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Thanks to its Pacific and Caribbean coastlines, cloud forests, volcanoes and marine reserves, Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. So, it’s no wonder the country draws more than 1.7 million (mostly American) tourists each year. A pioneer in sustainable …
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The best thing about visiting an all-inclusive resort with your family (other than, you know, being on vacation) is that all of the costs are built in. The price you see when you book your room typically includes unlimited dining and drinks, a fully stocked minibar in your room and a plethora of activities to keep you busy during your stay.
When you choose one of these 13 all-inclusive resorts with water parks, there’s even more fun to be had (who doesn’t love a hotel with a water park). In addition to pools and, often, beachfront activities, you can slip, slide, float and swim until you just can’t slip, slide, float and swim any longer.
Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa
Montego Bay, Jamaica
Best for: Families looking for a fun beach vacation without breaking the bank.
Why stay here: With a solid water park and a beautiful beach, the Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa has a lot to offer at an affordable price.
Best way to book: Book the Hilton Rose Hall directly through Hilton’s website for the lowest rates, whether you’re using cash or points.
Hilton Rose Hall is home to one of the largest and best water parks in Jamaica. Highlights include a 280-foot, multi-level waterslide with plunge pools between each level, a long lazy river, a kids’ splash area and a swim-up pool bar. There’s so much to do at the water park, you could easily spend the entire day there. If you do, we recommend reserving a private cabana (for an additional fee).
Aside from its water park, this Montego Bay all-inclusive resort also has two private beach areas with shaded lounge chairs, a large outdoor pool (that tends to be quieter than the water park area), clubs for kids and teens, 11 indoor and outdoor restaurants and bars with offerings that range from local specialties like salt fish and ackee to hearty Italian fare.
There’s also a full schedule of games and activities from day to night. Rooms are clean and simple, with floor-to-ceiling windows that allow the beauty outside to shine in.
Pricing starts at around $415 or 60,000 Hilton Honors points per night for a family of four. Children under 3 years stay for free.
Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun
Cancun, Mexico
Best for: Families who spend as much time in the water as a school of fish.
Why stay here: Opened in 2021, this newer all-inclusive resort has rooms with views of the water park and others that open up directly to the oceanside pool.
Best way to book: Book through Hyatt using cash or World of Hyatt points. This property is a World of Hyatt Category C hotel.
The Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun is only 20 minutes from Cancun International Airport (CUN) but far enough away from the city’s busy Hotel Zone to feel peaceful and secluded.
Families will appreciate that some of the resort’s 438 brightly decorated rooms have views of the slides and children’s play area at the water park. Others open up directly to one of the resort’s nine sparkling pools. The water park also has four larger slides for families who have graduated from the kiddie pool.
Of course, all rooms are also close to the soft sands and gentle waters of the Caribbean Sea.
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Related: Cancun essentials: Everything you need to plan the perfect Mexico getaway
The on-site kids club provides supervised games, activities and beach sports for children, which is a perfect opportunity for parents to escape to the two-story Zen Spa for a relaxing massage or invigorating hydrotherapy session (spa services are an additional fee).
With so many activities and dining locations from which to choose, you can create your own version of paradise with sunrise yoga followed by an international breakfast buffet in the morning, kayaking and fresh seafood in the afternoon and beachfront tacos and wine tasting with an expert sommelier in the evening.
Pricing starts at around $615 per night or 42,000 Hyatt World points for a family of four.
Beaches Turks & Caicos
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
Best for: Families who want an all-in vacation with amusement park-style amenities.
Why stay here: The massive water park alone is reason enough to book a family vacation at this Beaches outpost.
Best way to book: Book Beaches Turks & Caicos directly through the Beaches website for special offers like reduced rates when you book multinight stays.
Beaches Turks & Caicos is a massive resort situated along a stretch of calm, crystal-clear sea, but its division into five charming “villages” keeps the fun within reach.
All told, the resort has 21 restaurants, 10 pools, a 45,000 square-foot, pirate-themed water park and multiple opportunities for land and sea activities like kayaking, scuba diving, windsurfing, volleyball, bonfires on the beach, talent shows and more.
