Article written by Wendy Helfenbaum.
Family vacations are a great chance for everyone to gather and make new memories together. But let’s face it – sometimes, Mom and Dad need some time to relax, recharge and reconnect – either at the spa, on the beach or at the swim-up bar.
That’s why kids’ clubs are a vital part of trip planning. These programs allow children to play with others their age and do amazing activities designed just for them. Thankfully, the Caribbean is packed with resorts offering fabulous options that will enthrall the little ones – some programs accept kids as young as two – while keeping teens busy and device-free.
From waterparks and lazy rivers to sports and crafts, here are some of our favourite ways to keep the children happy.
Jump around in Jumby Bay and Carlisle Bay, Antigua
Kids of all ages can enjoy the stunning beach and plethora of activities offered by Carlisle Bay in Antigua and Barbuda.
A leader among luxury all-inclusive Caribbean resorts, Jumby Bay is part of the Oetker Collection. Located two miles off Antigua’s coast on a private island, the property features multiple pools, watersports, tennis courts, a private beach and a yoga pavilion.
For the kiddos, the resort offers a wide variety of activities in the Camp Jumby Pavilion as part of its Jumby Explorers program, including ‘Little Chef’ cooking classes, Discover Science, wildlife and ocean adventures, bike safari tours, visits to Stingray City, and watersports.
Children can spend time at the resort’s on-site farm, where they’ll feed the resident hens, or they can learn all about Hawksbill turtles – they’ll experience a turtle nesting on the beach, release hatchlings into the sea and can even ‘adopt’ their own turtle. The best part? Sessions are free for kids aged three to 11 in the morning or afternoon – kids under three can join in with a parent or babysitter. If you want private babysitting or younger children or in the evening, that’s available at an additional cost.
At Carlisle Bay resort, children aged two to seven can join the fun at the Cool Kids Club, where activities include treasure hunts, finger painting, water play, beach games and starfish hunting. The onsite clubhouse features a sandbox, jungle gym and wading pool. Parents can also book daycare for babies aged six months and up. Older kids can participate in the Crew Blue (for ages eight to 12) or Crush programs for teens. The resort has a movie screening room, tennis courts and a variety of watersports.
Tons of fun in Turks and Caicos
Who wouldn’t want to play in the water in the Turks & Caicos Islands? So many watersports…so little time!
With three different hotels options within one resort, Grace Bay Club caters to all kinds of guests, with three beachfront pools, watersports and full-service spa treatments. Complimentary kids club activities abound for children aged five to 12. There’s a drop-in clubhouse and playground, plus space for sports, crafts and water play. Organized programming includes field trips that introduce young guests to the Turks and Caicos Islands’ culture. Examples include visits to a local conch farm and evening stargazing. Watersports are also included. For older kids aged nine to 15, the resort’s Teen X-treme program offers fun activities like wakeboarding lessons, water skiing, sunset reggae cruises and mocktail parties.
At Como Parrot Cay off the coast of Providenciales, families will find heaps of outdoor activities, wellness programming, a beachfront infinity pool, fishing, kayaking and other watersports. Play by COMO Space is the resort’s complimentary kids’ club for guests aged four to 12, and includes themed activities, Wilderness Camp, arts and crafts, fishing, cooking and sports. Parents will love that this kids’ club focuses on nature-based activities rather than technology.
Not only does The Shore Club on Long Bay feature huge family-friendly suites, free non-motorized water sports, three restaurants and four pools, but the beach has calm, shallow waters ideal for little swimmers. The resort’s complimentary kids’ club, Jungle Jam – for guests aged four to 12 – takes place in a vibrant space with lots of games, crafts and water activities. Kids will enjoy themed activities each day that include painting, cultural events, scavenger hunts and other themed programming.
Ramp up the amusement at Ritz Carlton in Grand Cayman Islands
It’ll be hard to keep the adults out at this fun waterpark at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman.
This huge, 144-acre property has long been a favourite family resort, thanks to its beautiful pools, watersports centre and sporting facilities for tennis, basketball and pickleball.
Kids will love Starfish Cay, a water playground. The property’s activities for children focuses on the nature- and sustainability-based Ambassadors of the Environment and is geared for guests ages four and older, who will participate in many eco-adventures. For example, Turtle Tales and snorkeling lessons help introduce kids to the natural world. There’s also a drop-in clubhouse for arts and crafts.
Teens and families can do night snorkeling and kayaking through mangroves, or enjoy a well-equipped games room that features foosball, ping pong and other activities.
Carve out new memories in Curaçao
Your kids will want to come back – again and again and again – to this fun Aqua Park at Corendon Mangrove Beach Resort in Curaçao.
Several resorts in Curaçao offer excellent kids clubs and family-friendly amenities. At Dreams Curaçao Resort, Spa & Casino, kids and teens get to have their own Caribbean adventures. For children aged three to 12, the property’s Explorer’s Club includes treasure hunts, crafts and sandcastle contests. Parents can drop kids there between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. For teens aged 13 to 17, the Core Zone Teens Club offers sports, video games and other games, plus Euro-bungee. Their club is open from 9 a.m. through to midnight.
At Mangrove Beach Corendon All-Inclusive Resort, there’s a playground, poolside games and various daily activities. Also onsite is a fantastic Aqua Park with a splash playground and six thrilling waterslides – try the vibrant ‘King Cobra’ run for thrill-seekers.
Sunscape Curaçao Resort, Spa & Casino, children can access multiple pools, family-friendly beaches and tons of activities including Euro-bungee, foosball, beanbag toss games, beach volleyball, a batting cage, a rock-climbing wall and Bocce ball.
Article by Wendy Helfenbaum.Wendy Helfenbaum is a Montreal-based freelance journalist who writes about travel and lifestyle for dozens of publications.
Throughout her career as a journalist, freelance writer and television producer, she’s written and produced print or television features on a wide variety of topics, including news, business, health and fitness, parenting, celebrity profiles, art, home decor, entertainment, sports, consumer affairs, philanthropy and corporate incentive travel.
Wendy is President of Take Two Productions Inc., a freelance writing, television production and translation solutions company in Montreal, Quebec. She works with clients in Canada, the U.S. and Europe.
