You all had such great responses regarding vacation spots…can I take it one step further? Have any of you stayed at an all-inclusive resort with your family? What’s your favorite? I just started my search, but immediately happened upon this resort in Turks and Caicos. (It won Travel and Leisure’s World’s Best Hotel for Families in 2014.) I have to admit…I like the idea of everything being taken care of from the get-go.
I would love to hear any and all thoughts! We were planning to visit our old stomping grounds in California this August, but are now leaning towards a resort-type vacation instead. I think the kids would absolutely love it. (Who am I kidding? ME TOO.)
image credit: beaches
Djuna
June 3, 2015 at 7:54 amI just had a 30 minute conversation 3 days ago with some good friends who went there last year with their 3 kids. They said it was the most fantastic vacation they’d taken as a family. The food was delicious and the childcare was 5-star with well-thought out activities for each age and developmental stage. They can’t wait to go again. The only caveat? You get what you pay for – “it’s pricey,” they said, which is why it will be their biannual trip. I was totally sold!!
Lisa S.
June 3, 2015 at 8:35 amBeaches Turks and Caicos!!! Hands down!! So beyond beautiful!! Staff is wonderful, the grounds are gorgeous, restaurants are fabulous!! And very kid and family friendly! We have been twice and loved it just as much as the first time!!
Alyssa from The Sparkly Life
June 3, 2015 at 10:59 amWe went to Beaches in Turks & Caicos in March with our five year old and then 18-month-old and it was AWESOME. The kid’s club is amazing–my younger one went there every morning for a few hours and loved it, so that took a lot of pressure off of us. (Because at that age, he just wants to run around and can’t really be outside in the sun for long periods anyway.) My older child when went there a few afternoons and mornings, too. She also loved it. (They go swimming, do activities like cooking or arts and crafts, have meet and greets with Sesame Street characters, etc–it’s very active.) In fact, there were two mornings when BOTH of our kids were at the kid’s club so my husband and I had three glorious hours to just sit by the pool and read. It was awesome. The Sesame Street thing was great for the kids, but it wasn’t so omnipresent that it got annoying. There were great nightly shows, very kid-friendly pools, etc etc. I can’t say enough about it. We’ve already booked our trip for next year! (I’m basically never going anywhere without a kid’s club ever again after this!)
whoorl
June 3, 2015 at 1:16 pmThanks, Alyssa! I might shoot you an email with a few questions….
Lindsay
June 3, 2015 at 11:38 amooooooooo! I’ve had that place on my list for two years now, but when I try to book for Christmas (my work vacation time), it’s already full. Maybe next year?!
Chrystal
June 3, 2015 at 11:49 amI have an 11-month old and stumbled upon this resort last month. We are booked to go in September. I haven’t seen anything else like it but love that it will cater to all three of us!!!
whoorl
June 3, 2015 at 1:16 pmThanks, ladies!
KateB
June 3, 2015 at 3:14 pmAccording to my husband, going to see friends or family is not a vacation. It is a visit. Going to the beach is a vacation. Sounds like you guys need a vacation! Good luck.
Stephanie
June 3, 2015 at 3:36 pmWe haven’t been to too many all-inclusive resort vacations – I tend to want to avoid them if I can, but with not with kids it seems like a true vacation, doesn’t it? I have two recommendations one is a resort in Sagres, Portugal (perhaps a little far, but was lovely) called Martinal and the a dude ranch in Tucson called the White Stallion Ranch. My family has been going to “the ranch” for my entire life and it has something to offer everyone – riding, gym, hiking, tennis, pool, spa, lessons for riding, a rodeo, 3 meals a day, evening entertainment and as a kid I always had friends to play with! Nice thing that this place has on other ranches I have stayed is the riding is included! Anyways – look it up on trip advisor, glowing reviews. Taking our kids there for the first time next spring and my husband loves it because they pick you up at the airport and then he has no details to worry about for a week! Good luck – I love planning (and going) on vacations.
Anis
June 3, 2015 at 7:57 pmParadisus Resort in Riviera Maya. We went in April for the third time and my kids love it. There are a lot of activities for them.
Kristen
June 3, 2015 at 8:17 pmI don’t have lots of experiences with all inclusive so, but we loved the Four Seasons Punta Mita (#1 in Mexico).
Tina
June 3, 2015 at 8:19 pmWe’ve been to a couple all inclusives. Like other folks, we try to avoid them but do them every once in awhile when we want to take it easy and have some time to ourselves. I know being from Cali, you are probably tired of Mexico, but the best all inclusive I have ever been to HANDS DOWN was Azul Fives in Playa del Carmen. The kids club was like no other and the food? I would have NEVER believed to be an all inclusive. Plus, we rented a car and drove to Tulum. I loved Tulum, in the same way I love Breckenridge and Martha’s Vineyard. It reminds me of the Key West of Mexico. There was A LOT to do with my kiddo (swimming in the ceynotes is a MUST and swimming with the sea turtles out at sea, plus visiting the ruins.) I also just heard about a brand new place in Dominican Republic that sounds great. Costa Rica is great with kids too because there is SO much wildlife. Monkeys everywhere and you can hike the volcanoes. When I do I resort, I always use my gal Kristy Hall at Tropical Travelers. I met her on the internets (she’s based in NJ and I’m in KC). She is truly a miracle worker. You can look her up at tropicaltravelers.com. I know she just got back from scoping out a new place in DR.
Good luck!
Tina
angie
June 5, 2015 at 12:16 pmTina…I’m in the VERY beginning stages of planning a family trip to Costa Rica – kids age 6 and 8. Any recommendations? Would love insight from someone who’s traveled there with a family!
Brie
June 4, 2015 at 6:23 amWhere to start on our beaches trips…. I would totally return if someone was taking me/paying for it but i will say when we walked down there last year it had grown so much that there was no actual beach left. The one in Jamaica is smaller but turks has the best water/sand but not in front of the Beaches resort. Hands down best piña colada for sure. We can chat more in person????
Brie
June 4, 2015 at 6:24 amPs agree with person above about the karisma resorts.
kristin
June 4, 2015 at 9:19 pmOur boys are older now, but we went to an all-inclusive in Mexico with them when they were 4 and 6, and it was a great vacation! The easiest part was the food – we encouraged them to try anything that looked good, and they could always eat when they were hungry. All the concern of wasting money on food they didn’t like was gone.
MO
June 11, 2015 at 11:06 amWe did Beaches Turks and Caicos this March with our 3 and 6 year old boys! It was amazing:) We are all ready to go back! We chose not to do the kids club because our boys would have been separated but we saw the kids at the camp and it looked great. So much to do for everyone!