The water park has a surf simulator, splash playground, multiple waterslides and a lazy river. When you need a break from splashing and sliding at the water park, bring the tots to Camp Sesame to spend some time with their favorite characters and participate in fun activities like dancing and crafts.
For the shortest walk to the water park, reserve a room in the French Village section, where you’ll find accommodations ranging from one to three bedrooms, a French patisserie and a fine-dining restaurant with Parisian-inspired cuisine and a large pool with a swim-up bar. Other villages also have pools, rooms and dining options themed to their designated locales.
Pricing starts at $408 per night for adults and $38 per night for children.
Nickelodeon Hotels & Resort Punta Cana
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Best for: Families who typically vacation at a theme park.
Why stay here: Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana has the life-size characters, immersive theming and bright colors of an amusement park with the “everything is part of the experience” perks of staying at an all-inclusive resort.
Best way to book: Book directly through the resort or your favorite credit card portal.
You can’t take yourself too seriously when you visit Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana. Rooms have pops of playful color, including shades of Nickelodeon’s signature orange and green. Swim-up suites open up to the resort’s main pool, and plunge pool suites have their own small pool on the balcony. Standard rooms are also available.
Access to the water slides, a lazy river and a toddler splash pool at the AquaNick water park is included in the cost of your stay. Once a day, the giant water bucket that dumps water on kids’ heads throughout the day fills with green water for a “mass sliming.” The staff join in the fun with dancing, music and an exciting countdown before the slime splashes down.
There are nine restaurants on-site where you can have breakfast with characters from “SpongeBob Squarepants” and “The Fairly Odd Parents” (for an additional cost) or visit a space-themed restaurant (with a Milky Way cocktail for parents). Other experiences include character meet-and-greets, a family-friendly spa, and beach parties with dancing, face painting and more.
Pricing starts at around $614 per night for a family of four.
Sandos Caracol Eco Resort
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Best for: Nature lovers in search of adventure.
Why stay here: Sandos Caracol Eco Resort merges all-inclusive benefits with an eco-friendly commitment to sustainability and environmental conservation.
Best way to book: Book directly through the hotel or your favorite credit card portal.
Sandos Caracol Eco Resort is divided into three sections — a family-friendly area, an adults-only part and an all-ages Royal Elite section with upgraded rooms located closest to the beach.
No matter which of the sections you choose, you’ll enjoy rooms with nature-inspired decor and views of the beach or jungle from your window, as well as international fare from Japan, Brazil, the Mediterranean and more at its various eateries, and access to Sandos Aqua Park — the biggest water park in Playa del Carmen.
There’s a shallow-depth pool with slides for young children, medium-size slides for older kids and full-size, full-speed slides for kids and adults who meet the height requirement. There are also ample opportunities to envelop yourself in the surrounding beach and jungle. Swim down a river that winds through the mangrove forest, take a guided walking tour through the jungle and swim in a cenote, a sinkhole which the Maya people believed to be an entrance to the underworld.
Pricing starts at around $460 per night for a family of four in a standard room with a minimum night requirement of two to four nights, depending on the date.
Moon Palace The Grand Cancun
Cancun, Mexico
Best for: Fun-seekers who love bowling, swimming and video games.
Why stay here: Moon Palace The Grand doesn’t make kids or parents compromise with shared spaces that appeal to everyone. Instead, they have dedicated spaces for kids and completely separate spaces for adults so everybody gets what they want.
Best way to book: Book directly through the resort or through your favorite credit card travel portal.
Moon Palace The Grand – Cancun bills its accommodations as luxurious, its amenities as high-end and its dining as gourmet. By all accounts, they make good on those promises.
When you stay here, you’ll find tastefully decorated rooms with marble floors, dark wood furnishings, nightly turndown service and even liquor dispensers with premium spirits.
Outside their rooms, families can spend time at the pool or on the slides and lazy river at the water park, trying out water sports equipment on the beach or dining on potato skins or fries between frames at the Ninth Pin bowling alley.
