Perfect resorts for a family gathering this Holiday Season

Family Vacation
Though many of us began traveling again this past summer, it’s safe to say quality time with extended family has likely suffered amid the ongoing global pandemic. With the holidays rapidly approaching, it just may be time to rectify that fact and consider saying goodbye (or good riddance) to 2021 with a family get-together at one of the many resorts eager to make your gathering memorable. From New York to Arizona, and even beyond our borders in sun-soaked Mexico, there are plenty of family-friendly resort options that are ideal for a holiday with loved ones from near and far.

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, Scottsdale, Arizona
The longest-running AAA five-diamond property in Arizona, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is legendary for being a luxurious playground amid the Sonoran Desert—making it a great choice for families seeking a little fun in the sun over the holidays. The property prides itself on offering something for all ages. The resort features six stunning pools, a world-renowned spa, and golf galore. Need one more reason to put this property on your short-list? Here it is: the Christmas early bird special featuring 50 percent off rates. There’s good reason to make the most of this holiday deal. Each winter the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess hosts its annual Christmas at the Princess Festival, which includes a visit from Santa, holiday rides through the resort’s majestic lagoon light displays, and a snow-laden Winterland complete with firepits and sparkling white lights…Do we need to go on?

Playa Resorts, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica
How does an oceanfront resort sound for a family holiday? Playa Resorts has all the options your family could possibly need. From the Jewel Grande Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica, to Panama Jack properties in Cancun and Playa del Carmen and (not to be overlooked) the Hyatt Ziva and Hyatt Zilara locations throughout the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Mexico—there’s something for every type of family getaway this holiday season. At the Jewel Grande, families will find a kids and teens club and guestrooms ideal for group visitors including one- and two-bedroom suites, three-bedroom suites and three-bedroom villas. Panama Jack properties feature pools galore, gourmet dining and live entertainment. There’s also plenty of suite options here as well to accommodate your brood. Hyatt Ziva and Zilara properties (depending on which you choose) offer sprawling infinity pools, water parks, lazy rivers, multiple dining options, fitness centers and more. So many choices, so little time. You may just have to book multiple family visits for the coming year.

Palladium Hotel Group, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Spain
From the Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort & Spa in Cancun to the Dominican Fiesta Hotel, and the Bless Hotels in Madrid and Ibiza, Palladium Hotel Group has a very, very long list of options that are family-friendly and ready to welcome you for the holidays. Cancun’s Costa Mujeres Resort & Spa, for instance, is ideally suited for family gatherings. In addition to being located on a stunning beach and surrounded by nature, the property offers exclusive facilities and personalized services for the entire family. There are 80 suites here that were designed with family visitors in mind, located in a special part of the resort. As an added bonus—kids even get their own guest classification: Family Boss. This designation provides young visitors with special amenities, services and facilities. Enough said right?

AMR Collection, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America, Europe
AMR Collection resorts were designed for celebrating life’s special moments, so what better choice than to gather family for the holidays? The company has properties around the world, including four-and five-star resorts throughout Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and Europe. Some of the top family-friendly choices to consider include the company’s Dreams Resorts & Spas, Sunscape Resort & Spas, and Now Resorts & Spas. Sunscape resorts feature an Explorer’s Club for kids, dedicated spaces for teens and Sunscape Spas by Pevonia where older members of the family can find a little relaxation. Sunscape is also offering a two kids stay free promotion for those who book by December 22 and visit by that deadline as well. The Now Sapphire Riviera Cancun meanwhile includes family suites ideal for larger families and all types of activities to keep your extended family entertained. The Dreams brand offers literally dozens of choices and is known for its elevated all-inclusive experience that emphasizes family fun.

Resort at Paws Up, Greenough, Montana
Beaches aren’t for every family. We get that. Especially during the holidays. The Resort at Paws Up offers a different take on the holiday retreat. The backdrop is a 37,000-acre authentic working cattle ranch in Western Montana. If stunning natural beauty is your thing (raising hand) you can’t beat this getaway surrounded by pristine wilderness. There’s also a long list of family-oriented activity options including horseback riding, fishing and ATV tours. Accommodations meanwhile are ideally suited for extended family gatherings. The options even include expansive private homes. In fact, this resort is all about family affairs and offers tailored family vacation packages, including a winter vacation offer featuring such activities as dogsledding, horseback riding, skijoring and snowmobiling.

Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz, New York
Founded by the Smiley family in 1869, Mohonk Mountain House is a Victorian castle resort perched in the mountains of upstate New York. Just a 90-mile drive from New York City, the sprawling property (which is now a National Historic Landmark) is known for its farm-to-table cuisine, an award-winning spa and countless activities for guests of all ages. In addition to exploring the 85 miles of hiking trails surrounding the resort, there’s horseback riding, archery, snowshoeing, tennis and an indoor heated pool. There are also immersive family programs such as a junior naturalist program, guided hikes and daily mountain bike tours. If your family wants to celebrate the holidays in high Victorian style, check out Mohonk’s special midweek winter getaway offer, which includes up to 30 percent off a midweek stay. Holiday happenings range from Victorian carolers to food demonstrations and daily crafts.

Omni Rancho Las Palmas, Rancho Mirage, California
Two words: lazy river. Actually, we’ll need more than two words for this inviting resort located in the desert just a few miles from Palm Springs. In addition to the lazy river, there are waterslides and cliff-side hot tubs. For the adults, the options include championship golf, state-of-the-art tennis courts, a 24-hour fitness center with Pelotons and a 20,000-square-foot European spa. To make a holiday family gathering here even more enticing, the property is offering a winter fun discount of 15 percent and a $20 hotel credit, which can be used for stays from November 22 through January 9, 2022.

The Sagamore, Bolton Landing, New York
A legendary and award-winning property (voted among the top 25 resorts in the Northeast), The Sagamore offers a classic slice of Americana, particularly during the holidays. Dating back more than 100 years, this National Register of Historic Places getaway is located on a secluded, 70-acre island one hour north of Albany. Over the years The Sagamore has hosted countless families (as well as plenty of celebrities and dignitaries) and has a firm commitment to family fun. In the winter that includes snowmen, skating and cozy nights by the fire. There are also festive movie nights and indoor sports. The winter season at The Sagamore also includes a series of holiday happenings beginning at Thanksgiving and lasting through New Year’s Eve. As for accommodations, the two-bedroom, apartment-style Lodge Pods are perfect for families and small groups.

Keystone Resort, Summit County, Colorado
If skiing and exploring a mountain playground are among your family’s favorite pastimes, you can’t go wrong with a holiday gathering at Keystone Resort. Just outside Denver, this Rocky Mountains retreat offers a variety of activities and adventures. This year the resort is offering magical experiences designed for both kids and adults. There’s a snow fort at the top of the resort’s River Run Gondola (and a second snow fort at the Mountain House base area), snow tubing, sleigh rides, ice skating and night and holiday skiing. Accommodations range from Keystone Resort’s Mountain House (where you’ll also find Camp Keystone, the kid-centric ski and ride school) to spacious Keystone private homes for larger families. And one more family-friendly feature: this winter will include the popular kids ski-free program. Ski passes for everyone else have been discounted 20 percent.

Kiawah Island Golf Resort, South Carolina
A five-star resort located on an unspoiled barrier island less than 25 miles from Charleston, Kiawah Island Golf Resort is about far more than just golf (though there’s plenty of that here too of course.) The oceanfront property offers nearly everything family visitors can imagine—from nature tours to artistic activities such as canvas painting for kids and painting in the park. There are also surf camps, teen nights, bike lessons, kayak rentals, marsh kayaking and even family survivor. But this is a holiday story, and Kiawah Island Golf Resort has left no detail overlooked on this front as well. There are plenty of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s events on tap. The halls at Kiawah will be decked for the season, and there’s a full host of festive activities from tree lightings and craft-making workshops to Santa’s arrival during Christmas. Come New Year’s there will be magic shows, and even a New Year’s Day plunge (for the most adventurous of family travelers).

Beaches All Inclusive Resorts, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica
It’s hard to go wrong with the most awarded family all-inclusive resorts ever. But what exactly makes Beaches Resorts so family-friendly? Where to begin? There’s the pristine white beaches on which the properties are located, the Pirates Island water parks, Sesame Street characters, kids’ camps and even teen nightclubs. If all of that’s not enough, Beaches properties also offer a long list of land and water sports, a variety of dining options and luxe family-friendly suites including the Together Nest Suite Collection, which can accommodate families of up to 14 people.

