15 Family-Friendly Hotels That Parents and Kids Will Love [2025]

I hope to never hear the dreaded “I’m bored” from my kid when on vacation. While boredom sparks creativity and independence, bored kids on vacation often mean other family members (read: parents) pay the price. I’m always searching for family-friendly hotels that allow my kid to enjoy speaking in an outdoor voice at the pool without judgment and offer many activities for all family members.

Happy kids equal happy parents, so head to these family-friendly hotels worldwide for your next family vacation.

What Makes a Hotel Family-Friendly?

Any hotel can be family-friendly, but some hotels make things comfortable for people of all ages. A lot of travelers think that a kid-friendly vacation means Disney. Of course, there are plenty of family-style hotels near Walt Disney World, and Disney cruises are amazing for families. Still, there are so many resorts around the world with family-friendly amenities that kids, teens, and grown-ups will adore where you won’t have to set foot in (or pay a high price for) a theme park.

Here are some things to look for in a family-friendly hotel.

Vibe

The general ambiance of a hotel is really important if you’re traveling with a family, especially one with small children. Anywhere that feels romantic or geared toward couples or honeymooners might make families with children feel out of place. You don’t want to feel uncomfortable if the kids act like kids! On the other hand, party hotels geared toward college kids on spring break may not be the vibe you want your kids around, either. Visit the hotel’s website and read reviews to get a feel for the property’s vibe to ensure it’s the right fit.

Amenities

This may be one of the top things that makes a hotel apt (or not so apt) for families. Is there a children’s pool? Kids club? Do kids stay free? Is there a water park, swing set, or play area? Do rooms offer baby-friendly amenities like bottle warmers, white noise machines, and cribs? Does the hotel offer babysitting (or better yet — free babysitting)? What about affordable laundry options? Look at each hotel’s amenities to decide if it’s right for your family.

Dining

This is especially important for all-inclusive hotels. Are there a variety of food and dining options? Do kids eat free? Is there an ice cream stand by the pool? Are there kids’ menus at the restaurants? Do you have access to snacks 24/7? This is even more important if you have picky eaters.

Packages

Hotels that package expenses together, like a stay + park passes, stay + activities, or a stay + meal plan, can make family travel more convenient.

Rooms

Check if the hotel has themed rooms or connecting rooms for larger families. Likewise, if rooms can accommodate more than 4 people (2 + 2 or more kids), this is another sign the hotel is welcoming to families.

4 Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Asia and the Middle East

Asia has unique amenities for children, from train-themed rooms to kid-sized racing circuits. Here’s where families should stay in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, and Dubai.

1. Island Shangri-La Hong Kong

The Island Shangri-La in Hong Kong has some of the world’s most kid-friendly rooms and suites. Choose from spending the night in themed rooms, including a castle, submarine, camper van, vintage Hong Kong tram, fairytale carriage, or safari camp. This hotel goes big on each theme. For example, kids can control a propeller and a turbine in the airship room and access a treasure chest with toys and games. A tunnel connects the kids’ room to the parents’ bedroom.

The hotel also has a room with childcare amenities, including a washer and dryer and a special area with grab-and-go refreshments, toys, and games. Meanwhile, adults will enjoy energy healing and qigong as part of the hotel’s wellness programs. Room rates for themed rooms start around $600 per night.

Hot Tip:

The Island Shangri-La’s themed family rooms are so unique that they made our list of quirkiest hotel amenities. Check it out to find out where to stay to get a tattoo, do flamingo yoga, or have an in-room beer tap.

2. Silks Place Yilan, Taiwan

Silks Place Yilan might just be the most kid-friendly hotel in the world. Its Wow Wow Club features an indoor theatre, library, hangout space, and “bar” that serves kid-friendly snacks and drinks. The hotel offers a daily schedule with storytelling, mascot breakfasts, kids pool activities, and more.