The water park has multiple slide towers and a surf simulator. For adults, there’s a speakeasy, a night club and a full-service spa and for kids, there’s a kids club with an indoor playground, mini golf, video games, bumper cars and more.
Pricing starts at $685 per night for a family of four.
Coconut Bay Beach & Spa Resort
Vieux Fort, St. Lucia
Best for: Families who are after some much-needed quality time.
Why stay here: For adventurous families, Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa has paintball, Saint Lucia’s largest water park and a kids club with a zip line and a rock wall (miniature, of course).
Best way to book: Book directly through the resort or through your favorite credit card travel portal.
With only 250 guest rooms, Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa is smaller and more intimate than many all-inclusive resorts without sacrificing amenities, though.
The resort’s rooms and amenities are split between an adults-only Harmony section and the family-friendly Splash section. Families staying at Splash can surprise their kids with a room that overlooks the pool, splash area, lazy river and Coconut Coaster waterslide at the beachfront water park. In the Splash section, you’ll also find the kids club with daily supervised games and activities and dining options like Flip Flops grill and the beachside Jerk Treehouse.
The resort is on a white-sand beach that extends for about one mile. It has eight dining locations, seven bars and five pools. It’s also within driving distance of popular St. Lucia attractions like Sulphur Springs and the Pitons if you want to leave the grounds and explore the area’s natural beauty.
Pricing starts at around $630 per night for a family of four.
Hotel Xcaret Mexico
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Best for: Families who seek out destinations where they can immerse themselves in the local culture.
Why stay here: Though Hotel Xcaret Mexico doesn’t have an on-site water park, its “All-Fun Inclusive” concept grants guests access to many area attractions, including a water park.
Best way to book: Book directly through the resort or through your favorite credit card travel portal.
Hotel Xcaret Mexico takes what you know about all-inclusive resorts and flips it on its head. Rather than one resort with a collection of pools, restaurants and beach activities, it is part of a larger portfolio of three hotels under the Xcaret umbrella, all of which have access to Xcaret parks and activities in the neighboring area.
At Xel-Ha water park, guests can snorkel, float in a natural lazy river or slide down a winding waterslide from the top of a lighthouse tower, but there are also parks where you can zip line, explore underground caves or take a gondola tour.
Guest suites have crisp bedding and natural wood furnishing that reflect the Mayan jungle and Caribbean Sea outside of your room, while the building exteriors utilize natural materials that blend with their surroundings.
The 900 suites are distributed among five “casas,” with Casa Viento being the closest to the family pool and kids club. The restaurants celebrate Mexican ingredients and flavors with diverse gastronomic experiences, including a steakhouse and buffet housed in a natural cave.
Pricing starts at around $850 per night for a family of four.
Kunuku Aqua Resort
Tera Kora, Curaçao
Best for: Families who want all-inclusive perks but with the flexibility to explore the local area.
Why stay here: Kunuku Resort’s brightly painted buildings reflect the style of this Dutch Caribbean island and you can take advantage of the resort’s free shuttle service to local beaches and attractions.
Best way to book: Book through Wyndham using cash or Wyndham Rewards points.
Kunuku Resort is only 10 minutes away from Curacao International Airport (CUR) and close enough to local beaches and the capital of Willemstad that the resort offers a free shuttle to these areas for guests.
At the resort, you can spend your time in one of the property’s seven pools, including a children’s splash playground with a slide and a giant bucket that dumps water and multiple winding waterslides for older guests. For on-site dining, there is a main buffet restaurant serving international and local fare, as well as a casual pizza restaurant and snack bar.
Rooms are perfectly sized for families, with a family room that has adjoining rooms with two single beds and one double bed and a three-bedroom suite for larger families. Rooms are basic at this budget-friendly resort, but local artwork adds a bit of flair.
Pricing starts at around $260 or 15,000 Wyndham Rewards points per night for a family of four.
Bahia Principe Fantasia Tenerife
Tenerife, Spain
Best for: An all-inclusive vacation in the Canary Islands.
