Puerto Rico has its share of boutique resorts, casino hotels, and charming inns, but it's also got plenty of lodging options that cater to the kids. From extensive menus of activities to designated areas devoted to your children, the five hotels on this list go out of their way to make the whole family comfortable. If you're planning a Caribbean vacation with the family, check out what they offer.
1. El Conquistador Resort & Golden Door Spa
Photo © El Conquistador Resort & Golden Door Spa
If you subscribe to the philosophy that kids need room to play, this is the place for you. El Conquistador resort is a sprawling hotel on Puerto Rico's eastern coast. Its outstanding menu of facilities for kids features:
- Camp Coqui - A recreational program for children ages 4-12 that provides activities under counselor supervision, include kayaking, arts & crafts, and a mini Olympics.
- Coqui Water Park - A one-of-a-kind water park on the premises with several pools, rope bridges, and a variety of water slides.
- Princess & Prince Charming Spa Package. Call it an "Intro to Spas" for teenagers.
- The Arthur Hills Golf Course - Offering parent/child nine-hole tournaments and golf clinics for the whole family.
- Game Room.
- Toddler's swimming pool.
2. The Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa: A Wyndham Grand Resort
Photo © Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa
Located closer to the El Yunque rainforest than San Juan, The Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa has a little bit of everything: casinos, spa, golf courses, numerous restaurants, tennis courts, and a kids-first program called Club Iguana. Upon check-in, children get a Kids' Club bag, tshirt and hat. Duly enrolled, they then get to participate in a host of activities, such as:
- Sea shell collecting
- Sand castle building
- Scavenger hunts
- Arts & crafts
- Kite flying
- Nature walks
- Mini Olympics
- Children's movies
- Dancing classes
3. Caribe Hilton
Photo © Caribe Hilton
At the Caribe Hilton in San Juan, you're conveniently close to the Old City and smack in front of one of the city's best beaches. Families staying at the hotel also get the benefit of Kidz Paradise. This children's program kicks off with a special welcome gift (for kids 12 or younger). The Kidz Center is equipped games and play equipment that kids can borrow for free, a Game Room, and recreational activities.
The Caribe Hilton also offers terrific deals for families with kids. Specifically:
- Children under 18 stay for free (when accompanied by an adult).
- Children under 5 eat at the hotel for free.
- Children 5-12 get free breakfast and half off all other meals at selected restaurants at the hotel (again, when accompanied by an adult).
4. The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan Hotel, Spa & Casino
Photo © Zain Deane
In general, the Ritz Hotels do a great job of catering to kids, and the San Juan branch is no different. While the parents are at the casino, children aged 5-12 can enjoy the Ritz Kids Program, which includes the following supervised activities:
- Arts & crafts
- Bowling
- Tennis
- Movies
- Sand castle sculpting
- Nature tours
- Spanish classes
5. Courtyard by Marriott Isla Verde
Photo © Courtyard by Marriott
They might not have a fancy name for it, but the Courtyard by Marriott in Isla Verde also has a Kids Club, and it is probably the most affordable hotel on this list. Located on the edge of the Isla Verde crescent, it gives you great beach access, a casino, proximity to the airport, and for children, a host of supervised activities. Also, kids have their own children's pool to splash around in.
