The best family-friendly long-haul hotels
From bells and whistles resorts hugging the Caribbean coast to old timers still delivering in the Maldives, here are the best family-friendly long haul hotels, worth packing for days and enduring the flight for
Words by Rosalyn Wikeley
Published: 2nd July 2024 | Last updated: 4th June 2026
Asking for advice on long-haul travel with young children typically elicits an eye roll, a sigh and revisiting hazy memories filed under ‘bin’. Sprinkling little nuggets of wisdom (download some Miss Rachel, ensure you book the toddler sleep seat not the baby one, pull their routine only a few hours from UK time), feels futile in the grand scheme of things. It’s not an easy gig, and the variables are overwhelming – time difference, bugs, heat, food choice, sleeping formats, connecting flights. Following years of studying and living the subject, I’ve come to the conclusion that long-haul resorts need to roll out that red carpet for families, and really, truly understand what makes for a bona fide holiday, for both the children and their sun-starved, sleep-deprived parents. It’s only worth the trek to somewhere that labels itself ‘luxurious’ if it can smooth over all the lumps and bumps of family travel, enabling your domestic routines to (sort of) keep spinning, and offering great kids clubs and facilities so parents can fully switch off!
With its prime spot, surrounded by bushy-tailed rainforest that meets a flawless beach, the mighty Pitons bearing down upon this heavenly slice of the island, Sugar Beach is winning well before you even consider its family-friendly credentials. Views from the verandas of the rooms and villas, clinging to the hillside, are mind bogglingly beautiful, stretching as far as the eye can see over a glassy turquoise bay. In fact, not a lot about this hotel screams ‘children,’ they’ve cleverly woven little people into a high end, paradisiacal aesthetic with whiffs of the Old World (shutters, pillars, piano) Caribbean. Families would be wise to opt for the cottages or private villas, leaning into the best of both worlds (the privacy of a villa with its own pool and sea views, combined with the hotel’s right-on service and impressive facilities). While babysitters are best booked ahead for tinies, children from 4 till 11 will have their minds stretched at the V Team Kids Club. From boat trips to bat caves to coconut bowling, the activities are great for forging friendships, and making the most of the exotic surroundings. It also grants parents a solid stint in the Rainforest Spa, where oil-drenched pummellings take place in treehouse pods positioned in the tree canopy. Parents can reacquaint themselves with one another over sushi at the Cane Bar or The Great Room’s tasting menu, while daytime meals en masse are well seen-to with adventurous options, or the Western classics for any fussy palettes
Occupying a pretty slice of shy Grenada’s Grand Anse Beach, Spice Island offers a high-octane take on the all-inclusive model, with all but a 10-minute airport transfer for families to contend with. Parents yelp with joy the moment they figure out that not only is the 3+ kids club part of this all-inclusive plan, but so are the watersports – including paddleboards, kayaking and snorkelling above the kaleidoscopic coral and marine life. With only 64 rooms, the far-flung resort is a far cry from your typical all-inclusive, (they’ve simply configured the payment system so you’re not totting up every ice-cream in a sweat and can fully lean into the holiday), it’s gloriously uncrowded and as serene and sand fronted as every high-end Caribbean hotel should be. Parents can lean into the porous, jungle-wrapped spa, refine their serve on the courts or simply wallow in the photogenic pool while sprogs from three onwards make friends in the Kids Club, which smartly makes the most of the knockout surroundings with a host of outdoorsy activities out of peak sunshine hours. Unlike some Caribbean resorts, this family-run resort’s interiors are quietly luxurious. White-washed rooms with turquoise accents spill onto arched verandas and terraces in the grip of banana leaves and palms. Even the pool has a lagoon-like feel, as though nature has slowly engulfed the resort
Originally built in the 1950’s as a genteel Caribbean escape for high flyers, Round Hill Hotel & Villas encapsulates all that is elegant, striped, draped and dappled about the Caribbean. It’s designed, head to toe, by Ralph Lauren, and has a dynastical quality to it, as if the Kennedys rode out the cruel winters here, throughout the generations. It all sounds a little grown up? But even the rich and famous travel with sprogs in tow (a framed snap of a young Stella McCartney with her superstar Dad on the wall serves as a reminder), and the hotel has adjusted its cufflinks and laces accordingly. The main Pineapple House offers 36 rooms designed by the maestro himself (in his hallmark, affluent wallpapered way), while families of two children or more should pine for one of the 26 spacious, light-filled villas. Even the Kids Club fell victim to the high design, putting the finest Manhattan nurseries to shame, with charming wooden toys and an enviable 9-5 outdoor-focused programme. And while nabbing a few hours to hit the superlative spa is a boon for worn-out-parents, the beauty of this Caribbean hotel, for families, is its space. A tantrum here or a meltdown there is typically far enough away from other guests, while the spongy, manicured lawns and endless stretches of palm-dotted sand are a playground for broods, whose legs will be tired come supper