Why stay here: Bahia Principe Fantasia Tenerife is a whimsical resort with unexpected details like a castle suite overlooking the pool and nightly stage shows for families who want to infuse an element of fantasy into their vacation.
Best way to book: Book directly through the resort or via your favorite credit card travel portal.
Nothing is quite as it seems at Bahia Principe Fantasia Tenerife. The fairytale castle overlooking one of the resort’s seven pools hides a unique hotel suite for families. The water park is geared toward small children, with a splash playground and short slides — kids will love peering up at the unique “dragon tree.” There are also plenty of pools families can enjoy together. There is also an adults-only infinity pool where parents can relax while kids and teens spend time in clubs designed just for them.
Kids will be further delighted by the Cirque du Soleil-style nighttime shows, kids’ play area in the lobby, specialty children’s menus and other offerings that put tykes’ needs first. Standard, ocean-view and swim-up suites (18 years and older only) have fully-stocked minibars and large terraces or balconies.
Pricing starts at an average of $116 per person per night.
Dreams Natura Resort & Spa
Cancun, Mexico
Best for: Families who want to add a dash of excitement to their beach vacation.
Why stay here: Dreams Natura Resort & Spa offers as many opportunities to rest and recharge as it does exciting experiences that will get your heart racing.
Best way to book: Book through Hyatt using cash or World of Hyatt points.
At Dreams Natura Resort & Spa, you’ll find four pools, supervised clubs for kids and teens, family activities like pingpong, horseshoes and bocce ball, a children’s splash park, a lazy river and a trio of waterslides, in addition to the resort’s four pools. Towering high above the sea, you can “take flight” on the Rollglider aerial ride, a cross between a zip-lining attraction and a roller coaster.
The resort has 553 luxury guest rooms and suites that imbue a sense of tranquility with natural colors and textures, subtle touches like vases of tropical flowers and palm-tree printed throw pillows and floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open to beautiful beach views.
Rooms in the Preferred Club have a premium location and enhanced amenities, along with snacks and drinks in the Preferred Club lounge, daily continental breakfast service and other perks.
Pricing starts at around $650 or 40,000 World of Hyatt points per night for a family of four.
Hotel Riu Santa Fe
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Best for: Families looking for an all-inclusive resort along Mexico’s Pacific coast.
Why stay here: This large resort on the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula was recently refurbished and has activities and amenities for all ages.
Best way to book: Book directly through the resort.
Hotel Riu Santa Fe is a sprawling resort with more than 1,100 guest rooms and more than enough pools and activities to keep the entire family entertained.
There are 10 pools on the property, including one with multiple waterslides and another with a kids’ splash playground and smaller slides. All of the slides are a bit different – with tall body slides for thrill-seekers to slides you can twist down in an inflatable raft.
Guest rooms have nautical blue and white decor and dark wood furniture, minibars and beverage dispensers and large furnished balconies. The restaurants are spacious and varied, offering everything from Asian, Mexican and Italian dishes to an extensive breakfast buffet.
There’s also a large private beach area for swimming and lounging in the sand. Entertainment programming for kids and adults includes a supervised kids club and themed parties for adults in the evening.
Pricing starts at $360 per night for a family of four.
Falcon’s Resort by Melia – All Suites Punta Cana
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Best for: Families who spend most of their vacations at theme parks.
Why stay here: Falcon’s Resort by Meliá is billed as a “resortainment” experience with the best of a carefree beach trip and an action-packed theme park vacation.
Best way to book: Book directly through the resort or your favorite credit card portal. Guests who sign up for the free Meliá Rewards program can take advantage of discounted rates.
Falcon’s Resort by Meliá opened in late 2022, ushering in an all-new experience into the world of all-inclusive resorts.
The hotel is part of an entertainment complex called Falcon’s Beyond Destination – Punta Cana, an exciting destination for shopping, dining and entertainment, including a theme park. You can also have some underwater fun at Falcon’s Resort in the pool, on the beach or at the family-friendly water park. There are separate splash areas for younger and older kids and larger waterslides families can enjoy together.
