All-Inclusive | Aruba
Why we love it: This pair of beachfront all-inclusive resorts are perfect for families with younger children, with its Sea Turtles Kids’ Club offering a ton of fun activities for kids so parents will have the freedom to actually relax. Borrow bikes to cruise around the property and the island, then spend time snorkeling in the pristine waters of the Caribbean. And, you’ll get plenty of fresh ocean breezes, since every room comes with a balcony or patio.
Note: Kids 12 and under are free at Tamarijn Resort; Divi is free for kids 2 and under
What’s included: All meals, snacks, and drinks at 11 restaurants and grills; oceanfront fitness and activity center; bicycling, snorkeling, kayaking mountain biking, tennis, fitness classes, and a rock climbing wall. There’s a kids’ club for kids ages 4-12, where kids are treated to an all-day roster of activities from beach games to arts and crafts. Picky eaters will appreciate the specially curated kids’ menu available all over the resort. Golf and casino games are available (but not free).
Price: About $500 per room, per night. Note: At Tamarijn Resort, kids 12 and under are free; teens are $100 per night; at Divi, kids under 2 and under are free, kids 3-12 are $100 per night, and teens are $150 per night.
Online: Diviandtamarijnaruba.com
Holiday Inn Resort Montego Bay: Jamaica
Why we love it: Did you know the Holiday Inn has all-inclusive resorts located at popular vacation destinations around the world? We didn’t either! At this tropical beachside resort, guests will have a good pick of daily activities at a price that’ll leave room for excursions into the nearby town of Montego Bay. The resort isn’t super-fancy—the recently renovated rooms are clean but simple. Still, swaying palm trees and ocean breezes are as nice here as at any high-end luxury resort! So wade out to the resort’s private island, laze out next to one of four pools, and enjoy your vacation.
What’s included: All meals, drinks, and snacks; kayaking, sailing, beach volleyball, pool, tennis, video game room and arcade, kids’ club, mini golf course, basketball, and playground.
Price: Starts at $287 per room (4 people), per night. Up to 2 kids under 12 are free.
Online: Ihg.com/holidayinnresorts/hotels/us/en/montego-bay
Blue Haven Resort | Turks and Caicos
Why we love it: With pristine turquoise waters and white sand beaches for miles, this secluded Turks and Caicos oasis features a slew of on-site activities, plus an upscale tropical vibe that’ll have you in vacation mode the moment they hand you that beachy “Welcome Drink.” Blue Haven is pricier than many of the other options, but the stay includes multi-room suites and apartment-style accommodations that will work great for families who need a little more space to spread out.
What’s included: All meals, snacks, and drinks across four restaurants; access to the private beach; kayaking, snorkeling, paddle boarding, sailboat rides, water sports, bicycle rentals, and a water trampoline kids will want to do again and again. There’s a free shuttle for guests to get to the sister resort, the Alexandra Resort, where there’s a bigger beach and access to the local town.
Price: Rates start at about $1,350 and up (for a suite) per night. Kids 12 and under are free.
Online: Bluehaventci.com
North American All-Inclusive Resorts
Woodloch Resort: Pennsylvania
Why we love it: If you’ve ever wanted to go back to summer camp as a grown-up, this is the place for you. Nestled into Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains, about 90 miles from New York City, Woodloch has about 1,000 acres of wilderness to explore—though you’ll likely stay near the resort’s main lodge and lake most of the time. Make like a kid and go wild in the bumper boats or go-karts—or head for the trails via hike or horse-drawn carriage.
What’s included: Meals, drinks, and snacks; mini golf, beach volleyball, go-karts, archery, paintball, ziplines, canoeing, paddleboats, stand-up paddleboards, rock climbing wall, basketball court, indoor and outdoor pool, toddler splash area, waterslides, bumper cars, bumper boats, BINGO nights, cake wars, and evening shows.
Price: Starts at $549 per room, per night. About its “Kids Stay Free” program: Woodloch offers kids-stay-free packages for most of the year, which applies to midweek vacations for children 6 and under, and one free child per adult.
Online: Woodloch.com
The Broadmoor Ranch at Emerald Valley | Colorado Springs
Why we love it: Families can get a taste of the Wild West at this upscale all-inclusive dude ranch tucked into more than 100,000 acres of forest near Colorado Springs. You’ll fall asleep inside one of 13 luxurious “rustic-chic” log cabins, then wake up to “Cowboy Coffee” before hitting the trails on horseback.
