It’s never too early to start planning your next getaway to paradise. Whether you’re looking to play with your family on the soft white sands or reconnect with your love to the sounds of the ocean, we’ve found the top resorts in Hawaii, Mexico, and the Caribbean for your 2018 tropical escape.
Hawaii
Romantic Bliss: Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa
Set on 50 oceanfront acres, the Grand Hyatt’s grounds are blanketed by lush gardens and azure pools, offering plenty of places to relax or make a splash with your sweetie. Water features twist around the resort and through waterfalls that seem so organic, you’ll feel as though you’re floating in the natural springs of a rainforest. If you love the salt life, jump into their 1.5-acre saltwater lagoon and paddle around in a kayak or work on your tan from a floating chair. The Grand Hyatt Kauai also boasts its own authentic luau right on property, so you can attend as many times as you’d like.
Family Fun: Kaanapali Beach Resort, Maui
When it comes to Hawaiian fun, Maui’s Kaanapali Beach Resort is the place for families to be. Activities can be found around every corner. From ocean sports like surfing lessons, land thrills such as zip lining, and cultural experiences like a hula show, there are plenty of options for making memories with the kids. Plus, Kaanapali offers spacious guestrooms with private balconies and the option to connect rooms to accommodate families of all sizes.
Related: Hawaii’s Fantastic Four
Mexico
Family Fun: Finest Playa Mujeres by Excellence Group
Head 10 minutes north of downtown Cancun for a luxury family retreat at Finest Playa Mujeres. Here, younger guests get to design their own vacation experience with all-day activities. The children’s pool has its own built-in playground, and babies and toddlers have their own pool, too. Three indoor areas are adult-free zones, and kids have their own plaza, mini spa, and mini theater. Outdoors, parents and kids will love spending time together with kayaking, snorkeling, sailing, windsurfing, paddle boarding, and water polo, and it’s all part of the all-inclusive fun. Parents are allowed some fun and relaxation as well. With a fabulous ONE Spa, world-class golf, and opulent bars and lounges, parents can indulge while the kids keep busy.
Romantic Bliss: Secrets Akumal, Riviera Maya
For some adults-only R&R – romance and relaxation – turn towards the far southern end of Riviera Maya for a stay at the opulent Secrets Akumal. Located on one of the best beaches in the world and a crystal clear bay known for attracting tons of sea turtles, Secrets offers unmatched all-inclusive romance thanks to luxurious accommodations that create harmony with sophisticated design inspired by the tranquility of nature. Spend your days lounging by the picturesque pools, sunbathing on white sands, or snorkeling right off the beach with some of those aforementioned sea turtles.
Related: Best All-Inclusive Resorts in Mexico
Caribbean
Romantic Bliss: The Crane Resort, Barbados
Perhaps no beach has ever been applauded as much as Crane Beach in Barbados, which was named one of the 10 Best Beaches in the World, Top 50 Places to Go Before You Die, and Top Sexiest Beaches in the World. Couples will love the soft pink sands and limitless blue vistas. Choose the Residences by the Sea at The Crane Resort & Residence, and admire the lovely blend of sea and sand from your private balcony or garden terrace. To truly treat yourselves, book a relaxing couple’s massage at the resorts pampering Serenity Spa.
Family Fun: Nickelodeon Resort & Spa, Punta Cana
Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? Now you can in this SpoungeBob-inspired villa.
Vacations have a way of bringing out the kid in every traveler, but Punta Cana’s new Nickelodeon Hotel and Resort by Karisma has proven this theory on a whole new level. The eccentric action-packed atmosphere combined with Karisma’s flare for luxurious all-inclusive amenities has made Nickelodeon a world-class nostalgic retreat for Nick Kids of every generation. Thanks to Karisma’s Gourmet Inclusive® experience, you’ll be surrounded by endless world-class cuisine, premium drinks, and of course, Nick’s signature slime. Service and entertainment go hand-in-hand here, meaning you can expect the best of both. Contemporary suites feel like home with enough room for five guests and up. Did we mention you can even stay in a pineapple? SpongeBob’s silly abode never looked so chic. This two-bedroom, three-bath villa submerges you in the world of Bikini Bottom with the added comfort of land-lover luxuries like butler service and a private pool.
Related: Best All-Inclusive Resorts in the Caribbean
Start dreaming of sun, sand, and tropical fun. Call your travel agent today to plan your 2018 family getaway or romantic retreat to paradise.
