Don't miss these 11 brand-new family resorts opening in 2024
I have told you about 14 family-friendly hotels and resorts opening in 2024 that you should add to your want-to-go-there list. Since then, I've learned about even more new family-friendly properties that have opened or will open this year. Offering tropical beachfront getaways, mountain escapes and cool features and amenities galore, these new hotels and resorts create even more options for memorable family vacations.
We’re talking everything from paddleboarding on an artificial lagoon and swimming with tropical fish to learning how to cook using farm-fresh ingredients and gazing up at the stars while roasting marshmallows for s’mores. Here are 11 more new family-friendly hotels and resorts that have got me dreaming of a stay.
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1. Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman
Cayman Islands
Opened in spring 2024, Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman reflects its island setting with artwork by local Caymanian and Caribbean artists and a design inspired by the natural landscape and cultural traditions. The hotel's 288 guest rooms include family suites with king beds, bunk beds, living and dining areas, two bathrooms, a sofa bed and private balconies, plus the option to book an adjoining standard room to sleep up to 10 guests.
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The resort fee includes complimentary beach towels, chairs and umbrellas on scenic Seven Mile Beach, and the resort’s pool deck features two infinity pools separated by a waterfall feature, one designated for adults and another for families. A 24-hour fitness center means you never have to miss a workout, and outdoor yoga classes are offered three times a week. Make sure to catch the sunset from the ninth-floor Pom Pom rooftop lounge, one of the only rooftop lounges on Grand Cayman.
2. AVA Resort Cancun
Cancun, Mexico
This just-opened all-inclusive resort is only 10 minutes from Cancun International Airport but feels like a total escape. All 1,622 rooms, suites, and villas have private terraces with views of the Caribbean Sea, and more than a dozen dining options range from upscale to casual.
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Amenities at AVA Resort Cancun include a dedicated kids pool and water park, a family pool with a swim-up bar, and the almost 3-acre AVA Bay, an artificial lagoon ideal for swimming, floating, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. A kids club offers arts and crafts, games, movies and other activities for young guests, while teens can head to The Lounge, where there’s a snack bar and table games like pingpong, foosball and pool. That gives grown-ups time for a workout at the two-floor fitness center or a spa treatment.
3. Firefall Ranch
Yosemite, California
There’s a new way to stay for a trip to experience the popular Yosemite Valley and Yosemite National Park. Firefall Ranch offers 55 stand-alone one-, two- and three-bedroom cottages and villas, which all feature a double-sided indoor/outdoor fireplace, spacious covered deck and high-style design elements. Located within minutes of Yosemite’s northwest entrance, the property is built for rest and relaxation after busy days of outdoor exploration.
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A Recreation Desk helps guests arrange guided excursions that range from snowshoeing outings to a private airplane ride over the park. But there’s also lots to enjoy at Firefall Ranch itself, like a heated pool and hot tubs, hiking trails, games in the Guest Lounge, and outdoor activities such as bocce ball and horseshoes. A seasonally rotating activities calendar offers fun for the whole family, with options like nightly fireside s’mores, crafts, stargazing and wine tastings.
4. The Ellie Beach Resort Myrtle Beach, Tapestry by Hilton
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Located on 30 acres of beachfront on the quieter south end of Ocean Boulevard, The Ellie Beach Resort Myrtle Beach, Tapestry by Hilton makes for a great home base for a family vacation in the popular South Carolina destination. All 238 guest rooms and suites have private balconies offering ocean views, and some suites feature full refrigerators for stocking up during a stay.
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Guests enjoy direct access to the beach from the hotel, and six swimming pools and a lazy river provide additional options for cooling off. For active types, there’s a fitness center and volleyball court, and a mini-golf course and bocce ball court stand ready for a little family competition. The hotel is well-situated for enjoying all sorts of area attractions, including the Broadway at the Beach shopping and entertainment complex, Family Kingdom Amusement Park, and SkyWheel Myrtle Beach.
5. Marriott Cancun, an All-Inclusive Resort
Cancun, Mexico
Marriott International’s first-ever all-inclusive property opened in spring 2024 in the popular Yucatan Peninsula vacation zone. The turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea serve as the backdrop for activities and amenities at the resort, which include a state-of-the-art fitness center and full-service spa.
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Guests can find their ideal spot at the all-inclusive’s three pools: an adult pool, a family pool and a kids pool featuring a lazy river and waterslides. An immersive kids club is set to open this summer, and Cancun’s many attractions are close by. Nine resort restaurants serve up cuisine from around the world and include kid-friendly options like a pizzeria, sports bar, and burger and shake shop.
6. St. Regis Longboat Key Resort
Longboat Key, Florida
A new luxury lodging experience will soon be available near Sarasota, Florida, when the beachfront St. Regis Longboat Key Resort opens this summer. Located on 18 acres on the barrier island of Longboat Key, the resort is the only St. Regis property opening in the U.S. in 2024. Water views can be enjoyed at every turn, whether from the 800 feet of private white-sand beach, one of the rooftop dining spots, or the hotel’s 168 guest rooms, which include 26 suites with terraces.
