As we head into the cooler winter months, many families start looking for a warm winter getaway. Family resorts are a fantastic option for a relaxing vacation because they usually offer many things in one place. If you choose the right destination, you'll have restaurants, activities, and amenities all in one place.
As a travel writer, I am often asked about my favorite warm weather resorts. I especially love visiting resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico, where the weather is warm for most of the year. This list of my favorite warm winter resort escapes includes all resorts where I've personally stayed and recommend.
Disclosure: I've received some complimentary stays at most of these resorts, but all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links, and a purchase/click through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you.
Mexico offers several fantastic resort areas with lots of amenities and often great prices. Families often worry about safety with Mexican and Caribbean destinations. I recommend looking at U.S. State Department advisories. Sometimes it's best to stay on the resort property rather than leave the area to explore.
Warm Winter Resort Escapes For a Family Vacation
Warm Winter Family Resort Comparison
| Resort | Location | All-Inclusive? | Family-Friendly Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hacienda Encantada Resort | Cabo San Lucas, Mexico | Optional package | Spacious suites and residences, ocean views, multiple restaurants |
| Villa del Palmar Cabo San Lucas Resort and Spa | Cabo San Lucas, Mexico | Optional package | Multiple pools, kids' club, beach, spacious suites |
| Velas Vallarta | Puerto Vallarta, Mexico | Package offered | Kids' club, three pools, beach, tennis/pickleball courts, daily activities |
| AVA Cancun | Cancun, Mexico | Yes | AVA Bay saltwater pool, kids' club, bowling, escape rooms |
| Marriott Cancun All-Inclusive Resort | Cancun, Mexico | Yes | Kids' club, water slides, splash pad, lazy river, beach |
| Marriott San Juan Resort and Stellaris Casino | San Juan, Puerto Rico | No | Beach, two pools, water slide, organized activities |
| Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort | Providenciales, Turks and Caicos | Yes | Water park, kids' clubs, multiple pools, beach, numerous restaurants |
| Family Selection at Grand Palladium Select Bavaro | Punta Cana, Dominican Republic | Yes | Dedicated pool, kids' club, butler service, sports courts, multiple restaurants |
| Embassy Suites by Hilton Aruba Resort | Aruba | No | All-suite accommodations, complimentary breakfast, kids' club, pool, beach access |
Resorts in Mexico
Hacienda Encantada Resort, Cabo San Lucas
This sprawling resort, located on a cliff overlooking Cabo, is part of a family-owned group. It's homey and quaint, although it is quite large. When you book, you have the option to include the all-inclusive package, which I recommend.
The Hacienda Encantada offers standard hotel rooms, suites, and residences. During my stay, I had a spacious suite with gorgeous views of the Sea of Cortez. For a family, I'd definitely recommend a suite.
The resort offers excellent dining options with delicious, local food. My favorites were Los Riscos Mesquite Grill & Bar and La Pergola Restaurant & Pool Bar.
Read my review of the Hacienda Encantada Resort here.
Villa del Palmar Cabo San Lucas Resort and Spa
This past winter, I was thrilled to escape the cold weather and visit the Villa del Palmar Cabo San Lucas Resort and Spa. This resort, which recently renovated the public spaces (including the pool area), has stunning views of El Arco.
During our visit, we saw many families at the resort, including families with young adult children. It's adjacent to two other Villa Group properties. The resort offers a small beach, several pools (including an adult-only pool), delicious restaurants, a kids' club, and a spa.
We had a one-bedroom suite with plenty of space. With a pullout couch in the living area, it's a great option with kids. There are also some delicious restaurants, and the resort offers an all-inclusive option.
Read our review of the Villa Del Palmar Cabo San Lucas Resort and Spa here.
Velas Vallarta
Velas Vallarta is about ten minutes from the airport and about twenty minutes from downtown. It offers an all-inclusive package and family-friendly amenities.
I had a one-bedroom suite with a large balcony, a dining area (with a table for four), a bedroom with one king bed, a living room, and a double couch. It can accommodate a family of four (with two children) or three adults.
The resort offers a great kids' club, three pools, a beach area, tennis/pickleball courts, daily activities, and so much more.
You can read my review of the Velas Vallarta here.
AVA Cancun
AVA Cancun is an all-inclusive resort, located just a few moments from the airport. It's nice to just have a quick trip to get started on your vacation. The resort is divided into two sections: the North Wing and the South Wing. Because all the rooms have an ocean view, the resort itself resembles a very long promenade, making everything easily accessible. All of the restaurants and shops have interior entrances along this promenade.
AVA Cancun offers many restaurant options, along with taco, gelato, and coffee shops. It also has many fun activities for families, including bowling and escape rooms (for an additional charge).
The resort's highlight is AVA Bay, a 2.7-acre natural saltwater pool. There are other pools at the resort, including an adult-only pool. AVA also offers a large kids club and an expansive spa.
Read our full review of AVA Cancun here.
Marriott Cancun All-Inclusive Resort
If you like Marriott's consistency but want the ease of an all-inclusive vacation, Marriott Cancun is an excellent option in the Cancun Hotel Zone. It's a great choice for families and has so much at the resort that you won't have to leave.
Amenities and activities at the resort include the Camp Club kids' club, a small waterpark with water slides, a splash pad, and a lazy river, beach access, a fitness center, and daily, scheduled activities.
The resort's food is excellent. My two favorite restaurants are Cevicheria by La Isla (waterfront ceviche) and the beautiful Casa Madre. You can get a variety of cuisines at the hotel, including Mexican, Teppanyaki, and Italian.
Read my full review of the Marriott Cancun All-Inclusive Resort here.
Caribbean Resorts
Marriott San Juan Resort and Stellaris Casino
The Marriott San Juan is located in San Juan, Puerto Rico, about 15 minutes from Old San Juan. It's not an all-inclusive resort, and it's located near a number of restaurants, shops, and bars. So it's easy to get food, even without a car.
We visited in December between Christmas and New Year's Day. The resort was busy, and the weather was perfect for sitting on the beach and by the pool. In addition to the beach area (with chairs and umbrellas), the resort offers two adjacent pools, one with a water slide.
The resort offered numerous activities during our stay, including aqua zumba, yoga, hair braiding, and movie nights. Some were included in the resort fee, while others cost extra. The Stellaris Casino has an entrance in the lobby, but you don't have to walk through it to get anywhere in the resort.
Read our full review of the Marriott San Juan and Stellaris Casino here.
Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort
This all-inclusive resort, located in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, is my favorite family resort. Our family visited it multiple times when my kids were at home, and we always loved our stays. While it's definitely known as a family-friendly resort, I would still want to visit now, when my kids are young adults.
Beaches Turks and Caicos offers several different villages across the resort, with many different room types. We've stayed in most of the villages, in everything from a standard hotel room to a multi-floor suite. While it is nice to have extra space, consider how much time you plan to spend in the room when deciding whether to spend the extra money.
Beaches Turks and Caicos offers kids' clubs, a large beach, a water park, and multiple pools. There are lots of different restaurants, and reservations aren't accepted or required (except at the Teppanyaki restaurant).
There's so much to do, right on property. We've stayed there four times, and never left the property after arriving each time. However, you can book excursions (for an additional fee) if you do want to explore the island.
Read our full Beaches Turks and Caicos review here.
Family Selection at the Grand Palladium Select Bavaro in Punta Cana
Family Selection at Grand Palladium Select Bavaro is like a resort within a resort. The Grand Palladium property includes five different resorts, and Family Selection gives guests a VIP, family-friendly experience with private spaces, butler service, and more.
If you are staying in Family Selection, you'll get to enjoy all of the restaurants at all five properties (except that kids cannot dine at the adult-only properties). There's a dedicated pool, but guests can also visit the other pools (with a few restrictions). There is also a buffet restaurant that is exclusive to Family Selection guests.
The resort has a large kids' club, a fitness center, a spa, multiple sports courts, entertainment, and more. It's a huge property, so you can really dine somewhere different for each meal if you want. Your butler can help arrange golf cart transportation if you don't want to walk.
Read our full review of Family Selection at the Grand Palladium Select Bavaro in Punta Cana here.
Embassy Suites by Hilton Aruba Resort
The Embassy Suites Aruba is located 15 minutes from Aruba's Queen Beatrix International Airport, between Eagle Beach and Palm Beach. It's a relatively new resort and offers the best amenities families love about Embassy Suites, plus some fun resort amenities.
All of the rooms at the resort are suites, and because of the resort layout, most rooms have either a pool or an ocean view. Guests can also enjoy a complimentary hot breakfast buffet each morning, a kids' club, and a large outdoor pool area, complete with a kiddie pool and a huge hot tub. The beach is across the street, and guests can use an underground tunnel to access it without crossing the street.
This isn't an all-inclusive resort, and everything is à la carte. For your convenience, there's a poolside cafe, an outdoor bar, a lobby bar, and a restaurant.
Read our full review of the Embassy Suites Aruba here.
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