Traveling with family can be a serious investment. After shelling out for plane tickets, you still have to book a hotel, cover the cost of meals, maybe rent a car, and more. Package deals and all-inclusive resorts can be a great way to save, but even better is choosing a hotel or resort where kids stay free.
Many hotels and resorts offer "kids stay free" promotions at certain times during the year, while others allow kids under a certain age to stay free all the time. These "kids stay free" deals often include free meals and on-site activities for children.
Whether your destination is in the US, the Caribbean, or Mexico, here are 10 family-friendly hotels where kids stay free. For more great plays to stay, check out our Family-Friendly Resorts & Hotels Guide.
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Enjoy the slopes, free kids club, pools, and more at Alta Lodge near Salt Lake City.
Family-Friendly Hotels in the US Where Kids Stay Free
1. Alta Lodge – Alta, Utah
If you are skiers, head to this family-friendly resort just outside Salt Lake City. Kids can learn how to navigate the slopes in ski school while parents hit the powder. There are pools, fireplaces, free yoga, and a complimentary kids club. But beware, there are no TVs in the rooms. Kids stay free during Alta’s spring season (a roughly two-week span in April) and early winter season (mid November through mid December). And no matter what time of year, all guests enjoy hot breakfast and a four-course dinner as part of the standard rate.
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Kids can swim indoors or out at the majestic Mohonk Mountain House in the Hudson Valley.
2. Mohonk Mountain House – New Paltz, New York
This grand, castle-like resort sits atop a ridge overlooking the scenic Hudson Valley. Loads of activities—most of which are included in the cost of the stay—will keep families busy, from hiking, kayaking, and fishing in the spring and summer to ice skating, snow tubing, and snowshoeing in the winter. Children will love the heated indoor pool with underwater music and the complimentary kids club. Three farm-to-table meals and afternoon tea with cookies are included in your stay. The Kids Stay & Eat Free package includes one free child per adult and is only available by phone (855-883-3798). Check out our detailed review of Mohonk Mountain House for more details.
3. Sandpiper Bay Resort – Port Saint Lucie, Florida
Kids 11 and under stay, eat, and play for free at this fabulous all-inclusive resort. There are free kids and teen clubs for ages 4-17, as well as an infant club and another for ages 2 and 3 that cost extra. A water park and pools, mini golf, sports such as tennis and basketball, and myriad other activities are included in your stay, as are all meals and beverages. Spacious rooms and suites accommodate families of various sizes.
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Farming is one of the many activities included in the cost of a stay at Blackberry Farm.
4. Blackberry Farm — Walland, Tennessee
At this luxurious retreat in the Great Smoky Mountains, families can enjoy Camp Blackberry all summer long, which offers activities like geocaching, archery, stream exploration, and farming that are included in the cost of the stay. Swimming, hiking, tennis and pickleball, and a fitness center are also included. Kids 4 and under stay free, and accommodations include a variety of cabins, cottages, and tree houses.
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Kids can stay for free and enjoy free activities at Blue Haven Resort.
Family-Friendly Hotels in the Caribbean and Mexico Where Kids Stay Free
5. Blue Haven Resort – Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
Kids will flip for the water trampoline, beach volleyball, giant chessboard, horseshoes court, kayaking, snorkeling, hammocks, and free kids club at this all-inclusive resort. Parents will love that kids 12 and younger stay and eat free with paying adults any time of year. You also have access to the resort’s sister property, Alexandra Resort, via free shuttle. A nearby marina offers additional aquatic adventures.
6. Club Med Punta Cana — Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Kids under 4 stay free at all Club Med all-inclusive resorts, while those ages 4-11 stay for up to 50% off and ages 12-15 stay for up to 20% off. We especially love Club Med Punta Cana, where families can enjoy fun circus activities, a fantastic kids club, great pools, gourmet food, and so much more.
7. Moon Palace Jamaica — Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Kids 17 and under stay, play, and eat for free at this all-inclusive resort, which is loaded with activities for all ages. The resort's program just for kids, The Dreamery, ensures children have a fantastic time hanging out in the kitted-out kids club or gaming lounge, getting royal spa treatments, enjoying sweet treats from a roving candy cart, and relishing in-room amenities like kid-sized robes and slippers.
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Kids stay free at the stunning Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort in Aruba.
8. Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort – Oranjestad, Aruba
Kids will love the four pools, water slide, rock climbing wall, beach volleyball, water-sports center, video-game room, and other organized activities at this Dutch Caribbean resort. Adults will enjoy the spa, nine-hole golf course, and fitness center. Kids 12 and under stay free with a room-only booking. All-inclusive packages are free for kids 5 and under, while older kids pay a reduced rate.
9. Garza Blanca Resort & Spa — Los Cabos, Mexico
This luxurious beachfront all-inclusive boasts several pools, a fantastic kids club, a floating aqua park, water sports, and a variety of other activities. But its highlight for families is its generous Family Program, through which up to two kids age 12 and under stay free when booked in a room with their parents. Every kid is greeted with a fun welcome gift and a child-sized robe and slippers. The resort also provides free baby gear such as strollers, car seats, bouncers, and baby bathtubs so families can pack light.
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Families are treated like royalty at Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort & Spa.
10. Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort & Spa — Cancun, Mexico
With this all-inclusive resort's Family Selection package, up to two kids age 17 and under can stay for free with their parents in a special area of the resort. Each family is assigned a personal butler at check-in. The resort, only 30 minutes from downtown Cancun, features family-friendly pools, an aquatic park, live performances, games, a video-game zone, kids clubs, and so much more.
Photos courtesy of the hotels and resorts