But this hotel’s one-of-a-kind child-friendly amenity is the Fantasy Castle, an eighth-floor gym area with a bouncy castle, ball pit, kiddie race track, and driving school, complete with cars and motorbikes kids can “drive” around the track. While the kids are behind the wheel, parents will enjoy the Wellspring spa and Club LeFoon water circuit. Rates start at $373 per night.

3. InterContinental Khao Yai Resort, Pak Chong, Thailand

Those who want to earn or redeem IHG One Rewards points with their family in tow should head to the InterContinental Khao Yao Resort. Parents will appreciate the hotel’s proximity to the Khao Yai National Park, home to waterfalls, wildlife (including elephants), and lush green jungle foliage. Meanwhile, kids (and adults) will love the train-themed experience from start to finish and the lakeside games and activities they can partake in.

Start with checking in at the lobby, which resembles a vintage Thai train station (the nearby Pak Chong Railway station, but back in the 19th century). Then, sleep in one of 19 vintage train car guest rooms (some of which come with sleeper-car style bunk beds). And don’t forget to dine in a restaurant that resembles a dining car or hit the Back on Track spa. Room rates start around $280 per night or 39,000 IHG One Rewards points.

Hot Tip:

An IHG co-branded card can help you earn more points at IHG resorts. Many Upgraded Points staff members have the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, where you can earn up to 26x points at IHG properties.

4. Atlantis, The Palm Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Located on Dubai’s Palm Island, Atlantis, The Palm Dubai, is a massive hotel with family-friendly amenities such as the Aquaventure Waterpark, the Lost Chambers Aquarium, 2 enormous swimming pools, a private beach, and a kids club. Although many hotels worldwide have water parks, this one goes above and beyond, with 105+ slides and experiences (and hotel guests enter for free).

Hotel guests can also enter the Lost Chambers Aquarium for free to view more than 65,000 marine species across 21 different exhibits. Parents and kids alike can enjoy viewing aquarium windows within the hotel without entering the aquarium itself. Trust me, this can occupy a toddler for nearly an hour! Room rates start at $450 per night. Even if you aren’t staying at this hotel, it’s worth visiting to enjoy these incredible family amenities.

Hot Tip:

While Atlantis, The Palm, isn’t part of a major loyalty program, it is part of Amex’s The Hotel Collection, which means eligible cardholders a room upgrade at check-in (when available) and a $100 experience credit to use on qualifying spa, dining, and resort activities when booking through AmexTravel.com.

4 Best Family-Friendly Hotels in North America and the Caribbean

If you’d rather take a family vacation a little closer to home, there’s always Disney. However, we’ve included some alternatives to theme park hotels for family-friendly stays in the U.S., Mexico, and the Dominican Republic.

1. Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, MGM Collection, Las Vegas, Nevada

Many Las Vegas hotels are excellent for families, but adults might want a more luxe experience. Enter Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. Points-loving parents should be thrilled that the MGM Collection is part of Marriott’s Bonvoy program. Kids will enjoy amenities like the on-site Shark Reef Aquarium and the Mandalay Bay Beach, an 11-acre complex home to a lazy river, various pools, hot tubs, and a wave pool.

Children ages 5 and up, teens, and adults can enjoy “Michael Jackson ONE by Cirque du Soleil” and family-friendly food at the funky Retro by Voltaggio Restaurant. Rates start at $200 or 33,500 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

2. Crown Paradise Club, Cancún, Mexico

Many all-inclusive hotels in Cancún are family-friendly (and many have water parks, too). But Crown Paradise Club takes the cake, with a baby club, a cinema club, a kids club, a teens club, a kids food corner, mini golf, kids nightly entertainment, 3 family-friendly pools, and a water park. The teen area of the water park offers 4 large slides, a rock climbing wall, a zip line, and a soccer field.

When parents need a break, there are adults-only restaurants and a spa. Parents can leave kids at the water park (supervised by staff) or the various kids clubs and head off to enjoy the adults-only spaces, like a dedicated pool, a few bars and restaurants, and the spa. Rates start at $250 per night.

