All-Inclusive Holiday Vacations the Whole Family Will Love

From resorts and cruises to kid-friendly tours, here are nine types of all-inclusive holiday vacations that offer memorable experiences for all generations.

All-inclusive destinations are popular choices for fun-filled family vacations, especially during the holiday season. These stress-free family trips are easy to plan and offer activities and experiences for all ages, interests and fitness levels.

Multigenerational families can choose from a wide variety of all-inclusive holiday vacations perfect for the holidays. If your family is dreaming of a festive holiday getaway, take your pick from these magical all-inclusive trips and vacation destinations.

Tropical All-Inclusive Vacations in The Caribbean and Mexico

If an all-inclusive beach vacation is topping your family’s wish list, Beaches Resorts in Jamaica and Turks & Caicos are brimming with festive holiday fun. As part of an exclusive partnership with The Elf on the Shelf, Beaches Resorts are bringing Santa’s Scout Elves to the Caribbean to preside over a wealth of fabulous holiday events. These include Santaverse Under the Stars movie nights and other themed parties, holiday arts & crafts and more. Families staying in Beaches Resorts’ butler suites can pamper their children with luxurious V.I.E. (Very Important Elf) treats and surprises. Guests can share their holiday spirit through the Sandals Foundation, Beaches’ philanthropic arm, by making holiday cards for local children or browsing for Elf-themed gifts at the resort’s shops.

Families can celebrate the holiday season while enjoying a wide array of festive activities at all-inclusive Velas Resorts in Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit and Los Cabos, Mexico. Velas Resorts’ family-friendly properties are beautifully decorated for the season, and families can deck their suites with pre-decorated Christmas trees or create their own personalized holiday tree with specially provided ornaments and trimmings. Kid-pleasing activities are offered throughout the holiday season, including themed shows, arts & crafts, gingerbread decoration, interactive cultural workshops, and Santa’s grand arrival via parachute or helicopter.

Superb All-Inclusive Resorts in the United States

Many families are seeking top all-inclusive resorts in the U.S. for holiday vacations. Family-owned and operated Woodloch Resort is an exceptional choice for multigenerational holiday celebrations. Set on Lake Teedyuskung in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains, this all-inclusive resort specializes in fostering great family connections and lasting memories.

Woodloch Resort was voted by readers as the best family resort in the United States for the fifth time in this year’s annual USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Given that, it’s not surprising that Woodloch goes all out for families during the holidays with scrumptious meals and special activities. Families can bond while enjoying festive events including the resort’s annual Festival of Lights, a traditional Yule Log hunt, holiday-themed baking wars, and visits from Santa Claus and his reindeer.

Mohonk Mountain House is another ideal all-inclusive resort for holiday family getaways. Conveniently situated in New York’s Hudson Valley, the lakefront Victorian castle resort offers families a wealth of indoor and outdoor activities. During the holiday season, Mohonk Mountain House is transformed with sparkling lights, festive wreaths and colorful decorations. Families enjoy ice skating in the pavilion, making holiday crafts, family movie nights, and watching productions of “A Christmas Carol” and selections from “The Nutcracker.” The resort’s complimentary Kids’ Club is offered at select times.

Family-Friendly Luxury Ranches

Families come together to make treasured memories and enjoy the wonders of the holiday season at Colorado’s all-inclusive Vista Verde Ranch. Set on 540 secluded acres near Steamboat Springs, this AAA Four Diamond ranch turns into a fairytale wonderland during the holidays. The award-winning property offers a flexible daily program to fit all ages and interests. In addition to all the pastimes featured during the winter, such as cross-country skiing and horseback riding, families can sustainably harvest and decorate their own Christmas tree, take one-horse sleigh rides around the ranch and make keepsake ornaments. Bountiful holiday feasts, a family barn dance, and other fun-filled activities add to the magic. Multigenerational groups can choose from a variety of luxurious accommodations at Vista Verde, including 12 private cabins with up to four bedrooms.

California’s Alisal Ranch is another great place for families to gather during the December holidays. Located in Santa Barbara County, the all-inclusive ranch offers activities such as horseback riding, hiking, tennis, biking, fly fishing and non-motorized watersports on the luxury ranch’s 100-acre lake. Families enjoy saddling up for holiday rides and making s’mores around the fire pit in the evenings. Guests can take complimentary shuttles to nearby Solvang to experience Julefest, the town’s month-long holiday celebration filled with Christmas lights, delicious foods and Danish-style festive events.

Fun-Filled Holiday Cruises for Family Groups

Cruises are a wonderful, stress-free way for the whole family to bond while celebrating the joys of the festive season. Holland America Line’s expertly-designed cruises are superb options for memorable multigenerational all-inclusive holiday vacations. Ships are bedecked with spectacular light displays, dazzling decorations and enchanting gingerbread villages. Family groups can relax and have a merry time together while sailing to the Eastern or Western Caribbean, Hawaii and Mexico. Guests of all ages will enjoy the extensive variety of Holland America Line’s holiday-themed culinary experiences, including a “Nutcracker Afternoon Tea Service,” elaborate Christmas Eve and Christmas Day feasts, and special Hannukah treats. On Caribbean sailings, families can also enjoy a special “Breakfast with Santa” complete with festive crafts and Christmas music. Additional activities include tree-lighting ceremonies, parties, caroling, and holiday movies.

