The dreamiest family resorts in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia boasts some of the fanciest family destinations in the world - these are all the places we'd return to in a heartbeat

Bali

Mulia Resort

The dreamiest family resorts in Southeast Asia - Mulia Resort is the perfect option for families

This award-winning, independently owned Indonesian resort is located along the popular seafront strip at Nusa Dua in the south of Bali. The family-welcoming resort offers three different stay options: The Mulia is the epitome of beachfront luxury with all-suite accommodation and butler service, Mulia Villas offers private hillside retreats, and Mulia Resort is the vibrant option for discerning families. Parents will also be interested to know that the resort spent much of 2025 upgrading Mulia Villas to include the brand new, family-size Royal Villas. Each Royal Villa has been designed with young families in mind, with space to comfortably accommodate two adults and two children. The open-plan layouts include a separate room for children, private hydrotherapy pool, sun-dappled pavilion and daybed patio, indoor-outdoor showers and a jacuzzi tub. A 24-hour butler is there to cater to your every whim, including arranging gourmet in-villa dining. Guests staying in a Royal Villa can also access The Lounge and The Living Room with daily breakfast, afternoon tea, cocktails and canapés, as well as enjoying priority reservations for Mulia’s restaurants, spa and private pool cabanas. Further kids facilities around the resort include a Kidz Club for three to eight year olds, Mulia Kidz Explorer for eight to 12 year olds, T-Zone for Teens, beachfront play zones, a splash pool, bouncy castles and a welcome ice cream for all youngsters.

What we love: The warm family welcome, from spacious villa accommodation to fun activities for all ages, like the T-Zone for older children and the Kids’ Passport Programme.

Andaz Bali

The dreamiest family resorts in Southeast Asia - come for the immaculate beaches, stay for the family vibe

Step away from Seminyak and into the calm embrace of Sanur on Bali's east coast. Immaculate sandy beaches and crystal clear, paddle-friendly waters are the order of the day in this quieter neighbourhood. One of the area's top family hotels, Andaz Bali, boasts a relaxed atmosphere, beachside setting and stunning sunrises. The hotel is next door to the renowned Bali Hyatt, Bali’s original and oldest international resort hotel. This property has now been rebranded as Hyatt Regency and neighbouring Andaz Bali has been added to the portfolio. Andaz Bali's low-rise accommodations are hidden amongst lush gardens that unfurl onto the creamy sands and tranquil waters of Fisherman’s Beach. The heart of the resort is the manicured lawn of the ‘village square’, around which sit the four indoor-outdoor dining spaces and public areas. The tinkling fountains, fish ponds and pools throughout the resort create an atmosphere of calm; three swimming pools include Liang, an ocean-front resort pool, Santhi, a hidden lagoon and Alit, the dedicated children’s pool. The beach itself is carefully kept with a high-tech autmoated sand cleaner, perfect for young families to enjoy. Andaz Bali and Hyatt Regency Bali are both closely linked with the recently opened Sea Turtle Village Conservation Programme located between the two properties on the beachfront. Head over to find out more about turtle conservation in Bali and the efforts of this particular unit.

What we love: The serene and laid back ambiance - gentle craft activities are laid out for children as breakfast is served and later on, winding, shady paths lead you to the immaculately kept beach.

Ayana Bali

The dreamiest family resorts in Southeast Asia - a jungle adventure at Ayana Rimba

