Most Family-Friendly Beach Vacation Destinations

Last updated on 03/17/2022

Best Family-Friend Beach Vacation Destinations

For many families, spring is the preferred time to travel as the days are getting longer, the weather is getting warmer, and everyone is eager to shake their winter blues.

According to a study by the University of Toronto, taking a family vacation increases happiness in all members, particularly children. The shared experience promotes stronger family relationships, contributes to one's sense of self, and forms memories that are an ongoing source of happiness.

However, it can be challenging to find the perfect experience that allows the entire family to relax and enjoy. Special considerations need to be taken, particularly when traveling with young children. Is the area safe? Will they be able to swim in the water? Are there family-friendly activities and accommodation nearby?

The research team at InsureMyTrip set out to answer these questions and provide destination inspiration for your next family vacation.

1. The Best Destinations for Family Beach Vacations 2. The Best U.S. Destinations for Family Beach Vacations 3. Key Findings 4. Methodology 5. Sources

The Best Destinations for Family Beach Vacations

Rank
Destination
Country
1
Dubai
UAE
2.26
5.36
10
7.7
6.86
9.75
10
7.42
2
Colombo
Sri Lanka
5.72
3.91
6.9
9.92
5.87
8.61
6.06
6.71
3
Turks and Caicos
Turks and Caicos
5.35
8.41
0.15
8.43
7.7
8.86
-
6.48
4
Barbados
Barbados
6.54
5.51
0.39
9.11
8.06
8.61
-
6.37
5
Corfu
Greece
9.12
5.65
1.72
4.35
10
9.49
3.54
6.27
6
Faro
Portugal
6.92
6.96
0.29
4.68
6.57
9.49
7.95
6.12
7
Phuket
Thailand
4.03
4.64
0.76
10
8.59
9.11
4.96
6.01
8
Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
10
7.97
0.46
8.63
7.46
7.34
0
5.98
9
Auckland
New Zealand
3.58
10
0.28
6.61
6.93
9.24
5.22
5.98
10
Havana
Cuba
9.75
4.06
0.19
8.47
3.78
7.72
7.55
5.93
11
Cagliari
Italy
7.55
6.09
0.98
3.87
8.34
8.61
-
5.91
12
Palermo
Italy
8.36
2.9
1.05
4.11
9.79
9.87
5.31
5.91
13
Reggio di Calabria
Italy
7.55
3.91
0.09
4.15
9.61
10
-
5.88
14
French Polynesia
French Polynesia
4.84
6.52
0.05
9.8
5.62
8.35
-
5.86
15
Brac
Croatia
8.24
3.62
0.07
3.71
8.16
9.75
6.97
5.79
16
Rhodes
Greece
9.87
5.65
0.19
4.35
6.89
9.62
3.54
5.73
17
Goa
India
1.89
2.75
0.05
9.6
7.92
9.24
8.53
5.71
18
Cabo San Lucas
Mexico
4.15
8.55
0
6.81
6.68
7.97
-
5.69
19
Mauritius
Mauritius
4.78
4.35
0.13
9.6
5.34
9.75
-
5.66
20
Crete
Greece
7.42
5.94
0.08
4.76
8.2
9.62
3.54
5.65
21
Mérida
Mexico
4.09
6.96
0.13
8.1
3.57
8.1
8.56
5.64
22
Benidorm
Spain
4.78
4.64
4.02
3.99
6.08
9.87
-
5.56
23
Majorca
Spain
6.42
5.36
0.13
3.87
6.04
9.37
7.59
5.54
24
San Diego
USA
1.26
8.7
0.25
4.31
7.56
9.75
6.67
5.5
25
Gozo
Malta
6.23
3.77
0.08
4.4
9.51
8.86
-
5.47
26
Menorca
Spain
6.23
5.8
0.25
3.87
6.89
9.75
-
5.46
27
Melbourne
Australia
3.65
5.94
0.02
5.6
8.48
8.86
5.47
5.43
28
Bahamas
Bahamas
1.76
5.51
0.02
7.86
8.09
9.11
-
5.39
29
Suva
Fiji
2.77
3.48
0.55
9.8
6.33
9.11
-
5.34
30
Girona
Spain
4.84
5.36
0.83
3.55
7.67
9.62
-
5.31
31
Bali
Indonesia
5.09
4.35
0.32
9.92
6.01
6.46
4.72
5.27
32
Antalya
Turkey
2.64
4.49
0.08
5.12
8.94
6.96
8.38
5.23
33
Tulum
Mexico
3.21
3.77
-
8.75
5.44
4.56
-
5.14
34
Honolulu
USA
0.69
4.49
1.56
7.78
7.46
8.86
5.16
5.14
35
Corsica
France
4.21
5.94
0.06
3.71
7.03
9.37
-
5.05
36
Perth
Australia
2.39
6.67
0.01
7.54
4.73
8.1
5.82
5.04
37
Guanacaste Province
Costa Rica
3.33
7.1
0.05
9.84
6.54
4.68
3.62
5.02
38
São Paulo
Brazil
4.59
4.78
0.27
9.03
7.17
7.97
1.2
5
39
Vancouver
Canada
1.64
7.1
1.56
1.05
6.33
9.75
6.6
4.86
40
Tenerife
Spain
3.4
3.77
0.19
5.93
6.29
9.49
-
4.84
41
Gran Canaria
Spain
3.4
2.46
0.16
5.93
7.56
9.24
-
4.79
42
Galveston
USA
1.82
7.39
0.15
5.08
9.33
7.34
2.25
4.77
43
Myrtle Beach
USA
0.31
6.09
2.29
3.95
7.39
7.85
5.27
4.74
44
Punta Cana
Dominican Republic
0
7.39
0.37
8.71
6.64
8.23
1.55
4.7
45
San Francisco
USA
2.45
6.67
2
3.06
6.4
8.99
3.1
4.67
46
Cape Town
South Africa
5.22
6.09
0.39
5.73
4.31
8.99
0.68
4.49
47
Coney Island
USA
2.01
4.78
-
0
5.65
8.35
6.07
4.48
48
Florida Keys
USA
4.15
0
1.51
7.42
6.89
7.34
4.04
4.48
49
Gold Coast
Australia
1.64
5.22
0.6
8.83
3.57
5.82
5.6
4.47
50
Bournemouth
England
2.83
5.51
1.26
1.69
5.9
9.37
-
4.43
51
Los Angeles
USA
2.64
5.51
0.19
0.12
8.13
9.62
4.54
4.39
52
Ocean City
USA
1.26
7.39
0.86
0
4.91
8.61
7.03
4.29
53
Bermuda
Bermuda
6.79
2.61
2.08
5.77
0
7.97
-
4.2
54
Cozumel
Mexico
3.77
4.06
0.3
8.39
6.75
1.9
-
4.19
55
Nice
France
4.21
1.74
1.6
3.59
6.57
8.35
3.06
4.16
56
Brighton
England
4.28
4.64
0.88
1.41
4.88
6.33
6.66
4.15
57
Okinawa
Japan
3.21
1.88
0.28
6.61
5.41
7.22
-
4.1
58
Sydney
Australia
2.01
4.64
0.02
7.66
4.06
2.66
7.17
4.03
59
Shirahama
Japan
1.95
2.32
0.05
3.79
7.56
4.3
7.49
3.92
60
Gijón
Spain
7.3
2.17
0.28
3.31
0.85
9.49
-
3.9
61
Cancún
Mexico
2.52
5.8
0.16
8.39
4.03
1.65
3.87
3.77
62
Miami
USA
0.69
6.23
1.36
7.54
4.91
0
4.04
3.54

