Unique Resort Layouts Mean Couple and Family Time

Can’t decide whether to take a couple’s trip or a family vacation? You don’t have to pick just one with new hotel concepts that offer more than one experience at the same property. Even better if you’re bringing along Grandma and Grandpa or the nanny to help babysit, so parents can sneak off to the other side of the island for a little adult R&R. Here’s where.

Anantara Vilamoura in the Algarve, Portugal, has an adults-only pool with VIP and Veuve Cliquot cabanas, but also has a beautiful family pool with children and teens’ clubs. Two hundred and eighty room types offer myriad options, including the spacious Family Connecting Room, which accommodates up to five guests with connecting one-and two-bedroom rooms, a big-screen TV and complimentary lessons at the Adventurers Kids’ Club Football or Dance Academies.

Think Thailand is only for college grads and newlyweds? Think again. Your kids can enjoy family-friendly accommodations at Krabi Province’s stunning seaside, including Antantara Si Kao Resort. You can relax at an adults-only pool, and they can chill at a separate shaded pool for kids. The Dugong Kids’ Club keeps them busy while you’re at the spa, so you can all reconvene for snorkeling or Spice Spoons cooking lessons.

Photo: Barceló Hotel Group

Not only does it sit on one of the most beautiful beaches in the Mexican Caribbean, stretching 1.2 miles along the Mayan Riviera, but Barcelo Maya Grand has five adjacent resorts, each for different interests (couples, family) and several price points. When you stay at one you can enjoy access to each and many of the Barceló Maya Beach, Barceló Maya Caribe, Barceló Maya Colonial and Barceló Maya Tropical have newly renovated rooms and added features. The all-inclusive meal programs offer snacks and drinks 24 hours; and the share program among the properties includes access to outdoor water sports activities like sailing. At Barcelo Maya Beach, for instance, there are two swimming pools, one for adults and one for children. The U Spa also has a U-Kids Spa option to pamper the little ones.

Photo: Barceló Hotel Group

Looking for a great all-inclusives for families? Barcelo Bavaro Grand Resort in Punta Cana is one of the Caribbean’s largest located on two miles of white sand, with the Barcelo Bavaro Palace offering up all-ages fun and the adults-only Bavaro Beach. The Palace features its own entertainment district, a shopping promenade, spa, 24-hour casinos, sports bars and more. Guests at both receive access to all facilities and services at neighboring sibling hotels and free transportation services throughout the resort.

Photo: Barceló Hotel Group

In Palm Beach, the 5-star Breakers hotel offers up 540 rooms nestled right on the oceanfront, but the Flagler Club is an exclusive ultra boutique hotel within the resort with just 25 rooms offering a home away from home away from home. While the Breakers includes myriad exciting options for kids, like a 4,500-square-foot playground, nature walks, science labs and snorkeling, Xbox and PlayStation, family fitness classes and more, the Flagler Club is a true retreat on two restricted-access floors. Enjoy all the amenities of the regular hotel but chauffeured transportation for arrival and departure at the airport, concierge service, a house Tesla car service, dedicated hotel staff for the floors, a private lounge and terrace with your own top-level drinks and more.

Club Med Punta Cana, a sprawling complex with 631 guestrooms and suites, offers couples an on-site romantic getaway with its Zen Oasis area, with its own dedicated concierge, separate pool, 78 secluded guestrooms with rainfall showers and adults-only spa, including several couples massages to choose from. Take a trip as a couple or take advantage of the Children’s Club and head over to this separate adults-only area.

Photo: Barceló Hotel Group