When my kids were little, I envied parents vacationing with teens, who seemed so self-sufficient compared to my clingy toddlers. But when my own kids became teenagers, I realized their idea of vacation paradise didn’t include hanging out with their parents. Fortunately, independence is exactly what older kids get at the best all-inclusive family resorts for teenagers—while still allowing for some family time, too. Here are my top picks for teen-friendly resorts that perfectly blend independence with organized activities.
Why you can trust these picks: Read FamilyVacationist’s methodology for selecting and recommending vacation destinations and hotels.
1. Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
My top pick for families with teens, Beaches Turks and Caicos offers all-inclusive luxury on the shores of Grace Bay. The resort features age-specific clubs, including Club Liquid Teen Lounge and an Xbox Play Lounge, ensuring teens can socialize and have fun. With water sports, tennis clinics, beach volleyball, and the Pirates Island Waterpark—complete with a lazy river, surf simulator, and thrilling waterslides—teens are never bored. Meals, drinks, and endless activities make this resort a teen-friendly paradise. (Read our full review and guide to Beaches Turks and Caicos here.)
2. Club Med Punta Cana
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
At Club Med Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, teens ages 11 to 17 can enjoy Club Med Passworld, featuring water sports, horseback riding, archery, and circus arts activities such as trapeze swinging. By night, outdoor beach movies and dance parties provide a fun, social atmosphere. Set on a stunning Caribbean beach with sugary sand and coconut palms, it’s an ideal getaway for families with teens from the resort brand that originated the all-inclusive concept.
3. Moon Palace Cancun
Cancun, Mexico
At Moon Palace Cancun, teens and tweens have access to the sleek Wired Lounge, their own gaming center and arcade. It’s a slick space filled with popular console video games that invites teens to hang out every day from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., so there’s always a place to go when your teens need a little break from their family vacation. A menu of tasty snacks is the icing on the cake. Accommodations at this resort are bright and spacious, and an array of dining options gives families quite a few options for food.
WORLD’S BEST: 15 best all-inclusive family resorts in the world
4. Atlantis Paradise Island
Paradise Island, Bahamas
With 11 pools spread across the property and many teen-friendly activities, your teens may never even dip a toe in the sand at Atlantis Paradise Island. The resort’s Aquaventure water park has thrilling slides and one of the best lazy rivers in the Caribbean, while Dolphin Cay invites teens to swim with dolphins or try snuba. Teens can also enjoy Crush nightclub, an underwater-themed arcade, or poolside movies. For a cultural twist, they can join a Bahamian dialect class.
5. Grand Residences Riviera Cancun
Puerto Morelos, Mexico
Situated between the world’s second-largest barrier reef and a serene nature preserve, Grand Residences Riviera Cancun is ideal for vacations with teenagers. Teens enjoy their own club with activities like beach soccer, water polo, boogie boarding, and sandcastle competitions. They can also join Spanish lessons, cooking demos, salsa classes, and movie nights. The resort also has multiple pools, tennis courts, and a sports desk offering gear for snorkeling, kayaking, and biking.
6. Massanutten Resort
Massanutten, Virginia
Located in the heart of the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the 6,000-acre Massanutten Resort is loaded with recreational possibilities to tempt teens. Highlights include an indoor/outdoor water park, zip lines, mountain biking, hiking, sports courts, and an escape room. Skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing are popular in winter, while special teen nights during summer and holidays add extra excitement. Accommodations range from budget-friendly motels to condos with kitchens, and diverse dining options cater to all tastes, making it a favorite getaway near Washington, D.C.
7. Hawks Cay Resort
Duck Key, Florida
Located in the Florida Keys, Hawks Cay is a premier resort for active families and teens seeking outdoor fun. It’s the only U.S. mainland resort offering dolphin interactions, with teens able to join the Dolphin Trainer for a Day program for a hands-on experience. Amenities include a game room, volleyball court, saltwater lagoon, five pools, and an onsite marina for snorkeling, fishing, and SCUBA diving. Tennis enthusiasts will love the courts, lessons, and clinics.
8. Inn by the Sea
Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Cape Elizabeth, one of New England’s most scenic seaside villages, is also home to Inn by the Sea, a family-friendly resort with a serene path leading to a sandy beach. Just minutes from Portland, it offers teens opportunities to connect with nature with activities such as lobstering on Casco Bay or gardening lessons. Yoga, a full-service spa, and a top-notch restaurant ensure relaxation for all, while handmade dog treats make it pet-friendly. It’s perfect for quality family time in a laid-back setting.
9. Woodloch Resort
Hawley, Pennsylvania
A family-owned lakeside resort in the Poconos, the teen-friendly Woodloch Resort exudes the kind of hospitality that gets families to come back year after year. While there’s no teen club here, activities like paintball, go-karting, archery, snow tubing, and ice skating cater to older kids, and friendly competitions like Bakery Wars and Olympics encourage family bonding. Evening entertainment features juggling, magic shows, and comedy. Just two hours from NYC, this all-inclusive resort satisfies hungry teens with hearty meals and homemade baked goods, too.
10. Carmel Valley Ranch
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Close to the Monterey’s famous beaches, the upscale Carmel Valley Ranch keeps the whole family entertained with golf, tennis, and hiking. For a unique experience, teens can explore the resort’s apiary, learning beekeeping, hive science, and honey tasting in a 90-minute class. They can also meet the ranch’s Swiss nanny goats, whose milk is used by the in-house cheesemaker. A resort spa and multiple saltwater swimming pools add to the appeal, including one designated for families that includes a hot tub and squirting water jets.
