While most people imagine Miami Beach as a vibrant destination for adults, partygoers, and celebrities, it is also an ideal spot for families. Family hotels in Miami offer a range of amenities that make it the perfect destination for those traveling with kids. A little planning will ensure a smooth, family-friendly vacation where everyone can enjoy the beautiful surroundings and attractions.
When booking a family-friendly hotel, the first thing to consider is finding a place that accommodates the entire family—whether through spacious suites or adjoining rooms. This is the most important step before thinking about where to take the kids for fun. Additionally, look for eateries offering kid-friendly menus instead of the typical adult-oriented fare, and seek out locations where children can join in the fun without encountering an atmosphere unsuitable for them.
Ready to discover the best family hotels that will make your family vacation unforgettable?
1) Mariott Courtyard
Alright, ready, located at 1530 Washington Avenue, Mariott Courtyard seems to be a good choice to start with. It is at a strategic location, which is very close to the popular Lincoln Road Mall, very nice, and is two blocks away from the Convention Center, where the sand, sun, and sea are accessible.
This smaller version of the first Mariott at Miami Beach offers a family the choice to connect guests’ rooms, or up to 4 suites if you are willing to part with more money. Unfortunately, there are no children’s programs at this hotel, but you could wow the kids by bringing them to have a bird’s eye view of Miami Beach at their rooftop pool deck.
The Marriot Courtyard provides convenience as well to travel around to attractions. The cafes at Washington Avenue and Espanola Way, as well as the shops around, are quite accessible with the stroller set.
With just 25 cents, take a ride at the “South Beach Local” and it would bring you to most of Miami Beach’s best attractions, which are accessible between Lincoln Road Mall and South Pointe Park.
There are 8 one-bedroom suites available for smaller families. Older children would enjoy the 32-inch flat-screen TV as well as the high-speed internet access. Although there are no programs available for the children, they can rent game consoles and movies from the front desk. One perk for the parents is an in-house Starbucks available downstairs. Besides the Mariott Courtyard, another suitable accommodation for a family with kids is the beachfront resorts all along Collins Avenue. These resort houses are family-friendly, and around the area, your neighboring guests would mostly be – you guessed it, other families. There are usually services where you could drop off your children to be cared for while you adults go and rekindle that honeymoon romance you wish you were able to get on – without the kids around.
Mariott Courtyard ***
1530 Washington Avenue, South Beach – Very central
prices from $198 per night
- Spacious guest rooms with modern amenities
- Free Wi-Fi
- On-site restaurant and bar
- Fitness center
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Business center
- Proximity to Miami Beach’s popular attractions and landmarks
- Concierge services
- Meeting and event spaces
- Valet parking
- Pet-friendly rooms (with a fee)
2) Ritz-Carlton South Beach
If you are looking for something high-end for your entire family to enjoy, then you should take a look at Ritz-Carlton South Beach located at One Lincoln Road. This oceanfront hotel offers the choice of one-bedroom suites or two adjoining rooms for families. You could request an extra child-friendly roll-away bed. Now, the best feature of the Ritz Carlton for families is hands down their in-house children’s program which would take care of your children aged 5 to 12 years old with pool-side activities and games for half a day, and even a full day.
This is especially for that alone time you had been longing for with your partner during your South Beach vacation with your family. The folks at the Ritz Kids Camp start working at 9 am, and all you have to do is register your kids and leave them there with sunscreen and swimwear, and they will be in the care of qualified supervisors.
These folks would have your kids occupied with fun activities such as face painting, shell finding, creating crafts and so much more. However, this service is not free as you have to pay for it – which is worth it for that alone time that you crave during one of those days while having your Miami vacation with your family.
Drop your kids there while you and your partner enjoy a rejuvenating couples massage at the Ritz Spa, as well as dinner for two at the in-house Evolution Restaurant headed by chef David Bouley.ì
Ritz-Carlton South Beach *****
One Lincoln Road, South Beach – Very central
prices from $440 per night
- Luxurious guest rooms and suites with ocean or city views
- Fine dining at the on-site restaurant
- Private beach access
- Outdoor swimming pool and sundeck
- Fitness center and spa
- Business center and meeting spaces
- Concierge services and personal shopping assistance
- Valet parking
- Pet-friendly rooms (with a fee)
- Proximity to Miami’s popular attractions and landmarks
3) Loews Miami Beach Hotel
If you fear Ritz Carlton might burn a hole in your pocket, head over a block away at 1601 Collins Avenue and you will find the family-oriented Loews Miami Beach Hotel. Although the kid’s program at Loews had been shut down due to the building of a new spa targeted for the parents, they are still as children and even pet-oriented as ever.
