Close your eyes and imagine eating a hot meal with two hands, a calm moment to talk, or not talk, all while the kids are happily engaged in activities catered to their interests. Sounds like a vacationer’s dream, right? It can be your reality if you pick an all-inclusive vacation with a kid’s club.
The trick is to identify the right resort with appropriate children’s programming for your family.
All-inclusive resorts are created with personalities — each one catering to a specific demographic of vacationing family. If you have little kids, does the resort have pint-sized activities to keep them engaged? Do they offer more robust programs for tweens and teens? These resorts are not created equal so a little upfront investigation will go a long way to achieving maximum vacation happiness.
In most cases the old adage, “You get what you pay for” will apply to all-inclusive resorts children’s offerings. Extreme budget options will potentially offer play equipment but in a parent-supervised setting. Drop-and-go childcare can be limited.
Resorts that offer excellent children’s programming allow you to have family time together and pockets of time to explore individual interests. Everyone can enjoy what suits them while still having a family vacation.
For active children, kid’s clubs have come a long way. Karisma brand, Azul, offers My Gym programming. Want to step the adventure up a notch further? Try a Club Med property offering circus school, CREACTIVE by Cirque du Soleil.
Blooming young chefs can enjoy cooking classes at Generations Resort. Daily offerings will include visiting the resort garden and picking their own ingredients.
Cartoon fanatics will appreciate Nickelodeon and Beaches properties for their character interactions. Nickelodeon features SpongeBob, Paw Patrol, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and more. Beaches Resorts offer engagements with Sesame Street characters, including parades, Baking with Cookie Monster, and other activities. VIP packages are available for purchase to include character breakfasts, bedtime tuck-ins, and more.
For teens and young adults, a property to consider is Hotel Xcaret for its unlimited access and shuttle service to area attractions. Programming includes visits to water parks, cenotes, and historical sites, and dance parties. For teen lounges and programming, check out Generations and Beaches Properties.
Resorts are also working toward being inclusive of special needs. At the forefront is Beaches Resorts offering Autism-Friendly camps. Additionally, their food concierge will cater to guests’ dietary wants and needs.
The choices at all-inclusive resorts are extensive and can be overwhelming. And while this article is a jumping-off point, a travel professional can provide detailed information and personalized all-inclusive recommendations.
What questions should I ask about a resort’s kid’s club?
- At what age does supervised care begin?
- What options are there for babies and toddlers?
- If it’s in-room nanny care, what training do employees have?
- Can you drop kids into the club and then go on an excursion?
- Is late-night care offered?
- Can your child check themselves out and roam freely?
- Are programs structured or will it be screen time all day?