Planning a Caribbean vacation with kids sounds easy enough—until you realize that a vacation that makes a toddler happy isn’t necessarily the same vacation that makes a 14-year-old happy.
Beaches Resorts are designed around the idea that families should be able to enjoy a vacation where kids and grownups have plenty to do, check out Beaches Resorts: The Ultimate Family Vacation Guide.
A toddler might want a splash pool and character breakfast.
Your 8-year-old may want waterslides all day.
Your 12-year-old may want a gaming lounge and water sports.
And your teenager?
They may simply want somewhere they can hang out where they don’t have to spend the entire vacation with Mom and Dad.
That’s one of the reasons I love Beaches Resorts for family vacations.
Beaches offers age-appropriate Kids Camp programming, waterparks, water sports, entertainment, Sesame Street® experiences and activities designed for older children and teens. The two Beaches resorts currently operating in the Caribbean—Beaches Turks & Caicos and Beaches Negril—offer many of these family-focused amenities, but each resort has its own personality and advantages.
So which Beaches Resort is best for your family? Best Beaches Resorts for Families
It depends on the ages of your children—and what they actually want to do on vacation.
Beaches Resorts for Babies & Toddlers
Ages: 0–4
Traveling with a baby or toddler requires a completely different kind of vacation planning.
Nap schedules.
Diapers.
Feeding.
Strollers.
And the eternal question:
“Will my child actually sleep somewhere that’s not home?”
Beaches Resorts have specifically designed programs for their youngest guests, including infant and toddler programming.
At both Beaches Turks & Caicos and Beaches Negril, the Kids Camp includes programs for infants ages 0–2 and toddlers ages 3–4.
For babies ages 0–2
Beaches provides climate-controlled nursery spaces with amenities designed for infants, including cribs, high chairs and other baby-friendly equipment.
Certified childcare staff supervise the infant programs, although parents should review current registration requirements and schedules before travel.
For toddlers ages 3–4
Toddlers can participate in age-appropriate activities such as:
- Treasure hunts
- Sandcastle building
- Face painting
- Shell collecting
- Puppets
- Costume activities
- Magic shows
- Toddler pool activities
At this age, the goal isn’t to give your toddler an itinerary.
It’s to give them something fun to do while you get a little time to breathe.
Which Beaches Resort Is Best for Toddlers?
Both Beaches Turks & Caicos and Beaches Negril offer dedicated infant and toddler programming.
For families with very young children, I’d look beyond simply asking “Which resort is cheaper?”
Instead, consider:
- How important is a large waterpark?
- How much time will you spend at the beach?
- Do you want a larger resort with lots of choices?
- What room configuration will make naps and bedtime easier?
- How close do you want to be to the airport?
- Do you need specific childcare or accessibility considerations?
Those details can make a surprisingly big difference in how relaxing the vacation feels.
Best Beaches Resort for Kids Ages 5–7
Beaches Turks & Caicos and Beaches Negril
This is the age when children really start to embrace the “adventure” part of a Caribbean vacation.
Beaches’ Navigators program is designed for children ages 5–7 and includes activities such as beach science, Beach Olympics, talent shows, treasure hunts, arts and crafts and more.
And this age group is also perfect for taking advantage of the resort’s pools and waterparks.
Why waterparks matter at this age
At Beaches Turks & Caicos, Pirates Island includes large waterslides along with smaller slides and areas designed for younger children. There’s also a lazy river and splash deck.
Beaches Negril also has a Pirates Island Waterpark with waterslides, a lazy river, kiddie areas and other water features.
My planning tip for families with 5–7-year-olds
This is an age where Beaches Turks & Caicos can be particularly exciting if your child loves waterparks.
The resort features a 45,000-square-foot Pirates Island Waterpark with more than 11 slides, a lazy river and splash deck, plus kid-friendly dining options within the waterpark area.
But Beaches Negril shouldn’t be overlooked. Its waterpark and location along Jamaica’s Seven Mile Beach provide a different kind of family vacation experience.
Best Beaches Resorts for Kids Ages 8–10
Beaches Turks & Caicos and Beaches Negril
Now we’re entering the “I want to do EVERYTHING” phase.
