Best Family Hotels and Resorts in Mexico

While you might think that the gargantuan Hotel Xcaret might feel more like a theme park than a resort, it actually excels at delivering on both fronts. The 900 rooms are fantastic, though Hotel Xcaret's swim-our rooms are particularly popular. Despite having the style of a high-end resort, there’s plenty to do here as well, from a kids’ club to a kids’ pool with waterslides and a cool lagoon that's great for kid-friendly snorkeling. Other features include a luxurious spa, all sorts of restaurants (one of which boasts a tasting menu created by a Michelin-starred chef). And while the resort offers plenty to do on-site, it’s situated right next to the Xcaret eco-park and not far from other parks such as Xplor and Xel-Ha. The resort's parks-and-tours all-inclusive packages make this one of the best family options in Mexico.

The ultra-luxurious seaside resort has 160 rooms and villas with massive flat-screen TVs, entertainment systems, air-conditioning, and terraces -- many with ocean views. One&Only is right on one of the area's only swimmable beaches, but it also features two gorgeous pools, including the family-friendly Agua pool. The hotel's kids' club is packed with all manner of entertainment for kids, including games, a jungle gym, movies, and video games. It's supervised all day long and kids are often taken to the pool to splash around.

For families with little ones, La Esmeralda is a top pick in the area. Babysitting services are easily available, many of the restaurants have kids' menus, and there's a tricked-out supervised kids' club with toys and activities, like face-painting, pedicures, air hockey, and all-day dance parties. At night, kid-friendly entertainment includes dancing and singing. Family Concierge rooms come with kids' toiletries, check-in gifts, mini-robes, drinks for little ones in the minibar, and milk-and-cookies turndown service. The most popular pool at La Esmerelda is definitely the meandering and sprawling main pool. It has inflatable bridges and islands for kids to play on, a replica of a pirate ship, a constant loop of Disney music, and free balloon animals for kids. The gorgeous Family Concierge pool has a "serve yourself" tiki hut with snacks like nachos and hot dogs and a Sno-Cone cart.

This gigantic all-inclusive luxury resort just might have a kids' club to rival all kids' clubs -- it's possibly the best we have ever seen. It has multiple rooms, like a mini racetrack, an all-pink beauty salon/fashion runway room, an arcade, an art room, and a life-sized doll house room -- just to name a few. It also has a snack bar, outdoor playground, and mini-theater. Beyond the outstanding kids' club, the 2,433-room resort has plenty of other impressive features, including a dolphinarium area and larger-than-life pool with waterslides and Flowrider machine (a nice perk, since the beaches in this area of town are often strewn with seaweed and are far less idyllic than those in the Hotel Zone). This hotel offers a tourism attraction that involves animals. You can learn more about the cruelty animals suffer in captivity here.

This gargantuan all-inclusive is situated right on a beautiful stretch of beach and features a ridiculously large number of amenities for guests of all ages. That might be necessary, given that it has a whopping 1,316 rooms. Highlights include nine pools, 10 restaurants, a gift shop, and even a water park with a lazy river, a wave pool, and fountain features. Grand guests also get full access to the adjacent Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort, with its incredible kids’ club featuring a mini racetrack, a kid-sized mini-salon, and even a life-sized doll house. The sister property also features a huge pool with a Flowrider and waterslides.

If you’re into the idea of a lively vacation, the Hard Rock Cancun delivers. Rooms are contemporary and sleek, with free minibars, and many have ocean views. Even the Hard Rock Deluxe Gold Rooms — the entry-level rooms — offer big whirlpools right in the rooms (which tend to please both kids and adults). Larger families will fare well with the Deluxe Platinum Double Rooms, which sleep up to four guests. This rock-themed all-inclusive offers tons of kid-friendly amenities, from children’s menus at the restaurants to the Roxity Kids Club, with special games and activities. There’s also a Music Lab where those over 12 years of age can make their own live music and videos. Special packages with perks such as kid-sized amenities and babysitting are just icing on the cake.

Generations Riviera Maya by Karisma is an all-inclusive luxury resort teeming with family-friendly activities. From the 144 large suites with separate bedroom and living room areas to the massive Eko Kids Club and giant outdoor pool, the hotel has thought of every last detail when it comes to the little ones (free “baby amenities,” like a stroller, crib, changing table, and bottle warmer, are available upon request). Though Generations bills itself as a gourmet all-inclusive, the food is fairly mediocre, portions are small, and restaurant menus are limited.

One of Riviera Maya’s most sophisticated properties is also one of its family-friendliest: The Grand Velas offers a wide array of fun activities for kids and teens, including beach Olympics, movies, Wiis, treasure hunts, crafts, and painting. The hotel is divided into three sections; families are welcome at the Zen and Ambassador buildings -- both featuring kids’ clubs  with daily activities and plenty of connecting rooms -- but note that kids under 12 are not allowed in the Grand Class section. There are kid-friendly menus at most of the eight restaurants, free non-motorized water sports, and babysitting services for a fee.

This luxurious, 128-room property boasts the most comprehensive (and high-end) kids' programming in Riviera Maya. The Rose Buds for Kids program includes offers a wide selection of age-appropriate activities, and a kids’ club complete with a TV and game room, a quiet room for napping and reading, and an arts and crafts area. Kids (and parents) can take part in sand castle-building contests, pinata-making sessions, Mayan jewelry classes, and talent shows. The hotel also offers babysitting services, adjoining rooms, select children’s spa services, and a wide array of products for use during your stay, including baby toiletries, wireless baby monitors, child-sized robes, and in-room babyproofing items.

