The art of a successful family holiday lies in keeping all ages happy, with entertainment for the kids, menus to suit all tastes and for the grown-ups, of course, copious opportunities for relaxation. Whether your idea of perfection is a tropical island escape with an epic kids’ club, something closer to home, a self-contained apartment with access to theme parks or an easy, all-inclusive beachfront getaway, here’s our pick of the best holidays for every type of family.
Top family friendly holidays under $999
Pamookkoo Resort, Phuket
Built around a four-storey waterslide and adventure pool five minutes from Kata Beach, with Kids’ World running supervised activities daily. Package inclusions cover two adults and one child — breakfast, daily lunch or dinner, nightly drinks and a 60-minute massage each. Kata Beach is walkable; Karon Viewpoint is five minutes by car; the Big Buddha 15 minutes inland. Straightforward, well-priced and designed specifically around keeping children occupied.
PARKROYAL COLLECTION Kuala Lumpur
One child under 11 stays free with breakfast, and the package includes a room upgrade, daily Club Lounge access and MYR200 dining credit – making this a sensible city base for families who want to tick off the Petronas Towers, Pavilion shopping and Jalan Alor food street. The hotel runs its sustainability credentials seriously, with an onsite urban farm and air-purifying plants throughout. Club Lounge is reserved for guests 12 and over; younger children access the lounge equivalents at Thyme and Skye Chill instead.
Meliá Danang Beach Resort, Vietnam
Da Nang is quietly becoming one of Southeast Asia’s most compelling family destinations, and the Meliá Danang Beach Resort makes a strong case for why. Fronting Non Nuoc Beach with direct sand access, the resort has the family infrastructure to keep every age occupied: the Kidsdom kids’ club runs a full program of activities, while seven outdoor pools include two just for kids. The Level Family Two Bedroom rooms feature two interconnected spaces with children’s amenities built in, and dining spans Southeast Asian at Sasa, seafood and cocktails at Cape Nao Beach Club, and pool bar and cafe fare. When you’re ready to explore, Hoi An’s Ancient Town is a 30-minute drive and the Marble Mountains are closer still.
Sunway Resort Hotel, Kuala Lumpur
One child under 12 stays and eats free, and the resort sits inside Sunway City – a self-contained precinct with Sunway Lagoon Theme Park and Sunway Pyramid mall directly accessible. Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill and Gordon Ramsay Street Pizza are both onsite, alongside the Waterventure kids’ pool and Wonderland Explorers kids’ club. Daily Club Lounge access, nightly cocktails and RM100 dining credit are included. Note: the 20th Club lounge is adults-only; families with children under 12 access the Premier Leisure Lounge instead.
Wildlife Retreat at Taronga, Sydney
Spectacular Sydney Harbour views, koalas and wildlife pottering right outside your bedroom window… this could be one of Australia’s bucket-list family experiences. Set in Taronga Zoo, this eco retreat blends into the bush landscape, offering native wildlife viewing opportunities after hours. Visitors can also enjoy seasonal dining at Me-Gal Restaurant; the culinary journey here might begin with East 33 Sydney rock oysters with preserved desert lime and mignonette, followed by Rangers Valley wagyu and cinnamon myrtle creme caramel.
The Waters Khao Lak by Katathani, Thailand
For smaller families after a relaxed poolside break at a great price point, The Waters Khao Lak ticks the boxes, with one child staying free on a sofa bed. The resort spans seven interconnected pools with swim-out access from many rooms, plus a games room and tech hub to keep kids entertained between dips. Guests also get complimentary entry and shuttle transfers to the Water Zone and Sands Castle Kids’ Club at sister property The Sands Khao Lak, so there’s no shortage of splash-around options nearby.
Top family friendly holidays under $1,499
Shangri-La Chiang Mai, Thailand
Shangri-La Chiang Mai backs up its five-star polish with real family credentials. The free-form pool is the biggest in Chiang Mai, complete with a waterslide and splash zone, while the Kids’ Corner runs craft activities daily. Horizon Club rooms bring lounge access with breakfast and evening drinks included, and Kad Kafé’s mixed menu keeps fussy eaters happy. The Night Bazaar is an easy walk, with Old City temples just a short tuk-tuk ride away. And with one child (12 and under) staying and eating free, this is a stellar option for families.
Wyndham Garden Phuket Kamala, Thailand
Perfectly perched above the pearl-white sands of Kamala Beach, Wyndham Garden Phuket Kamala sits just 20 minutes from Phuket’s buzz. Drop your bags and dream on the knowledge that every indulgence is covered for the next few days, with daily dining and free-flowing drinks included in your package, as well as one child (16 and under) staying and eating free. A main pool and kids’ pool offer something for everyone, a kids’ club is on hand to entertain little adventurers, and the pristine Kamala Beach is just a short walk away.
