If you’ve been postponing traveling with your teen because of, well, you know, the eye rolling, phone scrolling, shoulder shrugging and video gaming that is often all you see of them, we have good news for you. An all-inclusive vacation where you and your teen — plus the rest of the family — can fully relax, have everything prepaid so you don’t have to think about money or logistics, try new activities, indulge in comfort foods and perhaps even unplug for a while is a foolproof way to reconnect with your big kid.
We’ve made planning a vacation with your teenager even easier by rounding up some of the best all-inclusive resorts for families in North America and the Caribbean, including hotels with water parks and hotels with lazy rivers. All you need to do is pack your bags and let them know by text, instant message or even in person that they’re going on vacation.
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Opened in 2021, Club Med Québec Charlevoix is an all-inclusive mountain resort that sits just 90 minutes away from Quebec City in Le Massif de Charlevoix. The property is Club Med’s first in Canada and is currently the brand’s only location in North America. Part of the company’s “Exclusive Collection,” this chalet-style getaway feels especially luxe, but happily, it’s still very teen-friendly.
Spread across 300-plus acres, the family resort has sweeping views of the scenic St. Lawrence River and surrounding mountains. There are hiking and mountain biking in the warmer months, but one of the main selling points here is the unlimited ski-in/ski-out access on the biggest vertical drop east of the Canadian Rockies, clocking in at 2,526 feet. There’s even dog sledding, plus snowboarding and snowshoeing.
The teen club at this Club Med outpost operates under the idea of “nothing mandatory and endless options.” There are ski and snowboard group lessons especially geared to guests ages 11 to 17, plus teens can join the rest of the family for show times with dancing, singing and circus acts. Family tournaments and games like puzzles, treasure hunts and skill challenges are available, too, in addition to the “Family Big Snack,” which includes special tasty activities (think: pancake parties, baking workshops, picnics and more) that are ideal for the whole family.
A range of family-friendly accommodations is bookable here, including connecting rooms and family rooms with two bedrooms. There are only a handful of dining venues, which is the norm for Club Med, but dining options change daily and reflect the seasons, so you can savor delectable dishes like decadent fondue in winter.
Rates at Club Med Québec Charlevoix start at $1,049 per night for double occupancy on a two-night stay.
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Let’s start with what will wow any teen: A 45,000-square-foot water park, which includes a 42-foot-tall SkySlide (the tallest of its kind in the Turks and Caicos Islands), plus six swimming pools and a surf simulator. There’s also a teen-centric camp with activities ranging from karaoke to boat cruises, as well as an Xbox Play Lounge and even a teens-only nightclub.
The property comprises five distinct villages, each featuring architecture inspired by a different destination: Italy; France; Key West, Florida; the Caribbean; and the sea. Within these areas are 51 styles of rooms, providing plenty of options for families to sprawl out in spacious seaside villas and suites.
Additionally, there are nearly 20 restaurants to choose from — including two different pizzerias, plus poolside food trucks — so even the pickiest of eaters can find something to satiate their appetites. One surefire teen hit is Mac Daddy, which serves 10 gooey varieties of macaroni and cheese.
As a family, you can also enjoy 12 miles of pristine beaches that are perfect for swimming, lounging and trying out a bevy of included water sports. Better yet, Beaches Turks & Caicos is the only resort on the island to offer a comprehensive scuba program as part of the all-inclusive rate, so you and your teen can dive deep beneath the water’s surface for a memorable aquatic adventure.
Rates at Beaches Turks & Caicos start at $1,035 per night for double occupancy on a seven-night stay.
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If you’re worried about your teens racking up extra charges on specialty sports and activities, Tamarind will come as a pleasant surprise. Teens can take advantage of Tamarind’s crystal-clear waters to try out a plethora of water sports, from adrenaline-pumping banana boat and tube rides to water skiing and exploratory snorkeling tours to discover Barbados’ famous sea turtles and marine ecosystem — all at no extra cost.
The boutique size of this Marriott-affiliated resort — there are just 104 guest rooms — means it’s easy for parents and teens alike to sign up for lessons to learn how to water ski or sail without lots of other people around. The resort also offers another rarity: free excursions outside the resort.
Accommodations here are designed with families in mind. There are a number of junior and regular suites with pullout couches in separate living spaces so teens can rest easy without being right on top of their parents.
Dining is available in two main water-facing venues: The Sugar Cane Room and 246. They offer expansive breakfast buffets and theme nights focusing on everything from barbecue to Asian fare, as well as local seafood and other Bajan dishes. For a change of pace, you can also take advantage of the resort’s “Stay in One, Play in Many” amenity to enjoy restaurants at nearby sister resorts without incurring extra fees.
