7 Secluded Waterfront Resorts for Families Who Want to Unplug

Waterfront getaways are tough to beat: sunshine, warm sand, crystal-clear seas and impromptu moments simply to relax.

There’s a plethora of family-friendly retreat options vying for your attention and dollars. So how do you choose? Start by thinking about what makes you and your brood happy. Playing in gentle waves? Spotting marine life? Napping by a pretty pool? If one or more of these ideas makes you smile, you’ve already started narrowing down the options. Here are seven top-notch family-friendly resorts with all the makings of a memorable waterfront getaway.

7 Great Waterfront Resorts with Kids

Kokomo Private Island Fiji

With its own helicopter and seaplane, getting to and from Kokomo Private Island Fiji is an experience for the books. After touching down in Nadi, families are whisked to a private hangar complete with a luxe lounge and kids’ playroom. The journey to the resort takes 45 minutes to an hour. It doesn’t matter how you arrive — both modes of transport deliver some of the most amazing window seat views you can imagine.

Kokomo features just 25 villas and residences. After being welcomed by a choir comprised of talented staff, the hardest part of your day will be deciding what to do first.

The Great Astrolabe Reef is just off the shore. Along with more than 1,200 species of fish and corals, guests can snorkel with reef manta rays. Snap a good photo, and you might help identify individual reef manta rays for The Manta Project Fiji database.

The Kaji Kids Club and the Teens Club are open from 9 am to 9 pm, offering everything from swimming and beach games to pizza making and movie nights. (A dedicated nanny is assigned to children 3 and younger.) While the kids are out and about, parents can treat themselves to a spa day, a mixology class with the in-house sommelier or simply enjoy their private infinity pool and beach access.

Did I mention laundry service is included? Little things mean a lot.

The Ritz-Carlton Maui at Kapalua

Set on 54 coastal acres and surrounded by 36 holes of championship golf, The Ritz-Carlton Maui at Kapalua has a more remote and peaceful feel than nearby Ka’anapali Beach. Families are drawn to the soft sand and boogie board-friendly waves at Honokahua Bay (also known as D.T. Fleming Park), but taking part in Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment program is a highlight of a stay here.

One of just six such programs worldwide, a team of naturalists at The Ritz-Carlton Maui at Kapalua offers kid-friendly programming such as tidepooling, hikes to lava flows, an introduction to snorkeling and green sea turtle (honu in Hawaiian) spotting. Activities are open to ages 5 through 14.

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At the end of the day, if anyone still has any wiggles to work out, there’s a trio of infinity pools, tennis and pickleball courts, and an oceanfront labyrinth.

If your kids like to snack around the clock, consider booking a room with access to The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge at the Anuenue Room. Overlooking the 15th hole of the Bay Course, there’s seemingly always something delicious being served. Along with breakfast, light lunch and evening appetizers, you’ll find an abundance of snacks throughout the day, plus freshly baked cookies. There’s even a 24-hour snack closet stocked with cereals, granola bars and more for when the munchies strike.

1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, Kauai

Nature is the star of the show at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, the brand’s flagship property on Kauai’s North Shore. Formerly known as the Princeville Resort and then the St. Regis, the beachfront resort nearly disappears into the scenery thanks to eco-touches such as a living rooftop and rainforest-like landscaping.

Open to ages 5 through 12, the resort’s Seedlings Aloha Camp offers half-day and full-day sessions. In addition, the calendar features activities specifically designed for families to do together, such as lei making, guided movement and stretch classes.

Steps from the snorkel-friendly beach, both the main pool and the neighboring lagoon pool welcome little ones. If you stay over the weekend, be sure to check the resort programming schedule for the start time of the nightly Fire Ritual. The fireknife performance is something you’ll talk about long after your vacation is over.

Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora

Set on a private motu (island) surrounding the main island of Bora Bora, this lavish resort delivers French Polynesian vacation bliss. Dreamy overwater bungalows and beach villas (some with private pools) are hard to leave, but seemingly endless azure water awaits.

The Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora’s Lagoon Sanctuary is teeming with more than 100 species of fish. Complimentary snorkeling gear allows guests of all ages to meet French Polynesia’s unique marine life up close. Staff marine biologists lead coral grafting sessions to restore the reef habitat, giving guests hands-on opportunities to give back while on vacation.

And we can’t forget Four Seasons’ renowned Kids For All Seasons kids’ club. It’s open to children aged 5 to 12.

Klahoose Wilderness Resort

Accessible only by boat or seaplane, this off-grid lodge with only seven rooms is located just north of British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast. Owned by the Klahoose First Nation, every stay includes transport and guided access to a remote area in the Toba Valley watershed frequented by more than 60 grizzly bears. A half-dozen bear-viewing platforms provide secluded outposts to watch saely as the bears feast on spawning salmon, typically from August to October.

Boat tours, as well as kayaking opportunities at Klahoose Wilderness Resort, provide opportunities to spot humpback whales, dolphins and seals. But oftentimes, you don’t have to leave the dock to enjoy a parade of wildlife. Just pull up a chair, or better yet, hop in the nearby wood-burning sauna that overlooks the tranquil waters of Homfray Channel.

Bluefields Bay

Snorkeling, sailing, deep-sea fishing — these are just a few of the ways you can spend your vacation days at Bluefields Bay on the southern coast of Jamaica. Families can choose from six villas that sleep four to 13 people.

Villas feature ocean views, private pools, a personal chef, around-the-clock child care and butler service. Think of Bluefields Bay as more of a private island experience than a hotel stay. It’s a family getaway you’ll be talking about long after your return home with suitcases full of clean laundry.

Hotel AWA

Set on the shores of Lake Llanquihue in Chile, not far from downtown Puerto Varas, Hotel AWA offers a splashy view of Patagonia that’s too good not to share.

Check out a stand-up paddleboard or kayak from the hotel’s lakefront backyard and take in the views of snow-topped Osorno Volcano while you paddle. If someone’s not in the mood for an arm workout, you can take in equally impressive views from the pool. Ideal for families with tweens and teens, staff take guests on daily excursions to waterfalls, national parks and hikes with starting points reached via a scenic boat ride.

Hotel AWA is bookable as an all-inclusive, and staff take care of everything from the moment you arrive: hotel transfers to and from the airport, daily outings and all meals, including gourmet picnics when you’re out and about.

All of the 25 rooms and suites can accommodate two rollaway beds, but larger families might consider the hotel’s private villa. It features four bedrooms and sleeps up to eight people.

Need another reason to feel great about a stay here? Hotel AWA was recognized as Chile’s first B Corp-certified hotel in 2020 (meaning it met rigorous standards for social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability).

Relevant Links:

Browse all ideas for luxury family vacations on Ciao Bambino

Family-friendly Fiji for first-time visitors

Where to go in French Polynesia: Q&A with travel advisor Kiki Humes

Kidding around Kauai: Why the Garden Isle is a family’s dream

Best Caribbean islands with kids: Find your perfect match

Essential tips for a Patagonia family vacation

For review purposes, Dana received media packages from some of the properties mentioned. As always, our thoughts and opinions are our own.

Editor’s Note: This post was accurate when published. We advise checking independently for the latest information and updates. Ciao Bambino does not accept responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in, or for any actions taken based on, the information presented.