Best Family-Friendly Beach Vacation Destinations

From the turquoise waters of the Caribbean to the picturesque coastlines of Europe, we’ll explore the most idyllic spots where parents can unwind, kids can frolic, and memories are made to last a lifetime. Whether you’re planning a low-key getaway with toddlers or seeking adventurous water sports with teens, these sandy shores offer something for every member of the family.

At InsureMyTrip we wanted to find out exactly which destinations are the best for families. We looked at metrics such as the temperature of the sea, the affordability of family hotels. and the safety of the area.

Top Destinations for a Family Beach Vacation

As we can see there are many great destinations across the globe for a family-friendly vacation. With an overall score of 7.65/10 the Guanacaste Province in Costa Rica is our top destination. In second place is Dubai, UAE with a score of 7.58/10 and in third is the Gold Coast in Australia with 7.18/10. Read on to find out why these destinations ranked so high.

The top country is Australia with the Gold Coast (7.18/10), Melbourne (7.04/10), and Perth (6.88/10) all ranking in the top 10. Our top European destination is Corsica in France with an overall score of 7.16/10, followed by Tenerife in Spain (6.76).

Top Destination: Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica

As mentioned Guanacaste Province in Costa Rica is our top destination with an overall score of 7.65/10. This destination has some of the most affordable hotels at an average of $171 a night for a family of four. Guanacaste Province has well-rated beaches at 4.67/5 and a balmy sea temperature of 84.6°F.

Top Destination: Dubai, UAE

Our second top destination is Dubai, UAE with an overall score of 7.58/10. While Dubai might be one of the slightly less affordable destinations on our list, it makes up for it by being one of the safest destinations with a safety score of 84/100. Dubai also has one of the warmest seas, just outranking Guanacaste Province at 84.7°F.

Top Destination: Gold Coast, Australia

Our third best destination is the Gold Coast in Australia, with an overall score of 7.18/10. The Gold Coast has some of the most affordable water sports with each activity costing an average of $71. It also has one of the cleanest oceans with 41% of the oceans around Australia being protected against environmental and economic damage.

Conclusion

With an overall score of 7.65/10, the Guanacaste Province in Costa Rica emerges as our top destination, offering affordable accommodations, pristine beaches, and warm seas. Following closely behind are Dubai, UAE, renowned for its safety and warm waters, and the Gold Coast in Australia, boasting affordable water sports and protected ocean areas.

From Melbourne to Corsica, Tenerife to Perth, our list showcases diverse destinations catering to every family’s preferences. So, whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly getaway or a more luxury experience, we’ve found the perfect destination for you.

Methodology

Each data point consists of the latest research available from reputable sources. All sources are destination-specific level data points. The data was standardized using minmax normalization. The minmax normalization value is multiplied by 10 to create a score (between 0-10). A score of 10 is always the best result, while a score of 0 is the worst. Each destination is then ranked on their overall rating across all family-friendly data points, to find which beach destination is the most family-friendly.

The destination which originally ranked in third was removed from the data set due to recent violent news in the area.