Rates at Tamarind by Elegant Hotels start at $564 or 88,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night for double occupancy.
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Costa Rica is a foolproof option for teens. Educational programs escort droves of high school students to the wild wonders of this peaceful Central American country every summer. Instead of sending your kiddo off with a group, though, make it a luxurious all-inclusive family trip so you can all enjoy the mountains, beaches and wildlife together.
The Westin Reserva Conchal, an All-Inclusive Golf Resort & Spa is both eco- and family-friendly, and it sits in a prime location with easy access to both the rainforests and beaches of Costa Rica’s North Pacific Riviera. There’s a sprawling lagoon-style pool, plus recreational activities such as golf and tennis. Additionally, guests will find a golden expanse of sand that overlooks beautiful turquoise water.
To take advantage of the incredible natural diversity of the area, this Westin outpost has a local tour operator on call that arranges hikes to the rainforest and visits to the Arenal Volcano, Monteverde Cloud Forest and Palo Verde National Park. You can also arrange for a zip lining excursion, though keep in mind that all off-property activities incur an extra cost.
The property’s 406 rooms have a number of configurations that will suit families with big kids. The deluxe junior and family junior suites with two double beds and separate living rooms would work especially well with teens.
Among the multiple dining options are a few taste-bud pleasers for older kids. The Spirula Trattoria serves wood-fired pizzas near the beach, while Bamboo dishes up pan-Asian offerings such as dumplings and pad thai.
Rates at The Westin Reserva Conchal start at $596 or 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night for double occupancy.
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Just a 20-minute drive from Cancun International Airport (CUN), the Hyatt Ziva Cancun is a family resort oasis with 547 luxury suites, loads of activities and lots to keep teens busy either on their own or with a cohort of new friends.
Moods Lounge and Club is the resort’s exclusive teens-only spot where older kids can chill out and socialize. There are both virtual reality simulators and foosball tables for head-to-head fun.
Teens can also try stand-up paddleboarding or kayaking when they’re not busy taking dance or Spanish lessons. Other daily resort activities include water polo, virtual golf and life-size chess.
When choosing a room, there’s a big bonus that comes with traveling with big kids: The swim-out suites with direct access to the pool are only available if your kids are at least 13 years old, so a double room with water access might be a great choice to let your teen swim to their heart’s content.
Also sure to be one of your teen’s favorite experiences is Pasteles, a Willy Wonka-style candy store with ice cream, a chocolate fountain, cookies, candy and much more. Since the resort is all-inclusive, treats at this dessert parlor are complimentary. You’ll find 16 other food and drink venues with everything from tacos to burgers to teppanyaki, too, should you wish to balance out all the sweet treats.
Rates at the Hyatt Ziva Cancun start at $600 or 21,000 World of Hyatt points per night for double occupancy.
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Nestled on the shore of Montego Bay, Jamaica, about a 35-minute drive from Sangster International Airport (MBJ), Royalton White Sands Montego Bay is an all-inclusive resort that caters to families with teenagers. Age-appropriate amenities include a teens club stocked with video games and billiards and pingpong tables, as well as an extensive water park with a wave pool and a range of thrilling slides.
All kinds of water-based pursuits are available for the entire family, too. You can try nonmotorized water sports such as snorkeling and kayaking when you’re not taking an introductory scuba diving lesson so you can all learn a new skill together. There’s also a lazy river at the adjacent Royalton Blue Waters Resort, should you prefer to have a more leisurely day in the sun.
When your stomachs start to grumble, sit for a meal at one of 11 dining venues. Teen-friendly options range from a teppanyaki spot to a Tex-Mex restaurant to an international buffet.
As for lodging, each family suite includes a king bed and bunk beds, plus a separate living room with a pullout couch. There are two-bedroom suites as well, so you can each have your own personal space without being too far away from one another.
Rates at Royalton White Sands Montego Bay start at $480 or 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night for double occupancy.
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Hilton’s first all-inclusive offering in Tulum, Mexico, is part of the expansive leisure campus that includes the Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya.
Newly opened in 2022, the massive Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya All-Inclusive Resort includes 735 rooms located throughout three-story, villa-style buildings. One perk of the rooms is that all accommodations with two beds have queen-size beds instead of two doubles, so teens have plenty of room to stretch out. Plus, accommodations have separate sitting areas for some extra elbow room.
There’s an entire zone devoted to families at the property, including the aptly named Teens Club, which houses a movie theater, video game consoles and air hockey and billiards tables. The space is open every day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Teens will also love the variety of pools available on-site, though some are reserved exclusively for adults or little kids.
Additionally, there are 13 all-inclusive dining experiences. The steak and seafood restaurants and the eateries specializing in Italian, Mexican and Asian cuisine are among the top choices.