The theme park – Katmandu Park – has the latest in tech-forward attractions, like virtual roller coasters and 4D laser shooting games. Even better, admission is included in the cost of your stay. How often you can visit depends on which package you purchase.
When you upgrade to the resort’s Beyond program, you’ll get upgraded accommodations (including swim-up suites), mutli-day passes to Katmandu Park, concierge and turn-down service, priority reservations for activities and dining and seating at a poolside dinner show.
Pricing starts at around $371 per night for a family of four booking a standard package and $537 per night with the Beyond package.
With Spring Break on the horizon, it’s really time for students, parents, and teachers alike to start planning a vacation. Whether it’s been a stressful semester or not, everyone needs a break, and there’s nothing more relaxing than a resort in a tropical climate. Poolside …
Whether you spend your days relaxing on the beach or searching for adventure, the best family vacations leave you feeling rested, rejuvenated and inspired. When you vacation at an all-inclusive resort, you have more opportunities to welcome those feelings of relaxation and discovery because there’s …
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Westinaerial3-00fbfd4dd7804cd8a8102bae3d14b330.jpg?ssl=1 "The Best Beach Resorts In The Carolinas")
The Tar Heel and Palmetto states are known for their natural beauty, from craggy mountains to the windswept edge of the Atlantic, but their wide and welcoming beaches are particularly splendid. From the unspoiled dunes of the Outer Banks to the enchanting wetlands of the Lowcountry, from small beach towns to buzzing seaside cities, the Carolina coast is something spectacular to behold.
The best beach resorts in North Carolina and South Carolina possess serene seaside settings, top-notch accommodations, and boatloads of Southern hospitality. Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly vacation with activities for kids or a romantic retreat with top-shelf dining, spas, and places to unwind, there is a coastal Carolina escape that’s perfect for you. Now it’s just a matter of choosing which one.
Duck, North Carolina
Anchored between the Atlantic Ocean and Currituck Sound, unpretentiously elegant Sanderling Resort is positioned for 360-degrees of waterfront bliss. With uncrowded beaches and a convenient basecamp for exploring the bewitching Outer Banks in Duck, North Carolina, Sanderling Resort is a beach lover’s paradise. From Corolla’s wild horses and Bodie Island Lighthouse to Jockey’s Ridge State Park, outings from the resort stretch north and south along the island, but we wouldn’t blame you if you stay put on the stunning property. When the need for nourishment strikes, Kimball’s Kitchen prepares high-caliber, local catch with sunset views over the sound, while Spa at Sanderling’s menu offers classic and signature massage, body, and facial treatments.
Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina
This laidback hotel is right on the beach and offers balcony rooms with sweeping ocean views. An indoor swimming pool and gym, on-site beachfront dining, and local YMCA fitness center access, are a bonus for visitors drawn to Kill Devil Hills’ famous beaches. Sea Ranch Resort is an easy walk or drive to local restaurants and other significant Outer Banks sites, like the Wright Brothers National Memorial and Jockey’s Ridge State Park.
Bryce Davey with Cubix Aerial; Courtesy Outer Banks Beach Club Resort
Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina
With pristine Outer Banks beaches and a slew of on-site activities to keep you busy, the Outer Banks Beach Club has something for everyone. This collection of beachfront condos features shuffleboard, tennis, and racket ball courts, indoor and outdoor pools, hot tubs, a sauna, golf, and local YMCA fitness center access. A kids club with two pools designed specifically for little ones makes Outer Banks Beach Club Resort ideal for families, as does its accommodation options of one-, two-, and three-bedroom layouts. The resort is within walking distance to several restaurants, the Wright Brothers National Memorial is just up the street, and various outdoor activities are in close proximity, from the Dare County Arboretum and Teaching Garden to hiking at Nags Head Woods Preserve.
Dara Newberry
Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
Its prime location on the far northern end of the island of Wrightsville Beach means Shell Island Resort is hugged by a crescent of soft, white sand. If you’ve got to have a waterfront view, you can’t go wrong here, since each of the resort’s 169 rooms not only face the sweeping Atlantic, but features a balcony, living room, and kitchenette. With a wide-open beach at your door, as well as two pools, you’ll probably want to stick close to home, but adventurers can explore the quaint town of Wrightsville Beach and the charming port city of neighboring Wilmington.
Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
With the brilliant blue Atlantic on one side and the sparkling intracoastal waterway on the other, it’s impossible to get a room without a view at Blockade Runner, a Wrightsville Beach mainstay for 60 years. With colorful, retro-chic interiors, a sprawling, beachfront lawn and garden, and of course the rollicking surf, Blockade Runner is a true escape. Add to this allure the resort’s many activities for kids and grown-ups alike: an ASA-certified sailing school, eco-paddle tours, surfing lessons, kids’ summer camps, and poolside cabana and beach chair and umbrella rentals. Grab a meal at EAST, the resort’s award-winning restaurant, a cocktail at Sea Escape Pool Bar & Cafe, or wander into downtown Wrightsville Beach for an in-town bite.
Courtesy of Marriott Hotels
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Just six miles north of buzzing downtown Myrtle Beach, Marriott Myrtle Beach Resort & Spa at Grande Dunes lives at a slower pace. The resort was renovated in 2017 and features guest rooms in a soothing neutral palette. A sprawling outdoor pool with lounge chairs galore and a beachfront lawn full of hammocks is the only thing between you and the short boardwalk to the shore. There’s an indoor pool, a fitness center, and the Hibiscus Spa, with massages, body scrubs and wraps, facials, manicures, and pedicures on the menu, as well as a sauna, steam room, and whirlpool for spa guests. For beachside meals, visit Ocean’s on 82nd for all-day dining, Ocean Blu Restaurant and Lounge for cocktails and light bites, Ocean Blu for casual poolside lunch and dinner, and The Cove, where the vibe is casual and the views are oceanfront.
Isle of Palms, South Carolina
At Wild Dunes Resort, less than 20 miles northeast of Charleston, there are accommodation options aplenty. Sweetgrass Inn, the resort’s newest addition, offers contemporary interiors with a coastal accent. All king bedrooms feature trundles, so families can bunk up easily, and one-bedroom suites provide even more room to stretch out. At The Boardwalk Inn, choose from queen and king guest rooms and junior or presidential suites. Vacation homes and condos are also available within the Wild Dunes complex for larger groups. With its perch on the northeast end of the Isle of Palms, Wild Dunes enjoys the perfect mix of community feel and dreamy seclusion. Three Tom Fazio-designed golf courses and a golf school, multiple pools geared toward both families and kid-free adults, a fitness center, and of course the sweeping Atlantic, keep visitors coming back year after year.
Courtesy The Beach Club at Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
With views of Charleston Harbor and the Holy City skyline across the sweeping Cooper River, The Beach Club at Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina is worth a visit for the vista alone. The resort’s 92 guest rooms feature wrap-around porches and one- and two-bedroom layouts–for a trip-for-two or family-friendly getaway–with calming, coastal interiors. Outside, a private beach and multiple pools wrapped in a 30,000 square foot deck–with a bocce court, private poolside cabanas, and Charleston’s only Tiki bar–beckon. The Fish House serves modern, Southern fare, but when the foodie city of Charleston calls you to dine, it’s just a free, 15-minute trolley or water taxi ride away. For days when further unwinding is a must, book a treatment at Estuary Spa. During summer months, pint-sized guests aged 5 to 12 can partake in the resort’s Mini Mariners Children’s Program, with weekly themes like science adventure, weather watchers, and Lego land.
Photograph by Michael Cyra/Courtesy of Kiawah Island Golf Resort
Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Designed in the image of a historic coastal estate, The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort is a serene, luxury-forward haven for golfers and beach lovers alike. Each of its 255 guestrooms and suites feature expansive balconies with beautiful island views. Inside, Lowcountry coastal decor and plush bedding give guests a splendid landing pad to recharge after a round of golf on one of five courses; a day at the beach, where a concierge will arrange lounge chairs, umbrellas, and towels; or a dip in one of two pools–an adults-only and family-friendly option. Indulge in a custom spa treatment–or full day of them in between dips at The Spa at the Sanctuary’s aqua-themed retreat: whirlpool, steam room, sauna, repeat. The fitness center offers private and group yoga, pilates, and bootcamp classes, and a fleet of Volvos is at the ready for off-property exploration. The Sanctuary is home to three restaurants–a steakhouse, a Lowcountry cuisine-forward restaurant, and a poolside grill–as well as a cafe, ice cream shop, and bar.
