By the time winter drags on, many parents have had enough of wet feet and the daily ritual of bundling children into layers. Mommy Poppins went looking for relief and rounded up 45 sunny family getaways, from Caribbean islands to Mexico’s beaches. Here are the ones that stand out.
The Bahamas
Atlantis is the headline act. Its water park has more than a dozen pools, and the resort adds a kids club, a beach and five on-site hotels: The Royal, The Reef, The Coral, The Cove and Harborside. Families watching the budget have another route. Comfort Suites Paradise Island, nearby, includes free admission to Atlantis, so children can spend the day on the slides and the family returns to a plain, cheaper room.
On Nassau, Baha Mar has the $200-million Baha Bay water park. It covers 15 acres, with 24 slides, a 500,000-gallon wave pool and a 1,400-foot “action” river. Three family-friendly hotels share the resort: Grand Hyatt, SLS and Rosewood.
The Exumas are the quiet alternative. These islands and cays are far less developed than Nassau, with fewer crowds and more natural shoreline. Grand Isle Resort & Residences gets the nod for families, particularly multigenerational groups, since its villas are large.
Turks and Caicos, Bermuda and Aruba
Beaches Turks & Caicos is the one the guide calls a jewel in the Beaches crown. It has vivid blue water, a long coral reef, a water park, a kids club and Sesame Street characters. Ocean Club Resort, also in Turks and Caicos, won praise from an editor whose family enjoyed its beach, pools and scavenger hunt.
Bermuda is known for pink-sand beaches and a slow pace. Sailing, boating, nature reserves and cultural sites fill the days. Grotto Bay Beach Resort has caves at the water’s edge, two private beaches, a cave spa and the island’s only all-inclusive option. On Aruba, the guide suggests older children explore the rugged eastern shore, with its national parks and sea caves, and meet the donkeys at the animal sanctuaries. Embassy Suites by Hilton Aruba Resort offers all-suite rooms, a large pool deck and a busy activity schedule.
Further afield
Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic is easy to reach, with nonstop flights from many East Coast cities. Finest Punta Cana has spacious family suites, Club Med offers circus activities, and the Nickelodeon resort pairs a water park with character visits. St. Thomas and Puerto Rico need no passports for US travelers. Point Pleasant Resort on St. Thomas is one of the more affordable options there, with three pools and a private beach, while the Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve in Puerto Rico has lagoon pools and a spa.
In Mexico, winter visitors to Cabo San Lucas can see migrating whales. Grand Velas Los Cabos is the all-inclusive pick. Grand Residences Riviera Cancun, in Puerto Morelos, has suites that sleep up to 13 and four pools. Along the Riviera Maya, Hotel Xcaret is recommended, and Mommy Poppins also points families to Belize, Jamaica, St. Lucia and St. Maarten.
