The 15 Most Booked Hotels and Resorts on Family Vacation Critic

The proof is in the pudding—or in this case, the bookings.

Nothing says more about a property than its reviews and the number of times it’s been booked. So we’ve rounded up the most booked hotels and resorts on Family Vacation Critic in 2019 to inspire your travels for 2020.

Yes, a majority of the most booked properties are all-inclusive family resorts, many of them named among the 18 Best Caribbean All-Inclusive Resorts for Families 2020 and 19 Best All-Inclusive Family Resorts in Mexico 2020. But you’ll be pleasantly surprised by a few of the resorts in the mix, too.

1. Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana – Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

With SpongeBob, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Dora the Explorer among your potential welcoming committee, is it any wonder Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana ranks among the most booked hotels for families? Add to the that an onsite water park, sports complex, pools, restaurants, guestrooms with private plunge pools (including the themed Pineapple Suite), a spa—and, on yeah, the gorgeous beach just out front—and your Caribbean vacation backdrop for family fun is set.

2. Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa – Vieux Fort, St. Lucia

Famous for its views of the volcanic Pitons, St. Lucia makes for a beautiful (and slightly unexpected) destination for a family vacation in the Caribbean. And one of the most booked resorts here is Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa, on the island’s south side. The kids will love the water park (the largest on the island), while adults can catch some down time at the spa or relax at the adults-only pool. All-inclusive rates include most water sports (kayaking, snorkeling, SUP and more) and some great fitness classes, as well as surprises like family tie-dye activities.

3. Franklyn D. Resort & Spa – Runaway Bay, Jamaica 

Jamaica is full of family-friendly resorts and excels in the all-inclusive game. But Franklyn D. Resort & Spa (about 20 minutes west of Ocho Rios) takes things to the next level as an all-inclusive with one very special amenity: vacation nanny services included in your stay. And that fact alone could explain why this all-inclusive is consistently among the most booked. Look forward to a retro feel, a friendly vibe and an inviting oceanfront setting. Your kids will be talking about it for years to come.

4. Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort – Castries, St. Lucia

Another frequently booked family resort in St. Lucia, the all-inclusive Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort is located on the northern end of St. Lucia and includes motorized water sports like waterskiing and wakeboarding in its rates. Hillside and beachside rooms spread across low mountains give a Mediterranean feel to the design. But that warm, turquoise water leaves no doubt you’ve arrived squarely in the Caribbean.

5. Royalton Bavaro Resort & Spa – Punta Cana, Dominican Republic 

Take in a round of mini-golf with the family, let the teens hang ten on the FlowRider surf simulator and perhaps take in a cooking class with your partner after you towel off from the pool. You can really do it all (and hit the beach, too, of course) with a family vacation at the Royalton Bavaro Resort & Spa, one of the most popular (and newest) all-inclusive resorts for families in Punta Cana.

6. Fiesta American Condesa Cancun All Inclusive – Cancun, Mexico

Warm Mexican hospitality (prepare for everyone to positively fawn over your kids) and delicious food are among the highlights at this favorite all-inclusive resort that sits beachfront in Cancun’s Hotel Zone. Fiesta American Condesa Cancun All Inclusive has a great pirate-themed splash pad and pool just for kids, Mexicana pool parties every Wednesday, and Mariachi shows, too—all the better to vacation in Mexico and actually feel privy to the country’s rich culture, too.

7. Jewel Grande Montego Bay Resort & Spa – Montego Bay, Jamaica 

One of Montego Bay’s newest all-inclusive resorts, this property fronting a pretty beach on Jamaica’s north coast opened in late-2017 and quickly became one of our most booked hotels. Among the many included perks families love at Jewel Grande Montego Bay Resort & Spa are the kids’ club, teen lounge and family rooms that can sleep families of five or more.

8. Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa – Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

A perennial favorite among families, this sprawling resort on Grace Bay keeps ‘em coming back for the incredible beach, more than 20 onsite restaurants and character appearances by Oscar the Grouch, Elmo and friends, thanks to the resort’s partnership with Sesame Street. Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa also has an onsite water park, a teens-only hangout, and dedicated programming for children with special needs. 

9. Jewel Runaway Bay Beach & Golf Resort – Runaway Bay, Jamaica

Another winner and one of our most booked hotels on Jamaica’s north coast, Jewel Runaway Bay Beach & Golf Resort fronts the beach about an hour east of Montego Bay’s International airport. Check in with the family and get set to enjoy the onsite water park (Jewel Lagoon), drinks delivered poolside by your pool concierge, golf nearby, and fun family activities like dive-in movies.

10. Moon Palace Cancun – Cancun, Mexico

Three distinct properties linked by a complimentary resort shuttle bus make up this all-inclusive resort complex in Cancun. The resort thrills families with seven swimming pools and a dozen different dining options. Kids of all ages are catered to at Moon Palace Cancun with activities that include a FlowRide surf simulator, special play room designed for varying ages 12 and under, and a teen lounge.

11. Grand Velas Riviera Maya – Playa del Carmen, Mexico

A Playa del Carmen favorite for families, the sprawling Grand Velas Riviera Maya has nearly 500 rooms (all of which are suites) spread between three different resort areas, with activities and dining options designed to speak to everyone in your entourage. The Zen Grand Experience is the resort’s family-friendly area, with special family pools and supervised activities for everyone from toddlers to teens. Be sure to sign up for the free eco-oriented bike tours of the enormous grounds, during which you can learn about the special ecosystems of the Riviera Maya.

12. Sirata Beach Resort – St. Pete Beach, Florida 

Florida’s Gulf Coast has some of the most gorgeous beaches in the world. And the sugar-fine sand fronting Sirata Beach Resort in St. Pete Beach alone is worth planning a family vacation to this popular resort, which offers an all-inclusive package. Family amenities abound when you towel off, too, with an onsite kids’ playground, special kids’ suites with bunk beds, an arcade, and a concierge who can help you set up fishing tours, sunset boat trips, dolphin watching excursions, and more.

13. The Royal at Atlantis, Paradise Island – Nassau, Bahamas

Nassau’s most famous resort, Atlantis is a world of its own and many things to many different types of travelers. For families, it’s all about The Royal at Atlantis, the resort’s iconic pink towers where you’ll find the huge aquariums and world-class water park. With non-stop resort thrills fronting a beautiful Bahamian beach in a destination that’s usually quite affordable to reach, it’s no wonder The Royal remains one of our most booked hotels.

14. The Reef at Atlantis, Paradise Island – Nassau, Bahamas

For families in search of the more mellow side of Atlantis, The Reef at Atlantis offers a quieter location than The Royal and has its own beach and pool that can feel less crowded, too. Large families can be accommodated in newly renovated suites with up to three bedrooms, all of which have either kitchenettes or full kitchens. Of course, when you’re ready to whoop it up with all the entertainment of The Royal, it’s just a short stroll away.

15. Wyndham Reef Resort – Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Families looking for something different than the Seven Mile Beach scene on Grand Cayman love the less-developed East End locale of the Wyndham Reef Resort. Grand Cayman’s only all-inclusive resort, the hotel fronts a stunning white sand beach and has onsite tennis courts and two swimming pools as well as water sports galore.

Longtime travel writer and adventurer Terry Ward lives in Florida with her husband and young son and daughter. She’s constantly on the lookout for the next Scandinavia Airlines Kids Fly Free deal to save money on flights to Norway, her favorite place to visit both in the winter (Northern Lights!) and summer (Midnight Sun!). A travel writer since 2001 (read: long before the kids came along), she’s written for such publications as Endless Vacation Magazine, Conde Nast Traveler and Scuba Diving Magazine, among many others. Find Terry on her website, Terry-Ward.com.

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