Best Family Hotels in the Caribbean With Kids' Clubs

With the first day of summer just around the corner, families are eager to embark on their long-anticipated summer vacations. But what are the best options for kids in the Caribbean this year?

As tourism continues to recover around the region, families will find an ever-increasing number of possibilities. Caribbean resorts with children’s programs are especially well-equipped to support family getaways, providing kids with lots of fun choices for both play and learning opportunities.

Here are some of the top children’s programs for families vacationing around the Caribbean. 

Anguilla: Zemi Beach House and Malliouhana, Auberge Resorts Collection

Among Anguilla’s upscale, family-friendly hotels is Zemi Beach House, a boutique property on Shoal Bay East where the kids’ club offers activities including arts and crafts, cooking lessons, treasure hunts and even coconut bowling. In addition, children can sign up for Mermaid Experiences, a program that offers swimming lessons in an infinity pool (and, natch, clad in mermaid tails). 

Also in Anguilla is Malliouhana, Auberge Resorts Collection, where the Mini-Explorers program offers morning, afternoon, or full-day sessions that include activities such as cooking classes, traditional Anguilla-style kite-making, boat racing, tea parties, fishing, make-your-own-salt-scrub classes and snorkeling.  

Aruba: The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba, Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino and Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino

Upscale family vacations are easy to arrange at The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba, where Ritz Kids offers educational activities such as Something Fishy, a program for younger children focused on the region’s marine life; Cultural Exploration, a class that highlights island cultures around the world; and Nature Scouts, a complimentary family adventure activity. 

At Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino, meanwhile, kids can enjoy activities ranging from cupcake-making and marble races on the beach to “dive in” movie nights by the pool. Nearby, Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino hosts scavenger hunts with a mystery prize for the winners. 

Cayman Islands: The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman

Children staying at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman can learn about the Caribbean’s rich natural resources — and how to protect them — when they sign up for the Ambassadors of the Environment family program, which was created by Jean-Michel Cousteau. (This program is also available at Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Puerto Rico.) Snorkeling classes, mangrove kayaking and nature photography are just a few of the featured activities — many of which are open for parents to join. 

Dominican Republic: Club Med Punta Cana, Club Med Miches Playa Esmeralda and Royalton Splash Punta Cana, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort & Casino

Two Club Med properties in the Dominican Republic offer an array of interesting experiences for kids. Club Med Punta Cana hosts activities designed for four age categories, ranging from 4 months to 17 years old. Beach-based sports include windsurfing and volleyball, while the on-site Club Med Circus School offers lessons in acrobatics and the flying trapeze. 

Club Med Miches Playa Esmeralda offers similarly exciting activities as part of its Amazing Family programming, including flying trapeze classes and movies under the stars. There’s also the immersive The Little Gardeners’ House, which teaches young ones about planting, growing fruits and vegetables, recycling and composting. 

Elsewhere in the Dominican Republic, Royalton Splash Punta Cana, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort & Casino offers two programs for different age groups: the Clubhouse Kids Club (ages 4-12) and the Hangout Teens Club (ages 13-17).  

Nevis: Four Seasons Resort Nevis, West Indies

Kite-making, monkey-spotting tours and dominoes lessons are just a few of the memorable activities featured as part of the recently redesigned Kids for All Seasons program at Four Seasons Resort Nevis, West Indies. In addition, the property has a family-friendly “summer camp” package that includes educational sea turtle activities.

Puerto Rico: Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico and Fairmont El San Juan Hotel

Cultural immersion is one of the interesting draws at Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico, where kids’ classes focus on local cultural traditions such as playing dominoes and bomba dancing. Additional activities include a kids’ pool, tennis and pickleball courts, watersports and adventure outings. 

Closer to San Juan, Fairmont El San Juan Hotel offers activities such as weekly sandcastle-making contests, which take place every Sunday. 

Turks and Caicos: West Bay Club and Amanyara

Among the family-friendly hotels in Turks and Caicos are West Bay Club — home to a children’s program that offers crafts activities with recycled and natural items, along with snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing and more — and Amanyara, where the Science Explorers and Environmental Keepers (SEEK) program debuted in 2021 in partnership with the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science in Miami. The program features nature-focused activities for multiple age groups, from lessons about waves and coral reef ecosystems to coastal walks and beach clean-ups.