Mauritius has long been a stellar long-haul choice for young families, and Trou aux Biches Beachcomber is up there, particularly with its deftly curated ream of activities for children of all ages. The setting is far-flung reverie. Lush, tropical gardens that meet the sand (powdery soft) and impossibly turquoise, bath-warm shallows. The beach itself stretches on and on, making it ideal for family walks and guaranteeing enough space and privacy. All the baby and tot paraphernalia can be easily provided, saving on the suitcase room, and there’s even complimentary babysitting during the weekday afternoons for 1-3 year olds – a perk parents won’t be forgetting too quickly with the spa a real focal point of this Mauritian resort. Programmes at the Kids and Teens Clubs are a mix of fun, high-energy team sports and games (many water-based), as well as plenty of downtime in the shade. And while the family-friendly rooms have thought of every detail, it’s worth stretching for one of the villas, with their private pool and gardens that spill onto the beach (the best of both worlds)
A 45-minute seaplane from Malé isn’t ideal for those with tinies, who have just braved the flight. But the thing to know about the Maldives, is the further away from Malé you chug or soar, the more beguiling the scenery, the wildlife, and, often, the smarter the hotel. The Intercontinental Maldives Maamunagau lures its guests to the surreal Raa Atoll for an otherworldly sense of peace, its west-facing villas gazing out towards a vast expanse of Indian Ocean frequented by dolphins, manta rays and hammerheads. The family-friendly side of the island is the manmade half, whose glassy waters remain still from a protected bay. On the other side, a tangle of tropical plants, parents can dock into ‘The Retreat’, an adult-only area while their broods (aged 4 onwards) can craft, create and splash around in the complimentary Planet Trekkers Kids Club. Little ones adore the pirate ship climbing frame, the splash pool and the shaded arts and crafts area, but what sets this club apart is its knack for engaging children with the island’s magic, enabling them to observe, appreciate and understand the exotic beauty surrounding them. Older kids will gawp (underwater) at the multicoloured wonderland of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on snorkelling jaunts, and back on dry land, can learn about the majestic manta rays with biologists from the Mantra Trust. Right-on kids menus allow parents to relax in the resort’s string of restaurants, along with the knowledge that all under 12 meals are complimentary, though adventurous palettes will have plenty to work with, from Sri Lankan classics to just-grilled tropical catches of the day
Whether flying to South Africa for safari en famille or a blast of winter sunshine (without the jet lag), Boschendal is a sure-fire for families. This working-farm estate in the Cape Wineland town of Stellenbosch comprises a series of gently resorted cottages and Dutch architecture, where go-slow, rural rhythms hold sway. For the grown ups, it’s all Pinotage, sun-dappled walks and tasting menus alongside the Cellar Door wine tasting. For the children, its pure outdoorsy heaven, with the hotel’s experiences woven into its magical setting. 4-12s spill into the woods and surrounding fields to learn how to make fires, forage for their snacks and even participate in forest yoga and meditation. With only 10 slots, it’s worth booking ahead for these two-hours sessions. Three year olds can now be eased into the wild with a toddler programme led by an enthusiastic team, and the general play areas are cleverly built to keep sprogs occupied while parents sample the wines and soak in a few rays
With its cinematic landscape, wedged between the dramatic Al Hajar mountains and the gin-clear Gulf, Six Senses Zighy Bay snatches your breath at every angle. The resort itself is carved into limestone and woven into the surrounding landscape, mimicking a traditional Omani village. It’s also prime winter sun territory, and children from 4 till 11 will trot off to the Chaica’s Club, with its watersports fun, beach activities and crafty, green-focused classes. Rather than docked in a room full of Playstations, teens are encouraged out on hikes into the rugged, ancient mountains, or to embark on adrenaline-fuelled escapades such as abseiling. And true to Six Senses form, elevated design, food and poolside areas remain, despite the presence of little people – the sprawling resort allows enough space and privacy for families (and for those without children). What’s more, the family-friendly adventures encourage plenty of bonding time, whether its over cooking classes (whipping up traditional Omani recipes) to fun watersports together. Parents can look forward to romantic candlelight dinners, with first-rate babysitters watching their broods snooze, along with well-deserved stints in the heritage-inspired spa – a calm, almost sacred place where top-drawer therapies channel ancient healing techniques and use botanic oils infused with locally foraged herbs and Omani spices