Families with children would receive a special gift complimentary from the hotel for the little tykes. They offer a pet-friendly room for families who cannot part with their lovely pets. The hotel would give a complimentary pet feeding bowl with treats and a complete guide with maps to the local pet shops and services. Loews Miami Beach Hotel is now renewing its kid’s program to make the stay for families an enjoyable one.
Depending on the size of your family, you could choose either connecting suites or junior suites for you and your family. Roll-out beds could be requested, and the suites are quite spacious, throughout 750 square feet which allows space for up to 2 rollaway beds.
Parents could crash in the king-sized bedroom, while the children could have fun in the hall, crashing at the couch bed and rollaway beds requested. The kids would also love to know that they are allowed to borrow Game Boys at the desk, as well as DVD players with age-appropriate titles to help them curb boredom – which rarely happens.
There are five different award-winning eateries to choose from at Loews.
There is the Emeril’swhich serves up the New Orleans style of cooking, Preston’s which serves amazing American-influenced steaks, and the SoBe café bar by the pool which serves awesome grilled food and a relaxing choice of beverages.
All five restaurants offer menus suitable for kids, as well as portable tabletop DVD players usually used by parents to distract children while they enjoy a quiet dinner. There are plenty of fitness programs as well at Loews The KidsFit program would help to teach your children about fitness and nutrition.
Loews Miami Beach Hotel ****
Collins Avenue, South Beach – Very central
prices from $290 per night
- Luxurious guest rooms and suites with ocean or city views
- On-site restaurant and bar
- Fitness center
- Outdoor swimming pool with cabanas and poolside service
- Spa and salon services
- Business center
- Meeting and event spaces
- Concierge services
- Valet parking
- Pet-friendly rooms (with a fee)
- Proximity to Miami Beach’s popular attractions and landmarks
- Private beach access
4) Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel
One more? Sure, right at 1717 Collins Avenue lies the Kimpton Hotel, a moderately priced popular hotel. Offering both city-view and ocean-view rooms and suites, the Surfcomber is often booked way ahead of time. Located only two blocks away from the Miami Beach Convention Center and directly north of the Ocean Drive hubbub. Another Hilton-owned hotel located at 1430 Ocean Drive is the Hilton Grand Vacations Club.
With furnishings inspired by the Art Deco era, this hotel boasts over 52 rooms, all of them suites, all designed for an intimate experience. It is strategically located right across Lummus Park and close to the ocean. Depending on your family size, you may choose either the one-bedroom suite which could home up to 4 guests or the two-bedroom suite could home up to six guests. The Hilton Grands Vacations Club does not have a pool, however, there is a sun deck and a Jacuzzi hot top on the rooftop.
When choosing a hoteland accommodation for your family it all comes down to your budget. Once you have chosen a place to stay, it is time to decide if you want to rent a car so you can bring your family to enjoy the highways of Miami. However, be advised that Miami is so convenient, that most guests prefer to take the bus and taxis, and even walk on foot to enjoy the Miami experience. Now that you have gotten a place to crash for your family, it is time to start deciding on where to go during your Miami vacation and how to get there. Read ahead for more family-friendly tips.
Kimpton Hotel ****
Collins Avenue, South Beach – Very central
prices from $360 per night
- Stylish and modern guest rooms
- Free Wi-Fi
- On-site restaurant and bar
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Fitness center
- Bike rentals
- Pet-friendly rooms
- Beach club with private cabanas
- Complimentary morning coffee and tea service
- Concierge services
- Meeting and event spaces
- Valet parking
What to do with your family in Miami
Party With The Monkeys
Head over to 14805 SW 216th Street in Cutler Ridge and your kids would love it if you take them to the Monkey Jungle there. Opened back in 1933, and originally as a place to study primates, it is now a wildlife park where visitors are allowed to walk in the enclosed center with the monkeys running free.
Buy some raisins from the gift shop for your little ones and give them the experience of feeding the ever-hungry monkeys. However, be very careful here as the monkeys here are free, and could get in very close distance. Whether your child wants to feed them or not, do watch closely for naughty monkeys. There is also a Wild Monkey Swimming Pool and their exhibition of the Amazonian Rain Forest.
There are various activities and the trainers there would be more than happy to answer questions regarding the primates. However, if your children do not fancy the wildlife, enjoy a game of bowling instead at the Lucky Strike Lanes off Lincoln Road.
Dining Options For the Family
Head over to 1654 Meridian Avenue to enjoy Cuban cuisine at David’s Two Café. They offer a very good menu, and the prices are affordable. Among their signature dishes is the Arroz Con Pollo, a Cuban cuisine that serves yellow rice with chicken in huge portions – enough to pass around. Another good choice is the Bistec Empanizado, which is popular among children, a steak which had been sliced thin and breaded, served alongside rice with black beans. A must-try for the parents is their Café Cubano, a super-strong espresso that would re-ignite that energy for a continued walk.
