A friend of mine recently asked me about the best hotels for families in Puerto Rico, as he was planning his winter vacation and looking for a sunny stretch of Caribbean beach where his children would have as good a time as he is. That gave me the inspiration to put together this list of 7 Great kid-friendly hotels in Puerto Rico.
Hotels for Families in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico’s capital city of San Juan is home to the largest concentration of hotels, and travelers looking for a Puerto Rico beach vacation with easy access to dining, shopping, nightlife and attractions will do especially well here.
1. Caribe Hilton
Set on 17 acres between Old San Juan and the neighborhood called Condado, the Caribe Hilton is something like an oasis in the middle of the city. The property has a large beach and swimming area that’s nearly private, as well as a playground, children’s activities, children’s menus, cribs and family packages available.
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2. Ritz-Carlton, San Juan
This luxurious Puerto Rico hotel — located in the Isla Verde neighborhood, near the airport — offers a program called Ritz Kids, which offers activities Wednesday through Sunday every week, based on four “pillars” or themes: water, land, environmental responsibility and culture. Designed for children ages five through 12 by Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society, the supervised program at the Ritz-Carlton, San Juan offers full-day, half-day and “Kids Night Out” programs (each with a different fee ranging between $55 and $85)
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3. Condado Plaza Hilton
This hotel, located at the tip of the Condado neighborhood closest to Old San Juan (though not walking distance if you’re with kids), the Condado Plaza Hilton sits on one of the city’s best beaches for children — the supremely calm waters of the small beach where the Atlantic enters Condado lagoon. The lagoon itself offers fun activities for older kids, like kayaking and stand-up paddle board. Active military families get 10% discounts at this hotel, which also has a water slide that’s especially popular with kids. There are also children’s activities, a children’s menu, a toddler’s pool, and other family packages offered.
Family-friendly Hotels in Puerto Rico, Outside San Juan
4. El Conquistador, a Waldorf Astoria Resort
This luxury Puerto Rico resort hotel, located on the east coast of the island, is something of a world unto itself, with its own private beach island. The resort’s Camp Coqui (named for the tiny coqui frogs that live in Puerto Rico) is available for children ages four to 12, and is open daily. Priced at $75 for the full day (lunch included or $45 for half a day (with snacks only), El Conquistador‘s program includes activities like nature hunts, kids’ yoga, tennis classes and sand sculpting.
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5. Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa
This Puerto Rico hotel, which sits on a 500-acre site with one mile of beach, offers children’s activities including nature walks, face painting, iguana feeding and cooking classes. The Wyndham Grand Rio Mar also has a wading pool that’s good for younger children, bingo and beach volleyball for all ages, and a seasonal turtle nesting program.
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6. St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort
This upscale Puerto Rico hotel is home to the Iguana Children’s Club. The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort‘s children’s club is housed in its own pavilion, with easy access to guided bird watching, nature walks and turtle feeding activities. Open daily for kids age four to 12, the program includes treasure hunts, outdoor games, arts and crafts and pool time, among other activities. The facility has board games, Wii station, movies, a reading area, kitchenette, arts and crafts materials, basketball hoop, hula hoops and a variety of other recreational materials.
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7. Copamarina Beach Resort & Spa
Located in Guanica — on the south coast of Puerto Rico — the Copamarina Beach Resort & Spa has a children’s playground and two swimming pools just for kids.