Located on the sunset-friendly west side of the island at JImbaran Bay, Ayana Bali is a stunning community of resorts spread over the lush green lawns and manicured gardens of an estate that eventually slopes down towards the towering cliffs of Jimbaran Bay. The estate is home to four resorts, Ayana Resort Bali, Ayana Rimba Bali, Ayana Segara Bali and Ayana Villas Bali. While Ayana Segara is reserved for adult-only guests, both Ayana Resort and Ayana Rimba embrace families, particularly the forested Rimba. Children’s facilities at both Ayana Resort and Ayana Rimba have recently been upgraded and feature a wealth of outdoor, softplay and quiet-time fun. At Ayana Resort, fun water slides link the play areas with the children’s pool. Along with a generous outdoor play area (rumoured to be the largest outdoor play park in Bali) with plenty for older children and a huge indoor soft play area, Rimba also offers a dedicated baby room for 0 to six year olds with ball pits, sensory play, slides and more. The sprawling estate boasts no fewer than 14 pools and 13 restaurants and the sandy beach is linked to the clifftop by a glass elevator (head after dark to check out the many monkeys that congregate by the lift shaft). Facilities at Ayana Bali include a kids’ club, cinema, pitch and putt golf and even an on-site museum dedicated to Balinese heritage. The whole estate is linked by cute trams you can hop on and off of.

What we love: The sense of space - with sprawling lawns and generous facilities, Ayana Bali is a spectacular resort in which to stretch out and enjoy some family time.

Maldives

NH Collection Maldives Reethi Resort

The dreamiest family resorts in Southeast Asia - the resort has emerged sparkling from an extensive refurbishment

A half-hour seaplane ride from the international airport, NH Collection Maldives Reethi Resort in Baa Atoll has reopened following an extensive refurbishment and rebrand. Now boasting 105 transformed villas, refined restaurants and bars, dedicated family spaces, children’s facilities and a spa, there’s a lot to love. The new-look villas are positioned to soak up the ocean views and include open-air showers, calming interiors and lots of natural materials like timber and bamboo. The thatched-roof beach villas face the sunset and are a short swim from the house reef; configurations include two-bedroom family villa options with private plunge pools. Alternatively, there are plenty of overwater villas to choose from. Kids will love the jewel-toned playground, the ocean-facing resort pool and the expanded kids’ club with indoor and outdoor play areas and shaded family pool. Older kids and parents can enjoy a plethora of watersports activities, like catamaran sailing, jet-skiing, kayaking and a house reef teeming with tropical fish. Fifteen minutes away is the world-famous Hanifaru Bay, the planet’s manta capital and host to giant whale sharks.

What we love: While a lot of thought has gone into the family-related facilities, there are still plenty of options for mum and dad to relax, like couples rituals at the spa and fine dining experiences alongside casual family eats.

Soneva Fushi

The dreamiest family resorts in Southeast Asia - kids just want to have fun

The fun for kids is endless at Soneva Fushi, from villas with waterslides to heaps of watersports, an outdoor Cinema Paradiso, and one of the finest children's clubs in the region. Fill rumbling tums with 30 different flavours of complimentary ice cream at The Ice Cream Room or chocolate treats at The Chocolate Room. Popular family accommodation includes the Family Villa Suite with Pool and the Family Villa Suite, which includes an upstairs children’s room and star-gazing observation deck. The Den children’s club has a weekly programme of activities as well as a pirate ship, two swimming pools, a Lego and Duplo room, a dress-up room, cinema, library and music room. There’s a separate lounge area, mocktail bar and gaming area for teens. Wildlife Explorer is a fun immersive activity for families and there are also guided snorkelling expeditions. Soneva Fushi is located on Kunfunadhoo Island in Baa Atoll. It’s a 30-minute seaplane ride from Male or a domestic flight to Dharavandhoo Airport followed by a 12-minute speedboat ride.

What we love: The attention to detail that has gone into creating what is perhaps Asia’s best children's club. 

Six Senses Laamu

The dreamiest family resorts in Southeast Asia - eco-vibes run through this secluded ressort

The resort of choice for the more ecologically-minded guest, Six Senses Laamu boasts a host of enticing facilities. Fun family activities include a huge free-form swimming pool, a house reef accessible from the resort’s overwater facility, a personal GEM (Guest Experience Maker) and five dining spaces, including an ice cream parlour and a chocolate studio. The list of family attractions is endless; think jungle cinema, watersports centre, bicycles, an organic garden, earth lab and chicken farm, surf, wakeboard, windsurf, dive and catamaran sailing classes, volleyball, football, badminton, table tennis, treasure hunts - and complimentary ice cream. Plus there’s a Junior Marine Biology programme for six to 16 year olds with one-on-one mentoring from marine biologists. Back on dry land, there’s The Den children’s club for four to 12 year olds and in-villa babysitting. The resort is justifiably proud of its conservation work centred around the Sea Hub of Environmental Learning in Laamu, a part research facility, part education centre which houses a marine laboratory, exhibition areas and around ten in-house biologists working on coral restoration, manta research and wider reef protection. Six Senses Laamu can is just over an hour by seaplane from Malé followed by a speedboat ride, but its relative seclusion compared to other resorts means richer reefs and brighter stars.

