International

9 Fabulous Family-Friendly Resorts in Puerto Rico

Sunny Puerto Rico offers a stress-free Caribbean getaway, no passport required

The aqua waters sparkle, the palm trees sway, and I’m sipping a piña colada just steps from the bar where it was invented. After we tear ourselves away from the golden sands of the beach, my family and I explore turreted forts and ancient fortress walls, acting out pirate adventures in sight of the ocean waves below. Then we follow the cobblestone streets to reach our dinner destination, a lively locals` spots with live salsa music on an outdoor patio under twinkling stars.

Best of all, our tropical family vacation didn’t require a passport or a change of currency, and even our cell phones are still working. This ease of travel combined with the natural beauty and cultural highlights are just a few of the many reasons my family has returned to Puerto Rico, a commonwealth of the United States, multiple times.

We’ve stayed in San Juan hotels and family-centric resorts around the island, and although the beaches may vary, they always have one thing in common: Everyone is happy to see families arrive and they go out of their way to entertain children. Here are a few of our favorite spots for kid-friendly retreats around Puerto Rico:

Beachside Bliss in a Porto Rico Family Vacation

Set on one of the widest stretches of Condado beach, the San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino provides direct access to the sugar sands of San Juan, with plenty of chairs to lounge on and attentive servers that can bring you anything from a shade umbrella to an umbrella drink right to your seat.

There’s also an expansive pool with a twisting water slide and in-water sprinkler section that kids adore. Up on the pool deck, there are daily crafts, and a game room provides a shady break. From the Marriott, you can sign up to take an E-bike tour of Old San Juan, a fun adventure for older kids who feel comfortable with the power option on the motorized bicycles.

San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino

Top rated
San Juan
8.5 Excellent (3842 reviews)

Accommodation with Private Beach Near Old San Juan

The Hotel Caribe Hilton offers a true resort-like feel perfect for families seeking a tropical escape close enough to walk to the all the sights and highlights of historic Old San Juan. The Caribe Hilton is also notable for having the only private beach in the city, with an exclusive setting on a secluded peninsula surrounded by 17 acres of palm trees and soft sand.

This is a great destination with newborn babies or small kids since there’s an on-site playground, a kid’s fountain pool, and even a bird sanctuary set within the tropical gardens. Big kids who are comfortable swimming can try out SNUBA, a combination of SCUBA and snorkeling, the only spot in San Juan for this fun hybrid water activity. There are also a tennis center and guided reef tours in addition to daily activities that include sand castle building, limbo contests, bingo, and beach volleyball.

All rooms at the Hilton have terraces or balconies so you can enjoy the tropical breezes, and they have mini-fridges, too, so you can stash drinks and snacks for the kids. When booking, note that Beach and Garden rooms have the best access to the pools and beach, while Wave Wing rooms offer the best value as well as quieter location if you have light sleepers.

Caribe Hilton

San Juan
8.2 Very good (3792 reviews)

A Stylish Resort for a Trip With Teens to Puerto Rico

The La Concha Renaissance San Juan Resort is perfect if you’re traveling with tweens and teens who will appreciate the super cool architecture—including La Perla, the clam-shell (or “concha”) shaped restaurant from which the resort gets its name. The suites here will give you all enough space to spread out, and most include modern kitchenettes so you can whip up a tropical breakfast or snack to eat on the spacious terrace.

The see-and-be-seen pools are an open-air multilevel infinity-edged oasis with connecting waterfalls. The main pool’s upper deck has two whirlpools that overlook the lobby, allowing unparalleled people-watching (and pretty awesome selfies). Another highlight of staying at La Concha is its ideal location in the center of the most stylish section of Condado that you can explore with the property’s complimentary cruisers.

La Concha Renaissance San Juan Resort

Top rated
San Juan
8.6 Excellent (5073 reviews)

Family Entertainment Galore in Isla Verde

If you’re looking for a one-stop-shopping resort where you’ll be able to find entertainment for the whole family, the Fairmont El San Juan Hotel will check all of your “must have” boxes. The glamorous property has been heating up Isla Verde Beach since it opened in 1958. Top stars like Frank Sinatra and Liza Minnelli have played its theater. Today, you can catch live entertainment at the Chico Cabaret or Brava dance club.