Gaylord Opryland Resort, Nashville, Tennessee
From November 12 through January 2, Gaylord Opryland will host “A Country Christmas,” and the resort promises there’s no better way to celebrate the season than gathering your family at the property for this event. Highlights include acres of twinkling lights, activities, shows and events. And for this first time ever, there will be a Buddy the Elf-themed experience titled Mission: Save Christmas. When your family is not taking in all of the holiday excitement, don’t miss visiting the nation’s first upscale indoor-outdoor resort water attraction SoundWaves, known for its relaxing water features, energetic rides and immersive music for all ages. And there’s still more at this resort on the banks of the Cumberland River, including nine acres of indoor garden atriums, several award-winning restaurants and luxe Relache Spa.

C Lazy U Ranch, Colorado
Promising to be Colorado’s “Best Winter Family Vacation,” the C Lazy U Ranch, an all-inclusive, luxury dude ranch, offers a truly genuine holiday getaway. Think mountain scenery, skiing and a long list of other winter sports that are made to provide families with quality time together such as snow tubing, cross-country skiing and shoeing, horseback riding and archery. The property features cozy family-style cabins, and come meal time there are gourmet breakfasts, lunches and dinners. There are various holiday family vacation packages available including “Thanksgiving at the Dude Ranch,” “Christmas Vacation in Colorado at the Dude Ranch” and “New Year’s at the Dude Ranch”.

Hotel Xcaret Mexico, Riviera Maya, Mexico
Think white-sand beaches, rivers and coves, rainforest falls, and infinity pools. And that’s just a few of the important highlights at Hotel Xcaret Mexico. This all-fun inclusive offers unlimited access to the brand’s parks including Xcaret, Xel-Ha, Xplor, Xplor Fuego, Xavage, Xoximilco, Xenses and Xenotes. If all of that isn’t enough to keep your extended family busy, the property also includes 10 restaurants, a spa and wellness facility and kids and teens clubs. There are also accommodations of various sizes—suites, junior suites and even a family master and presidential suite designed to accommodate larger family groups.

Wentworth Mansion, Charleston, South Carolina
If urban explorations are more up your family’s alley, there are few better places to soak up the holiday atmosphere than in a grand southern city like Charleston, while staying at one of the city’s most fabulous mansions. An ornate Second Empire-style showplace outfitted with Italian crystal chandeliers, hand-carved marble fireplaces and Tiffany stained glass, the Wentworth Mansion’s reputation precedes it. Its list of travel industry recognitions and awards is long. The property takes particular joy in catering to families and offers plenty to fill your time, from exploring the hotel grounds to taking in the surrounding cobblestone streets, museums and all that historic Charleston has to offer.

Big Cedar Lodge, Missouri
It would nearly take a story of its own to do Big Cedar Lodge justice. A 4,600-acre rustic-luxe getaway in the Missouri Ozarks, the property was founded by the creator of Bass Pro Shops (which should give you a hint at what’s on offer here when it comes to activities.) Big Cedar Lodge is all about experiencing the great outdoors, which of course includes plenty of opportunities to go fishing. But for those who may not be fishermen in your family, there’s also golf and recreation for all ages such as hiking, biking, horseback riding and even educational activities for the youngest visitors (including exploring the Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum or learning how to conserve the land at the property’s Conservation Center at Dogwood Canyon.) The accommodations here are also perfectly suited for extended families and include grand lodges, cottages and private cabins.

Encore Resort at Reunion, Florida
Encore was designed to be the ideal place to experience quality time with extended family and make unforgettable memories. Accommodations here are just one example of that—you’ll find curated resort residences ranging in size from four to 13 bedrooms, allowing the entire family to stay in one home. As for family fun—there’s plenty of that to be had here too. The water park at Encore encompasses 10 acres and includes all manner of thrilling water rides and entertainment. (There’s also a swimming pool for those who like to take things a bit slower.) When you’re family has had enough swimming and splashing, venture beyond Encore to take in the unforgettable holiday festivities at Walt Disney World, which is just a few minutes away.

Carmel Valley Ranch, Carmel, California
If money is no object, Carmel Valley Ranch is one last family-tastic option to consider for a memorable holiday gathering. Located in picturesque Carmel, the 500-acre ranch (which describes itself as an oasis focused on fun) has family entertainment down to a science. From offering tasty s’mores to featuring all manner of engaging and memorable activities—scavenger hunts, garden tours (where you can feed the chickens, chase the butterflies, and pet the goats) to learning about beekeeping, falconry and archery, there is no end to the possibilities. As for the accommodations here, the ranch is an all-suite property. As an added bonus, each suite includes a private fireplace, providing one more place for the family to gather for some quality time.