We’re all familiar with honeymoons. And buddymoons—when newlyweds vacation post wedding with a group of their best friends—have even become a thing. But now, in part because the pandemic delayed so many plans, “familymoons” are growing in popularity, with couples including their children in a lovey-dovey trip that balances romance with wonder.
You might be skeptical, but I can personally vouch that a familymoon is both possible and rewarding. When my husband and I eloped in the early days of COVID, it was hard enough to travel up the California coast for our “I dos.” The honeymoon we dreamed of—in an overwater bungalow—was out of the question. And then we had our first child and those fantasies got pushed even farther into the future.
Eventually, we decided to just stop waiting—and bring our then-21-month-old daughter along for a long-awaited honeymoon in the Maldives. The result? Delightful. Babysitters and kids’ clubs, spas and spectacular experiences, decadent lunches and early bedtimes all made the trip successful, helping each of us feel included, engaged, and excited.
Below, seven destinations where you can take your own familymoon and see for yourself just how great it can be.
Maldives
With their jewel-blue water and outcroppings of bungalows on stilts, the Maldives are what many of us picture when we hear “honeymoon.” But the nation’s indulgent resorts happen to cater beautifully to kids, too, with staff members that genuinely care about little ones.
As long you’re a family of water people, there’s something here for everyone, from swims alongside nurse sharks and massive manta rays, to surfing, kayaking, and multi-course meals served in underwater dining rooms (like at Niyama Private Islands Maldives and Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas, where technicolor fish and even sharks cruised by our table).
Doing nothing is also an option in the Maldives, and with a child along, even the smallest things—hermit crabs!—delighted us all. Our toddler actually made a private beach dinner under twinkle lights and the coral-colored sunset sky even more special—and ensured we were up for many memorable sunrises as well.
At JOALI Maldives, the indoor-outdoor Muramas kids’ club was so epic us adults would have happily spent a day playing there (though we also appreciated dropping off our daughter before our couple’s massage). We loved going on family treasure hunts to find the sustainable art installations scattered throughout the lush resort, and when our daughter got restless at meals (like at the outrageously delicious Japanese restaurant Saoke), there were several staff members clamoring to entertain her by “feeding” ice to sharks in the water below.
Montana
Traveling to a far-flung destination isn’t the only way to ensure a once-in-a-lifetime familymoon. Luxury guest ranches in Western states like Montana offer outdoor, kid-friendly entertainment, special dining experiences, and chances for the adults to escape, too.
Spread across 37,000 acres, glamping pioneer The Resort at Paws Up features expansive accommodations either in fancy tents or Wilderness Estates (complete with hot tubs) for families interested in private cattle drives, helicopter tours, and hot air balloon rides.
Meanwhile, Yellowstone fans can fulfill their fantasies at The Ranch at Rock Creek, an all-inclusive, 6,600-acre paradise of fishing, horseback riding, archery, sapphire mining, clay shooting, and so much more. Fabulous Relais & Chateaux–approved meals (plus children’s menus) and two activities per day are included, and there are even summer barn dances at which honeymooners can show off their wedding moves.
Fiji
Fiji is a dreamy destination for honeymooners, with idyllic beaches, vibrant coral reefs, and rushing waterfalls. As it happens, those things also appeal to children. Many of the sustainable resorts across this South Pacific archipelago offer engaging ways for them to learn about their surroundings.
The all-inclusive Kokomo Private Island Fiji, surrounded by one of the world’s most abundant reefs, has luxury residences that come with a private nanny and chef—plus there’s a fantastic kids’ club. Similarly, Nanuku Resort offers complimentary nannies from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for babies to 6-year-olds, but there’s also Hobie Cat sailing, waterfall swimming, sand dune climbing, and zip-lining for all ages.
For something extra special, try the famously romantic eco-resort Turtle Island, which opens to families three times a year. In addition to 12 private beaches and breathtaking snorkeling, the resort features personal nannies for kids 5 and under and “Bula Buddies” for those 6 and up so that adults can enjoy private beach picnics, floating pontoon dinners, and more.
British Virgin Islands
The British Virgin Islands are a particularly great place to familymoon. On Virgin Gorda, the Caribbean Sea provides a flawless backdrop for the 400-acre Oil Nut Bay resort, where there’s everything from private villas and an overwater restaurant to pickleball courts, hiking trails, a kids’ club, and an animal rescue barn with emus, flamingos, and more. Families can also bond over the resort’s Turtle Tagging adventure and safely help researchers catch turtles to measure, tag, and release.
At Rosewood Little Dix Bay, parents should sign their littles up for the Explorers program, which includes Caribbean folk arts and crafts, West Indian music, jewelry making, and shell collecting. With their kids entertained, they can play tennis, go sailing, or get pampered with indigenous botanicals grown on the resort grounds at Sense, A Rosewood Spa.
Rome
Pizza, pasta, and gelato: It’s all on the menu in Rome, where locals are typically very friendly to young ones. This kind of familymoon is probably best enjoyed with slightly older children who would get excited at the idea of seeing a Roman gladiator reenactment, visiting the zoo at Villa Borghese, or trying their hand at making fresh pasta.
Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel, is a plush place to call home base, since it’s minutes from the action but surrounded by 15 acres of park land, complete with multiple pools (including a dedicated kids’ pool) and museum-worthy sculptures. The only three-Michelin-star restaurant in the city, La Pergola, is also part of the property, which is a perfect reason to get a babysitter and savor a culinary spectacle for two. The over-the-top Sunday brunch at the hotel’s other restaurant, Uliveto, on the other hand, is incredibly family friendly, with live music and arts and crafts for children. For those aged 4 to 12, there’s also the summertime IT Club, which provides fun in the form of games, pool time, and more.
Hawaii
The Island of Hawaii was arguably our first familymoon, we just didn’t know to call it that. With our then-four-month-old in tow, we explored the largest and most diverse of the Hawaiian isles, hiking across the lava fields of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park with her in a carrier and visiting waterfalls in Hilo with the stroller.
Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection was an exceptional place to mix relaxation with family-friendly fun (especially since the resort was busy releasing juvenile sea turtles into the ocean when we were there). On-site restaurant CanoeHouse serves perhaps the island’s most unforgettable dinners, made better by vivid sunsets, occasional whale sightings, and enthusiastic kids running after the staff member who lights the tiki torches each evening. And at Kainalu Ocean Sports, the team goes out of their way to accommodate guests of all ages in outrigger canoe paddles and snorkeling excursions.
With no fewer than seven pools, including a 1.8 million–gallon swimmable aquarium, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai is another wondrous place for the whole family, offering encyclopedic baby amenities and gear on demand, as well as outdoor spa treatments, semi-private omakase sushi dinners, and more.
Bali
Though the journey is long, a trip to Bali makes for one of the best familymoons, thanks to its beaches and temples, jungles and rice terraces, and generally kid-friendly culture.
A balanced Bali familymoon includes some time spent near Ubud as well as in Uluwatu. In the former, stay at Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve (where villas come with private swimming pools and 24-hour butlers) and take advantage of activities like picnics in view of volcanoes, village visits in VW 181 convertibles, and Balinese cooking classes.
Farther south in Uluwatu, opt for Bulgari Resort Bali, set on a dramatic cliff. Plan for an exquisite prix fixe dinner at coastal Italian spot Il Ristorante–Luca Fantin, then celebrate your union at the resort’s temple with a cleansing Melukat water blessing ceremony for the entire family. Afterward, take your rice- and flower-adorned selves down the funicular to the pristine private beach to see who can spot the first sea turtle playing the waves.