Carnival Cruise Line is often high on wish lists for family holiday vacations with kids of all ages. Carnival’s Fun Ships feature a wide variety of attractions, including massive WaterWorks water parks, and the line goes all-out with festive events and decorations during the holiday season. Family groups can take part in caroling around the Christmas tree, enjoy live-on-stage holiday entertainment, and mail letters to Santa in the special mailbox onboard. The Grinch also makes surprise special appearances on holiday cruises, and families can also see him at his character breakfast and holiday show.

Nature-Rich Expedition Cruises

Small ship expedition cruises are exceptional for family groups wishing to bond while exploring the world’s most wondrous places during December’s festive season. Family-friendly National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions offers a variety of immersive holiday sailings filled with magical wildlife encounters, enriching programming and bucket-list adventures. These extraordinary all-inclusive voyages provide activities and experiences to suit a wide range of ages, interests and fitness levels. Popular holiday cruise itineraries for families include Baja California and the Galápagos. National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions’ exclusive National Geographic Global Explorers program for kids and teens ages 18 and under is offered on both itineraries. All generations can make lifelong memories while sharing unforgettable moments with wildlife, such as Galápagos giant tortoises, sea lions, dolphins, whales and blue-footed boobies. Holiday sailings include festive non-denominational celebrations, special meals and favorite treats.

Enchanting Holiday River Cruises

Europe’s world-famous Christmas markets provide a magical stage for families to celebrate together on multigenerational all-inclusive holiday vacations. Uniworld Boutique River Cruises’ alluring collection of all-inclusive holiday cruises makes it easy for family groups to experience these festive markets in stress-free comfort. With the highest staff-to-guest ratio in the cruise industry, Uniworld’s luxurious ships feel like chic floating boutique hotels decked out in gorgeous holiday decor. Guests simply unpack once and relax as spectacular storybook towns and holiday markets arrive each day. Families will enjoy discovering timeless holiday traditions on Uniworld’s included excursions and browsing through Christmas market stalls filled with handmade crafts and ornaments, steaming hot drinks and delicious treats. Uniworld brings the holiday spirit onboard with fun-filled programming, decadent treats, special themed cocktails, and other delights. Multi-day pre-cruise extensions are available on select itineraries.

Families on a budget may wish to check out Gate 1 Travel’s wallet-friendly Christmas markets river cruises on Europe’s scenic waterways, including the Rhine and Danube rivers. These sailings also offer multi-day pre- and post-cruise tour extensions in popular cities, such as Vienna and Prague. Attractive discounts and promotions are often available.

Family-Oriented All-Inclusive Ski Resorts

If your family group is craving an all-inclusive ski resort vacation during this holiday season, Club Med Québec Charlevoix may be the ideal place for your crew. Overlooking the St. Lawrence River in Canada’s Le Massif de Charlevoix winter wonderland, the 300-room Club Med Québec’s all-inclusive rates include accommodations with ski-in/ski-out access, delicious meals and select beverages, a wide variety of activities and amenities, lift passes, and group ski and snowboard lessons. Holiday vacations feature festive culinary experiences, themed activities and visits from Santa. Daily children’s clubs and services for newborns up to age 17 are also included.

Immersive All-Inclusive Tours for Families

Top family-friendly tour companies offer carefully curated, highly inclusive holiday vacations that create cherished memories for years to come. These guided trips leave the planning and logistical details to professionals, making the entire travel experience easy and hassle-free.

• G Adventures expertly delivers a broad range of unforgettable small group family trips designed for families and multigenerational groups, including exciting National Geographic Family Journeys with G Adventures tours. The company’s tours during December include family-focused trips to Costa Rica and Thailand, as well as enriching National Geographic Family Journeys to Tanzania and Morocco. Private family tours for groups of as few as eight people may also be arranged.
• Adventures by Disney features a wide array of memorable family trips during December’s holiday season. Disney uses their legendary storytelling and family entertainment skills to develop guided tours that appeal to every family member. While much of the vacation experience is designed for the whole family, trips also feature kids-only events and activities solely for adults. Holiday season trips include itineraries in South Africa, England and France. In partnership with AmaWaterways, Adventures by Disney also offers festive Christmas markets river cruises on Germany’s Danube and Rhine rivers.

Relaxing All-Inclusive Wellness Resorts

 A stress-free wellness break can be ideal for families seeking a peaceful retreat during the hectic holiday season. Surrounded by Arizona’s Santa Catalina Mountains, Canyon Ranch Tucson is an outstanding choice for wellness vacations for family groups with children ages 14 and older. The all-inclusive spa resort features dozens of daily wellness activities and access to an extensive array of amenities, including unlimited use of the spa, pool and fitness facilities.

Set directly on Lake Austin in the Texas Hill Country, Lake Austin Spa Resort is another excellent choice for wellness vacations for families with kids 16 and older. The all-inclusive property offers a wide variety of activities appealing to a wide range of family members. In addition to the resort’s daily rotating list of classes and wellness experiences, non-motorized watersports on the lake are particularly popular.

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By Nancy Schretter, Contributing Editor

Header Photo Credit: Uniworld Boutique River Cruises