A firm favourite with affluent West London families, this sprawling, chic resort is an exhale for parents in need of a little pampering. It’s all gooey-eyed, lantern-lit, and wildly romantic, languidly spread out along its own peninsula on the north-east coast. The water is other worldly – turquoise, calm, crystal clear, and safe shallows for tots to splash around in, and three lagoon-like pools ensure any keen splashers are kept well away from the adult-only spots. The architecture and interiors take their cue from the old world plantation aesthetic, with elegantly arched verandas, large white parasols and whitewashed rooms that exhale onto the beach. Along with the impressive facilities and once-in-a-lifetime experiences, such as picnics on uninhabited islands, the real drawer of this resort for families is the kids club – known as the best on the island. The club is more a ticket to explore the island’s treasures than somewhere children are docked while adults hot foot it to the spa. Perhaps they’ll swim, play a heated game of footie, or go canyoning at Tamarin Falls. The youth fitness programme taps into the tropical setting with watersports and al fresco yoga, while sprogs are encouraged to eat well with healthy menus, and really just live well with a junior spa. The large suites with interconnecting rooms are perfectly designed for young families (and deliver a smidgen or privacy parents are hoping for)
Let’s be honest, aside from its bougainvillaea-framed good looks and easygoing rhythms, Carlisle Bay’s key drawer for British families is the direct flight from London, followed by the easy transfer. Anyone who’s endured a long-haul flight, only to learn they have various interconnecting flights and then a boat or two, with luggage and exhausted tots will truly appreciate the ‘boom-you’re-in-paradise’ delight of landing in Antigua. The next big pull is the Kids Club, which runs from (hurrah) 2-7 years – music to the ears of parents lumped with the youngest having not read the smallprint. 2-3’s join The Beginners and 4-7s the Cool Kids Club, while Crew Blue and Crush keep the older lot entertained. The club’s team know how to inspire and engage even the most jetlagged little people, and harness the resort’s superb facilities, including its tennis courts and watersports kit. There’s even a cinema for downtime after high-energy days spent Calypso dancing, mocktail making and turtle watching. Parents will cherish the child-free hours, taking in the ethereal beauty of the calm bay (whether from a paddleboard or their cloud-soft sunlounger), or checking into the spa for some al fresco pampering. Children will love the children’s menus, though we highly recommend booking in a babysitter for the adult-only Jetty Grill
Frazzled young families jetting to Relais & Chateaux Eden Roc Cap Cana are in for a treat, with this ultra-luxe Dominican Republic hotel (in a league of its own) au fait at lowering shoulders. From its exquisite restaurants to its butlered beach club, standards are sky high, even for the tots. Fanning out along an uncrowded coastline, families whizz from multi-bedroom villas to the beach in golf buggies, or gather in two bedroom Beachfront Suites. A nirvana for those with babies or toddlers, Eden Roc Cap Cana offers a VIBabies Package, where all the tot accoutrements (from cots and monitors to bottle warmers and toys) can be provided, saving suitcase room and all the packing admin. What’s more, parents can tuck into the experiences menu, or simply take five by the vast, lagoon pool with two hours of babysitting included within the package. The 4-12s can check into Eden Roc’s Koko Kids Club – a fantastical treehouse structure surging from a lagoon that puts on a raft of fun activities, from kayaking the surrounding lagoon to scavenger hunts and dance lessons. The 12+ lot are encouraged to tap into Eden Roc’s sublime location, setting off on private ecotourism safaris where they’ll learn about local wildlife, while back at base, there’s plenty of activities such as cooking classes, golf lessons and dance. Rather than simply eat-sleep-beach repeat, families should make the most of Eden Roc’s singular experiences, such as private boat days, riding through the jungle-meets-sea landscape or heading out to spot Humpback Whales.
Meet the mama
Rosalyn Wikeley is a travel writer and editor with over a decade’s experience working for world-renowned titles, many under the Condé Nast umbrella. She writes regularly for Condé Nast Traveller, The Evening Standard and House & Garden and her work has been published in the Financial Times, Vogue, Tatler, Harper’s Bazaar and The Telegraph.
Rosalyn’s daughter Hermione (almost two) has travelled with her to all corners of the world on work assignments, from the Maldives to Madrid, Sicily to the South of France. Her reviews are published in the top family guides and her reluctance to fall into a waterslide and plastic chair chapter makes her the go-to for friends wanting a chic but family friendly break
