The Caribbean is a popular vacation choice for families since it offers so much outdoor fun, year-round sunshine and warm temperatures, and a huge variety of family-friendly resorts.
In fact, there’s such a huge variety that it can be hard to find the best one for you. We’re here to help with our picks for the 10 best Caribbean family resorts, including all inclusive Caribbean family resorts, Caribbean family resorts with water parks, Caribbean family resorts with swim up rooms, and affordable family resorts in the Caribbean.
Ambergris Cay, Turks & Caicos
One of the absolute best luxury all-inclusive Caribbean family resorts is the amazing Ambergris Cay, which offers just 10 suites and 7 villas on more than a thousand acres of a pristine private island in the Turks & Caicos. Rates are steep but include transfers by plane; golf carts on the island; a dedicated host; unlimited gourmet dining; all drinks including premium spirits; nonmotorized watersports; onshore fishing; e-bikes; tennis; yoga classes; wait service at the pool; guided nature walks; and hiking.
The Club House has board and video games, billiards, ping pong, and an Explorer’s Hut for kids aged 4 and up. The sophisticated and serene villas are perfect for families, with 3 to 6 bedrooms, separate living rooms and kitchens, private heated pools, and laundry facilities. There’s also a two-bedroom beachfront bungalow.
Jumby Bay Island, Antigua
Another of the best Caribbean family resorts for luxury, the all-inclusive Jumby Bay is on a private island just off the coast of Antigua. Guests here enjoy peaceful private beaches and tons of activities including watersports like waterskiing, windsurfing, paddleboarding, kayaking, and snorkeling; tennis; bike riding; and cooking classes.
There’s a kids’ club with its own dedicated pavilion, three swimming pools, four restaurants, a bar, a fitness center, and a spa. Choose from swanky suites or spacious villas with private pools.
Beaches Turks and Caicos
Beaches Resorts are the family friendly sister company to Sandals Resorts and deliver the same luxurious inclusions and outstanding service. One of the best Caribbean all-inclusive family resorts with a water park, Beaches Turks and Caicos also has 10 pools, a kids’ club, a teen club, an Xbox Play Lounge, a teen nightclub, and 21 restaurants.
It’s located on 12 miles of glorious white-sand beach and offers complimentary nonmotorized watersports including snorkeling, kayaking, windsurfing, paddleboarding, and scuba diving (for certified divers). The 45,000-square-foot water park has waterslides, a lazy river, a splash area for little kids, and a surf simulator. In addition, Beaches resorts have the Caribbean’s first certified autism centers.
Atlantis Bahamas
This enormous resort on Paradise Island in The Bahamas is probably the biggest of all Caribbean family resorts with water parks. Its waterpark, Acquaventure, features 11 pools, multiple waterslides, and a Rapids River ride as well as a lazy river. There’s also an aquarium, a marine habitat, multiple pools, multiple beaches, a golf course, 20+ restaurants and 19 bars.
Accommodations are spread across five areas, each with its own character. In addition to all the family-friendly activities, there are extras like in-room babysitting and a Kids Concierge that helps you make reservations for activities. Atlantis is one of the best Caribbean family resorts for Americans who want as short a flight as possible, since The Bahamas are just an hour off the coast of Florida. Note that Atlantis is not all-inclusive so it can get pricey if you have a large family.
Nickelodeon Hotel and Resort, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
If your family loves Nickelodeon, they will adore this Caribbean family resort set in stunning Punta Cana on a beautiful beach. Another of the best Caribbean family resorts with waterparks, Nickelodeon Hotel and Resort has waterslides, lazy rivers, several pools, and watersports.
Other amenities include a kids’ club, special activities like character brunches and sliming, a fitness center, a spa, 9 dining options, 2 bars, and play areas. This is also one of the Caribbean family resorts with swim-up rooms.
Beaches Negril, Jamaica
Another of the best Caribbean family resorts with water parks, the all-inclusive and recently renovated Beaches Negril is located on the world-famous Seven Mile Beach in Jamaica and offers all sorts of complimentary watersports including paddleboarding, Hobie Cat sailing, kayaking, snorkeling, and scuba diving.
The waterpark is right on the beach and features waterslides, water cannons, and a swim-up soda bar. There are 3 pools and 3 whirlpools, 11 restaurants, 7 bars, land activities including beach volleyball and basketball, an Xbox Play Lounge, a teen nightclub, daily and nightly entertainment including live shows, and a kids’ camp with certified nannies.
(FYI, the other Beaches location in Jamaica, Beaches Ocho Rios, is one of the more affordable family resorts in the Caribbean as its prices are about $100 less per person per night than Beaches Negril.)
Club Med Cancun, Mexico
The very first all inclusive Caribbean family resorts, Club Meds are still a popular option. The recently renovated Club Med Cancun is actually located about 30 minutes from town on a beautiful beach. There are 3 pools, 4 restaurants, a spa, and kids’ clubs for all ages (under 4, 4-10, and 11-17).
Club Meds are known for their unique activities; kids can go to circus school, and even adults can take trapeze lessons. Other options include sailing, tennis, archery, waterskiing, and snorkeling (on the world’s second-largest coral reef). These are also more affordable Caribbean family resorts, and you can find other locations in The Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, and Martinique.
Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall, Montego Bay, Jamaica
One of the best Caribbean family resorts with swim up rooms, Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall is a luxurious all-inclusive resort with a wide range of amenities including watersports, kids’ activities (for ages 3 to 16), tennis, a fitness center, and daily and nightly entertainment.
Choose from 8 restaurants serving a variety of cuisines and 4 bars including a swim-up bar and a rooftop bar. There’s also a lovely white-sand beach to lounge on and build sandcastles, and you’re close to all the fun activities in Montego Bay including adventurous excursions like ziplining and ATV tours.
Iberostar Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Iberostar Punta Cana is one of the best Caribbean family resorts that are all inclusive in the Dominican Republic. It features two giant pools, a children’s pool, a pristine beach, a coral lab, a golf course, kids’ clubs, and a nightly mini-disco.
A wide variety of dining options includes kid favorites like pizza and ice cream but also plenty of options for parents. Parents can also enjoy adult activities, a casino, a spa, a fitness center, and nightly entertainment including live music and dancing.
Dreams Playa Mujeres Golf and Spa Resort, Mexico
If you’re looking for Caribbean family resorts with swim up rooms, consider the all-inclusive Dreams Playa Mujeres. Set on a white-sand beach 10 miles north of Cancun, this luxurious resort has a waterpark, a kids’ club, 2 infinity pools, 6 whirlpools, a fitness center, a spa, daily and nightly entertainment, and a nearby golf course. There are 10 restaurants and 13 bars and lounges (two of which are for tweens and teens).
The swim up rooms are available at the Preferred Club level, which also gives you access to a private lounge and bar, personalized check-in and check-out, daily continental breakfast, afternoon snacks, special desserts, and premium liquors.
(There are other Dreams locations if you’re looking for additional Caribbean family resorts with swim up rooms, including Dreams Onyx and Dreams Macao Beach in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.)
Now that you’ve read our choices for the 10 best Caribbean family resorts, which appeals to you most? Let us know in the comments!