Kids ages 8–10 can participate in Beaches’ Adventurers program, with activities including:
- Scavenger hunts
- Beach soccer
- Capture the flag
- Water activities
- Reggae jam sessions
- Other age-appropriate activities
And this is also an exciting age for introducing children to some of the water activities Beaches offers.
Kids’ scuba programs
Beaches offers PADI® programs for children beginning at age 8, including Bubblemaker and SEAL Team programs.
That can turn a regular family beach vacation into a pretty unforgettable experience.
Which resort works best?
At this age, I’d compare both Beaches Turks & Caicos and Beaches Negril based on your child’s interests.
If your child is obsessed with:
Waterparks + lots of activities + variety → Beaches Turks & Caicos deserves serious consideration.
If your family is looking for:
Jamaican atmosphere + Seven Mile Beach + water activities → Beaches Negril may be a better fit.
Best Beaches Resorts for Tweens
Ages: 11–14
This is where family vacation planning gets interesting.
Because tweens are old enough to have very strong opinions.
And they will absolutely tell you those opinions.
Beaches has a dedicated Tweens program for ages 11–14, with activities such as:
- Dive-in movies
- Karaoke
- Water sports
- Beach soccer
- Beach volleyball
- Flag football
- Other group activities
Both Beaches Turks & Caicos and Beaches Negril offer tween programming.
Why Beaches Turks & Caicos Can Be Great for Tweens
Beaches Turks & Caicos offers a particularly extensive lineup of activities and spaces for older kids.
In addition to the waterpark, the resort has gaming areas and the Shadow Lounge for tweens and teens.
And let’s not forget the waterpark.
Tweens can graduate from the little-kid splash areas to the bigger slides and lazy river.
That gives the whole family something to enjoy together.
Best Beaches Resorts for Teens
Ages: 15–17
If you’re traveling with teenagers, you already know the challenge.
“Is there Wi-Fi?”
“What am I going to do?”
“Do I have to come to dinner?”
Thankfully, Beaches has thought about this.
The teen programs at both Beaches Turks & Caicos and Beaches Negril include dedicated spaces and activities designed specifically for teens.
Activities can include:
- Group water sports
- Boat cruises
- Pool Olympics
- Tennis clinics
- Karaoke
- Dance parties
- Talent shows
- Teen social spaces
- Gaming areas
Beaches also offers Club Liquid teen nightlife programming, with a dedicated teen nightclub experience.
Which Beaches Resort Is Best for Teens?
Again, there’s no single answer for every family.
But if your teenager loves waterparks, gaming, sports and having lots of options, Beaches Turks & Caicos offers an especially extensive collection of activities.
The resort currently features its 45,000-square-foot waterpark, teen hangout spaces, gaming areas, water sports and a wide range of land activities.
Beaches Negril also offers teen programming, a waterpark, gaming spaces, water sports and its own Jamaican setting along Seven Mile Beach.
What If You Have Kids of Different Ages?
Now we’re getting to the real-world family vacation scenario.
Maybe you have:
Ages 3, 8 and 14.
Or:
Ages 6 and 12.
Or:
Ages 2, 5 and 16.
This is where choosing a family resort becomes less about finding something your children can do and more about finding something everyone can enjoy.
Beaches is particularly interesting for these families because its programming is divided into multiple age groups.
At the current Beaches Kids Camp programs, age groups include:
| Age | Program |
|---|---|
| 0–2 | Infant Program |
| 3–4 | Toddler Program |
| 5–7 | Navigators |
| 8–10 | Adventurers |
| 11–14 | Tweens |
| 15–17 | Teens |
That means your 4-year-old doesn’t have to participate in the same activities as your 13-year-old.
And your teenager doesn’t have to spend the entire vacation doing activities designed for a preschooler.
That flexibility can be a huge advantage for families with multiple children. Check out What Is Included at Beaches Resorts? to answer all your pricing questions.