A "-" score indicates that data could not be obtained for this destination

The Best U.S. Destinations for Family Beach Vacations

Rank
Destination
State
1
San Diego
California
1.26
8.7
0.25
4.31
7.56
9.75
6.67
5.5
2
Honolulu
Hawaii
0.69
4.49
1.56
7.78
7.46
8.86
5.16
5.14
3
Galveston
Texas
1.82
7.39
0.15
5.08
9.33
7.34
2.25
4.77
4
Myrtle Beach
South Carolina
0.31
6.09
2.29
3.95
7.39
7.85
5.27
4.74
5
San Francisco
California
2.45
6.67
2
3.06
6.4
8.99
3.1
4.67
6
Coney Island
New York
2.01
4.78
-
0
5.65
8.35
6.07
4.48
7
Florida Keys
Florida
4.15
0
1.51
7.42
6.89
7.34
4.04
4.48
8
Los Angeles
California
2.64
5.51
0.19
0.12
8.13
9.62
4.54
4.39
9
Ocean City
Maryland
1.26
7.39
0.86
0
4.91
8.61
7.03
4.29
10
Miami
Florida
0.69
6.23
1.36
7.54
4.91
0
4.04
3.54

A "-" score indicates that data could not be obtained for this destination

Key Findings

Dubai ranks as the most family-friendly spring beach vacation destination. In recent years Dubai has become a haven for theme parks, encouraging families looking for an adventure. For a more relaxed vacation, Dubai also features stunning sandy beaches for all members of the family to enjoy. The warm water is considered ideal for novice swimmers and small children as the waves are very low and the ocean current is weak. The latest research by Numbeo also ranks it the 8th safest city in the world, according to its 2022 safety index.

San Diego, CA was a consistent performer across all categories, making “America's Finest City” the most family-friendly beach destination in the United States. There are various activities for children, including world-class zoos and theme parks. Families looking for relaxation have 70 miles of coastline to enjoy. Similar to Dubai, the waves are low and the current is calm, allowing small children to safely enjoy the warm waters. San Diego also ranks highly on the Numbeo Safety Index.

Notably, 40% of the top ten most family-friendly destinations are in Central/South America. This sea is known for its brilliant blue color, calm nature, and warm temperature, even in March! Data from the Google Places API also shows that Auckland in New Zealand has the highest quality of beaches nearby.

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.

InsureMyTrip isolated each data point in addition to giving an overall category score. This will give families an opportunity to target destinations for individual points (e.g. quantity of family attractions, ocean current strength or area safety). Alternatively, the “Overall” category score gives a general view of which destinations will allow you and the rest of your family to create the perfect lifetime memories.

Sources

Quality of Family Hotels

Average rating of 60 hotels with “Top Family Picks” filter on Booking.com.
https://www.booking.com/

Quality of Nearby Beaches

According to the Google Places API, all data was collected using web scraping software.
https://www.google.com/maps

Quantity of Family Attractions

The total number of attractions that were “good for kids”, according to TripAdvisor, divided by the area size of the destinations (to give per sq mile data).
https://www.tripadvisor.com/

Sea Temperature

The average max sea temperature across a whole year.
https://www.seatemperature.org/

Lowest Wave Height

The mean significant wave height for each destination.
https://earth.nullschool.net/

Weakest Ocean Current Strength

The ocean current strength for each destination.
https://earth.nullschool.net/

Area Safety

All data was taken from the Numbeo Safety Index 2020, based on tourist surveys.
https://www.numbeo.com/crime/rankings.jsp