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21 Best Caribbean Resorts for Families 2024

From waterparks to circus classes, kids (and grown-ups!) will love the offerings at these family-friendly Caribbean resorts.

21 Best Caribbean Resorts for Families 2024

Photo: Ocean Club Resorts

The best Caribbean resorts for families are calling your name, friend. We did the hard work visiting properties, tasting food, combing through room rates and kiddie clubs to bring you a totally vetted collection of hotels and the best all-inclusive resort for families.

These award-winning properties boast water parks, beaches with sand so fine it looks like powdered sugar, tennis courts, golf courses, spas, babysitters, children's clubs and mouth-watering food. Pack your bags—it's vacation time!

1. Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana 

The family that gets slimed together stays together at this Karisma-owned Dominican Republic resort, where your kids can meet Spongebob Squarepants, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Paw Patrol in the, uh, plush. The two halves of this expansive, all-inclusive resort are linked by a path and golf-cart shuttle. Make sure you pack your best toddler water shoes for this resort!

Stick to the west side sports complex and Aqua Nick water park (where you experience the aforementioned slime) for kid-focused fun. The east side, shared with sister resort Sensatori, is where you’ll find the well-appointed rooms, restaurants, the beach, a pristine infinity pool and Spongebob’s Pineapple Villa.

spongebob water park

Photo: Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana

Book a swim-up suite with a shared pool right off your patio, so your water bugs never actually have to get out of the pool. There are several restaurant options (including an excellent burger joint, BRGRS.PH) and a family-friendly buffet, stocked with baby food pouches and plenty of high chairs. The pretty rooms sleep up to six people.

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Let them know the age of your kids before you go, and they’ll set up the room with whatever you need (baby food delivery, milk, an umbrella stroller, baby crib, bottle warmer, bathroom step stool, kids’ spa robes). The best part: downtime is totally yours once they see Club Nick, an ages 4-12 club with its very own curly slide into a ball pit, and tons of bean bags and pillows for kids who want to take a break from the sun and cool off.

For younger babies and toddlers there’s a Baby Zone, also open all day—but at an extra cost.

2. Beaches Turks and Caicos

You’ll need a detailed itinerary to squeeze in all there is offered at this massive all-inclusive. Take your pick from a large selection of family-friendly suites (some come with separate kids’ rooms and private butler service!) and then fill your belly with gourmet pizza, tandoori chicken, coconut-crusted everything and more from one of the 21 restaurants on the property.

Kids with Sesame Street on the beach Photo: Beaches Turks and Caicos

Situated on a spectacular 12-mile stretch of white, sandy beach, your family can make the most of the glittery, blue waters with access to SUP, wakeboarding and snorkeling—at no extra charge.

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In the morning, treat your little ones to breakfast with Big Bird and the Sesame Street gang before heading over to the 45,000 square foot waterpark, with waterslides, kid-friendly splash pools, water cannons, a lazy river and a swim-up soda bar.

There’s also a surf simulator where you can learn how to hang ten. Got the munchies? Grab some ice cream or gooey mac ‘n cheese from the food trucks parked right in the park, or take a break from the sun in the diner where you can get cookies, sundaes, hamburgers and pizza on demand.

If (gasp!) it should rain, you can take refuge in the Xbox Play Lounge where the entire family can get their Minecraft fix. In the evening, you’ll have your pick of entertainment, from theater productions to movie nights in the pool and a teen-friendly disco where they can dance the night away.

Want some solo parent time? The onsite kids' camp caters to tots and teens (up to 17 years old) with certified childcare workers and activity-packed programs running all day. Once they’re back and ready for bed, have Elmo or Abby tuck them in by booking a VIP Sesame Street bedtime service. Now that’s seriously a good night!

3. Lopesan Costa Bavaro Resort, Dominican Republic

This absolutely massive property located on the eastern shores of the Dominican Republic boasts some of the newest, poshest facilities of any of the best Caribbean family resorts. It's a breathtaking display of architecture and nature melded into one gorgeous adventure families of all ages and stages can enjoy.