Rhapsody Resort, Gold Coast
Tucked on Surfers Paradise’s northern end, Rhapsody Resort trades hotel rooms for self-contained two-bedroom apartments, with full kitchens and separate living areas that give families room to spread out. The package here comes loaded for theme park days, with unlimited entry to Dreamworld, WhiteWater World and the SkyPoint observation deck, all easily reached from base. Back at the resort, wind down at the rooftop lagoon pool and spa on level 27, with sweeping ocean and hinterland views. Surfers Paradise Beach and the light rail are both a short walk from the door.
Silverwater Resort, Victoria
Set high on the hills above San Remo, just 90 minutes from Melbourne, Silverwater Resort is built for families who need more than one room. Two- and three-bedroom apartments come with full kitchens, private balconies and enough space to stretch out after a big day, while the jumping pillows, games room and playground handle the in-between hours. There are two heated pools plus a spa and steam room for the adults, and Phillip Island’s famous Penguin Parade and Wildlife Park are both a short drive away for hand-feeding kangaroos or catching the nightly waddle.
Essence Peregian Beach, Sunshine Coast
For families who want the Noosa lifestyle without the Hastings Street price tag, the multi-bedroom luxury beach homes at Essence Peregian Beach put you 250 metres from the sand and 15 minutes from Noosa’s main strip. Two heated pools, a pool bar with $15 happy-hour cocktails and $100 dining credit make it genuinely self-contained. Peregian Beach itself is uncrowded, surf-friendly and backed by Noosa’s UNESCO-listed Biosphere Reserve.
Wafaifo Resort Hoi An
Wafaifo pairs boutique styling with genuine family appeal. The Kids Club runs supervised indoor and outdoor play for ages five to twelve, while the temperature-controlled 25-metre saltwater pool and its own kids’ area keep everyone entertained between lantern-lit wanders through Old Town. There’s an in-house cinema for rainy-day movie nights, and the resort’s central location means An Bang Beach, Tra Que Vegetable Village and the Japanese Covered Bridge are all just minutes away.
Mantra Legends Hotel, Gold Coast
Barely 100 metres from Surfers Paradise Beach, Mantra Legends Hotel is another apartment-style pick worth knowing about. Your stay here also comes with unlimited entry to Dreamworld, WhiteWater World and SkyPoint observation deck, so theme park days are already sorted. Back at the hotel, cool off in the lagoon-style pool with its cascading waterfalls, or grab a casual bite at Fables. Light rail stops right outside the door, making it easy to explore the rest of the Gold Coast strip without a car.
Top family friendly holidays under $2,000
The Naviti Resort, Fiji
Two children under 12 stay and eat free, and the package covers daily breakfast, nightly dinner, a sunset cruise, coral viewing cruise, guided snorkelling and unlimited non-motorised water sports. The kids’ club runs daily from 10am to 10pm for ages five to 12 — a longer run than most. Thirty-eight acres of palm-lined beachfront on the Coral Coast, two hours from Nadi, with a nine-hole golf course for parents who want a bunker rather than the beach.
Katathani Phuket Beach Resort, Thailand
A bestseller for good reason, Katathani spreads across six swimming pools, kids’ pools and a mini water slide, with the Chang Noi Kids’ Club running supervised activities daily for ages four to twelve. Packages includ two adults and two kids under $2,000, and at higher price points you can also opt for a fun Family Room with colourful decor and fun features for little ones, or a two-bedroom teen suite if travelling with older kids. The Joy Zone offers arcade games, table football and a cinema. With six restaurants onsite and Kata town a short stroll away, there’s plenty to keep every generation happy without ever leaving the resort.
Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort, Bali
Set on the golden sands of Nusa Dua, Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort makes family life easy from the moment you arrive. The Heavenly Kids Club welcomes children up to twelve with play, cultural activities and craft sessions, plus two hours of complimentary entry daily, while the dedicated kids’ pool comes with a waterslide and bubbling fountains for the smaller ones. A network of lagoon pools winds through the gardens for the grown-ups, with a swim-up bar never far away, and family-friendly menus mean mealtimes stay simple across all three restaurants.
Hyatt Regency Koh Samui, Thailand
Hyatt Regency Koh Samui is one of Thailand’s leading family resorts for good reason. Camp Hyatt, the resort’s kids’ club open daily from 9am, offers activities such as arts and crafts, Thai boxing and treasure hunts. Family rooms feature bunk beds, and kids staying in suites or villas receive in-room amenities including a teepee stocked with toys and unlimited homemade sweets at Cobalt restaurant throughout their stay. The resort itself sits on a rocky headland above North Chaweng, with five pools terracing down toward the Gulf of Thailand and the Samui International Airport just eight minutes away, which, after a long-haul flight with children, matters more than it sounds.
Warwick Fiji
Located on the sun-drenched Coral Coast, this all-inclusive Fijian oasis is perfect for families of all ages. Little ones can spend their days at Warwick Kids’ Club engaging in activities like crab hunting, craft making and sandcastle building; older kids can explore the island via kayak, bicycle or stand-up paddleboard or divide their time between the tennis, squash and volleyball courts. Meet up for family meals at oceanfront Bula Brasserie, where you can enjoy fresh seafood and authentic Fijian dishes.
Discover Top Escapes
Room rates and package options may vary based on number and age of guests.