What we love: The environmental message is strong at Six Senses Laamu in what is one of the country's least developed atolls and with one of the Maldives' richest reefs.

Malaysia

Shangri-La Rasa Ria

The dreamiest family resorts in Southeast Asia - get back to nature (and a two-mile beach) in Sabah

The beachside Shangri-La Rasa Ria in the Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo island has established an almost legendary status amongst Asia-based families - and with good reason. The resort is almost an hour from the international airport but the journey transports you to the edge of Borneo’s tropical wilderness and as you step into the breezy reception overlooking the beach, it’s all totally worth the effort. The sprawling property spans 400 acres of nature and forest reserve with a two-mile beachfront strip. There’s heaps of fun for families with a kids’ club, pool with water slide, beach watersports and adventure playgrounds. The expansive resort is divided into two; the Garden Wing is pitched at family groups while an upgrade to the exclusive Ocean Wing gives you an expansive balcony with a decadent outdoor tub and a second, larger resort pool with plenty of staff proffering water bottles, fresh fruit and poolside massages. Rooms in both wings have spectacular pool and ocean views. The children’s pool is located at the Garden Wing and has a water slide as well as poolside dining - set yourself up with a cool drink as the kids hurl themselves down the slippery dip. More facilities include a putting green, tennis court, croquet lawn, neighbouring golf course, spa and water sports centre. 

What we love: This stunning resort allows you to simply fly ‘n’ flop, or take advantage of the hotel-arranged activities like junior nature programmes, teen ranger adventures and sunrise hikes.

Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas

The dreamiest family resorts in Southeast Asia - Desaru Coast is so near yet so far from Singapore

Desaru Coast, with its 17kms of sweeping sandy beach, has long been a favourite sandy hang-out for local Malays, and even the odd Singaporean looking to relax and recharge. The resort is just over the causeway from Singapore and can be reached by ferry from the city. The 3,700-acre coastal area of Desaru was launched in 2017 as the country’s first premium integrated destination, with two championship golf courses, a retail village and a water park, meaning there’s plenty of fun both on and off the Anantara site. The beachside resort itself boasts two pools and if we could sum up Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas in a word, it would be generous. Generous gardens, generous pools, generous rooms, generous beach - everything is comfortably scaled. Along with a selection of rooms and suites in the main building, the resort also offers standalone one and two-bedroom pool villas which have been designed in the style of traditional ‘kampong’ (village) houses to suit family groups. As well there's a collection of seriously schmick three and four-bedroom residences with private pool, direct beach access, full kitchen and chef and butler service. Layang Layang kids’ club provides fun activities for four to 12 year olds and there’s also a teen hangout area with a cinema.

What we love: A short ferry ride from Singapore places you a world away from city life - set sail on a hotel mangrove & firefly tour or pack your swimmers and head for the water park. 

Shangri-La Rasa Sayang

The dreamiest family resorts in Southeast Asia - the hotel is a short walk from the night markets of Penang

This glorious five-star beachfront resort in Penang is set amongst 30 lazy acres of landscaped gardens featuring century-old rain trees. The property is located on the northern tip of Penang Island on Batu Feringgi beach and around 45-minutes from Penang International Airport. The hotel has two wings, the Rasa Wing and the slightly more laid-back and more recently renovated Garden Wing. Rooms overlook the lush gardens or the ocean. Shangri-La Rasa Sayang offers multiple pools to cool off in, including a dedicated children’s pool, as well as a pitch-and-putt golf course. Further facilities include three restaurants and two bars. The hotel is adjacent to Shangri-La Golden Sands, a four-star property that’s super family friendly; the thing to know is that Rasa Sayang guests are free to use the Golden Sands’ facilities, including its generous resort pool, the Splash Zone mini water park, daily activities programme, Adventure Zone and Kids' Club - wear them out all day long before slipping back to the serenity of Rasa Sayang.

