It’s always a good thing to get more bang for your buck, especially when you’re on vacation. One way to do that is by booking a stay at a resort that offers access to amenities at a sister property. It’s a bonus that adds some variety to your trip, and a great way to mix things up if anyone in your group dares to complain about being bored. Here are some of my favorite family-friendly resorts where you can double your vacation fun at another nearby resort.
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1. Alexandra Resort
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
Sitting on a prime stretch of beachfront along Grace Bay, the turquoise water feels almost too picturesque to be real at Alexandra Resort. You can admire the color around the clock by booking one of the resort’s newly renovated deluxe oceanfront rooms, which feature a beachy modern design and balconies overlooking the much-lauded stretch of beach on Providenciales.
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Even better? Kids 12 and under stay, eat, and play for free at this all-inclusive resort, where amenities include a lagoon-style pool, tennis and pickleball courts, playground, beach lounge chairs and umbrellas, beach games and activities for the whole family, and complimentary access to snorkeling gear, kayaks, standup paddleboards, and a water trampoline.
You won’t go hungry at Alexandra Resort, but if you need a change of pace, you can hop on the free shuttle to dine at the restaurants at nearby Blue Haven Resort. Guests at one all-inclusive property have access to all the restaurants and amenities at the other, and Blue Haven is a great spot for a chilled-out pool day or a paddle around the mangroves.
2. TradeWinds Island Grand Beach Resort
St. Pete Beach, Florida
Book a guest room or villa at TradeWinds Island Grand Beach Resort and you’ll instantly slip into beach vacation mode. The property sits on the white sands of St. Pete Beach on Florida’s Gulf Coast, and as a guest you can enjoy all the restaurants and amenities of both TradeWinds and its sister property, RumFish Beach Resort.
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And boy, is there a lot to enjoy, including a three-story zip line above the beach, an inflatable surf simulator, a 200-foot waterslide, a touch tank experience, multiple pools, mini-golf, paddleboats, ping-pong, shuffleboard, morning beach yoga classes, nightly s’mores, and the use of one beach cabana per room (all are included in the resort amenity fee).
If that’s not enough to keep you busy, optional experiences for an added fee include banana boat rides and a water park with slides and trampolines floating in the Gulf of Mexico. Dining options range from a beachside food truck to full-service restaurants, including RumFish Grill with its immersive 33,500-gallon aquarium.
3. Desolation Hotel Hope Valley
Hope Valley, California
Want to really get away from it all? Book one of the more than two dozen cabins at Desolation Hotel Hope Valley, which blend rustic charm with modern conveniences and can sleep up to six people. The eco-conscious pet-friendly property in Alpine County (California’s smallest county by population) makes it easy to get out into nature with access to several hiking trails and seasonal sporting equipment like snowshoes and cross-country skis available for use. Recover from all the activity with some time in the wood-fired sauna, a nap in a hammock, or a good meal at on-site Sorensen’s Restaurant.
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As a guest at Desolation Hotel Hope Valley, you can also use all of the amenities at sister property Desolation Hotel Lake Tahoe, located about 30 minutes away. Situated closer to the action in South Lake Tahoe, this second location offers private beach access on its namesake lake; a saltwater pool, jacuzzi, and pool bar; sauna and cold shower plunge; fitness center with Peloton bikes; and complimentary bikes for pedaling around the area.
4. La Siesta Resort & Villas
Islamorada, Florida Keys
For a special family trip, book one of the private villas at La Siesta Resort & Villas in the Florida Keys and receive complimentary butler service plus a daily $100 food and beverage credit. The butler provides a private check-in experience complete with welcome Champagne and is available to assist you throughout your stay. The resort offers a walk-in beach with complimentary kayak and paddleboard rentals and a heated zero-entry pool with an island-inspired pool bar, plus access to the amenities and restaurants at two sister resorts.
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At boutique-chic Amara Cay Resort, that includes a beach with views of Alligator Reef Lighthouse, a zero-entry pool with cabanas available to rent ($250 per day, but includes a $250 food and beverage credit), lawn games, and complimentary bicycles. A reimagining of the third resort, Three Waters Resort & Marina, offers adults-only and family-friendly lodging options plus amenities like a “rum library,” sunrise and full moon yoga, an on-site dive center, and a water taxi to transport guests between the Islamorada Resort Collection’s three properties.
5. Divi Aruba All Inclusive
Oranjestad, Aruba
When you book one of the 265 rooms or four oceanfront suites at the Divi Aruba All Inclusive, you get a true two-for-one experience at the adjacent Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusive resort. A stay at either provides access to a collective 11 dining options, eight bars, five freshwater pools, the Sea Turtles Club for children ages four to 12, a fitness center, and 30-foot rock climbing wall along a stretch of Druif Beach on the Caribbean Sea.
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Both properties offer family packages with kids rates for stays. The rooms at Divi Aruba are slightly larger than those at Tamarijn Aruba, and there’s also a wading pool at Divi that’s ideal for young kids. It’s about a five-minute walk between the resorts, and free golf-cart shuttle service is also offered every 15 minutes.
6. Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Get the best of both worlds with a stay at Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort. The recently renovated resort at the northern end of Myrtle Beach is a prime spot for some low-key family R&R, with amenities like a sand-bottom outdoor pool overlooking the beach and coastal-inspired guest rooms and suites with private balconies for taking in the views.
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But when the crew needs a little more activity, it’s a short stroll or shuttle ride to sister property Embassy Suites by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort, where guests of both resorts have access to the two water parks, fire pits, and other fun at the Currents Seaside Entertainment area. Guests at both resorts also have shared access to a spa, a fitness center with everything from group classes to golf simulators, and restaurants like the Black Drum Brewing with an emphasis on local food and drink.
7. Loews Arlington Hotel
Arlington, Texas
A stay in one of the 888 guest rooms and suites at the impressive new Loews Arlington Hotel already comes with a lot of perks. There’s a man-made sandy beach area, upper and lower pool areas, a water slide and splash pad, an Italian restaurant with two wood-fired pizza ovens, and a super-cool kids club with an indoor climbing wall and “Texas-sized” jungle gym play area.
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You can also cross a sky bridge to enjoy all of the amenities (and cross-property charging privileges) at sports-centric sister property Live! by Loews – Arlington. That includes a heated infinity-edge pool overlooking the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Field and the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium, as well as the oh-so-Texas Cut & Bourbon steakhouse. Poolside cabanas and a full-service spa help offset all the activity with a little down time.
8. Ponte Vedra Inn & Club
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
The historic, AAA Five-Diamond Ponte Vedra Inn & Club has been luring guests to its slice of Northeast Florida for almost a century. Choose one of the resort’s beachfront rooms for easy access right onto a mile-plus stretch of beach. When you’re not swimming, sandcastle building, or searching for shells and sharks’ teeth, you can cool off at the family pool with a splash pad and waterslide; take a swing on the two championship-caliber golf courses and 15 tennis courts; or rent a kayak, standup paddleboard, or bicycle to explore the area by land or water.
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There’s also a full-service spa offering more than 100 services, bocce ball and croquet lawn, children’s playground and nursery, 10 dining options, and state-of-the-art oceanfront fitness center. For a change of scenery, hop on the shuttle to enjoy the restaurants and amenities at sister property The Lodge & Club Ponte Vedra Beach, where you’ll find an oceanfront adults-only pool, lap pool, and zero-entry kid-friendly pool with a waterslide.
9. Westin Hapuna Beach Resort
Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii
From your oversized Westin Hapuna Beach Resort room or suite, you can enjoy island breezes and partial or full ocean views from a private lanai or balcony. To get into the water, stroll down to the sands of Hapuna Beach, where kids can dig and build with a complimentary set of biodegradable sand toys and all kinds of beach gear is available for rental. A 6,800-square-foot freeform family pool and adults-only infinity pool also overlook the beach.
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For a different view, tee off at the Arnold Palmer-designed 18-hole Hapuna Golf Course, where the 12th hole offers panoramic vistas and a glimpse of Maui in the distance. You also have access to all of the amenities at sister property Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, plus reciprocal dining and spa privileges. The historic hotel sits on Kauna’oa Bay and is home to a kids club, oceanside tennis and pickleball courts, and an impressive art collection spotlighting Pacific Rim culture that can be viewed on self-guided or guided tours.
10. Blue Water Resort
South Yarmouth, Massachusetts
Located beachfront on Nantucket Sound, Blue Water Resort has a fresh new look but still plenty of Cape Cod charm. Family suites and bunk rooms can sleep up to 10 guests with space to spread out and comfy modern design features. There’s a private beach, outdoor pool, and indoor pool for making a splash, plus a putting green and basketball court for sporty types.
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The hotel is part of Red Jacket Resorts, and guests at one property have access to the amenities at all five Cape Cod Red Jacket properties. For example, right next door to Blue Water, Riviera Beach Resort has a zero-entry heated outdoor pool and swings on the beach. You can also head to Red Jacket Beach Resort for some beach time by the banks of Parker’s River and another zero-entry outdoor pool or Green Harbor Resort for mini-golf, shuffleboard, and access to bikes and canoes.
11. Flying Flags RV Resort and Campground
Buellton, California
Visit Santa Barbara wine country in family-friendly style by booking at Flying Flags RV Resort, where you can stay in a glamping setup or comfy cabin for an outdoorsy experience without totally roughing it. The pet-friendly property doesn’t skimp on amenities, either, with two pools with cabanas, a playground and splash zone, bocce ball courts, horseshoes, sports field, fenced-in dog park, and gas-powered fire pits that will keep the whole crew busy all day.
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You can also stroll over to sister property Sideways Inn (the place where Jack and Miles stayed in the film Sideways), where you’ll have access to another pool, a gym, more fire pits, and an onsite restaurant and bar serving local wines and craft beers. Both properties sit in the heart of Buellton, a small city with lots to explore (including an ostrich refuge!).
12. Family Selection at Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort & Spa
Cancun, Mexico
The whole family gets the VIP treatment with a stay at the all-inclusive Family Selection at Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort & Spa. You’ll be assigned a butler for the course of your stay, and the kids can enjoy in-room perks like milk-and-cookies service before bedtime, on-demand video games, and bubble bath preparation complete with toys and kids’ shampoo. Plus, when two adults book a room, up to two children can stay in the same room at no additional charge.
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Amenities at the resort include multiple pools, kids and teen clubs, sports facilities and fitness classes, and a daily schedule of family-friendly activities. There’s lots to do, but you’ll have even more options since Family Selection guests also get access to the pools, restaurants, and other facilities at nearby Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort & Spa. Anyone in your group who’s over 18 also can also enjoy the facilities at adults-only TRS Coral Hotel. You can walk from resort to resort or hop on a golf cart running between the properties.
