Kids Stay Free at These Dreamy All-Inclusive Resorts
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It's no secret that a family vacation is very different than a wild girls' trip or a romantic getaway with your significant other. A tiny room in a boutique hotel? Yeah, that's not going to work. Ditto for cramming multiple family members into one bed.
It's plain and simple: When you're traveling as a family, you're looking for space, ease and good deals. After all, you're probably juggling multiple schedules, meal requests and expenses when you're at home: Do you really want to do that when your out-of-office is on too? Enter: The all-inclusive resort. Previous iterations may have been lacking in, well, every department — but today's all-inclusive resorts offer delicious food, tons of activities and — crucially — one less thing for you to worry about, since everything is included in the room rate. Many also offer deals, either seasonally or yearly, when kids under a certain age stay and eat free with a paying adult, making them an even better bargain than comparable hotels where you pay a la carte. (Heads up: For certain resorts, blackout dates apply and there are limits regarding how many children stay free per adult, so be sure to call ahead.)
Mexico and the Caribbean may be top of mind for this class of properties, but we also found top-notch options from all around the world, including in the United States and Canada. Read on for 10 of the best all-inclusive resorts where kids stay free.
Cap Maison Resort & Spa (Saint Lucia)
Lush rainforests and powder white sand rightfully make Saint Lucia a popular family destination. Not to mention that one of the Caribbean's best all-inclusives is conveniently located right on the island. Cap Maison offers the Family Time All-Inclusive in Saint Lucia Package, which includes two children under 12 staying and eating for free (when dining with parents), plus three hours of babysitting and a free Kids Club when it's open for the season (July 1 to September 15).
Carlisle Bay (Antigua)
Perched on one of the most stunning bays in Antigua, it would be easy to spend your entire vacation here without ever leaving the beach. But Carlisle Bay also offers plenty to do for more adventurous guests, from water sports to yoga and pilates sessions. There's also a popular all-inclusive program, where children under 12 stay free (and can take advantage of their stellar supervised kids club). The food here is also known for being some of the best on the island: All the restaurants and bars use locally sourced produce, plus herbs and vegetables from the chef's own garden.
The Chatwal Lodge (The Catskills, New York)
Beach resorts are, by far, the most popular category of all-inclusives, so you can imagine how excited we were to find out that one of the newest properties in The Catskills also boasts its own program. The Chatwal Lodge offers an all-inclusive dining program for adults, and with that, kids under six stay free. With only 14 guest suites, the lodge almost feels like a private home, albeit one with kayaking, snowshoeing and a bowling alley all on-site.
Garza Blanca Preserve Resort & Spa (Puerto Vallarta, Mexico)
Nestled in Puerto Vallarta, between the cerulean Banderas Bay and the towering Sierra Madre mountains, Garza Blanca Preserve Resort & Spa may be the most perfectly situated hotel on this list. It's also one of our favorite family all-inclusives, thanks to its robust programming, including sandcastle building, painting lessons and an activity-packed kids club helmed by a bilingual staff. And with the all-inclusive plan, up to two kids under 12 eat and stay free. (Note that blackout dates include March 24 to 31, 2024; July 1 to August 19, 2024; November 26 to 30, 2024; December 23, 2024 to January 3, 2025.)
Club Med Québec Charlevoix (Québec, Canada)
Club Med may be synonymous with all-inclusive family vacations, but you'd be mistaken if you thought all of their properties were beach escapes. One of the most unique in their portfolio is Club Med Québec, located on a 300-acre parcel of land deep in the heart of Le Massif de Charlevoix. The four-season resort has perks like ski-in/ski-out access, superb kids clubs and dog sledding — plus kids under four stay free (four- to 11-year-olds stay at 50% off the adult price).
Hilton Riviera Maya Resort (Tulum, Mexico)
This Hilton in the Rivera Maya is straightforwardly an all-inclusive — but with 13 different restaurants from which to choose, you might not even get a chance to sample all of them before it's time to hop back on the plane. This property (and Hilton's other Mexican all-inclusives in Cancun and Puerto Vallarta) also offers one of the most generous kids packages: With a three-night minimum stay, all children 17 and under stay and eat for free.
Paradisus Palma Real Golf & Spa Resort (Punta Cana, Dominican Republic)
This family-friendly resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, is situated on stunning Bávaro Beach, while also boasting plenty of kid-friendly pools. Other amenities that make this a top choice for little travelers include a staffed kids club, chocolate tastings and restaurant options ranging from Dominican to pizza. For 2024, the all-inclusive hotel's Kids Stay Free program starts in April and goes through the remainder of the year. (Call to confirm blackout dates.)
Shangri-La Yanuca Island (Fiji)
Sure, there may be closer options than Fiji for your beach vacation, but there may not be anything more beautiful. Plus, Shangri-La Yanuca Island has a pretty awesome all-inclusive package: Up to two children under 12 can stay and dine for free. As for what there is to do on property? A floating water park, tons of water sports like kayaking and paddle boarding and children's dance classes all make this worth the flight.
Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection (Costa Rica)
Costa Rica's motto of pura vida — pure life — rings true here. Whether you're surfing, hiking or simply relaxing, everything in the Central American country somehow seems brighter and more joyful. That goes for our favorite hotel here as well: Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection is 180 acres ripe for exploring or zoning out. The inclusive rate — which allows children five and under to stay for free — not only encompasses meals, but also the hotel's substantial wellness and adventure programming — and kids can take advantage of a free kids club all summer.
Hilton Cancun Mar Caribe All-Inclusive Resort (Cancun, Mexico)
It can be hard to find a property that appeals to both kids and teens. Hilton Cancun Mar Caribe All-Inclusive Resort manages it seamlessly, however, thanks to separate kids and teens clubs, plus nightly entertainment that includes live DJs and dancing fit for the whole family. In 2024, kids and teens stay free at this property from April 8 through October 31, with a minimum three-night stay. And parents, take note: While the kids are at the club, you can take advantage of indoor and outdoor relaxation areas, cabanas and even a hydrotherapy circuit.
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