3. The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, Orlando, Florida

Even if you don’t visit Disney, the Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes is a luxurious Marriott property that every family member can enjoy. Located on a 500-acre property featuring a golf course and some of Florida’s famed wetlands, you can take the kids fishing, spot wildlife on a guided “safari” adventure, swim in the 3 pools, or splash around in the water park (complete with a lazy river).

The property has thought of every kiddie-friendly detail, from a dedicated kids check-in area where they play and wait while you check in, a kids club, playground, splash pad, and even on-site turtles, rabbits, and a chicken coop. Rates start at around $400 or 40,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night. Marriott enthusiasts can also stay at the nearby JW Marriott Grande Lakes.

Hot Tip:

.Make the most of a Ritz-Carlton stay with a Marriott Bonvoy credit card. Our top pick is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card, which offers an annual free night award of up to 85,000 points and automatic Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, which offers perks such as space-available room upgrades.

4. Nickelodeon Resort Punta Cana

As you can probably guess from its name, Nickelodeon Resort Punta Cana welcomes families. It’s an all-inclusive property with 8 restaurants, 4 pools, a Club Nick kids club, and the Aqua Nick water park. The hotel makes everything easy for families, with 24-hour room service, meals anytime, themed shows, organized kid-friendly activities, and themed suites such as the Pineapple suite, inspired by Spongebob Squarepants. Your kids (and you) can even get slimed in typical Nickelodeon fashion.

We also love that this hotel has an Autism Concierge, which can help families feel more comfortable. Room rates start at $380 per night.

Hot Tip:

Want to stay at a Nickelodeon Resort but don’t want to leave the U.S.? The brand is opening a 400-room hotel in Orlando in 2026.

5 Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Europe

Europe is home to some of the most unique and interesting family hotels. Yes, you can still get those all-inclusive resorts with water parks, but these hotels tend to have more for families, with farm activities and exploring. Here are some of the best family-friendly hotels around Europe, from Greece and Switzerland to Croatia, Spain, and Portugal.

1. Märchenhotel, Switzerland

Embrace the joy of winter at Märchenhotel, which is only reachable by a 6-minute funicular railway ride. While the hotel’s children’s activities (like storytelling) are mostly in German, it still welcomes international guests; just be prepared for some immersion. During the snowy season, the family can ski, wander with llamas and alpacas, or take sleigh rides. The kids club is inspired by a fairy tale, with an enchanted tree, suspension bridges, and a bird’s nest.

During the warmer months, there’s an on-site farm, pony rides, an 82-foot-long slide that ends in the alpaca enclosure, a treehouse, a playground with a toy crane and excavator, and an outdoor pool. Childcare and kids activities are available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and parents can experience the adult wellness area while the kids stay entertained. Kids’ laundry is washed for free on stays of 3 nights or more, and the Emma locomotive train serves meals. Rates start around $600 per night and include half board.

2. Family Hotel Amarin, Croatia

The kids clubs at Family Hotel Amarin in Rovinj, Croatia, are ideal if you want your kid to learn beyond just coloring and free play, with options for activities like drone control and Lego robotics. The hotel is home to mainly family rooms and offers amenities like a baby food prep corner at the buffet, children’s fitness equipment, spa treatments for kids, 24-hour babysitting service, both indoor and outdoor kids pools, a science room, a game room, and a kids entertainment program divided into 4 different groups.

The baby club (ages 0 to 3) offers sand play, storytelling, and treasure hunts. The mini club (ages 3 to 7) offers STEM workshops, face painting, and little botanists. The junior club (7 to 12) offers yoga, DJ workshops, and escape rooms. The teen club (12 to 17) has photo and video workshops, gaming, and graffiti. Rates start around $250 per night (and more for all-inclusive meal plans).

3. Martinhal Sagres Family Resort Portugal

According to Former Senior Content Contributor Ashley Onadale, Martinhal Sagres Family Resort “begins and ends with the well-being of children.” We love that the kids clubs start at 6 months of age, and those with babies won’t have to lug as much in their bags, as the hotel offers thermometers, safety gates, baby baths, and door protectors.