Rates at the Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya All-Inclusive Resort start at $549 or 90,000 Hilton Honors points per night for double occupancy.
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Situated on 85 coconut palm-fringed acres along St. Lucia’s south coast, Coconut Bay Beach & Spa Resort is massive, offering 250 rooms, nine restaurants, seven bars, five pools, a full-service spa, the island’s largest water park and the only paintball facility in St. Lucia, the latter of which is a particularly big hit with teens but does incur an additional fee.
Families have their own wing of Coconut Bay called Splash, which has colorful rooms designed and decorated with parents and children in mind. Each of these accommodations features one king-size bed and two trundle beds, or two queen-size beds and a pullout couch so every member of the family can sleep comfortably every night. Because this section of the property faces the ocean and overlooks the water park, families will enjoy easy access to the resort’s lazy river, waterslides, large pool and beach.
There are six dress-up dining spaces, including a steakhouse and an Asian venue, though your teen will likely gravitate toward the three casual venues. Two are traditional restaurants that serve pizza and jerk barbecue, while the third is a buffet venue offering all kinds of comfort classics, such as sandwiches and pasta.
Rates at Coconut Bay Beach & Spa Resort start at $1,244 per night for double occupancy.
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The all-inclusive Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa has a number of highlights that make it appealing to those in middle and high school. There are a small water park with several slides, seven eateries (including a pizzeria and a tavern that hosts karaoke nights) and an array of activities that the whole family can try out together on land and in the water.
For teens who love music, the Teen Zone has a big draw: DJ decks to create beats and karaoke to belt out tunes. There are plugged-in gaming options on offer as well in addition to lots of daily social programming that includes movie nights and barbecue parties on the beach.
The resort’s sugary white stretch of sand is a major perk of staying here. When you and the big kids aren’t snorkeling or swimming, be sure to look up at the sky. The resort is located less than a mile from Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM), giving planespotters and budding AvGeeks front-row seats to daily takeoffs and landings.
After getting your fill of planes or Caribbean sun, retreat to one of the property’s 420 accommodations. The resort offers a number of connecting rooms, though the standout options are the Skyloft Suites, which give teens their own floor of a duplex.
Rates at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa start at $332 per night for double occupancy.
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Found on a 2,000-foot stretch of sand along the Caribbean, Club Med Punta Cana caters to families with unlimited land and water sports, plus a full array of age-appropriate kids and teens clubs.
The new “Amazing Family” program features an itinerary of weekly activities for families to enjoy together, including treasure hunts and pickleball, as well as cooking (and eating, always a favorite teen pastime) as part of Club Med’s “Family Big Snack” offering. But what stands out at this Club Med outpost is the high-flying circus school. Teens (and parents, too) can get hands-on instruction in 25 acrobatic and artistic activities, perfect for showing off aerial stunts on TikTok.
Teens craving some time away from their parents can head to Passworld, a teens club that hosts activities like group lessons in archery, sailing and tennis. They can also spend a leisurely day at the pool or beach after challenging new friends to a friendly game of basketball or beach volleyball.
Family Deluxe rooms are the ones to book here, as they give your teen their own sleeping space separated from the main room by a heavy curtain. An additional 90 two-bedroom family accommodations equipped with balconies and upgraded contemporary furniture will also open later in 2023.
Rates at Club Med Punta Cana start at $1,190 per night for double occupancy.
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Even if your teen has never come within 10 feet of a horse before, they will still love Vista Verde Guest Ranch. In fact, this luxury dude ranch is the perfect spot for every member of the family to bond over learning a new skill.
Log cabins with multiple bedrooms and bathrooms are available so you can fit the whole brood in one spot without having to share a bathroom with your teenager. They also have fireplaces and hot tubs for cozy lounging after an active day outdoors.
While horseback riding is the main thing to do here, you’ll find plenty of other seasonal activities as well. You and your teen can try archery, fly-fishing, mountain biking and paddleboarding during the warmer months. There are also winter adventures like downhill skiing, snow tubing, sleigh rides and snowshoeing. Don’t miss the overnight camping experience for teens, which gives them the chance to explore and bond away from their parents.
When you’re ready to reconnect over a meal, partake in a campfire cookout at lunch or savor a gourmet plated meal at dinner. Evening options include homemade gnocchi with short rib ragu and a molten chocolate cake for dessert. Teens are welcome to join the younger kids for the “Dine and Dash” dinner, which offers quicker-to-prepare options so kids don’t have to sit for a lengthy meal.
Rates at Vista Verde Guest Ranch start at $585 per night for double occupancy on a seven-night stay. Gratuities are included.
