There’s nothing better than luxury family resorts for parents who are worn down. Every family needs a good sand and ocean vacation to recharge.
We choose these hotels for a family beach vacation because they offer a kids club, rooms that work for families, and something special for parents.
Here are some of our favorite luxury family resorts in Florida, the Atlantic Coast and New England, Hawaii, California, Asia, and Caribbean that have recharged us.
South Seas Resort and Captiva Island draw many who could easily afford five-star options but who remain loyal to the low-key, island vibe. A Postcard Welcome to Sanibel and Captiva Island My son and I reached the summit of the bridge that connects Sanibel and Captiva Islands to the Fort Myers area. Then, it was as if magic vacation fairies ...
For a fantasy family weekend with nothing but walks on the beach, board games, spa time, and lobster at every meal. When I think back of all of the places we have explored in New England, I have a very deep soft spot for the Inn by the Sea, just south of Portland, Maine in an area called Cape ...
Given that Mickey Mouse’s roots are in California, it’s no surprise where he chooses to spend his vacation: Hawaii. Sunrise at Aulani In 2011, the Walt Disney Company opened its most ambitious resort not attached to a theme park. Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa lies on the island of Oahu. Many may assume they know what to expect of ...
Considered Disney World's signature resort, The Grand Floridian has a lot of charm. But is it a luxury resort? The Grand Floridian Welcome The Cooler was a 2003 film starring William Macy, and he played a down-on-his-luck sad sack employed by casinos to loiter near the winning to turn their luck around. Disney World does the opposite of this casino practice. They ...
The Ritz Carlton Naples resorts are the king and queen of the Paradise Coast hotels The beachfront Ritz-Carlton Naples As the most elegant hub of Southwest Florida, Naples celebrates a new chapter. Once the snowbird haven of Midwestern grandparents, Naples has seen huge growth in welcoming young families and professionals. North of downtown Naples in the area of Vanderbilt Beach ...
We were told to keep an eye out for the resident seals, whales and dolphins. Gazing out onto the Pacific while stretching out in the warm sunshine was one of the highlights of my trip— a true moment of serenity. Our California Road Trip Itinerary Road-tripping through California had been on our travel bucket list for about a decade, but ...
The Banyan Tree Mayakoba gracefully fuses the Thai brand's style with local flavors for an exceptional five-star resort experience. It's not for those seeking a formulaic all-inclusive resort. Where is Mayakoba and What is It? The Mayakoba Resort lies a few minutes north of Playa del Carmen in Quintana Roo, Mexico, the area known as the Riviera Maya. It’s an ...
People ask me what has been the best hotel to feature since I launched Luxe Recess in 2014. I am not saying that the Four Seasons Orlando is my favorite, because that’s like saying I have a favorite child. Although the fact that we did just return from our sixth visit may mean our family has found its magical place. There's ...
In the end, our favorite aspects of staying at the Polynesian had nothing to do with being club level The front entrance of the Polynesian resort transports you to the South Pacific. Walking into the Disney Polynesian Resort you are instantly transported into vacation mode. Tropical music plays, palm trees dance gently, and a piña colada whispers your name ...
So how did Round Hill, a classic celebrity and socialite hideout, evolve into one of the best Jamaica resorts for families? Round Hill's beach views are uncommonly pretty. The History of Round Hill Round Hill has been welcoming guests since the 1950s on a former sugarcane plantation that later added coconuts, pimento, and many, many celebrities. Round Hill’s peninsula located near ...
Moon Palace Jamaica A Long Overdue Girls’ Getaway With No Regrets But One I had a pang of remorse as I walked into the spa’s entry hall with one of my best friends. It was our first trip without our children or one of us being pregnant in twelve years. The Awe Spa at Moon Palace Jamaica is what mom fantasies ...
Magic Village Resort is a newer Disney area villa option for the discriminating traveler, designed as a sophisticated option to convene, cook, and slumber. Magic Village is located just over a mile from Animal Kingdom Lodge. Extended family vacations are Disney World’s specialty. I see the families pass by sporting a dozen t-shirts in the same royal blue, adorned ...
This piece was published approximately one month before Hurricane Irma struck the US Virgin Islands. To donate and help the victims of Hurricane Irma, you can donate to The St. John Community Foundation. Nobody leaves St. John wishing they hadn’t been. It is a vacation in every sense, and most people plan their return trip before flying home. St John is ...
The Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate really surprised me. I would say not only surprised me, it impressed me. The Omni Orlando's new wave pool opened in the summer of 2017. I had few expectations checking into the Omni Orlando. I don't typically stay at many Omni properties, and I associate them with their historic mountain resorts like the Omni ...
Cape Cod's only Five-Star Resort. My web diet gives me a daily dose of luxury hotel websites and their social media. There is a pretty predictable language and look to how high-end properties attempt to lure well-heeled guests. The Wequassett in Cape Cod has a slogan, “You’ve arrived.” I admit I harrumphed just little when I read it. All of my ...
From the moment plush turtles greet you in your family suite to when you meet the magnificent creatures at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center down the road, a vacation at the Marriott Singer Island is all about slowing down to a turtle's pace while connecting with the authentic richness of the Palm Beaches: its seashore. The Palm Beach Marriott ...
Why are the Disney Yacht and Beach Club are two of the most favorite resorts for Disney regulars? We'll help you decide if its the right choice for your Disney vacation. Disney’s Yacht Club Resort and Disney Beach Club are inspired by historic seaside resorts; nautical and beach imagery is everywhere. Joined together and within walking distance to Epcot, they share many ...
Have you always dreamed of going to Asia? The food, sights, hotels, legendary service, world famous spas, and night markets? If you’re like most, you’ve put it on your to-do list for when the kids are a little older, but Asia is a fantastic place for family travel. Once I realized how easy it is to travel Asia with kids ...
There's a Miami family vacation beyond South Beach that involves great food, culture, and fabulous service. Finding Miami Hotels that work for Families Miami has really evolved into a vacation scene similar to Las Vegas where many of the most popular reasons to visit have nothing to do with family fun. In a city that's increasingly rivaling Sin City for an ...
Considered the most deluxe Disney resort until the Grand Floridian came along, The Contemporary Resort boasts a guest experience few of the other Disney World Resorts can. It might be time for a rematch. Disney's Contemporary Resort The Contemporary was one of the two original resorts when Walt Disney World opened in 1971, along with the Polynesian. There are families who experienced it in the 1970's who ...
When you book your family vacations, do you intentionally create moments of play? Sitting under an umbrella beside a pool, I was enjoying the sensation of a wet swimsuit sticking to my skin, providing an air conditioner for my body in the Florida heat. The weight of a damp towel wrapped loosely around my legs and waist felt like ...
Realtors and interior designers often describe a house as having “good bones” when its historic architectural layout is fabulously timeless. The Biltmore Hotel in the Coral Gables section of Miami has great bones. Designed by the same architects who designed The Breakers of Palm Beach, The Pierre and Sherry Netherland hotels and responsible for some needed nips and tucks ...
These 11 hotel cooking classes designed for children range from a few hours to a week's commitment. In more exotic destinations, the kitchen is an excellent place for easy cultural immersion and to pique children's curiosity and their appetites. Kids should learn to travel and cook well. The Grand Wailea is a Waldorf Astoria property known for some of the best family pools in Hawaii. ...
You know those stunning photographs with bungalows hovering over lucid turquoise waters, and you immediately think of paradise. But are tropical destinations like Bora Bora the best choices for families? The Four Seasons Bora Bora is on many bucket lists. My family and I live in Los Angeles, and— like most California families— Hawaii is a go-to destination for family ...