What are the best family-friendly vacation locations? Here are a few we recommend…
1) Orlando, Florida
I always told myself that I would never be that parent who would take the kids to Disney (sorry Disney, no offense. I did love thee as a wee one!). “Keep them away from all that commercialized stuff,” “I don’t want to dress my daughter in princess gear” (yeah, right!) … Well in realizing how much kids love all things commercial, Orlando becomes an appealing option if the goal of your holiday is to please the kids 100%. From the “magic” of Walt Disney World, to the fun of SeaWorld and Universal’s “Islands of Adventure” and Universal Studios, your days are filled with kid-friendly fun.
2) Riviera Maya, Mexico
Home to sandy beaches, Mayan archaeological sites and child-centered theme parks, the Riviera Maya is a playground for both kids and adults alike. Most resorts have really great kids clubs (Azul Sensatori a notably one) – there is loads to do with kids in the Riviera Maya. From the natural water park of Xel-Ha to Xcaret, there are endless activities to keep the young ones happy. And did I mention the great beaches?
3) Bahamas
My daughter still thinks about Bahamas as the most fun vacation she’s ever been to (and she’s been on a lot of vacations in her 5 short years). We’ve stayed at The Reef Atlantis two times now, and between the awesome kids water park, the candy store (still hearing about this a year later), she begs and dreams about going back. The Bahamas offers families 700 islands of fun, sun and nature. And the beaches are perfect for swimming.
4) Grand Cayman
Everyone is a kid again in Grand Cayman. Ride a submarine, visit Stingray City on a glass bottom boat, walk the plank or join a sword fight on The Jolly Roger replica, or enjoy the safety of snorkeling and the experience of scuba diving when you snuba. We stayed at the Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman, and I can say with certainty that the staff are without a doubt over the top nice to kids!
5) Jamaica
Whether petting crocodiles, feeding hummingbirds or bobbing down the Rio Grande on a bamboo raft as reggae bands play bank side, families can have a wonderfully wild time in laid-back Jamaica. Adventurous ones can hike by waterfalls and coffee plantations, clamber up Dunn’s River Falls, or splash and sun on glistening beaches. We recommend the grand dame of Jamaica, Round Hill for a wonderful stay.
