There are few hotels this nice on Aruba, with immaculate rooms, a large beach with water sports and a modern fitness center. And the Surf Club has family-style figured out: ping pong tables by the pool, a Nintendo Wii lounge for teens and a Lazy River -- a long, slow-flowing pool that carries rafters from one side of the property to the other.
Opened in late 2008, the 600-room Majestic is newer, cleaner, and more modern than most all-inclusives on the island. Its giant pool, soft-sand beach, great beds, nightly entertainment, and fun kids’ club make it a popular choice among families on spring break.
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Argonaut Hotel
This nautical-themed hotel is whimsical yet elegant, with well-kept guest rooms, a restaurant that serves delicious fare and a free nightly wine reception. The hotel sits along Fisherman's Wharf, the city's family-friendly stretch of waterfront with a trolley-car terminus, the ferry to Alcatraz and plenty of shops and restaurants.
Brimming with activities for kids and teens, Atlantis is a true Caribbean playground. The resort has 11 spectacular pools (including several kids' pools), a 141-acre water park, a speedway for racing remote-control cars, a rock-climbing wall and a marine habitat with sharks, stingrays and dolphins -- and that's just the beginning.
A megaresort with uniquely attentive service, Dreams Punta Cana will appeal to kids and adults alike: The Explorers' club offers a full schedule of activities for young children (like nature tours), and teens will love organized sporting events and the teen disco at night. A huge pool and a name-brand liquor for adults' is a really great deal.
The largest resort in Hawaii, the amenity-packed Hilton Hawaiian Village has more to offer families than any other property in Hawaii: 5 pools; tons of animals on the grounds, including parrots and penguins; and calm, coral-reef-protected waters at the beach. Thanks to the Penguin Club, which plans field trips and activities for kids, you can relax sans kiddies.
One of Los Angeles' only hotels directly on the sand, the beautiful Casa del Mar is home to spacious, luxurious guest rooms, a classy pool overlooking the ocean and an excellent spa, gym, and seafood restaurant. If that isn't enough, the amusement-filled Santa Monica pier is just a 15-minute walk away, and a 22-mile bike path passes by the hotel.
In a central part of South Beach and directly on the beach, the extravagant Loews boasts one of the area's biggest, best pools and a popular sushi spot as well as six other restaurants and lounges. Families will love it here: Enthusiastic counselors host beach tours and Nintendo Wii competitions at the Kids Camp, the Toy Library loans out beach shovels, and the hotel can even send DVDs and PlayStation games up to your room.
One of Jamaica's best hotels, Rose Hall's modern features, professional service and huge on-site water park make this relaxed, beachside golf resort popular with families. The waterslides, waterfalls and swinging bridges of the Sugar Mill Falls water park are bound to be a hit with the kids, but a high-tech gym, a quality spa and 6 tennis courts make Rose Hall popular with parents, too.
The centerpiece of this beachside hotel may be its grotto-style pool, but the accommodating, genuine service truly adds to a stay here. And families will feel right at home: The large, family-size rooms all have kitchenettes, and many suites also include washer/dryers. Plus, unlike at other Miami hotels, the Kids Club at the Trump is free. Fees apply for meals and some art projects.