Kids love the multi-pool complex and gentle waves on the two-mile stretch of golden beach. Grownups can also relax at the destination Well & Being Spa which offers up a juice bar and fitness studio in addition to a wide array of sybaritic treatments (all of which are a great excuse to book a babysitter). The whole family can also head to the tennis center for lessons.

Fairmont El San Juan Hotel

Carolina
7.6 Good (2855 reviews)

Suites With Plenty of Family Space in Urban San Juan

Traveling with kids? It’s hard to beat the Embassy Suites by Hilton San Juan Hotel if you want to spread out, without having to pay a lot. All the accommodations are suites with separate bedrooms and living rooms with pull out couches, so there’s plenty of space for all of you and your gear. Rooms also have refrigerators and microwaves, so you can keep snacks on hand for hungry little ones.

You can easily spend a day soaking up the sun at the lagoon-style pool while the kids romp around the playground – there’s a separate kiddie pool, too, for your mini minnows. Although the hotel isn’t on the beach, it’s just a few minutes walk to the sugar sands of Isla Verde Beach. When you arrive, you’ll have access to the Embassy Suites’ beach amenities, including chairs, towels, and umbrellas, which makes it feel like a private beach club.

Embassy Suites By Hilton San Juan Hotel & Casino

Top rated
San Juan
8.8 Excellent (4527 reviews)

Beachside Luxury in the Caribbean

The Condado Vanderbilt offers a luxurious vacation in the sun for the whole family. Known for its opulent interiors and excellent service, the beachfront hotel goes out of its way to cater to kids with multi-bedroom suites, babysitting and childcare services, kid-friendly dining, and multiple swimming pools.

On the beach, the Beach Butlers provide older children 7 years and over with boogie boards and snorkels. For younger children, they deliver sand castle building toys. There is also a beach club with entertainment and kid-friendly activities. When it’s time to hit the hay, you can’t go wrong with any room option- at 350 square feet, regular guest rooms here are some of the biggest on the island.

Condado Vanderbilt Hotel

Top rated
San Juan
9.0 Excellent (3085 reviews)

A Spacious Resort on Puerto Rico's Stunning East Coast

Drive south from San Juan and you’ll discover the beaches become wider, the forest more lush, and the tropical views even more stunning as you approach the Rio Mar Beach and Spa, A Wyndham Grand. This spectacular 500-acre beachside property feels like a private Caribbean village with an ocean’s worth of family activities to explore.

The kids can keep busy with pools that offer swimming and splashing during the day and dive-in movies at night. Ocean Family Suites are the ultimate in kid-friendly accommodations with one king size bed for the adults, bunk beds in a separate sleeping area for the kids, plus a pull out couch in the living room so everyone can get their own bed to rest up for the next day’s adventures.

Rio Mar Beach And Spa - A Wyndham Grand

Rio Grande
7.5 Good (1704 reviews)

Ocean and Lagoon Views Near Old San Juan

The Condado Plaza Hilton is the only hotel in San Juan that overlooks both the rushing waves of the Atlantic Ocean and the tranquil Condado Lagoon. Designed by renowned architect Morris Lapidus in 1963, the hotel has been transformed into sleek modern property with five restaurants to keep every member of the family happy at mealtimes.

A protected beach and swimming area make the outdoor spaces here a favorite for small swimmers. There are three outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, and a children’s activity program for pre- and grade- schoolers. Most rooms here have private balconies, and since the hotel is framed by two different bodies of water, you can easily get a room with a picturesque view.

Hotel The Condado Plaza Hilton

San Juan
8.1 Very good (1012 reviews)

Surf and Sand on the West Coast of Puerto Rico

On the quiet western coast of Puerto Rico, the Rincon Beach Resort offers the perfect perch for families to explore the coastal surfing scene for which the area is famous. On property, there’s an expansive lagoon pool with a swim up bar, outdoor cafe, and life-size chess set all within steps of a secluded beach shaded by mangroves.

Deluxe rooms are an economical choice for family travel with two spacious queen beds. First floor options allow you to walk right out of your room and directly to the pool. For extended stays, the condo villas provide full kitchens, dining tables, and living rooms providing more of a home-away-from-home atmosphere.

Rincon Beach Resort

Top rated
Añasco
8.6 Excellent (2333 reviews)