Selecting a destination (and accommodations) for your next family adventure involves so much more than looking for the most beautiful, bucket list-worthy places. For starters, “family-friendly” is such a vague term. What’s interesting or supportive for a 2 year old is much different than a 12 year old. When I evaluate a property for family-friendliness, I’m looking at things like:

Room Options

What sort of room/suite/villa configurations make the most sense for a family traveling together, especially if there are little ones not yet sleeping in real beds?

Amenities

What sort of amenities are provided? Ideally, you’d be able to leave your bulkier items, like a bottle warmer or sound machine, at home. Bonus points if the hotel has product partnerships with the same brands you use at home.

Safety

Does the hotel consider the safety of little ones? Having a suite with a private plunge pool becomes a lot less relaxing if you’ve got a toddler running around. The best hotels and resorts help guests childproof their rooms with items like gates, pool fences, and safety kits.

Childcare

What sort of childcare is offered? For what ages? And what hours? Are there indoor and outdoor play spaces? Do the activities offered for kids give them a sense of the destination and local culture? Can you request additional nanny services for in-room childcare?

Food

What sort of food options are available?

A pet peeve of mine? When hotels market themselves as family-friendly just because they have connecting rooms and can plop a tent up in one of them. In my opinion, what makes a hotel ideal for (young) families is the comfort and convenience they’re adding to your travels, because leaving your routine and the comforts of taking care of kids in your own home is inherently more work.

Resorts abroad generally do a better job of catering to families, especially ones with kids less than 5. Because while many of the best US brands for families offer childcare or “kids camp”, like Montage or Four Seasons resorts, they typically don’t start until age 5. If you’ve got an infant or toddler, it’s worth considering traveling a bit further to enjoy some truly exceptional kids care programs and facilities.

So, with all that in mind, here’s the roundup of our top 10 favorite hotels and resorts for family-friendly vacations in 2024.

There are some stipulations around which part of the estate you can book if you’re traveling with kids. Children under 13 are welcome to stay in the Walled Garden, The Stables, Woodland Cottages, and private houses. Kids 13+ are able to stay in the Manor House. No need to feel put off by these stipulations – larger groups would be more comfortable in a private cottage or house anyway.

Kids ages 3 to 5 can participate in the Estelle Explorers program, featuring all-day care (9:30am to 3pm) and experiences like foraged crafts, pizza making, and mini Landrover riding. Kids ages 6 to 10 join the Estelle Adventurers program for activities like wild fruit foraging expeditions, shelter building, and archery. The Nook, Estelle’s indoor play room, is also available for arts + crafts, games, and other fun hangs.

The 850-acre estate epitomizes the rugged natural beauty Scotland is known for and makes Gleneagles an ideal summer holiday for anyone who loves spending time outdoors – including your little ones. For starters, the adults and older kids can enjoy activities like falconry, riding horses, playing tennis or golf, off-roading, training gundogs, shooting game, or fishing.

Babysitting services can be arranged, but Gleneagles also offers the Little Glen, a fully supervised crèche (daycare) for 2 to 8 year olds. With a bright color scheme, different textures and tactile furnishings, and an arts and crafts workshop, the space is designed to stimulate play and learning.

The Den, an unsupervised indoor play space, was specially designed as a hangout and recreation space for older children and young teenagers, aged 8 to 15. The Den’s series of connected rooms include everything from video games, a cinema space to giant games and board games.

But the thing that blows my mind the most about Gleneagles is the way they help guests take care of their little ones. They completely get that it’s the little things that make the biggest difference to whether your vacation actually feels luxurious. Their chefs can whip up fresh, organic meals, like puréed peas and parsnips or a foraged berry oatmeal, for your infant. They always keep extra diapers and wipes on hand so you never have to worry about running to the store if you run out during your stay. To make roaming the estate more accessible, you can borrow a car seat, baby’s bike seat, or even a kids’ Pashley bike.

OK, but hear me out! Obviously the Maldives are a million miles away. BUT if the Maldives are on your bucket list, don’t think you need to wait to go until you can find someone to watch your kids at home for 2 weeks. The Maldives offer a shockingly wide variety of family-friendly islands and resorts, with Soneva Jani taking the cake with their impressive new kids care facilities.

Soneva Jani is nestled within the tranquil waters of the Noonu Atoll. They have just 51 over-water and seven island villas, some of the most spacious in the Maldives. Every over-water bungalow, whether it’s a one-bedroom or a four-bedroom villa, includes a private pool and waterslide into the lagoon. This is an all-inclusive resort, and kids under 15 eat, stay, + play for free (plus your rate includes 2 hours of complimentary babysitting every evening so you can enjoy a romantic dinner in peace!).

Spanning 2 floors and over 16,000 sq ft, the Den offers endless hours of fun for Young Sonevians big and small, with a soothing sensory room for toddlers; areas for music, Lego, dressing up, and art; and even a hidden hangout for teens. Older kids can glide through the cascading waterfall on a zipline, plunge into the vast pool from the waterslide, dance along the musical floor, or show off their skills in the games room.

You can leave your bulky baby products at home – simply request your room be stocked with a kids arrival kit, which includes baby accessories, a high chair, stroller, pack n play, monitor, bath mat, and other necessities.

The ultimate dude ranch family vacation can be found at The Resort at Paws Up. Paws Up is a luxury mountain resort situated on a sprawling, 37,000-acre, authentic working cattle ranch in western Montana. Whether you choose an expansive private home or a sophisticated, safari-style luxury tent, your family will find endless comfort in the rustic elegance that is Paws Up.

