10 Caribbean Resorts Great for Family Vacations

Lots of hotels in the Caribbean have children’s clubs and activities — but they’re not all created equal. No family is alike, after all, and no one hotel can suit every need. 

To meet the diverse interests of globetrotting families, resorts around the Caribbean have evolved to offer sophisticated, age-appropriate programming that keeps everyone from toddlers to teens engaged, while also providing opportunities for families to share memorable moments away from the ever-present kids' club.

Here are several Caribbean hotels offering great opportunities for families to enjoy time together — and apart. 

Age-Specific Programming

Resorts that offer activities to match different age groups are especially well-positioned to serve the family market. This segmented approach acknowledges something that savvy travel advisors (and parents) already know: a 15-year-old has dramatically different interests than a 5-year-old, and forcing them into the same activities doesn't serve anyone.

Among the properties in this category is Beaches Negril, which divides young guests into five different categories to ensure that activities are age appropriate. The groups start with infants (ages 0 to 2) and progresses on to toddlers (ages 3 to 4), who can enjoy diversions such as shell collecting, face painting and sandcastle building.

As children grow, the offerings at Beaches Negril mature with them. Tweens (ages 11 to 14) can participate in watersports, beach soccer and outdoor movie nights, while teens (ages 15 to 17) enjoy boat cruises, tennis clinics and more. The latter group also has access to dedicated spaces, including a pizza bar and a dance club.

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Also in Jamaica is Princess Grand Jamaica, which takes a similar approach with its comprehensive children's club; it incorporates modern elements such as virtual reality gaming alongside practical and creative offerings such as cooking classes. The dedicated cinema, theater and outdoor play areas ensure children have variety throughout their stay.

In the Bahamas, Atlantis Paradise Island incorporates unique elements into its Atlantis Kids Adventures program, which creates distinctly different environments for children ages 3 to 6 and 7 to 12. The younger set can enjoy experiences such as tea parties in a kid-sized Victorian dollhouse and shopping in a mini-grocery store, while older children can participate in culinary lessons and show off their theatrical talents on a dedicated performance stage.

In St. Lucia, Windjammer Landing offers multiple options for families, including the Jacquot Fun Club (for ages 4 to 12) and teen programming. Parents can even indulge their progeny with the VIP Kids Program.

Blending Education With Entertainment

Some hotels incorporate educational elements into their programming without sacrificing fun — an attractive balance for parents looking for a more immersive learning experience for their kids while on vacation.

In the British Virgin Islands, for example, Oil Nut Bay has put together a nature-focused program that includes turtle-tagging boat excursions, an interactive conservation center and a ranger program that teaches skills such as constellation identification and sailing fundamentals. The animal rescue barn even offers learning opportunities with horses, tortoises, flamingos and other resident creatures.

In Grand Cayman, meanwhile, Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa offers Splash Waterpark, which cleverly integrates educational activities about local ecosystems with the usual water play. In addition, the resort's Camp Seafire combines expected activities such as arts and crafts with fitness programming that teaches healthy habits in an entertaining way.

Among the newest family-friendly hotel options in the region is Salterra, a new property in The Luxury Collection in South Caicos that opened in February. Here, families can learn about local ecology during guided hikes and visits to natural salt ponds. They can also take fly-fishing lessons.

RELATED: Top Kid-Friendly Sites and Activities in St. Lucia

Activities for the Whole Family

Children’s clubs and kids-only programming are great for giving the grown-ups some time alone, but many resorts also offer activities that are appropriate for all ages, helping families spend more time together. 

Carlisle Bay Antigua is among the hotels in this category, providing extensive facilities and activities that can be enjoyed by multiple generations — including tennis and pickleball courts, boat excursions and the Antigua Rainforest Zipline Tour.

Similarly, Renaissance Wind Creek Curacao Resort takes advantage of its picturesque location by offering family-friendly experiences beyond the property boundaries. In addition to horseback riding, snorkeling and boating, parents can treat kids to visits to local attractions such as the Curacao Sea Aquarium and Children's Museum Curacao, as well as seasonal activities like Carnival traditions that connect families to authentic local culture.

In Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Royalton Bavaro excels at offering multiple options for various age categories, with dedicated spaces for different age groups — the Clubhouse Kids Club is for ages 4 to 12, and the Hangout Teens Club is for ages 13 to 17 — while also offering whole-family activities such as beach volleyball, cooking classes and dance lessons.