What we love: This is a beautiful resort with lots to keep kids happy. The hotel is also just a stroll from Batu Feringgi night market with street food and fun souvenir shopping.

Singapore & surrounds

Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree

The dreamiest family resorts in Southeast Asia - 'seed pod' treehouses line the banks of the reservoir

Arriving at Mandai is a little like escaping through the back of the wardrobe into a leafy, rainforested version of Narnia, about as far from downtown Singapore as you can get without hopping on a flight. Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree is located within Mandai Wildlife Reserve in the city’s North Region. The resort opened last year adjacent to the five wildlife parks located in the reserve, including historic Singapore Zoo. Mandai Rainforest Resort has been a decade in the making and its green credentials have now set a benchmark for sustainable development in the city. The 338-room hotel is located within what used to be the back-of-house facilities for the zoo. The light and bright rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows - pick a waterview room and be wowed by sensational panoramas over Upper Seletar Reservoir. Families will love the generously-sized family rooms with bunks and a play nook. Attractions include a generously-sized infinity pool on the roof and don’t miss the ice cream happy hour on the pool deck. Down on the ground floor is an impressive kids’ club with plenty of nature-inspired outdoor play equipment that kids can climb, slide down and explore. And just a stroll away is Singapore Zoo, Night Zoo, River Wonders, Bird Paradise and Rainforest Wild Asia. 

What we love: The environmental touches - a wooden bookmark at turndown, beautiful breezes from the open (but screened) windows at bedtime. And don’t miss the chocolate fountain at Planters Kitchen.

Raffles Sentosa Singapore

The dreamiest family resorts in Southeast Asia - lazy days on Sentosa island

The Lion City’s first all-villa resort was one of 2025’s most anticipated new resort openings. Raffles Sentosa Singapore is the second Raffles hotel to open in Singapore, the first being the original Raffles which launched in the city in 1887 as a humble ten-room boarding house. Things have most definitely moved on since then and the Raffles name is now synonymous with some of the most refined hotels in the world. Raffles Singapore Sentosa doesn’t disappoint, with showstopping palatial villas, attentive butler service and Rolls Royce buggies roaming the grounds. The villas are generously sized with interconnecting room options, perfect for family relaxation. Each villa also comes with its own pool and there’s a further, resort-sized pool, on-site. The hotel offers bespoke in-villa dining, and families can work directly with chefs to create personalised menus to enjoy in the comfort of their villa or by the beach. While there are no dedicated kids’ facilities like a kids’ club or children’s pool, the hotel can organise special experiences for children, like scavenger hunts and walking trails. Buggy tours of the hotel grounds are also a fun option. And the hotel is, of course, located on Sentosa, Singapore’s self-style island of fun and home to a plethora of family ents, from go-karting and cable car rides to aquariums and theme parks.

What we love: This resort is the ultimate in refined relaxation; after a busy day exploring Sentosa it's paradise to return to the privacy of a luxurious villa with its own pool.

The Residence Bintan

The dreamiest family resorts in Southeast Asia - enjoying a guided marine walk at low tide

Located just off the shores of Singapore in neighbouring Indonesia, Bintan is the largest island in the Riau Archipelago and the perfect beach escape from Singapore. If sun-kissed beaches, crystal waters and lush, forested landscapes tick your bucket list, then The Residence Bintan on the ‘authentic’ side of the island promises an idyllic escape. Catch a ferry to Bintan and a hotel car can meet your for the hour-long journey to the resort. For families, accommodation offerings include two-bedroom villas and terraces with spacious bathrooms with separate showers and tubs and some come with private pools. Trained childcare staff at Kakatu Kids Club are on hand to entertain youngsters from three to 12 years, with activities like treasure hunts, cooking classes and beach fun. The resort also offers the complimentary use of bikes, paddle boards and kayaks, or head off on a snorkel exploration, hire a jet ski, or enjoy a morning yoga session. For littlies, there’s the on-site farm Eco Basket to explore, with rabbits, chickens and fish, and fun eco activities run from collecting leaves in the resort grounds to create sun catchers, to traditional ‘kueh-making’ (colourful sweet pastries) classes using ingredients from Earth Basket.

