When you’ve got children, a holiday isn’t really a holiday until the little ones are taken care of. Read our list of the best resorts in the USA for families to make sure your next getaway is as relaxing and stress-free as possible.
If you’re looking for the best family resorts in the United States, you’ve come to the right place! We’ve got you covered for the perfect base for a Disneyland holiday, be it in California or Florida, and even a Las Vegas favourite that has so many surprisingly kid-friendly activities. Read our list of the best family resorts in the USA, as voted by our readers.
Become immersed in the spirit of Disneyland with this hotel’s unbeatable location, just steps from the Downtown Disney District and a short stroll to both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. The Disney magic starts right inside with retro-themed pools, monorail water slides and Disney-themed suites: Adventureland, Mickey Mouse, Fairytale and Big Thunder, each paying tribute to the Disneyland Park classics. The best bit? Guests are invited to enter the parks a full hour before they open to the public.
Enjoy a front-row seat to the world of Disneyland at the Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel & Water Playground. The family-friendly hotel – located just an eight-minute stroll from the iconic Anaheim theme park – is great for big families, with rooms sleeping up to five. The facility-packed property has everything you could want to relax and recover after a full day of Anaheim adventures. Parents can chill out by the peaceful Garden Pool while kids splash their way through Castaway Cove, the hotel’s pirate-themed water park playground.
Trip the light fan-plastic into LEGOLAND California Resort, a colourful, creative world constructed from more than 60 million LEGO bricks. Situated at the main entrance to LEGOLAND California, this hotel has brilliant, interactive LEGO features throughout, from a LEGO treasure hunt and welcome gift for the kids to a LEGO store and themed pool area. There’s a choice of Pirate, Kingdom, Adventure, LEGO Friends and LEGO NINJAGO-themed accommodation for families, and nightly kids’ entertainment, making for plastic stacks of holiday fun.
Dine on a delicious three-course breakfast with Disney princesses before you set off to explore Disneyland, Disney California Adventure Park and Downtown Disney via a convenient entrance on the hotel grounds – you’ll also be treated to early admission so you can beat the crowds! Upon your return to Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, enjoy spacious and luxurious rooms where, in selected suites, you might experience Arcadia or El Capitan themes. And when you need a break from the thrills and spills of the theme park, you can relax in a poolside cabana or wind down with a movie night.
Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim Resort/Convention Center is where business meets pleasure. Families will particularly enjoy its proximity to Disneyland parks and Anaheim GardenWalk, one of the area’s premier shopping malls. Guests will have early access to Disneyland tickets and transportation to the parks on the Anaheim Resort Transit shuttle. In between parks, relax by the resort-style pool and children’s pool. With fabulous family suites that sleep up to eight guests, it’s great for large groups.
The Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance is a certified Disney Good Neighbour hotel, just a five-minute walk from Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park and the Downtown Disney District. Enjoy the perks of booking tickets in advance and one day of Magic Morning early admission before the park opens. On resort days, keep the energy high at the surfside water park, which has water slides, fountains, drench buckets, a hot tub and a family pool. The hotel also has one of the best seats in the house to view the Disneyland fireworks. So sit back, relax and enjoy the magic.
Enjoy a seamless Disney experience from the moment you book Four Seasons Resort Orlando, with exclusive access to Disney fast passes months in advance, extended hours at the parks, and complimentary transportation via luxury motor coach to Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The fun continues at the resort’s Explorer Island, a two-hectare water park with a Lazy River, splash zone and 74-metre water slides. Dry off with a game of tennis or beach volleyball, or treat yourself to a soothing, post-park massage at The Spa.
A direct shuttle to Disneyland is just the beginning of the amazing features at Holiday Inn Express & Suites – Anaheim Resort Area. The lagoon-style swimming pool and outdoor whirlpool give little ones a place to splash, while the whole family can enjoy a tasty burger or pizza at Burger Theory. If the little ones are positively exhausted after a day rubbing shoulders with Mickey and Minnie, you can enjoy room service in your adjoining rooms so you can snuggle up and wind down.
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort has direct access to Hollywood Studios and Epcot on the Skyliner gondola. The themed family suites (which sleep up to six) are inspired by Disney animated classics such as Cars, The Lion King and The Little Mermaid. The Finding Nemo-inspired pool is the largest of its kind at Walt Disney World, and if you put your head under water you can hear an Under the Sea Orchestra conducted by Sebastian from The Little Mermaid. Guests at the Art of Animation get free transport from Orlando Airport, extra ‘Magic Hours’ in the park and the ability to book fast passes up to 60 days in advance.
Set behind the famous Fountains of Bellagio, this luxury Las Vegas hotel and casino offers multiple family-friendly dining options, plus elegant rooms and suites that can accommodate up to six guests. Take your pick from five Mediterranean-style courtyard pool settings and indulge in a poolside massage while kids enjoy the water. While you’re checked in, be sure to enjoy exclusive shows by Cirque du Soleil, then visit the Gallery of Fine Art as well as the daily Fountains of Bellagio water show. The grandeur of the Bellagio Las Vegas is enough to impress guests of any age.
If you’re looking for great family accommodation in Anaheim, look no further than the Clementine Hotel & Suites. Choose from studio, one-bedroom or two-bedroom suites that can sleep up to eight, all with cooking facilities, dining areas, free parking and room to relax. Onsite you’ll also find a swimming pool, sports courts, playground, bbq patio, fire pit and even a supermarket for any last-minute needs (hello, nappies). Best of all? It’s less than a 10-minute drive to Disneyland.
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