Courtesy of The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
With a $10 million renovation unveiling in early 2023, The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa is looking better than ever. The 419-room hotel offers seven suite options, including many family-friendly choices, each with ample balconies and light and soothing interiors. With 12 miles of pristine Hilton Head shore steps away, access to Port Royal Golf & Racquet Club, zumba and cardio classes and a Peloton studio in the state-of-the-art fitness facility, and access to Outside Hilton Head’s fresh-air excursions, including kayak and paddleboard tours, boat rentals, and family adventure packages, it’s nearly impossible to run out of things to do. When it’s time to recharge, book a beach- or poolside cabana at one of three pools, or indulge in the Himalayan salt ritual treatment, featuring a salt scrub and salt stone massage, at the Heavenly Spa by Westin.
Courtesy of Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort fronts three miles of beautiful Atlantic coastline, and with two freshwater lakes and an 11-mile lagoon system, there is seemingly endless water to explore. Across the main entrance is Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina, where boat rentals, tours, and fishing charters are launched. Palmetto Dunes features beach house rentals with three to six bedrooms, vacation villas with one to four bedrooms, and condo rentals. Many residences have their own pools, and you can choose from ocean, lagoon, marina, resort, and golf view options. With three golf courses, a tennis and pickleball center, bike rentals, and kayaking or fishing on the lagoon system, a non-beach day is as dreamy as one spent in the sand and surf. Palmetto Dunes dining choices are abundant, with Alexander’s Restaurant & Wine Bar featuring upscale seafood and a great wine list; The Dunes House, where laidback oceanfront dining is the focus; and Big Jim’s BBQ, Burgers, and Pizza, the perfect place to grab a bite and watch the big game.
The Sea Pines Resort / Rob Tipton
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
If a round–or three–of golf is number one on your resort must-have list, The Inn & Club at Harbour Town, surrounded by The Sea Pines Resort’s renowned courses, will not disappoint. The luxury, 60-room boutique hotel is situated just a 10-minute walk from the red and white Harbour Town Lighthouse, but more importantly is snuggled up to a golf-lover’s wonderland: three courses, a learning center, and a clubhouse. Tennis courts and a relaxing pool are also on deck. A stay at the inn includes butler service for reservation assistance and access to a beach concierge who will set up an umbrella, chair, towels, and a fully-stocked cooler for you at Sea Pines Beach Club. Jump on a complimentary hotel bike to explore more of Hilton Head’s splendor, and when hunger strikes, settle in for dinner at Links, an American Grill.
Courtesy Montage Palmetto Bluff
Bluffton, South Carolina
Nestled between Hilton Head and Savannah, Montage Palmetto Bluff is a Lowcountry dream come to life. Three-quarters of the 20,000-acre community, situated along the ambling May River, is a designated nature preserve. With accommodation options including inn rooms and suites, cottages, and residences, there is a stripe of stay for every visitor. Activities include exploring the vast property’s maritime forests, riverbanks, and lagoons by bike, golf cart, on foot, or with a paddle in hand via kayak, canoe, and paddleboard. Playing a round at the Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, indulging in the world-class spa or one of two pools; playing a game of bocce, croquet, or tennis at the Wilson Lawn and Racquet Club; and testing your aim at the Palmetto Bluff Shooting Club will keep guests occupied for days. The inn itself is modeled after the South Carolina mansion of Richard T. Wilson, a New York multimillionaire, and its ruins still stand on the property today. Delicious dining options are numerous, with fine dining at Octagon, Lowcountry fare at River House, craft cocktails at Hush, and caffeine boosts at Buzz.