What we love: The resort makes the most of its off-the-tourist-trail location with heritage walks, local market tours and guided marine walks on the beach. 

Nikoi Private Island

The dreamiest family resorts in Southeast Asia - kids will love the children's club activities on Nikoi

Discover paradise just a couple of hours from Singapore. Nikoi Private Island is the brainchild of expats Andrew Dixon and Peter Timmer, who have created the ultimate eco-getaway on a deserted island off the coast of Bintan island. Guests are whisked to the barefoot paradise by speedboat from Bintan and are accommodated in a handful of naturally ventilated, wooden, one-, two- and three-bedroomed beach and pool villas. The houses are constructed from driftwood and ‘alang alang’ roofing to blend with the natural environment and are an absolute delight - there are no door keys, kids get to come and go as they please, and forget air conditioning, natural ocean breezes through unglazed windows are the order of the day. When it comes to dining, tuck into delicious dishes shaped by local, in-season ingredients from the on-site veggie farm and the local catch of the day. A fixed daily menu is served at a communal dining table on the sand, perfect for relaxing with friends. But the highlight of Nikoi as far as the kids are concerned is the fabulous kids' club with its busy schedule of daily activities. More action includes a resort pool, two lawn tennis courts, a jungle zip line, yoga, croquet, rock climbing and kayaking. And while parents relax in the evening, kids are whisked off for marshmallows and a camp fire or a movie under the stars.

What we love: Toss the screens aside, Nikoi is what childhood dreams are made of - good old fashioned fun in the open air while parents get to relax.

Thailand

InterContinental Khao Yai

The dreamiest family resorts in Southeast Asia - kids' club in a train carriage

Opened in 2022, InterContinental Khao Yai Resort is designed by acclaimed Bangkok-based architect Bill Bensley who has drawn on the area’s history as a gateway for rail transportation. Upcycled vintage train carriages serve as hotel suite accommodation at this memorable resort, the abandoned carriages unearthed from all over Thailand. There are 27 train cars in total, dotted across the 100-acre property and picturesquely set around five lakes. Each carriage features a lounge area with sofa, a neatly accommodated bathroom with separate loo and shower and a snowy white bed in the snug bedroom. Outside are jungle-fringed balconies with luxurious roll top tubs under the trees. Some train villas come with a private pool and kids will be enchanted by the railcar Bunk Rooms. The kids’ club, Planet Trekkers, is also located in a railway carriage and is an Aladdin’s Cave of Lego, games, books and toys. Outside, there's a little garden and a rabbit house. Organised activities include lakeside treasure hunts, model painting and Thai dancing classes, and the spa also offers a dinky treatment menu for youngsters. The area’s pull is Khao Yai, the country’s third largest national park, with dramatic scenery and myriad hiking, rafting and wildlife-spotting opportunities. Book a guided tour through the hotel and if you’re lucky, you might even spy the wild elephants that call the park home.

What we love: This is one of the region's most unusual resorts and kids will love the opportunity to sleep in a train; there's even a heritage rail car that transports you to dinner.