The beachfront hotel isn’t all-inclusive, but the little ones have various options for kids clubs, a game room, and a playground. Plus, you can enroll older children in sports workshops like soccer and tennis. The hotel also has various family-friendly bikes and even a special bike track for kids. But the best part? This might be the most family-friendly Mr & Mrs Smith property out there. The property is part of the World of Hyatt program, and rates start around $300 or 22,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

Hot Tip:

Remember that Chase Ultimate Rewards points from cards such as Chase Sapphire Reserve^® transfer at a 1:1 ratio to the World of Hyatt program. That said, a card such as The World of Hyatt Credit Card might also be a good idea, as it gives you World of Hyatt Discoverist status, an annual free night, and up to 9x points on Hyatt stays.

4. Roca Nivaria Tenerife

Kids will immediately feel at home at Roca Nivaria Tenerife, thanks to a warm welcome from Roni, the hotel’s pilot whale mascot. The beachfront hotel in the Canary Islands has a baby club and a kids club, but the real fun is Roniadventura, a multi-adventure play area with dry and wet sections.

The wet section has a volcano with 2 pools, waterslides, a ship, and water games for kids of all ages. The dry section has a rock-climbing area, suspension bridges, a zip line, and slides. While the kids are busy playing, parents can hit the gym or spa, cycle, or take tennis lessons. Room rates start at $300 per night.

5. Sani Resort, Greece

Sani Resort in Greece caters to every family member, starting with babies. With 5 hotels next to each other, you can pick the one you like best, but Sani Beach feels the most welcoming for the little ones. It offers a special baby food menu, baby club, and even a complimentary consulting session on how to adapt a baby’s routine to vacation mode. Kids from 4 to 12 can head to the kids club or take part in the kids supper club, which includes a nutritious, kid-friendly dinner, games, and nighttime prep for a small additional fee. Teens can cook, canoe, or play video games, with a full activity calendar available.

The hotel, which is set upon 1,000 acres of beach, woods, and wetlands, also offers all sorts of workshops, from a family survival camp session to a soccer camp for kids. Kids can splash around in the pool or along the white-sand beach amid low waves. Rates start at $400 per night (and children under 12 are free).

2 Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Africa

Africa has some special family properties where little ones can cook and play beach volleyball in Senegal or explore a lost city in South Africa.

1. Le Yokan Lodge, Senegal

Set along the Senegalese coast south of resort areas Saly and M’Bour, Le Yokan Lodge wins the prize for the most charming kids club. It features an African thatched roof kitchen, colorful wall murals, craft areas, and plush stuffed animal toys (elephants and lions). Kids can enter starting at age 3. There’s an outdoor play area and a family-friendly pool, too.

Teens will love activities and workshops like mocktail making, African drumming and dance, and horseback riding. Many rooms have private pools for family bonding and hangout time, and family activities include kayaking, badminton, and quad trips. Rates start at $500 per night.

2. The Palace of the Lost City, South Africa

The Palace of the Lost City sits on the edge of the Pilanesberg National Park, the Valley of the Waves Waterpark (entrance is free for hotel guests), and the Maze of the Lost City. Children will love the exotic safari-themed decor (such as animal statues and painted murals), the glamping “tent” areas near the pools, and the regal turrets of the hotel itself.

Exploring the grounds is the perfect kid-friendly activity: Admire elephant sculptures, ponds, lagoons, or the expansive jungle landscape. The hotel’s theme is based on an African fable about a kingdom lost to the jungle. Get the best views from the King Tower by taking the elevator to the ninth floor and climbing the steps to the top. Rates start at $450 per night.

Final Thoughts

While you can always opt for Disney, the family-friendly resorts on this list offer a unique and memorable vacation in an exciting location, from Greece to Senegal to Mexico. Whether in-room bottle warmers, teen clubs, on-site water parks, thoughtful activities, or babysitting, these hotels ensure every family member will have a great vacation.