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Guests of all ages can cool off at the resort’s multiple swimming pools or explore the lagoon wildlife experience, a 350,000-gallon habitat with nearly 50 stingrays and more than 2,800 local reef fish spanning 50 native species. The Reef Rangers Children’s Club will offer activities for younger guests, while the grown-ups will love the impressive St. Regis Spa, which includes oh-so-soothing features like a hydrothermal area with Finnish sauna, eucalyptus steam room, snow shower, cold plunge and a Relaxation Lounge leading to an infinity-edge pool overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.
7. Margaritaville Resort Cape Cod
Hyannis, Massachusetts
Opening in summer 2024, Margaritaville's first lodging location in New England will offer four-season fun in Hyannis on Cape Cod. Expect amenities like an indoor water park, outdoor pool, arcade, fitness center, pickleball courts and on-site spa (opening this fall) sure to please guests of all ages.
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Some guest rooms will have water park views, and all will be done up in the brand's easy-breezy, island-inspired style. Other signature Margaritaville touches will include live entertainment at the resort and dining and drinking options like the LandShark Bar & Grill and 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar. It's a taste of the tropics on charming Cape Cod and a new option for a beach vacation on the peninsula.
8. Pendry Natirar
Somerset County, New Jersey
Though it’s only an hour from New York City, Pendry Natirar will feel like a world away when it opens this fall. Situated on a hilltop and surrounded by conservation land in New Jersey’s Somerset County, the hotel will offer amenities like a fitness center, full-service spa, swimming pool, tennis courts and trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Sixty-six guest rooms, including 21 suites, blend traditional and contemporary country style and will offer all the comforts of home and then some.
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The property’s sustainable farm will supply on-site dining outlets with fresh produce and humanely raised meats, and a cooking school will give the whole family the chance to learn basic techniques and beyond. On-site bike rentals will make exploring easy, and the Paintbox kids’ club will offer crafts, entertainment and activities for guests ages 5 to 12.
9. AutoCamp Asheville
Asheville, North Carolina
Located on 16 acres along the French Broad River, AutoCamp Asheville will offer multiple lodging options for guests, including 55 of the brand’s signature custom-designed Airstreams, two cabins and six “Bambi Suites,” a new accommodation category well-suited for single travelers or couples. Scheduled to open in September, the property will provide easy access to the river along with all the other outdoor recreation opportunities in the Asheville area.
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On-property amenities at AutoCamp Asheville will include an all-season plunge pool and spa and the Clubhouse, where The Kitchen offers freshly prepared foods for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the General Store stocks AutoCamp’s signature Grill Kits and s’mores kits plus local beer and wine. It’s a convenient option before one of the property’s outdoor movie nights or live performances from local musicians.
10. Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique
Punta Cacique, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Natural wonders will meet high style at Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique, opening late this year. Resting on the peaceful Playa Penca of Punta Cacique on Costa Rica’s northern Pacific Coast, the resort will include 148 guest rooms and 40 suites offering both privacy and a spacious stay. Ocean views abound here, and the hotel’s modern design will help connect guests with the natural environment.
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Guests will be able to lounge by the multilevel pool or head to a secluded stretch of beach for swimming and paddleboarding. Younger travelers can play and socialize at the resort’s well-equipped kids and teen clubs, while the adults can visit the holistic wellness center featuring a cenote-inspired spa, state-of-the-art gym, movement studio, outdoor yoga areas, and lap and thermal pools. Multiple restaurants will offer everything from locally inspired cuisine to coffee and ice cream.
11. Hotel Polaris at the U.S. Air Force Academy
Colorado Springs, Colorado
With 14,115-foot Pikes Peak in its backyard, Hotel Polaris at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs will serve as a great lodging option for both visits to the academy and exploring the Rocky Mountains when it opens late this year. Taking design inspiration from its scenic setting, the 375-room resort-style hotel will offer an outdoor pool and sun deck and six restaurants and bars, including a rooftop bar and a rec-room–style family restaurant and bar.
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Befitting its location, Hotel Polaris will feature the only immersive flight simulators at a hotel in the United States, where guests can test their skills at the throttle. The full-service, six-room spa and wellness center will include a balcony overlooking the Rockies, and a menu of wellness programs will help visitors embrace the hotel’s natural surroundings via group hikes, sunrise yoga classes and other activities.
11 can't-miss new family resorts opening in 2024 originally appeared on FamilyVacationist.com.
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The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. FamilyVacationist.com and TourScoop.com are owned and operated by Vacationist Media LLC. Using the FamilyVacationist travel recommendation methodology, we review and select family vacation ideas, family vacation spots, all-inclusive family resorts, and classic family vacations for all ages. TourScoop covers guided group tours and tour operators, tour operator reviews, tour itinerary reviews and travel gear recommendations.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Whatever the mood, these 11 new family resorts opening in 2024 deliver