Avani+ Khao Lak Resort

The dreamiest family resorts in Southeast Asia - cool down at the resort's splash park

Avani+ Khao Lak Resort sits on Bangsak Beach in Thailand’s Phang Nga province, around an hour-and-a-half from the international airport on Phuket. Khao Lak is a string of coastal villages in a family-friendly area of the country that’s slightly more laid-back than bustling Phuket. It’s a great base if you want to dive or snorkel the world-renowned Similan and Surin islands or explore the neighbouring national parks. Avani+ Khao Lak Resort is the hospitality group’s largest Thai resort; room categories run from Deluxe Lagoon Pool Rooms to Family Pool Suites with separate living and dining areas, king and twin beds and a balcony. The two-storey kids’ club is Khao Lak’s largest and offers play zones, playgrounds, games and a PlayStation corner. Outdoors, there’s a splash park, beach activities and a skate-park with pump track, ramps and fun boxes. Parents have access to AvaniFit, open 24 hours a day and with a wide range of fitness offerings like resistance training, aerobics and high-intensity interval training, as well as classes in boxing, tennis and hanging yoga. Further on-site family activities include cooking classes and sunrise yoga, or guests can grab a bike for a relaxed ride along the coast to Bang Niang market. Hotel trips like visits to Takuapa Old Town or rafting through bamboo forests are also available. Afterwards, head back to the resort and relax at AvaniSpa, which also offers kids’ treatments.

What we love: Khao Lak is an attractive alternative to Phuket - don't miss the Sea Turtle Conservation Centre at the Thai Navy Base in Tublamu or try bamboo rafting at Kiang Khu Creek.

Amanpuri Pansea Beach

The dreamiest family resorts in Southeast Asia -

Aman’s very first resort lies on a secluded private peninsula amongst the coconut trees on the west coast of Phuket, north of Kamala beach and south of Laguna. It really packs a punch for families with a creative menu of child-friendly activities. The Eco Beach Discovery Centre offers a daily activity programme for kids aged five to 12 years, with Thai cooking, dance classes, batik workshops, critter beach safaris and treasure hunts. Explore the gardens and turtle and koi ponds and have a splash in the children’s pool near the beach club. Teens are well catered for at The Hot Spot, with a digital room for media creation, outdoor activities and water sports like kayaking, snorkelling, paddleboarding and bodyboarding. There’s also a junior wellness programme for children aged five years and above with yoga, pilates, Thai boxing, swimming and tennis. And the wellness centre even offers treatments specially adapted for youngsters. Accommodation comprises family-friendly multi-bedroom pool villas that come with a personal chef and housekeeper and there are multiple resort restaurants offering Asian and western cuisines.

What we love: Let's face it, there's nothing not to love about an indulgent Aman holiday - and even more so when the resort opens this September following a major enhancement.

Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort

The dreamiest family resorts in Southeast Asia - little holidaymakers enjoying the Treehouse Kids Club

This luxury resort on the north coast of Koh Samui recently unveiled a US$2 million refresh of its guest rooms, as well as brand new facilities. The property is one of Koh Samui’s most established resorts and as part of the refurbishment project, a brand new kids’ and teens club have been introduced. The Treehouse Kids Club is arguably one of the island's leading children’s and teens experiences, embracing the resort's story of monkeys and nature and featuring indoor and outdoor playgrounds, wall nooks for hiding and Montissori-inspired play spaces. In a separate space next door, The Lounge Active Zone offers diversions for older youngsters and teens. The resort’s lush gardens, set within a coconut plantation, are designed by renowned hotel architect Bill Bensley and the new-look rooms embrace space and light with upgrades including vaulted ceilings in third-floor rooms, larger balcony doors, modern flooring and an earthy colour palette. While kids are busy, parents will appreciate lazy days wandering the gloriously landscaped grounds and lazing by the palm-shaped pool. Or head off to the Bensley-designed Anantara spa for a treatment of two.

What we love: With the Treehouse Kids Club, this resort offers a considered play space for children who want to make friends (or just escape the heat).

