The Best Luxury Family Resorts in the US and Caribbean

All products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
If planning a family vacation that’s fun for everyone feels overwhelming, don’t fret. There are plenty of luxury family resorts in the Caribbean and US that offer thoughtful amenities to ensure a memorable getaway for kids and adults alike. Perks to look out for include kids clubs with daily programming, beach and poolside water activities, spacious accommodations (including connecting rooms), and enriching excursions that allow families to explore the surrounding area. You don’t have to compromise on your own relaxation in the process either—many kid-friendly properties feature award-winning spas, impressive culinary offerings, and plush room amenities that will make you feel right at home.
From mommy and me manicures to restaurant dishes that span chicken fingers to bubbly and elevated bites, here are the most exciting luxury family resorts and hotels in the Caribbean and US to consider when booking your next family vacation.
- Tadeu Brunelli/Courtesy Grand Hyatt Baha Mar
Baha Mar, Nassau, Bahamas
Perhaps one of the most family-friendly islands in the Caribbean, Nassau & Paradise Island in the Bahamas welcomes millions of families to its powder-soft sand, including those at Baha Mar. The 1,000-acre luxury resort complex features Grand Hyatt, SLS, and Rosewood hotels that all overlook Cable Beach. Shared amenities across the sizable complex include SLS’s 15-acre water park with several swimming pools, Baha Bay; a daily kids club schedule; an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus signature course; over 30 luxury retail outlets; a recently renovated 300-seat jazz club; and more than 45 restaurants and lounges. Families should also not miss the annual Junkanoo parade each Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, a competition featuring the best dances, costume designs, and music routines.
- Heather Anne Thomas/Courtesy Blackberry Farmhotel
Blackberry Farm, Walland, Tennessee
$$$ |Gold List 2018, 2025
Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023, 2024
Retreat to the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains for an elegant twist on summer camp. Come together for activities like geocaching, wakeboarding, and agricultural lessons at the historic on-site farm, with the reward to follow at the casual (and delicious) Dogwood restaurant. No matter the age group, Blackberry Farm has an outing: stream exploration during Youth Discovery programs, pottery classes, private horseback rides, and even truffle scouting, Lagotto dogs and all.
- Courtesy Winnetu Oceanside Resorthotel
Winnetu Oceanside Resort, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts
$$ |Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024
This classic Martha’s Vineyard resort boasts a great location on Edgartown’s South Beach, plus a teen adventure program that includes activities like kayaking, bridge jumping, mountain biking, and a ropes course. While the kids are off getting their adrenaline fix, the adults can lounge at the beach and grab lunch poolside before regrouping at the resort’s Cape Pogue cottage.
- James Baigriehotel
Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point, California
$$$ |Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023, 2024
This Southern California resort has a whole set of goods: Miraval Spa’s first coastal location, with meditation and yoga for the kids; a fun pool area with cabanas and a Mexi-Cali cantina; and surfing lessons, right on the resort’s breathtaking private beach.
- Whit Richardsonhotel
Madeline Hotel, Telluride, Colorado
$$ |Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
It’s hard to beat Telluride for pristine Colorado skiing, and even harder to do better than a stay at the ski-in/ski-out Madeline. Book a mod residence-style unit with a full kitchen and views of the surrounding mountains. Then set the kids free in the hotel’s own tucked away corner of the Mountain Village to ice skate, splurge at Dylan’s Candy Bar, or hang at 20 Below, a kids-only club opened earlier this year.
- Courtesy The Resort at Paws Uphotel
The Resort at Paws Up, Greenough, Montana
$$$ |Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024
There's nothing quite like a good night's sleep after a day of leading a cattle drive on horseback, pushing the limits on a high ropes course, and a chuck wagon cookout served up by a chef. Montana's The Resort at Paws Up delivers high-end camping above the rushing Black River in a plush family tent outfitted with separate sleeping quarters for the kids and a full bathroom with heated floors, or in a porch-wrapped home, which offers the newly added perk of complimentary kids club access.
- Courtesy Dunton Hot Springshotel
Dunton Hot Springs, Dunton, Colorado
$$$ |Gold List 2018, 2020
Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2024
Built on the bones of an old mining town, high in the Colorado Rockies, this all-inclusive resort is a Traveler favorite. The bravest kids get to explore a ghost town in between horseback riding, fly fishing, and rafting in the summer. (In the winter, try dogsledding and skiing.) Parents can slip away at night to indulge in wine pairings in the Saloon, while kids dive into movies and popcorn in the room next door.
