Top Five Family Vacation Beach Resorts

By now, my regular readers know that I am not a big fan of resorts. However, they can be a good place to take your family. You don’t have to pack the kids in the car to find a place to eat, or to find activities to keep them occupied. Most of it is there at the resort.

Over at Journey Etc. I saw this post about the top five resort for families and I thought I’d reprint it for you.

They say that the biggest things families are concerned about are cost, safety and activities. So they based their list on these three criteria.

The Fairmont, Kea Lani, Maui – Hawaii is not one of the cheapest places to visit on holiday, but the Fairmont beach resort is ideal for families, and has something for all ages. The resort is in a clean, safe environment with excellent customer service and some great restaurants and self-catering villas. The championship Wailea golf course is nearby, as well as tennis courts and a full activities program that appeals to boisterous youngsters with [snorkeling], paddle boarding, surfing, kayaking, and sailing all on offer. [To me, just being in Hawaii would probably be good enough. I'm not a golfer, but I like tropical beaches, and good food.]

Holiday Inn, Cocoa Beach, Florida – this is an excellent family resort that aims to make the stay equally enjoyable for both adults and kids. You can book specially ‘kid suites’, which have bunk beds, televisions and a pay-per-play game systems, and also the supervised pirate themed kid’s water park will keep them entertained for hours. Many of Orlando’s top theme parks are just a short drive from the resort, and the historic Kennedy Space [Center] is just 17 miles away. For the adults there are plenty of good shops and cafes in the Cocoa Beach area, and Port Canaveral is only 7 miles away, which has some great beaches and public parks, as well as the opportunity to book cruises, fishing trips and even hire your own chartered boat for the day. [Yeah, I'm going to go on vacation to a beautiful beach, and have my kids play video games in the hotel? I think not. They can do that at home, and not have to pay to play.]

Rio Mar Beach Resort and Spa, Puerto Rico – this beautiful beach side resort is surrounded by stunning exotic scenery, and has some breathtaking views out over the ocean. There are eleven restaurants and cafes to choose from, which should suit all tastes and budgets and the resort has its very own supervised kids club called Club Iguana, which has daily activities for children between the ages 4-12. There is also a private beach, tennis courts and two oceanfront swimming pools. For adults there is an [on site] spa and fitness [center], as well as a casino, golf course and plenty of shops and boutiques. [Actually, this place sounds OK.]

Ocean Edge Resort & Spa, Brewster, Massachusetts – the Ocean Edge resort is good value for money and there are some excellent activities for children during the summer season including supervised scavenger hunts, beach camp fires and sing-a-longs, and baseball and football games out on the front lawn. There are also quieter activities on offer such as craft projects such as making kites and tie-dyeing shirts. The two outdoor pools and the beach are both covered by lifeguards, and there are also indoor pools for when the weather gets a little unpredictable. For adults there is an onsite spa and fitness centre, as well as a golf course, tennis courts and plenty of shops and restaurants. [I love New England. I am usually there about every year. So if you love the beach, but don't like the heat of the Caribbean or of southern Florida, then this is the place for you. However, it's only nice for a few months out of the year.]

Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, Florida – This is the perfect family destination, and offers quality accommodation, beautiful scenery and fantastic, affordable dining. The best thing about this resort though is all of the supervised activities for kids. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays there is a ‘Sing-Along Campfire’, which children will enjoy joining in with, and various craft activities throughout the day including sand sculpting. Children can also join the SnorkelEars club, which teaches basic [snorkeling] techniques in the pool and there is also a fishing club that teaches children from the age of 7 and up how to catch and release fish safely. Family activities include the Jungle Trail Bike Adventure, where children and parents can enjoy a family bike ride around the beautiful local scenery. For adults there are tennis courts that also provide lessons, as well as spa treatments and local hiking trips. There is also the popular ‘Introduction to Wine’ course that guides you through the basic wine characteristics and proper serving and storing methods. [I understand that this is a family vacation resort, but... not Disney. I refuse to go to a Disney resort. Overpriced, over marketed and to much to take your kids away from you. If you have kids, and are going on vacation, spend some time with them. That's the point.]

So what do you think? I know not everyone will share my views about a family vacation, but that’s fine.

Posted on December 13, 2008 - Filed Under Beach and Vacation Travel Tips and Help, Recommended Beaches and Places, Vacation Time

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