Vietnam

Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai

The dreamiest family resorts in Southeast Asia - relax beneath the palms at The Nam Hai

This stunning family resort sits on a kilometre stretch of idyllic Ha My Beach a snappy 15 minutes from the heritage city of Hoi An. Four Seasons The Nam Hai is a great destination if you have kids in tow and boasts an impressive kids’ club with extensive facilities including cooking classes for youngsters and its own (adult-free) pool. Grown-ups can relax at the resort's stunning spa and wellness retreat with overwater pavilions floating on a tranquil lotus-filled lagoon. As well as treatments, the facility also offers meditation and yoga classes. Accommodation is generously-sized; one-bedroom villas come with two twin beds on request and family villas have their own garden and an ensuite kids’ room. The hotel offers a busy menu of on-site activities and excursions, including visits to the ancient Vietnamese capital of Hue, the Golden Hands bridge, Hoi An old town, boat tours and sunset cruises. On-site, there’s a sparkling beachside pool, tennis, pickleball and paddleball courts and plenty of dining options. It’s easy for days to disappear as you languidly lie by the glamorous pool gazing out to the beach beyond. This is easily one of Southeast Asia’s most alluring resorts for families and in one of Vietnam’s most popular holiday destinations.

What we love: The resort is close enough to Hoi An that it's a quick taxi ride for the bustling markets; equally it's a quick escape back to resort serenity when children tire.

Alma Resort Cam Ranh

The dreamiest family resorts in Southeast Asia - this award-winning resort really does have it all

This award-winning resort sits on 20 hectares of manicured grounds overlooking Long Beach. With 12 pools, 14 dining spaces and 300 days of sunshine each year, this is an extraordinary destination with an incredible range of activities and facilities. The pools cascade down to the beach and even include a kids’ waterpark. Meanwhile, parents will love the chance to escape to the 13-treatment room spa. From its oversized suites and pavilions to its diverse range of dining options and activities, Alma Resort leaves no stone unturned in creating a truly unforgettable family escape. The suites and pavilions are designed to provide a sense of space and serenity; you could do worse than book into a three-bedroom oceanfront pavilion complete with living room, dining area, kitchen and private pool, and just a stone’s throw from the beach. Families can enjoy the Splash Water Park complete with a lazy river, water slides, wave pool, and a kid’s pool. There’s also a science museum, a cinema with three daily movie screenings, a youth club, a kids’ club, and an 18-hole putting green. The water sports centre has complimentary kayaking and bodyboarding, as well as chargeable activities like jet ski, parasailing and banana boat. Even the spa is family-friendly; the children’s spa menu offers foot and hand baths, gentle massages and even a tropical fruit facial. It’s hard work being a kid, after all.

What we love: The sheer scale of this resort means there will never be a dull moment, whatever the children's ages.

JW Marriott Emerald Bay Resort & Spa

The dreamiest family resorts in Southeast Asia - take a swim beside Khem Beach

Fringed with picture postcard white-sand beaches and covered in tropical jungle, Phu Quoc is quickly becoming the Southeast Asian destination of choice for families seeking an easy fly ‘n’ flop option. Similar in size to Phuket, the Vietnamese island is much less developed but has no shortage of quality accommodation. JW Marriott Emerald Bay Resort & Spa is a Bill Bensley-designed hotel that stands adjacent to the creamy sands of pretty Khem Beach. As usual, Bensley has let his incredible imagination run wild and guests are asked to step inside the 1920s fantasy world of Lamarck University. Accommodation is arranged according to faculty and the generously-sized rooms have deep, covered balconies with daybeds overlooking the ocean. The resort facilities are set within a stretch of colourful buildings that line a central, lantern-bedecked main street that meanders down to the beach, pools and oceanfront dining spaces (the resort layout is reasonably compact but hotel buggies can be summoned if it’s all too much for little legs). Along the main street, guests will find the Department of Physical Education (otherwise known as the gym), the Alice in Wonderland-inspired Chanterrelle Spa, a French bakery, a gift shop selling Lamarck University-logo clothing and the Lantern Room, an air conditioned craft space. Three shady pools run along a grassy strip fronting onto the stunning beach and there’s a children’s pool directly in front of the kids' club. Khem Beach is considered to be one of the best stretches of sand along the 150km coastline that encircles the island.

What we love: This quirky resort's clever arrivals policy means you can check-out at the same time of day that you checked in - good news if you have evening flights.