When you bring your family on a vacation at Miami Beach, you should be on a budget as the headcount is higher and it is easy to overspend. However, it does not pose a problem to dine with a budget. For a good and affordable breakfast, head over to 516 Espanola at Espanola Way and enjoy the French pastries at A la Folie Café.
If you and your kids love pizzas, Hosteria Romana is located just nearby at 429 Espanola.
The waiters here are very sporting and they do their best to entertain guests while taking orders. For hearty sandwiches intended for beach picnics, La Sanwicherie at 229 14th Street east of Espanola. Their fresh-baked croissant, known as baguette is very delicious, especially if you add on sliced meats and salads with sauces. Their juice bar offers healthier drinks like vegetables and fruit smoothies.
If you are not a fan of sandwiches and would prefer grilled hot dogs and beef, head over to Dogma at 15th Washington. Another affordable steakhouse and grilled food is the Classic Steakhouse located at 1 Washington Avenue. During the quiet nights, bring your family to Taverna Opa to experience a truly Greek dining experience at 36 Ocean, where it is loud, and party all week long.
Once you had enough of the boisterous Greek diner, you could try out Smith & Wollensky, which is very much the opposite. It has a great view of the sea though. Once everyone is full of dinner, take a family walk at South Pointe Park.
There are plenty of places for you to bring the kids if they ever have a sweet tooth and feel like having some ice cream. Frieze Ice Cream Factory is one of the popular spots to head to which would help quench that sugar craving, located at 1626 Michigan Avenue.
They offer a variety range of flavors that would satisfy any ice cream freak. They also serve sorbets for those who want to watch their figures while enjoying the sinful taste of delicious ice cream. The Ice Box Café is worth a visit as well at 1657 Michigan Avenue, as it is dubbed by Oprah Winfrey as the “Best Ice Cream in America“. This place is perfect for family, but it only opens during brunch, lunch, and dinner times. You could enjoy their ice cream on the sidewalks, perfect for taking a walk.
Family-Friendly Fun in Miami
Take your kids shopping at Genius Jones or Gap Kids on Lincoln Road, close to Lucky Strike Lanes, a rock and roll-themed bowling alley for kids until 9 pm. For a fun, wet experience, head to Flamingo Park (11th Street & Jefferson Avenue), where kids can enjoy the interactive pool for just $4. The park opens at 8:30 am until sunset and offers a sports complex and gym for parents.
If you’re willing to travel, visit Parrot Jungle Island on Watson Island, home to wild cats, monkeys, and the famous Godzilla lizard. Kids can feed the animals and take photos with them, while enjoying shows like “Reptile Giants” and “Winged Wonders.” The Lakeside Café offers affordable meals for families.
For outdoor adventures, take the family to Oleta River State Park for biking, kayaking, and canoeing. The nearby Marlin Café offers seafood and affordable kids’ meals. Enchanted Forest Elaine Gordon Park offers horseback rides, or kids can pet and feed ponies.
For a sweet treat, visit Knaus Berry Farm for fresh strawberry milkshakes and cinnamon swirls. From January to April, pick your own fruit.
Lastly, check out Miami Metro Zoo or the Miami Seaquarium for more wildlife adventures, including feeding sessions and wildlife shows. If you’re up for a longer trip, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo offers activities like snorkeling, swimming, and a glass-bottom boat tour.
Stop by Mutineer Restaurant in North Miami to enjoy a meal and feed waterfowl and goats with provided food.
Back To The Sandy Beaches!
It is your final few days in Miami,so it is time to enjoy the sandy beaches of Miami Beach. A family-friendly beach would be Biscayne Bay, especially with its tour boats which could bring you and your family on a Miami Beach tour.
The Duck Tours offer the best boat tour rides as they choose the best spots for sightseeing, and are often a hit with families. Another popular tour ride is the El Loro Pirate Ship, a more pirate-themed tour suitable for your children.
A whole day at the beach would make anyone hungry, so bring your kids for a hearty snack at the food court located on the second floor of the Bayside, or if it is dinner time head over to Los Ranchos instead to enjoy Latin-inspired steaks and seafood grills. The prices here are quite affordable as well. For a more American meal, head over to Hard Rock Cafe located at 401 Biscayne Boulevard.
There are so many things to do in Miami for special family time.
There’s no better way to bond with your family compared to take them on a family vacation, and Miami provides the chance to experience the best family vacation. Just be sure to make proper planning ahead, and you should be able to enjoy your time with your family and ensure everybody returns home with smiles on their faces!
