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). Most Holiday Inns feature pools to entertain kids, and you'll typically find one 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 from which to choose from included in the price. The good news is that kids under 12 are free, so that grand all-inclusive total is a great choice 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, offer an array of activities for kids, kids%27 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 an their luxurious getaway.
You've probably heard rave reviews about Paradise Island's Atlantis resort, but within walking distance is this 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? Snorkeling in sky blue water? Swimming in three pools (one with a waterfall)? A rousing game of mini golf? The Wyndham's all-inclusive resort sale is free for kids 12 and under through August 22, and even provides a free half-day daily visit to its Kids Club program for children 4 through 12, with a minimum three-night stay and two paying adults. Kids 13 through 17 will pay $95 per night.
Through December 23, 2010, the Kids Eat/Stay Free package is offered for children 12 and younger staying with two paying adults. The beachfront all-inclusive resort is pyramid shaped -- inspired by the nearby Mayan pyramids -- with oversized pool, beach, tennis, game rooms, water sports, day and evening programs and a Kids' Club for kids 4 through 12.
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 may offer. But for even more bang for your buck, check out the four-night, non-discounted Value Resorts, which offer a kids stay, play and eat free special through October 2. 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, features a kids stay, play and eat free package for kids 17 and under. Not only do kids stay free and enjoy free breakfast daily, they receive free admission to Herhseypark -- a steal any day of the week.
A favorite of parents for including free nanny service for up to four hours for kids under 4, the pampering Caribbean resort also provides a Family Break Summer package. Now through December 15, kids 12 and under stay free when sharing a room with mom and pop in a minimum four-night stay. All-inclusive rates are optional so parents and older children can sign up or go a la carte. Kids 3 though 12 can play in the Anancy Children's Village kids' club, or 4 and older can swim with dolphins (starting at $89). Older kids can have fun in a separate game room dedicated to them, while the entire family can enjoy water sports, horseback riding, tennis and more on the resort's 400 beachfront acres.