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We love the beautiful beaches and plentiful programming for kids and adults. Seriously, this place has every possible ingredient that would go into the best family vacation ever—just add your people.

beach huts at lopesan costa bavaro, best caribbean resorts for families Lopesan Costa Bavaro, Bryce Gruber

Kids ages one through 15 are treated to a host of kiddie clubs and activities around the property ranging from arts and crafts to dedicated video game rooms. Read our full review of the Lopesan Costa Bavaro Resort & Casino to get an idea of what the dozens of eatery options look like, but know that you'll have a full belly at this all-inclusive resort.

We love the soft, powdery sand and soft waves that make the beach ideal for young families, as well as the massive pools, water park and outdoor dining options. If you feel like upgrading your experience, opt for the "Unique" package which gives you dedicated staff, access to private dining options and guaranteed beach lounge chairs in a separate section. It's bougie—but within reach.

It's the cleanest resort on our list, and we're downright positive that parents everywhere can appreciate that.

4. Club Med Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

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This all-inclusive resort is 10 minutes away from the airport, so the vacation starts (almost!) when you arrive. The resort has a complimentary Baby Welcome service for kids two and under (sign up when you book your trip). The service includes all the baby equipment you’ll need like a stroller, diaper-changing mat, baby bath, travel toddler beds and a pack ‘n’ play.

Club Med beach and ocean Photo: Club Med Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Babies and toddlers from ages four months to three years can be cared for during the day for an additional fee, and kids ages four to 11 can participate in free daily activities like dance lessons and theatre classes at the included kids’ club.

They’ll also love circus school (free with your stay), where they can learn acrobatics, tightrope walking, and mask painting from Cirque du Soleil-trained performers.

If you need a longer break, for an additional fee the resort also offers an evening babysitter service for kids ages four months and older, It's appropriately called "Pajama Club."  Every night parents and babies can eat dinner together at The Baby Restaurant (located inside the kids’ club), but if you want to eat in the main restaurant, head to the baby corner, where food like yogurts and mashed fruits are available.

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The resort also has several 24-hour baby-care areas each with a blender, sterilizer, microwave, refrigerator and bottle warmer. (Formula isn’t provided, so bring your own). Kids under four stay free and kids between four and 11 stay for 50 per cent off.

Tens of thousands of positive ratings deem this property one of the best family resorts in the Caribbean—and if you're working with a modest budget, we wholeheartedly agree.

5. Sunscape Curaçao Resort, Spa & Casino

This all-inclusive resort caters to families with its accommodations and activities. There are plenty of connecting rooms and family suites, and in-room childcare for kids under three is available for an additional fee.

Kids ages three to 12 can party at the included Explorer’s Club, which features sandcastle competitions, nature and exploration programs and a weekly campout adventure.

pool underneath a cabana hut Photo: Sunscape Curaçao Resort, Spa & Casino

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The kids’ club also has its own pool. Families can play sports together, including tennis, beach volleyball, and sumo wrestling. They can also take part in more adventurous activities like snorkeling (for an additional fee).

Don’t forget to check out the family-friendly nightly entertainment like beach parties and parades.

6. Abaco Beach Resort, Bahamas

Surrounded by the serene blue waters of the Sea of Abaco, this resort isn’t all-inclusive, but it’s known for its family-friendly atmosphere and its unique program for kids: Bahama Buddies. Kids ages five to 12 can participate in arts and crafts, beach activities, and watch movies.

best family resorts in the caribbean, abaco beach resort Photo: Abaco Beach Resort

They’ll also be fed lunch depending on what time the program is running. For families with especially little travelers on board, complimentary cribs are available, and for an additional fee parents can get in-room childcare if they need a break.

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Adventurous guests can go snorkeling and kayaking with free equipment, or try a biking tour to discover the flora and fauna of the island. Up to two kids under 12 stay free when staying in a parent’s room.

We love that it's a short flight from both the east coast of the United States and the Greater Toronto Area in Canada.

7. Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa, St. Lucia

First things first: St. Lucia is one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean. It’s hard to beat vacationing in a place that comes complete with its own mountains, rainforest and miles of gorgeous beaches.

If you want a mile beach, this island is sure to give you a mile of beach—and then some.

This all-inclusive resort is only five minutes away from the airport. The not-too-large property has a family-friendly Splash section (ask for the King room with the trundle bed).

Resort pool with palm trees and ocean in background Photo: Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa: St. Lucia
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The enormous complimentary CocoLand Kidz Klub kids’ club will take babies, has its own splash pad, playground and climbing wall. The on-site Coco Corral petting zoo is populated with friendly donkeys, goats, ducks and sheep, and day excursions (for an extra cost), including snorkeling trips and pirate-themed adventures.

