Holiday Inn long-ago set the standard on affordable vacations for children. Although a budget hotel without a lot of fancy perks, the Holiday Inn brand has been consistent in providing comfortable, affordable accommodations that families can enjoy and feel safe in (not like some off-highway hotels). With their Kids Stay and Eat Free program, kids age 19 and under stay for free when sharing their parents' room and up to four kids ages 12 and under eat for free in their onsite restaurants. Most Holiday Inns feature pools to entertain kids, and you'll typically find a Holiday Inn near any major kid-friendly attraction, as well as in popular vacation spots in Mexico and the Caribbean, such as the Holiday Inn Cancun Arenas, Holiday Inn Aruba or Sunspree in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
These luxury, all-inclusive resorts are grand in scale, with a number of restaurants to choose from included in the price. The good news is that kids under 12 are free, so the grand all-inclusive total isn't so overwhelming and makes Dreams a great value for parents of young ones. (Two children maximum.) Located along beautiful stretches of beach, Dreams also offers up more than one swimming pool at its locations in Mexico such as the Dreams Los Cabos Golf Resort & Spa and Dreams Riviera Cancun, as well as an Explorers Club for kids 3 through 12.
Another luxury, all-inclusive resort "chain" offering deals for kids is the Iberostar line of beautiful hotels in the Caribbean and Mexico. The beachfront hotels, such as Iberostar Bavaro in the Dominican Republic and Iberostar Tucan in the Riviera Maya, offer an array of activities for kids, kids' clubs and programs, and a healthy dose of restaurants in which to dine. Kids 12 and under (maximum two kids) stay, play and eat free, saving mom and dad a huge chunk of change on their luxurious getaway.
You've probably heard rave reviews about Paradise Island's Atlantis resort, but within walking distance is Comfort Suites, a comfortable all-suites hotel offering access to Atlantis' fun next door. Kids 12 and under can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner at a choice of nearby restaurants and have unlimited access to Atlantis' amazing kid-friendly facilities, such as Aquaventure water park with nine waterslides and a lazy river. It's a cheaper way to enjoy the Bahamas' white-sand beaches.
What will it be at this spectacular resort in the Virgin Islands? Snorkeling in sky blue water? Swimming in three pools (one with a waterfall)? A rousing game of mini golf? The Wyndham Sugar Bay's Spring Value All-Inclusive Savings sale offers discounted rates and kids 12 and under stay-and-eat free on stays of five nights or more. Children ages 13 to 17 will be charged $95 per night. Your reservations must be booked by June 22, 2012 for stays from April 1 through December 20, 2012. The all-inclusive rates even provide a free half-day daily visit to their Kids Klub for children ages 4 to 12.
At the Hyatt Regency in Maui, you'll be surrounded by a tropical paradise with all kinds of water fun for kids including a half-acre winding pool with a 150-foot lava tube slide, underwater cave, swim-up bar, keike pool as well as waterfalls! Add to that six restaurants and umpteen additional family activities and you're sure to have the vacation of a lifetime. With the Hyatt's Maui Family Vacation package, when you stay before December 31, 2012, all guests enjoy free full buffet breakfast, and kids 12 and under eat free when accompanied by a full-paying adult and ordering from the Johnny Venture menu or existing children's menu. To top it off, kids ages 5 to 12 get a complimentary half-day at Camp Hyatt (per child, per stay).
If you're looking to save money, the Disney Value Resorts provide comfortable, themed accommodations with much of the same access and programs its grander resorts offer. But for even more bang for your buck, check out the four-night, non-discounted Value Resorts, which offer two options for free dining with a minimum five-night stay between August 25 and September 29 when you book your reservation by May 18, 2012. Choose from Disney's Pop Century Resort, All-Star Movie Resort, All-Star Sports Resort and All-Star Music Resort with pools, game rooms and complimentary transportation to the theme parks.
The grand dame hotel of Hershey, Pa., home of all things Hershey and its amusement parks, is featuring a kids stay, play and eat free package for kids 17 and under from May 3 through July 2, 2012. Not only do kids stay free and enjoy free breakfast daily at the Hotel Hershey, they receive free admission to Herhseypark, Hershey Gardens and The Hershey Story's Museum Experience. -- a steal any day of the week.
Sitting upon a sparkling turquoise bay in the Sea of Cortez, the Hilton Los Cabos boasts the only swimmable beach in Los Cabos, along with tons of family-friendly activities including kids' spa services and a free supervised daytime kids' program. Offering a great value for families traveling with children, from February 1 through December 20, 2012, up to two children per room ages 12 and under eat free off the kids' menu when accompanied by a paying adult at several resort restaurants or choosing room service. This offer is good on any stay, including existing reservations and all vacation packages.
With six pools, including waterfalls, waterslides and separate childrens' pool, as well as a sandy beach adjacent to the pools, it might be hard to pull your kids out of the water at this impressive resort in Orlando! But when you do, both inside and out, there's plenty to keep kids entertained right on-property at the Orlando World Center Marriott. And with the Family Time Package, kids 12 and under eat all meals free when accompanied by an adult purchasing an entree and ordering from the children's menu at several onsite restaurants.
Families love the spacious family suites at Divi Aruba All-Inclusive Beach Resort in Aruba where kids stay entertained with the two swimming pools and kids' camp for children ages 5 to 12. The all-inclusive rates are even sweeter with the All-Suite, All-Inclusive in Aruba package, offering guests nightly accommodations in a spacious suite, all meals and drinks, water sport activities, nightly entertainment, golf at The Links at Divi Aruba, and more, along with kids stay-and-eat free! The package is valid from April 14 through December 12, 2012 when two adult guests stay for a minimum of three-nights.
For more fantastic hotels we love, check out:
- 10 Best All-Inclusive Family Resorts
- 10 Best Caribbean Family Resorts
- 10 Best All-Inclusive Resorts in Mexico
Visit our Forums for more on Family-Friendly Resorts & Hotels.
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