Beaches Turks & Caicos vs. Beaches Negril for Different Ages
Here’s a quick way to think about the two resorts.
| Your Family | What to Consider |
|---|---|
| Babies & toddlers | Both offer infant and toddler programming |
| Ages 5–7 | Both offer age-specific activities and waterpark fun |
| Ages 8–10 | Both offer Kids Camp and water activities |
| Tweens | Both offer dedicated tween programming |
| Teens | Both offer teen activities and social spaces |
| Waterpark lovers | Both have Pirates Island Waterparks |
| Families wanting lots of resort variety | Beaches Turks & Caicos offers a particularly extensive resort experience |
| Families wanting Jamaica | Beaches Negril offers its Seven Mile Beach setting |
Beaches Turks & Caicos currently features five villages, 20 specialty restaurants, 10 pools and a 45,000-square-foot waterpark. Beaches Negril features three pools, three whirlpools, its own Pirates Island Waterpark and a location on Seven Mile Beach.
What About Sesame Street®?
If you’re traveling with younger children, this deserves its own mention.
Beaches has an ongoing Sesame Street® partnership, with activities that can include:
- Character appearances
- Parades
- Stage shows
- Weekly activities
- Character experiences
The program is currently available at both Beaches Turks & Caicos and Beaches Negril.
For a 3-year-old?
Magical.
For a 13-year-old?
Probably less exciting.
And that’s exactly why the age-specific programming matters.
So, Which Beaches Resort Is Best for Your Kids?
Here’s the thing:
There isn’t one Beaches Resort that is automatically the right choice for every family.
Instead, I recommend looking at your children’s ages, personalities and interests.
If you have babies or toddlers
Look closely at the infant and toddler programs, nursery setup, room configuration and resort logistics.
If you have young children
Look at waterparks, splash areas, Sesame Street® activities and Kids Camp.
If you have elementary-age kids
Look at water sports, the waterpark, Kids Camp activities and family-friendly entertainment.
If you have tweens
Pay close attention to gaming areas, sports, water activities and tween programming.
If you have teenagers
Look at teen lounges, nightlife, water sports, gaming, social activities and the overall resort atmosphere.
And if you have children across several age groups, look for a resort where everyone has something of their own while still having plenty of opportunities to spend time together.
Why Work With a Travel Advisor for a Beaches Family Vacation?
A family vacation isn’t just about finding a beautiful resort.
It’s about finding the right fit for your family.
That’s where I can help.
As a Beaches co-branded travel advisor with Platinum Elite Travel, I can help you compare Beaches Resorts, room categories, locations and available options based on your children’s ages and your family’s travel style.
Because a family with a 3-year-old and a 15-year-old has very different needs from a family with two 7-year-olds.
And the room your family chooses matters, too.
My goal is to help you spend less time researching hundreds of resort details and more time getting excited about the vacation ahead.
Ready to find the right Beaches Resort for your family?
Let’s create a Caribbean vacation where everyone—from toddlers to teens—has something to look forward to.
Travel, Perfectly Tailored.™
Start Planning Your Beaches Family Vacation →
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Beaches Resort is best for kids?
Both Beaches Turks & Caicos and Beaches Negril are designed for families and offer age-specific Kids Camp programs, waterparks, water sports and activities for children and teens. The best fit depends on your children’s ages and your family’s priorities.
Which Beaches Resort is best for toddlers?
Both Beaches Turks & Caicos and Beaches Negril offer infant and toddler programs for children ages 0–4. Your choice should also take into account room configuration, resort layout, beach preferences and the activities your family wants most.
Which Beaches Resort is best for teenagers?
Both resorts offer teen programming for ages 15–17, including activities, water sports and dedicated social spaces. Beaches Turks & Caicos also offers extensive gaming and teen-oriented spaces in addition to its large waterpark.
Are Kids Camp activities included at Beaches Resorts?
Yes. Beaches states that Kids Camp programming is included as part of the resort experience, with age-appropriate supervised activities.
Are Beaches Resorts good for families with children of different ages?
They can be particularly convenient for multigenerational families because programming is divided into age groups from infants through teens, allowing children to participate in age-appropriate activities while families can still enjoy shared resort experiences.
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