Top Family Resorts

azul sensatori hotel—babes in toyland

Families rule at Azul Sensatori Hotel by Karisma in the Riviera Maya. Here, Fisher-Price characters stroll around the property, moms make use of the resort’s complimentary jogging strollers, and squeals of laughter are heard from toddlers romping in the Splash Park.

And kids’ clubs? There’s one for every age group. The Azulitos Play House, for kids 5 and under, is a play program created by Azul Hotels and Fisher-Price where little ones get together for playgroup sessions, storytelling, singing, and grooming their talking and listening skills. The Kids Club caters to ages 4-12, and for the tweens and teens there is Extreme Breeze, an area with billiard games, video game consoles (Wii, Xbox, PlayStation), and a Teens Corner, a club-like atmosphere serving non-alcoholic beverages.

Azul’s Pack & Play program, which is part of the resort’s Gourmet Inclusive program, takes care of the necessary baby supplies by making sure the essentials are waiting for your clients upon arrival. In the room, they can find a stroller, crib, baby bottle warmer, baby robes and Gerber baby food.

To keep with the Fisher-Price theme, Azul Sensatori offers Fisher-Price Family Suites. The rooms are decked out in Fisher-Price Little People character decor complete with toys, Little People-branded bathrobes and family-friendly CDs and DVDs. The suites include a private bedroom with a king-size bed, and two living spaces with a full-size sofa bed and twin sofa bed. Rates for the Fisher-Price Family Suites start at $311 pp; $67 per child ages 3-13 (children under 3 are free). All-inclusive rates for Azul Sensatori range from $164 to $985.

capella pedregal—a family resort in cabo

“Multigenerational travel is a very important market for Capella Pedregal,” says John Volponi, general manager. “We find that many families planning a multigenerational trip are using a travel professional to better coordinate the travel for all the various family members who may be coming to Cabo from a variety of destinations.”

To keep the multi-gen clients coming, the 96-suite property, located beachside in Cabo San Lucas, is offering a Family Connection package. Available for guests staying in the resort’s 2-, 3- or 4-bedroom Ocean View Suites, the package includes daily breakfast; en-suite family dinner prepared by a private chef; a bonfire on the beach with s’mores; a family activity of choice (swimming with the dolphins, snorkeling or sunset cruise); a family photo shoot session; a welcome bottle of tequila for mom and dad; and roundtrip airport transfers.

Larger families might want to opt for the 3-bedroom Ocean View Suite, which can sleep up to six (ideal for families who are bringing grandma and grandpa). At 3,539 sq. ft., the suite offers a full kitchen, a washer/dryer and even binoculars to scan the Pacific for any whales breeching during season.

The package also offers families complimentary use of the Capella Tortuguitas Kids Club (ages 4-12), which offers a fun list of activities like arts & crafts, movie nights, and cooking classes, as well as sand castle making and kite flying contests. And there’s the Children’s Rock Pool that kids will love.

The Family Connection package goes for $1,510 per night for a family of four.

gran porto real—beachside at playa del carmen

The all-inclusive, 287-room Gran Porto Real Resort & Spa, located in Playa del Carmen, is just steps from the Fifth Avenue shops, restaurants and nightclub scene; and aside from the beach, pools, restaurants and kids’ club, Gran Porto Real is chock-full of savings for your clients planning a multi-gen trip to this popular destination.

Although high-season rates range up to $724 per night for a jr. suite, the resort offers its Kids Stay, Eat, and Play deal where two children (ages 4-12) can do all of the above for free when they share their parent’s suite. In addition, a single parent can bring up to one child for free with the resort’s Single with Kids deal, which applies for travel now through Oct. 31.

Kids will stay entertained with the resort’s Oki Kids Club for ages 4-12, and the T-Zone for tweens and teens ages 13-17. When mom and dad need a bit of a break from the kids, the resort offers evening activities for them, so parents can enjoy a private dinner or take a stroll along the beach.

Gran Porto also offers a complimentary Swim with the Dolphins family program for one member of the family (valued at $140) if staying a minimum of five nights in an upper suite category, such as an Ocean Front Suite. Additional family members can also enjoy the one-on-one time with the dolphins at a 50 percent discount.

hacienda temozon—a mayan vacation

At Hacienda Temozon, a 17th century hacienda that once produced henequen fiber, it’s all about family bonding.

Without a kids’ club or children’s pool, Hacienda Temozon in the Yucatan peninsula, in the town of Temozon, is made for families looking to connect and be saturated in history as they experience an authentic Mexican vacation with a few Mayan architectural wonders to behold.

The hotel’s Love Your Family package includes accommodations in a Superior Room for two adults and up to two children under 12 stay for free; kids eat free from the adult menu and families can visit the hotel’s cenote, a deep natural well, via an old carriage pulled by a donkey over old train routes. Bicycles are available on property so families can take a ride to visit the town of Temozon or they can take a day excursion to explore the Uxmal Mayan ruins, considered the largest archaeological site in the Puuc region. The starting rate for the Love Your Family package is $230 per room, per night.

Also nearby is Chichen Itza, elected one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, and Celestun, a 230-sq.-mile wetland reserve home to herons and hundreds of flamingos that flock to the reserve every winter. Families visit the estuary by boat along the Isle of Birds then continue to a mangrove forest before swimming to Baldiosera Pond where fresh and saltwater meet. The hacienda’s carpenter workshop and pharmacy building now houses the hotel’s only 28 rooms and suites, which feature a hammock, plunge pool and handmade amenities made by local artisans who work in conjunction with the Haciendas del Mundo Maya Foundation.

paradisus la esmeralda—family pampering

The Family Concierge service at Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Esmeralda is all about creating a hassle-free family vacation from day one. The service offers private check-in; a walkie-talkie or cellphone upon arrival so guests can be in constant contact with their butler; a private spot on the beach with concierge services; daily kids’ and teens’ activities; a pillow menu for the parents and welcome gifts for the kids.

Starting rates for a Luxury Junior Suite Family Concierge room are $850 per night. The rooms feature a master bedroom for the adults, a living room, a kitchen area, a separate bedroom for the kids, and a private terrace with a jacuzzi.

At Paradisus, families can participate in a treasure hunt that ends with a family pirate show, play different instruments together at the musical show, “Mystic Drumz,” or take some cooking classes where parents help the kids learn how to make their own cookies or pizza. The all-inclusive resort’s Kid’s Zone welcomes families for a bit of nighttime fun by hosting talent shows, piñata parties, and karaoke and movie nights.

On a side note, Paradisus Cancun is also catering to the family market by launching YHI Spa for Kids—because who says mom and dad are the only ones who should be pampered while on vacation? The spa service caters to little guests by first welcoming them with kid-friendly refreshments like milkshakes, fruit juice, jellybeans and other treats. Services include the Only For Girls ($91 per child) manicure, pedicure and facial treatment or the Guy’s Things massage for both father and son ($60 per child).