The Grand Mayan’s pool complex alone will convince most to stay here: It includes a massive sprawling main pool, fun kiddy pool and kid-friendly waterpark, large Mayan-ruin-themed waterslide for all ages, and excellent wave pool, topped off by a sparkling-blue lazy river that peacefully winds throughout the pristine property, which is complete with manicured lawns, towering palms, and native plantings. But the perks don't stop there. The rooms are spacious, handsome and comfortable as well, and the beach is a stunner -- as are the world-class golf course, exquisite spa, and even the ultra-modern fitness center.

The Ziva brand is Hyatt's family-friendly line of resorts, and the all-inclusive Cabo outpost is certainly family-friendly, with its large kids' pool, plus clubs for kids and teens. The children's pool has waterslides and a jungle gym at the center of the shallow water. The kids' club -- packed with toys and games -- is directly adjacent, and the teen club has video games and table games like foosball. There's also a theater that puts on live shows with various themes in the evening.

While Ritz-Carlton properties are often associated with more grown-up tastes, this seafront property truly takes care of everyone in equal measure. For adults, there’s a gorgeous spa with Vichy showers and plenty of restaurants and entertainment options. Kids are well looked-after with kids’ menus, a Kids' Camp with activities and games, and even a special Kids' Night Out program with activities and meals for children (this program is helpful for parents who want a date night alone). Rooms feature furnished balconies (all with sea views), and those traveling with infants can request a variety of special amenities, including changing tables. Guests in Ritz-Carlton Cancun's Club Level Rooms and some suite categories get access to a lounge with free snacks and beverages.

The Four Seasons is one of the top options in Riviera Nayarit for families traveling with kids and teens. It not only offers children’s menus at all restaurants and a wonderful kids’ and teens' club, but a slew of kid-friendly activities, like hiking, kayak tours, arts and crafts, T-shirt painting, bonfires, and snorkeling. Children’s amenities include welcome gifts, alphabet bath sponges, baby toiletries, items to childproof the room, and free use of cribs, high chairs, strollers, playpens, baby bathtubs, and changing stations. The Four Seasons has three gorgeous pools, including a heated family-friendly one with an infinity edge overlooking the ocean. All of the rooms sleep at two adults and two kids (suites have a queen pull-out couch and can fit a rollaway bed and one crib; casitas with two queen beds can fit a rollaway bed or a crib, while casitas with a king bed have a sleeper sofa). The kids' and teens' clubs are free and outfitted with PlayStation consoles, DVD players, flat-screen TVs, Wii, games, ping-pong and foosball tables, a jungle gym, and a movie theater; Free healthy snacks and unsweetened drinks are available throughout the day.

The Paradisus Cancun is an all-inclusive, upscale mega-resort whose five interconnected pyramids overlook the gorgeous white sands and perfect blue waters of the Mexican Caribbean. Its 668 rooms are all smart and spacious with sea or lagoon views -- though some are only partial. Family Concierge Suites also provide a good selection of child-friendly amenities including bathrobes and slippers for kids, turndown service with milk and cookies, and child-size toiletries. While breakfast can get busy, there's no shortage of restaurants and bars to choose from and the huge pool never feels crowded. Children are also particularly well looked after with three candy-scented play zones for babies, kids, and teenagers -- and even a child-friendly spa area. Despite the property's size, its interior tropical gardens also provide a lush even secluded ambience. Prices are competitive for this level of luxury.

The Palace offers a high-end all-inclusive experience on a gorgeous stretch of white-sand beach 15 minutes south of Playa del Carmen. Most of its 756 rooms can accommodate up to five guests; Family Suites have one room with a king bed, plus a separate area with two twin beds, a day bed, and a guest bathroom. The kids' club offers supervised activities and movie nights for children 4 to 12, and the teen center has video games and books. The Kids' Spa provides manis, pedis, and makeup, and can arrange birthday parties. A water park, mini-golf course, tennis and basketball courts, and a soccer field are also available. The all-inclusive plan at Barcelo Maya Palace covers non-motorized water sports; one free diving lesson per week at the main pool; and meals, snacks, and drinks 24 hours a day (both buffets have kids' sections).

Set on a large stretch of white-sand beach, away from the touristy scene on Playa del Carmen's 5th Avenue, this upscale all-inclusive is well-equipped for families with kids of all ages. Rooms here are spacious—even the entry-level Deluxe Room measures 527 square feet (49 square meters). The family suite options, known at The Fives Beach Hotel as Residences, feature up to three bedrooms and have kitchenettes — cribs, cots, strollers, baby monitors, and even baby food are available. However, it's the features that really stand out, with a kids' club, a teen's club with video games and rock climbing, a water play area, a kids' pool, and even spa services for children.

On a white-sand beach, about a 20-minute drive up the coast from Playa del Carmen, this all-inclusive resort feels more like two resorts in one. There's an adults-only section and a family section, which means that kids can be boisterous without disturbing guests looking for peace and quiet, though it can be confusing knowing what’s what at times. Highlights for kids include a water park with 17 waterslides and shallow play areas geared toward smaller children. For slightly older kids. there's a club with movies, video games, and even a rock-climbing wall. There's also a cenote right on the property with clear waters, and a river with guided rowboat tours.

Situated on Chileno Bay, which is notable for its swimmable beach (rare in Los Cabos), this boutique property features chic, elegant interiors, excellent dining options, and plenty for the kiddos. There's a kids' club for younger guests, with babysitting available, plus a teen's club that features video games, a photo booth, and a jukebox. Other property highlights include spa with a hydrotherapy circuit and features that incorporate local wellness elements, an extensive fitness center, and special access to golfing at the members-only Chileno Bay Club. Rooms are chic and light, with oceanic-inspired blue accents, and can be combined for families traveling together who don't want to splurge for a multi-room villa.