- Courtesy The Lodge at Sea Islandhotel
Sea Island, Georgia
$$$ |Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2021
Stay at this southern resort’s 63-room Garden Wing, the perfect setting for a nonstop coastal adventure: sail or paddleboard through salt flats alongside dolphins, sign the kids up for naturalist training at Camp Cloister, get lost in the 65,000-square-foot spa, tackle one of three championship golf courses, and cap it off with family bingo night.
- Four Seasons Resort Oahuhotel
Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina, Oahu, Hawaii
$$$ |Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023
Located next door to Disney’s Aulani, the Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina brings super luxury to the edge of a shared lagoon, granting parents an Oahu vacation with all the trimmings of paradise, but without the Mickey Mouse ears: cribs for tots and clubs for tweens, outdoor pools and beachfront water sports, spa treatments for everyone, and access to the Ko Olina Golf Club.
- Getty/Courtesy Mohonk Mountain Househotel
Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz, New York
$$ |Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Nature lovers and history buffs unite 90 miles north of New York City at this fifth-generation-owned clifftop lake retreat. Kids can fill the days with gadget-free outdoor escapades—think frog hunting at the complimentary kids club, rock climbing, and illuminated nighttime disc golf. Round it out together with mindfulness meditation programs led by Nina Smiley, Ph.D. The six-bedroom Grove Lodge is perfect for multigenerational gatherings.
- The Palms Turks and Caicoshotel
The Palms, Turks and Caicos
$$$If you have a big family to please, you'd be hard-pressed to do better than the Palms. Book a sprawling suite with a full kitchen and a patio, just steps from the white sands and luminescent blue water of Grace Bay Beach, where everything from a cocktail in a cabana to complimentary windsurfing lessons is possible.
- Courtesy Ritz-Carltonhotel
Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Orlando, Florida
$$$ |Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Set on 500 acres at the head of the Florida Everglades, with all the requisite scenery the location brings—wetlands, ponds, cypress trees—this luxury Orlando resort offers up an outdoor wonderland that's far from Disneyfied. Take the kids on a guided eco-tour by kayak, immerse them in Florida’s great outdoors at the new interactive kids' club, take a fishing lesson, or hit the Greg Norman–designed golf course.
- hotel
The Peninsula Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
$$$ |Gold List 2018, 2019, 2022
Hot List 2017
Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023, 2024
New hotels keep popping up in Chicago, but for discerning families, none can do it quite like the Peninsula. Take your pick from amenities that include an in-room tent and scavenger hunt for the little ones with the Camp Peninsula package, or, head out to the city with a children’s map of places to explore, available from the concierge. During the winter, the Peninsula is home to the only hotel skating rink in Chicago. Guests can enjoy this winter wonderland with hot drinks and snacks from the Chalet.
- Courtesy Montage Laguna Beachhotel
Montage Laguna Beach, Laguna Beach, California
$$ |Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
There's something about walking in the Montage’s wide, windswept lobby, which opens up to huge Pacific Ocean views, that really marks the beginning of your Southern California beach vacation. Book one of the premier suites—larger than most Manhattan apartments at 1,200 square feet—and skip away to the spa; then rejoin the family at Goff Cove, one of several beaches easily accessed from the hotel’s clifftop location.
- Lone Mountain Ranchhotel
Lone Mountain Ranch, Big Sky, Montana
$$$A visit to Yellowstone National Park doesn’t have to mean forgoing luxury. Take guided excursions into the nearby park from this forested 160-acre private ranch, which you’ll want to return to every day for horseback rides, high alpine lake fishing, and cabins set right on a crystal-clear river. Older kids will particularly appreciate the variety of outdoor activities.
- Virtuality Realty/Tamarind Hills Resort and Villashotel
Tamarind Hills Resort and Villas, Antigua
$$$Unobstructed views of a sparkling Caribbean ocean are the ultimate reward at Antigua’s Tamarind Hills Resort & Villas. Fifty-six rooms include spacious suites and villas with up to five bedrooms, ensuring plenty of room to roam for everyone. Other perks: villas with fully equipped kitchens and private pools, and direct access to two of Antigua’s most prized slices of sand—Ffryes and Darkwood beaches. A kids program features activities like a reggae dance class, tie-dye T-shirt making, and scavenger hunts. When you’re ready for a little relaxation of your own, in-house spa services are available, as well as an expert concierge team that can curate any experience around the island.
