Long gone are the days when all-inclusive resorts were synonymous with bottom-shelf booze and bland entertainment. Since its inception in the 1950s, the all-inclusive concept has evolved dramatically, with today’s all-inclusives ditching the clichéd late-night revelry for refined luxury, one-size-fits-all programming for tailored experiences, and cookie-cutter meals for curated menus.
But perhaps the biggest shift of late is the focus on families. While plenty of all-inclusives cater to singles, couples and the “let’s conga!” crowd, an ever-growing number of hospitality groups are placing their investment bets on families by building luxury-laden resorts and overhauling existing ones. Some, like Dreams Resorts and Nickelodeon Resorts, are also expanding their footprint beyond the Caribbean and Mexico, home to the mother lode of all-inclusives, to Europe, Central America and South America.
You can’t swing a pool noodle nowadays without hitting a study showing skyrocketing demand for all-inclusive vacations among families. These resorts provide an easy-breezy getaway where you don’t have to sweat every detail or crunch every cost because everything (or most everything)—from accommodations and dining, to on-site activities and entertainment, to personalized service and gratuities—is wrapped into one attractive package with one convenient price. (The definition of “all” in “all-inclusive” can vary from resort to resort, so be sure to consult your AAA Travel Advisor.)
We check in on four hospitality brands that are leveling up their all-inclusive offerings for families.
Dreams Resorts & Spas
Hyatt’s collection of family-friendly all-inclusives comprises nearly three dozen resorts in the Dominican Republic and Mexico as well as in unexpected places such as Bulgaria, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica.
Its latest outpost, opening this summer, is the 500-guestroom Dreams Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa in the Dominican Republic’s Punta Cana. The resort will welcome guests with well-appointed suites, including ground-floor suites with swim-out access to the main pool; a water park; 10 dining venues; a kids’ Explorer’s Club; and a teen hang-out area.
At every Dreams resort, the brand’s “Unlimited-Luxury” inclusions translate to a long list of givens such as expansive suites and villas, round-the-clock dining and premium beverages, 24-hour room service, pool/beachside wait service, live entertainment and activities for every age group. And new this year, Dreams has teamed up with the hit TV series MasterChef Junior to bring show-inspired culinary challenges to the Explorer’s Club at select resorts.
Beaches Resorts
Sandals’ sister brand, Beaches is going big and bold with a billion-dollar investment aimed at doubling its all-inclusives portfolio.
Joining Beaches Negril and Beaches Ocho Rios in Jamaica and Beaches Turks and Caicos, three new resorts are in the works: Beaches Barbados, with its own Main Street; Beaches Exuma in The Bahamas, comprising 500 acres on the Out Islands; and Beaches Runaway Bay Resort in Jamaica, with a championship golf course, farm-to-table dining and new kids’ activities (think skateboarding and a climbable treehouse).
Come March 2026, the sprawling Beaches Turks and Caicos will also debut its newest “village”: Treasure Beach, featuring 101 all-suite accommodations, including butler suites and four-bedroom villas, and a first-of-its-kind food hall serving international cuisine.
At all Beaches Resorts, guests enjoy wherever-and-whenever-you-wish dining as well as unlimited access to water parks, land and water sports, and live shows. Along with a Kids Camp and teen hang-out zone, families will love the exclusive Caribbean Adventures with Sesame Street program where they can bake with Cookie Monster, sing and dance with Elmo and Rosita, and enjoy stage shows and parades with the Sesame Street gang. And for families with children with autism, the Autism Program offers sensory-friendly rooms, designated public quiet areas, special dining accommodations, and customized activities and services provided by autism-certified staff.
Hard Rock Resorts
Guests get rock star treatment at the Hard Rock’s all-inclusives, with four resorts in Mexico—Cabo San Lucas, Cancún, Riviera Nayarit (near Puerto Vallarta) and Riviera Maya—and one in Punta Cana.
While music permeates the rhythm of life at Hard Rock resorts—with live shows by big-name and aspiring artists, curated in-room playlists and Fender guitar loaners for jam sessions—these all-inclusives are no one-hit wonders. The vacation vibe also includes stylish rooms and suites with spa-like baths, gourmet dining, top-shelf beverages, 24-hour room service, beachside/poolside wait service, instructor-led fitness classes, and the Roxity Kids Club with cooking classes, talent shows and more (depending on the resort).
The brand’s largest all-inclusive, the 1,775-guestroom Hard Rock Punta Cana is also home to a casino and theme-park-worthy water park with 26 water slides, while the kid-friendly Hacienda section at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya offers the tropical-themed Rockaway Bay Water Park and a private beach on a sea cove that’s perfect for family snorkeling.
Nickelodeon Resorts
Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts is famous for its character-inspired theming (think SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Dora the Explorer), but perhaps surprisingly, the resorts also deliver on luxury.
At the brand’s Punta Cana and Riviera Maya locations, that encompasses global cuisine, premium drinks, a sumptuous spa, swim-up rooms with access to the main pool or a private plunge pool, personalized concierge service, and land and water activities, including Club Nick for kids and the Aqua Nick water park. And at its newly opened outpost within The Land of Legends entertainment complex in Antalya, Turkey, Nickelodeon adds holistic spa treatments and traditional Turkish hammams to the mix for parents, while kids can have a blast in the on-site theme park.
Next year, Nickelodeon will bring its all-new all-inclusive model to Orlando, where some 400 hotel rooms and condo units will complement a bevy of retail, dining and entertainment options—“getting Slimed” included.
Turns out, at the end of the vacation day, you can have it all.