The Best Resorts for Families with Infants and Toddlers
From oceanfront villas to slopeside suites, these resorts go the extra mile for the youngest travelers.
BY ASHLEA HALPERN
When my newborn son turned one month old, I got him a passport. By 10 weeks, he was approved for Global Entry. To say Julian comes from a travel-loving family is an understatement. Pre-pandemic, I was on the road about half the year for work and pleasure. Fantasizing about where I would take him first helped me power through late-night feeding sessions—until it occurred to me, Oh right, traveling with kids is hard. All that gear to schlep! All those dirty looks on planes! And how on earth was I supposed to soundproof a hotel room when he inevitably throws a temper tantrum at 2 a.m.?
Instead of allowing myself to be overwhelmed with real and manufactured anxieties, I decided to do my research. Many hotels that claim to be “family-friendly” focus on the five-and-up set, trumpeting their edutainment programming and kids’ clubs for kindergarteners to tweens. But what about families with younger children? There had to be resorts for families out there that could make traveling with an infant or toddler (slightly) less exhausting. Ones that minimize how much junk parents have to pack, and always make babies feel welcome—even when they’re having a meltdown. Surely they didn’t all have Disney, Beaches, or Great Wolf Lodge in the name, right?
What follows are 15 truly infant- and toddler-friendly picks across the U.S., Mexico, and the Caribbean. These properties go above and beyond for their littlest guests, while simultaneously offering plenty of vacation-worthy draws for weary parents.
Loews Chicago Hotel in Chicago, Illinois
The Loews Loves Families initiative, available at 26 properties throughout North America, is one of the baby-friendliest hotel offerings around. Thanks to a new partnership with Little Spoon, parents can order fresh, organic baby food off the room-service menu or at any hotel restaurant and have it delivered tableside. Guest rooms are equipped with mini-fridges and kettles for storing and sanitizing bottles; full-size cribs, baby tubs, and nightlights are complimentary. Housekeeping will cover electrical outlets and supply foam bumpers upon request, and kids are given a cute amenity kit with baby lotion, wipes, shampoo and body wash, and conditioner from Hello Bello, a brand co-founded by actors Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard. Board games, coloring books, pool toys, and iPads preloaded with movies and games are available from the concierge desk, as is a family activity guide highlighting the best local options for museums, zoos, and kid-suitable restaurants. From $129 per night.
Read the full story in Condé Nast Traveler.