- Fabrice Ramberthotel
Hôtel Barrière Le Carl Gustaf, St. Barts
$$$ |Hot List 2021
Readers' Choice Awards 2022, 2024
Located just minutes from St. Barts’s coveted Shell Beach, this intimate luxury haven offers stunning sea views and moments of respite for the whole family. Twenty-one suites scattered about a tranquil cliffside encourage guests to unwind on the expansive pool decks and private restaurant and beach club. Family-friendly accommodations include larger bungalows with separate bedrooms and a five-bedroom private villa with its own pool. Hop on a courtesy Le Carl Gustaf electric bike or head to the spa while the kids enjoy on-site activities like pastry classes, painting, and treasure hunts. Service here is impeccable, with a concierge team always willing to offer tips on exploring the island. Dine at Chef Riccardo Giraudi’s award-winning restaurant Beefbar, inspired by the cosmopolitan culture of Monte Carlo. Here, guests can indulge in a selection of international street food and inventive cocktails while overlooking the cerulean waters of the Caribbean.
- Courtesy Accor Hotelshotel
Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, Scottsdale, Arizona
$$ |Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024
It’s all about versatility at this 65-acre desert favorite. At the Arizona resort's Trailblazers Family Adventure Center, little ones can enjoy a different themed adventure each week—including a life-size game of Pac-Man. At the Sonoran Splash Pool, a 200-foot twisting water slide will keep the kids busy while you unwind in a luxurious private cabana. Nearby, the Children’s Museum of Phoenix offers more than 300 hands-on exhibits. When hunger strikes, take your pick from five award-winning restaurants and bars on the property.
- Courtesy Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hillshotel
Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, California
$$$ |Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Tucked away on a quiet street, this Beverly Hills mainstay draws both local celebrities and out-of-towners for its luxurious room and dining options. Kids won’t feel left out here, with perks that include complimentary baby bath amenities, child-size bathrobes, complimentary coloring books and crayons, and children’s menus available for in-room dining and in all restaurants. Parents: Don’t miss the seasonal speakeasy extravaganza at Veil & Velvet, held in the hotel’s transformed lounge. The immersive experience includes an extensive martini list and tables adorned with antique jewel boxes and a “press for caviar” button that has servers zooming over with a selection of the finest caviar to choose from. The property has also recently renovated its spa with an expanded menu of treatments that include a citrus body scrub made from Dead Sea crystals and sound bath meditation—ideal for a quick break between the stressors of parenthood.
- Courtesy Wequassett Resort and Golf Clubhotel
Wequassett Resort and Golf Club, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
$$$ |Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Skip the Children’s Center for the real magic of this elegant yet unstuffy Cape Cod resort, which you can all enjoy together: roomy suites, poolside cabanas, boat rides to the Outer Beach, and an excellent dinner at Twenty-Eight Atlantic, where cocktails (and mocktails) are concocted and poured table-side.
- Courtesy Pelican Hillhotel
The Resort at Pelican Hill, Newport Beach, California
$$ |Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Just one hour south of Los Angeles, The Resort at Pelican Hill calls Newport Beach's stretch of gleaming coastline home. The sweeping coastal retreat houses the largest circular pool found in the US, with over one million hand-cut glass tiles at the bottom to dazzle both kids and adults alike. During the summer months, the pool becomes home to the daily “Morning Splash,” with floaties and inflatable fun for all. The resort’s 332 bungalow and villa accommodations feature several “Imagination Amenities”—complimentary to resort guests and ideal for ages 2–10—including a squeaky clean bath bucket of fun soaps, cups, and toys, and an easel with drawing supplies to create a special art nook in any accommodation. Other kid-friendly programming includes the Mommy & Me Gelato and Manicure experience and youth yoga for ages 3+. Villa rentals are available in two-, three-, and four-bedroom configurations and range from 2,200 square feet to 3,581 square feet. Panoramic terraces with ocean views, gourmet kitchens, and on-call personal butlers are just a few more perks to enjoy.
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
More family travel inspiration: