Five Best
Luxury Beach Resorts
for Families
Families love beaches. There's something special about salty toes, sand castles and sun-kissed faces. And when it comes to great family beach vacations, the only thing that makes it better, is a great resort! Over the past few years, we have enjoyed a number of beach vacations, but five spectacular beach resorts stand out as real gems. Keep reading to find out the five best luxury beach resorts that made our list.
Sunset at Four Seasons Bora Bora
Four Seasons Bora Bora
A family vacation to Bora Bora may not be on everyone’s travel list. But if you ever wanted to head down to the South Pacific with the kiddos and wondered about the best place to stay, Four Seasons Bora Bora has to be it. If you’ve stayed at any Four Seasons resort before you know that catering to families is one of the many things they do well. From preparing accommodations to meet specific family needs to excellent kids clubs, to welcome gifts, and special menus, Four Seasons Resorts always gets it right and makes every member of your family feel welcomed.
Photo Credit: Four Seasons Bora BoraLocation and Getting There
All flights to Bora Bora connect through Tahiti’s capital, Papeete. Our home airport is LAX and flights are under nine hours, making it a pretty easy destination to get to. Once in Papeete, you’ll need to take a separate flight out to the island of Bora Bora which takes about an hour. The Bora Bora airstrip is located on a little motu and staff members from the Four Seasons will pick you up via boat. It’s a pretty spectacular arrival to paradise!
What Our Kids Had to Say
Our kiddos loved the over-water bungalow best! Jumping right in the water from our private villa stands out as their favorite part of our stay. They also enjoyed the calm lagoons for swimming, the paddle boards and even liked spending time at the Kids for All Seasons club. There was a small island, which we named “Shell Island” that the boys enjoyed exploring as well.
What the Adults Liked Best
We booked a half-board rate and loved the large and diverse breakfast buffet each morning. The amenities of our multi-room bungalow exceeded our expectations. There was plenty of room for the kids to have their own space and for us adults to enjoy some privacy. The water was a perfect temperature, and the visibility for snorkeling was like nothing else we’ve ever experienced.
Four Seasons Punta Mita
As long as we’re on the Four Seasons wagon, let’s keep it going! The Four Seasons Punta Mita located just north of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico is spectacular! There are two beaches to enjoy, several pools including a lazy river, and world-class dining both on the property and accessible nearby.
Location and Getting There
This resort is located just 45 minutes north of the Puerto Vallarta airport. Some guests choose to reserve a pick-up service by the Four Seasons, but we rented a car and drove ourselves.
What Our Kids Had to Say
Their favorite memory from the trip was the turtle release program we were lucky enough to participate in. I mean lucky because opportunities such as these can rarely be planned and scheduled in advance. Of course, there are seasons when turtle eggs generally hatch, but the fact that we were guests on a day when a conservation group brought in a large clutch of newly hatched turtles, taught a class and then let us all participate in their release, was merely luck! And we loved every minute of it. The other points of interest that stand out to our kids was the lazy river, the ice cream shack down on the beach, and the afternoon snow cone cart that arrived at the pool each afternoon.
What the Adults Liked Best
We loved the luxurious day beds located on the beach that were just the perfect place for an afternoon nap. The salty breeze, the sound of waves breaking on the shoreline and a plate of fish tacos was the ideal place to spend every afternoon.
Four Seasons Costa Rica
The Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo is also an excellent choice for families looking for a luxury beach resort. Located on a peninsula with a beach on both sides, this resort has plenty of beautiful places to explore.
Photo Credit: Four Seasons Costa Rica
Location and Getting There
The closest airport is Libera, and the drive to the resort is just about 45 minutes from there. You can either arrange for the Four Seasons to provide transportation by shuttle, or you can rent a car and drive yourself.
What Our Kids Had to Say
Their absolute favorite memory of this trip is the hermit crab races our family had each evening at the beach. Right at sunset, we’d find the beaches covered with these little shelled creatures. We’ve each choose our champion and have a race to see who was the fastest. They also loved the white-nosed coati’s that came around our patio every morning after breakfast looking for leftovers. These raccoon-like creatures were new to us and fun to watch.
What the Adults Liked Best
Our canopy suite was gorgeous! They are built into the hillside and nestled in the trees, and they feel like luxurious treehouses. We loved having two separate beaches to explore as well as a nice pool area. The resort also does a great job at offering onsite and offsite activities that are geared toward families.
Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort - Maui
The only resort on our list located in the United States, the Waldorf Astoria Resort in Maui, better known as the Grand Wailea was another unique family destination. Not only did we love this resort and the many amenities they have for kids, but we also enjoyed the location. Many visitors choose the Kaanapali area of Maui to stay in because of the great beaches up north, but we enjoyed being closer to offsite activities such as the road to Hana and Haleakala National Park.
Location and Getting There
The Kahului airport is just a quick 30-minute drive away. Most families choose to drive themselves so that they will have a car to explore the area. If you decide to spend your whole vacation at the Grand Wailea, not worry, there is plenty to keep you occupied!
What Our Kids Had to Say
This place is a kid’s paradise! There is an extensive pool complex with a water slide, rope swings, a lazy river, and even a water elevator. Then when the kiddos have exhausted all the possibilities at the pool, the beach is nestled between a few areas that have tide pools for exploring. Every day of our trip the boys could not get going early enough to get outside as quickly as possible. The both dropped into bed exhausted every day!
What the Adults Liked Best
We booked one of the suites located in the Napua Tower. It’s a resort within a resort with a dedicated elevator and concierge service. This turned out to be a great convenience to our family. With two lounge areas that were stocked with snacks throughout the day and night, we loved the convenience of being able to find food for our hungry crew with no effort. They had pancakes in the morning and warm chocolate cookies at night. Other snacks and drinks were also available throughout the day.
The Brando Resort, Tetiaroa
I’m rounding out the end of our list with the most luxurious resort we’ve ever been to. The exclusive Brando Resort can be found on a private island in the South Pacific. With just 35 bungalows, each located on their own half-acre beachfront lot, this place is for those looking for complete privacy and luxury.
Location and Getting There
Like I mentioned previously, you’ll first arrive in Tahiti by way of the international airport Papeete. That’s when things get exciting! The Brando Resort has it’s own private airline and airport terminal, and this is the only way to get to there. The flight from Papeete takes just 20 minutes.
What Our Kids Had to Say
They loved having their own bike for the duration of our stay. The resort is spread out and getting around on the paved pathways by bike was one of the fun things they enjoyed. They also loved the pristine coral reef located right in front of our bungalow. Every day they spent hours exploring with masks and snorkels.
What the Adults Liked Best
The service was over-the-top and stood out as a highlight to us. The staff kept our bungalow and the grounds in immaculate condition. Relaxing in our own plunge pool after a day of exploring the reef by swimming or paddle boarding was a highlight as well. We booked a half-board package and enjoyed an incredible brunch each day each day out on our patio. Read our full review here.
That sums up our list of the Five Best Luxury Beach Resorts for Families. Of course, there are so many more out there that we’d love to explore. What are your favorites? Leave a comment in the space below.
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