Babysitting is also available after 5 p.m. for an extra fee.

Tips: Bring your own pool and beach toys, as the resort doesn’t really have any to lend. Make sure to pack bug spray and after-bite balm, too – because of the rainforest, St. Lucia tends to be buggy at night. Also, you may have to schlep your own car seats (they haven't always been a "thing" in St. Lucia) and, if so, brush up on how to attach them using seat belts only.

8. The Tamarijn Aruba All-Inclusive

This all-inclusive hotel lets you get super close to the beach – all the guest rooms are oceanfront and have panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea. Non-motorized water sports and lessons are complimentary, so let your little travelers try something new! From snorkeling to kayaking, there’s something for every kid.

pool with blue pool chairs and resort building Photo: Tamarijn Aruba All-Inclusive
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At the included Kids’ Camp, kids ages five to 12 can learn Papiamento – the most widely spoken language in Aruba and neighboring islands, make their own kites, climb a rock wall and participate in scavenger hunts and bicycle tours. (There are no bike helmets so bring your own).

For little ones ages three and under you can book local childcare services for an additional fee. Kids 12 and under stay and eat for free.

9. Ocean Club, Turks & Caicos

When you check in at one of two Ocean Club Resorts (not all-inclusive) in Providenciales, you’ll enter a paradise of turquoise waters and deep eigh-inch white sand. Ditch those sandals and get ready for some barefoot walking or uber sandcastle building! The hotel provides families with cribs, pack ‘n’ plays, high chairs, strollers and baby monitors.

A photo of lounge chairs and palm trees at the beach at Ocean Club Turks and Caicos resort Photo: Ocean Club Resorts

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And if you need beach toys, just ask the front desk. Younger kids will love discovering the world’s only conch farm (a 10 minute drive from the resort), riding a glass-bottom catamaran or going on a tour of nearby Little Water Cay island to look for iguanas. Upon arrival, kids will get a game kit to identify indigenous plants and animals.

Called Seafari, the property-wide scavenger hunt rewards young explorers with daily prizes and teaches them about the surrounding ecosystem. See if your kids can spot hummingbirds and hermit crabs! There’s no kids’ club but adventurous families can try special day tours like horseback riding, jet skiing and kayaking.

If you want to escape the kids for a bit, babysitting services are available for an extra fee. Want to save some money? The grocery store is within walking distance from Ocean Club West, and you can ride the complimentary shuttle between the resorts.

But if you do plan on eating the hotel food, kids’ menus are available at Cabana Bar and Grille, Seaside Café and Opus Wine Bar and Grill.

10. The Holiday Inn Montego Bay

A pool with lounge chairs and a hotel room at Holiday Inn Resort in Montego Bay Photo: Holiday Inn Resort Montego Bay

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This all-inclusive beachfront hotel is conveniently located near great local attractions like the haunted Rose Hall Great House, the Marta Brae River and Dunn’s River Falls, so families won’t have to travel far to do touristy things. The hotel also offers complimentary children’s activities during the day.

Kids ages four to 12 can participate in activities like pool games and a kids’ concert. Consider getting a Kid Suite, which gives the kids a private space with bunk beds and has a wall to separate them from the grown-ups (you’ll finally get some sleep!)

11. Meliá Cayo, Guillermo, Cuba

Welcome to paradise on this secluded beach. The still, fish-filled waters are ideal for guests who want to go snorkeling, scuba diving or fishing near the pier–you may even spot some turtles.

Shaded lounge chairs and palm trees on the beach are visible from the water at Melia Cayo Guillermo Hotel Photo: Melia Cayo Guillermo Hotel

This all-inclusive hotel is ideal for parents with kids under three with its included baby club (ages one to four), shallow wading pool, cribs available on request and after-hours babysitting services for an additional fee.

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There’s also a complimentary Mini Club for kids ages five to 12. Little ones will love playing in the playground while big kids will enjoy the electronic games room. The Mini Club has a 30-cm deep kids’ pool for little swimmers, and there’s also a splash pad at the main pool.