Each day, kids can experience things they’d never get the opportunity to try at home, such as archery, rustic cooking lessons, sapphire hunting, and geocaching. With the half- or full-day Kids Corps of Discovery, kids ages 3 to 12 will embark on adventures tailored perfectly to their age in a way that helps them experience the best of Montana. Which means the adults can head out on a wilderness activity or spend the afternoon at the spa!

Little Discoverers is geared towards kids ages 3 to 5, while the Adventure Club is for kids ages 6 to 12. Additional babysitting services are available upon request and for an additional charge so you can explore the ranch on horseback, cast a fly in sparkling waters to eager trout, or lose yourself in a world-class spa.

While many American travelers are more familiar with family-friendly resort brands like Beaches, Martinhal should be on your radar. Everything about Martinhal is designed with families in mind – the brand’s entire ethos is around creating fabulous experiences for the whole family so there’s no need for the adults to sacrifice their enjoyment on vacation. Located just above a private beach in Algarve, Martinhal Sagres is a perfect combination of stunning scenery and accommodating service. Plus, with all the outdoor adventures Martinhal Sagres offers, this would be a great fit for a family where some members just want to lounge by the pool while others want to explore and be active.

With 5 swimming pools (including a toddler-friendly wading pool), private beach, organic spa, sports complex, mini golf, pump track, hiking trails, and 6 dining outlets, there’s something for everyone here. Accommodations options range from spacious ocean-view rooms to villas with up to 6 bedroos.

Martinhal is a great option for families with siblings of mixed ages. Kids care is broken out into 5 age groups: Nursery (6 to 12 months), Crèche (13 to 23 months), Raposinhos (2 to 3 years), Fox Club (4 to 6 years), and Explorers Nature Club (7 to 13 years).

For families with little travelers, take advantage of their baby concierge service, which allows you to pre-book baby equipment like door protectors, safety gates, baby bath tubs, bottle sterilizers, and other necessary items.

With its award winning spa, championship golf courses, private beach, and 4 restaurants, Rocco Forte’s Verdura Resort is the 5* destination for your Sicilian holiday. Rocco Forte is another hotel collection that might not be as familiar to American travelers – its closest comparison might be Relais & Châteaux – but they’re family-run hotels known for pairing thoughtful and sophisticated design with destination dining experiences. So the fact that Rocco Forte makes such a concerted effort to provide supportive kids offerings is both surprising and alluring.

Verduland is the resort’s massive complimentary kids club with distinct programming tailored to babies (0-3), kids (4-12), and teens (13-16). The hotel mascot, Verdu the hedgehog, leads the educational, experiential activities, which include lessons in astrology, mythology, pottery, yoga, cooking, sports, and much more. In addition, 24/7 babysitting services are available upon request.

Verdura just gets it when it comes to family-friendly amenities. In your room, families with little ones can expect their room to be stocked with a mobile, night lamp, play mat, bath products, anti-slip bath mats, baby bath tub, temperature test, diapers, wipes, diaper cream, changing mat, bottle water, bottle sterilizer, high chair, and crib.

It’s not flashy, it’s not new, it’s not the sexiest spot for adults, but there’s a reason your neighbor or your kids’ friends at school keep coming back here spring break after spring break. Whether it’s for water activities along the 12-mile sandy beach, the 45,000 sq ft waterpark with 10 pools, daily Sesame Street entertainment, or 21 restaurants, kids LOVE Beaches. And with daily Kids Camp included in your all-inclusive package, what’s not for parents to love, too?!

Beaches’ childcare programs range from Infant (0-2 years), Toddler (3-4 years), Navigators (5-7 years), Adventurers (8-10 years), Tweens (11-14 years), and Teenagers (15-17), with private babysitting services available upon request and for an additional charge. One area that Beaches really goes above and beyond: for kiddos with autism or other special needs, you can request a One‐on‐One Beaches Buddy to be with your child for your entire stay or just for a few hours, including during Kids Camp hours and afterhours in a sensory‐friendly location of your choice. Such peace of mind knowing your baby will be in the hands of someone who has been trained to cater to your child’s needs!

A client fave? The personal butler service. Service from a dedicated butler is included for guests staying in top-tier suites. Think of this as your personal concierge, arranging and escorting you to all of your dinner reservations, stocking your fridge, transporting your bags, scheduling your airport transfer, serving you lunch at the pool, grabbing the sunscreen you forgot in your room, and anything else you need to make your stay more relaxing.

I might have included this one purely for shock factor. Because when I think of Borgo Egnazia, I think of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and all white everything and everything chic about summering in Italy. Which is all to say, I don’t think of it as a place I’d bring my toddlers. And yet… three kids programs are offered: Trullalleri (3-7 years), Marinai (8-12 years), and Tarantari Teen (13-16 years), with the option to request additional babysitting services.

Borgo Egnazia is a 5* luxury hotel in Puglia with a stellar lineup of Michelin star dining, pools, spas, and a golf course. More than just a hotel, Borgo Egnazia is really a mini Italian village spanning 40 acres with 63 hotel rooms, 92 townhouses, and 28 villas, each with a garden and private pool. There are some stipulations about where families can stay, but you’ll want more space than a hotel room anyway. The stunning property is surrounded by olive groves and overlooks the Adriatic Sea, with complimentary shuttle service to their 2 private beaches offered throughout the day.

In the Trullalleri Club, children aged 3 to 7 years are supervised by highly qualified staff. The various recreational activities are grouped by age and by play areas and are held both indoors and outdoors. There is a nursery, playroom, relaxation area, and playground. Children from 7 months of age are also welcome at the Trullalleri Kids Club, you just have to book a dedicated nursery service.

Of course, we have lots more thoughts and recommendations depending on where you’re going, what season, and the purpose of the trip. Interested in working together to book the hotel/villa or plan your next family vacation? Submit an inquiry to get the ball rolling.

Where have you been with your family and LOVED?