What’s included: Gourmet meals, drinks, and snacks; kayaking, biking, fly fishing, volleyball, horseshoes, lawn games, archery, twice-daily trail rides, campfire cookouts & s’mores, board games, movies, and evening performances.
Price: Rates start. at $1,045 a night. Kids 7 and under are free. Note: The Ranch is only open April through October.
Online: Broadmoor.com/the-ranch-at-emerald-valley
Club Med Quebec
Why we love it: For snow bunnies, this Canadian mountainside resort has everything you need, with the most important (and usually, priciest)—ski/snowboard gear, lessons, and lift tickets—included in the cost of your stay. And, unlike most resorts, it also includes flights, so you can see that price tag and rest assured you won’t go over budget.
That said, only kids under 4 are free—and these kids are too young to be enrolled in the Kids’ Club ski program—so it’s your call as to whether this is really a “deal.”
What’s included: Skiing/snowboarding (including ski or snowboard rentals, lessons for all levels, and lift tickets); “apres ski” drinks (alcoholic libations or cocoa), plus all meals and snacks (at two restaurants); a kids’ club for ages 4 and up that includes ski lessons and indoor crafts/activities; sauna and hot tub; fitness classes & gym; nightly shows; Summer activities include guided mountain biking and hiking excursions in the warmer months. There’s also a heated pool and spa that is available year-round.
Price: About $4,300 per room for a stay of 7 nights (for 2 adults), including airfare. Children 4 and under are free*; kids between 6 and 11 years of age stay at 50% off the adult price; and kids between 12 and 15 years of age stay at 20% off the adult price
*Kids under 6 are free in the summer months.
Online: Clubmed.us/r/quebec-charlevoix
All-Inclusive Resorts in Europe
Iberostar Alcudia Park – Majorca Island, Spain
Why we love it: Majorca is known as the “crown jewel of Spain’s Balearic Islands,” and this seaside resort is a perfect place to experience all the island has to offer, from golden sand beaches and delicious Mediterranean cuisine to oceanfront activities to keep the littles busy while Mom and Dad actually relax. While you’re there, do some exploring! The resort is a perfect home base to explore the small island, with visits to ancient castles, underground lakes, and quaint coastal villages.
What’s included: All meals, snacks, and drinks (at six locations around the resort), multiple pools (including a children’s pool), water sports, bicycle rentals, yoga and fitness classes. Kids will love the water slides and splash areas, as well as the Star Camp Kids’ Club, which has more than 100 rotating daily activities including beach games, an arcade, crafts, and more. Cribs and baby amenities can be provided by request.
Price: Rates start at $448 per room, per night; up to two kids under 6 are free (conditions apply). There is a four-night minimum.
Online: Iberostar.com/en/hotels/majorca
Club Med Tignes | Val Claret, France
Why we love it: If your dream vacation includes skiing in the French Alps and then enjoying a post-ski massage, you’ll want to check out this newly-opened Club Med. Set in the picturesque French town of Val Claret, Club Med Tignes has ski-in/ski-out access to some pretty epic mountains, with everything you need taken care of so you’re free to enjoy your chill time.
What’s included: Not only are twice-daily ski lessons (and gear/lift tickets) included for the whole family (for kids ages 4 and up), but the staff will literally get your kids from their PJs into their ski gear and out on the mountain without any assistance from you. It’s all-inclusive taken to a whole other level and we are here for it!
There’s also unlimited food and drinks; nightly shows and activities; the largest indoor pool in the Alps; fitness classes and a gym; and a ton of amenities for families (cribs, high chairs, special menus, etc.). The kids’ club for kids 4-12 includes daily ski lessons and indoor supervised games, and the “Petit Club Med” for toddlers will keep your tiny tots (ages 2-3) busy while you hit the slopes.
Price: Rates start at $2,800 not including airfare (from particular cities) for a 7-night stay. Kids under 4 are free.
Online: Clubmed.us/r/tignes-val-claret
Related: Club Med’s All-New Ski Resort in the Alps Has All-Inclusive Conveniences You Won’t Believe
Additional reporting by Kate Loweth
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