12. Moon Palace Jamaica

Tons of fun for the whole family awaits at the all-inclusive Moon Palace Jamaica. Tweens can get their surf of the FlowRider and see who can stay on the board the longest. Kids four to 12 (younger kids will need a guardian present) can take part in fashion shows and face painting and play on the jungle gym.

Kids play in a splash pad at the Moon Palace resort in Ochos Rios, Jamaica Photo: Moon Palace Resorts

There’s also a Wired Room where kids can play video games. Babysitting is available for younger guests for an additional fee. If you’re willing to spend a little extra, try out one of the tours such as swimming with dolphins or the sunset cruise for a stunning view of the Caribbean Sea.

The hotel is just five minutes away from downtown Ochos Rios, so make sure you take the family for an adventure in the city. Bonus: room service is 24 hours, in case someone is screaming for a snack at 11:30 p.m. because he didn’t eat his dinner.

13. Royalton Splash, Punta Cana

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Located in one of the most beautiful places in the Caribbean, this all-inclusive hotel is perfect for water-loving little ones. Just try to get them to leave the water park, with its tubes, monster slides, splash pads and wave pool. Guests ages four to 12 will want to check out the included daily games and activities at the Kids’ Club.

A pool with lounge chairs and booths surrounding it, with the hotel in the background at Royalton Splash Punta Cana Photo: Royalton Splash Punta Cana

From discovering the playground to watching cartoons, there’s something for every kid. Don’t forget to hang out with Toopy and Binoo, who rove the property making appearances, leading activities and performing live shows. In-room babysitting services are available in the evening for an additional fee.

14. Atlantis: Paradise Island, Bahamas

Atlantis has got the coolest kids’ club on the planet, Atlantis Kids Adventures (ages three to 12, not complimentary)–complete with a wizard-ing room, life-sized dollhouse, state-of-the-art interactive game room, cooking classes for aspiring brownie bakers and a Lego room. There are also the famous waterslides, water park and mile-long river ride.

There's really something for every kind of family and kid at this world-renowned resort.

A waterpark slide and the hotel rise up from dense palm trees at Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas Photo: Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas
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The resort has 14 themed “lagoons” loaded with kid magnets: sharks, mysterious moray eels and the Goliath grouper, which can grow up to eight feet long and weigh 800 pounds (they say it’s the beast that swallowed Jonah in the Old Testament).

A short distance from the resort, everyone can play with friendly dolphins and even give one a smooch at Dolphin Cay. In-room babysitting services are available for an additional cost.

Atlantis isn’t all-inclusive and it’s no secret that it’s not cheap. But you can drastically cut costs by staying at the nearby Comfort Suites, where your accommodations include a daily buffet breakfast and access to Atlantis. The rooms also have mini-fridges you can stock with nearby grocery store fare.

15. Dreams La Romana Resort & Spa, Dominican Republic

If you care about the environment, here’s a holiday you can feel good about. This all-inclusive resort is committed to protecting local plants and animals by raising environmental awareness, planting trees and having beach cleanup and recycling contests.

Dreams Dominicus La Romana Resort is seen from above, with a beach with lounge chairs, a pier in the water, and hotel buildings visible Photo: Dreams Dominicus La Romana Resort & Spa
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They’ve won several awards for their green practices and sustainability efforts. Your stay includes the Explorer’s Club (for ages three to 13), open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., which offers video games, crafts, and a camping adventure on the beach. Babysitting services are also available for an additional fee.

Take a day trip to one of the many spots near the hotel like Island Saona to see the limestone cliffs (and maybe spot some dolphins during the boat ride!) or visit Santo Domingo, the oldest city in the New World.

16. Grotto Bay Beach Resort

OK, Bermuda isn’t technically in the Caribbean. But one look at its sandy beaches and sparkling waters – easily accessible via two-to-three-hour flights from central or eastern Canada–and you’ll be fooled.

A hotel, pool with parasols, and lounge chairs along the beach at Grotto Bay Beach Resort Photo: Grotto Bay Beach Resort

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Stay just five minutes from the airport at this beachfront resort with a subterranean cave spa for adults, a floating inflatable slide and trampoline and sailing charters for the whole family. You can choose to make your holiday all-inclusive or not, the resort caters to both options.

17. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana

This Dominican Republic all-inclusive is as big as the A-list acts it draws (Ringo Starr or mega-DJ David Guetta, anyone?) It’s not short on G-rated fun either. Kids can build sand castles on the white sand beaches, hunt for treasure or attend a pool party with floats.

Behind shrubbery in the foreground, a pool with lounge chairs, parasols and a hut at Hard Rock Hotel in Punta Cana Photo: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana

With the Mini Rockstar activity, kids can have a place to pretend to be a superstar. Evening and daytime nannies are available for an additional fee, or little ones can just take advantage of plentiful kids programming.

This resort occasionally does promotions, so look out for deals where kids aged four to 17 can stay for free.

18. Franklyn D. Resort, Jamaica

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What the all-inclusive FDR lacks in modern polish it makes up for with its casual, call-you-by-name vibe. And here’s the best part: A nanny comes with your stay. It’s not that you won’t see your kids; the resort is small, with two pools and one small beach.

But it will be someone else’s job to watch them like a hawk while they tie-dye in the Kiddie’s Centre or go down the waterslide for the 57th time.

A pool with a kids' playset, with lounge chairs and a hotel building at Franklyn D. Resort in Jamaica Photo: Franklyn D. Resorts

Read a book or have a long conversation with your spouse while your kids have a blast? Now that’s a vacation. (You do, however, need to pay extra if you need your nanny after 4:40 p.m.) There are fun free activities for kids ages two to 11 in the Yellow Bird Kids’ Club, including video games, movies and crafts.

19. Jewel Runaway Bay Beach & Golf Resort

This Jamaica all-inclusive features amenities not typically offered at similar resorts: guests receive complimentary round-trip airport transfers from Montego Bay and green fees at the Runaway Bay Golf Club.

The grounds of Jewel Runaway Beach Beach & Golf Resort in Jamaica, with a pool, hotel buildings, and palm trees at the beach Photo: Jewel Runaway Bay Beach & Golf Resort
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Don’t miss the Jewel Lagoon Waterpark, which features a lazy river with rock grottos and waterfalls, a kids’ splash zone, and a 5,000-square-foot oceanfront sundeck. The kids’ club provides games and activities for infants through teens, as well as excursions and programs for kids 11 and up.

Private nannies are also available during the day and evening for a modest additional fee.

20. Finest Punta Cana

This all-inclusive in the Dominican Republic helps prove the old adage that absence makes the heart grow fonder by giving parents a bit of space to relax on their own.

The resort has two Imagine Lounges, located near restaurants, where pre-registered, potty-trained kids three and up can play video games, color and make friends while their caregivers enjoy some alone time at nearby restaurants.

The beach and buildings at the Finest Resort in Punta Cana in the Caribbean Photo: Finest Resorts Punta Cana
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For kids who are comfortable on their own for longer stretches, the Imagine Kids Club provides all-day activities—including a mini water park, costume and pajama parties, sports and even horseback riding—at both a mini club (age 3 to 6) and a maxi club (age seven to 11).

But family fun is also on the menu, with kids’ splash pools and games at the main pool and activities like kayaking and nighttime shows open to all ages. If you’ve got a mix of children who nap and don’t, swim-up or private pool suites make it easy to entertain older kids, while family suites have extra bedrooms for kids so the main room isn’t off-limits while little ones doze.

The resort also provides parents with a number of baby necessities, such as bottle sterilizers and warmers, bathtubs, cribs and high chairs.

21. Embassy Suites by Hilton, Aruba

eagle beach across from embassy suites aruba Eagle Beach, directly across the street from the Embassy Suites, Bryce Gruber

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Located next to Eagle Beach, the all-new Embassy Suites property in Aruba is easily one of the best family-friendly Caribbean resorts. Each room really is a suite—complete with comfortable beds, pull-out couch options and kitchenettes. If you're traveling with little ones, that's important. You'll easily be able to store formula, pumped milk, baby food and snacks for bigger kids without having to spend a fortune each day.

If you read our Embassy Suites Aruba review, you'll see the property's game-changing breakfast buffet (free for all guests), breathtaking views and top-notch cleanliness make this resort our favorite for families and multi-generational travel in Aruba. Other highlights include daily activities, a brand-new gym for parents to use (if there's time!) and being walking distance from Aruba's best restaurants, the local butterfly farm and plenty of other attractions.

This article contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.

This article was originally published on Aug 19, 2019

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