12 Must‑Visit Family Hotels Debuting in 2021
Planning a family getaway? 2021 brings a wave of new, family‑centric hotels that combine comfort, adventure, and unique experiences for all ages.
Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Cancun – Costa Mujeres, Mexico
Opening Date: January 29, 2021
The all‑inclusive Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Cancun opened on January 29, 2021, and immediately became a playground for families. Its flagship Planet Play Adventure Park—featuring a trampoline zone, VR experience, golf simulator, basketball court, and arcade—offers endless entertainment for kids and adults alike. The resort also houses the Star Kids Club, four swimming pools, a lazy river, Shipwreck Cove, Jurassic Splash Park, a FlowRider surf simulator, a labyrinth maze, a mini‑golf course, and an on‑site movie theater.
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Hotel Drover, An Autograph Collection Hotel – Fort Worth, Texas
Opening Date: March 22, 2021
Hotel Drover, part of the Autograph Collection, opened on March 22, 2021, and delivers a Western‑themed escape in Fort Worth, Texas. Its Bunkhouse Rooms boast a king bed and a double overhead bunk, while children enjoy in‑room amenities such as robes and slippers. The ranch‑style pool, hot tub, fire pits, and welcome gifts from the Lil Ropers Kids Club make the backyard a family‑friendly oasis.
The Rally Hotel – Denver, Colorado
Opening Date: March 25, 2021
The Rally Hotel, opened on March 25, 2021, celebrates Denver’s baseball heritage. Designed by Colorado Rockies part‑owner Dick Monfort, the hotel features the Rockies Hall of Fame, a baseball‑themed restaurant and bar, and a rooftop pool overlooking Coors Field in the newly‑developed McGregor Square.
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Delta Hotels by Marriott Virginia Beach Bayfront Suites – Virginia Beach, Virginia
Opening Date: March 17, 2021
Delta Hotels’ Virginia Beach property, opening March 17, 2021, is the only Chesapeake Bay hotel with a private beach. One‑bedroom suites with king and sofa beds and two‑bedroom suites with a king, two queens, and a sofa bed provide ample space for families. Guests can also enjoy an outdoor pool, kayaks, bicycle rentals, and a signature seafood‑focused restaurant.
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AutoCamp Cape Cod – Falmouth, Massachusetts
Opening Date: April 1, 2021
AutoCamp Cape Cod, opening April 1, 2021, brings glamping to Massachusetts. Families stay in luxury tents, airstream suites, and more, and can play in a dedicated kids’ area, roast s’mores by communal fire pits, and rent mountain bikes—all within five minutes of Cape Cod beaches. It’s the brand’s first East Coast outpost.
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Camp Cedar Luxury Outdoor Resort – Mason, Ohio
Opening Date: Summer 2021
Camp Cedar Luxury Outdoor Resort, opening summer 2021, sits a mile from Kings Island in Mason, Ohio. The resort will feature 73 cottages, 164 full‑service RV sites, and plans for an additional 100 cottages. Amenities include family and adult pools, an indoor/outdoor restaurant, Peanuts character appearances, and retail shops.
Nickelodeon Hotels and Resorts Riviera Maya – Riviera Maya, Mexico
Opening Date: June 2021
Nickelodeon Hotels and Resorts’ second all‑inclusive property in Riviera Maya, opening June 2021, offers an Aqua Nick water park, Nickelodeon Place character meet‑and‑greet, live entertainment at SNICK Lounge and Mainstage, and a full‑service spa for adults and kids. All accommodations are oceanfront swim‑up suites, including the first‑ever Turtle Lair Suite dedicated to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
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Walt Disney World Swan Reserve – Orlando, Florida
Opening Date: July 2021
The Walt Disney World Swan Reserve, opening July 2021 in Orlando, will add a 14‑story, 349‑room tower to the existing Swan and Dolphin Resort. Suites accommodate up to eight guests and feature a 90‑foot‑long pool. Guests gain full access to all resort amenities—five pools, Camp Dolphin kids club, sand beach, 18 restaurants, and special theme‑park perks.
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Natchez Trace Tiny House Village – Hohenwald, TN
Opening Date: Spring 2021
Natchez Trace Tiny House Village, opening spring 2021 in Hohenwald, TN, lets families experience tiny‑house living. The six‑home village offers fully equipped kitchens and sleeps up to six guests. Guests can also use amenities at the nearby Natchez Trace RV Park, including a lake, pool, kayak rentals, pontoon boat tours, mini‑golf, and a playground.
Great Wolf Lodge Northern California – Manteca, California
Opening Date: Summer 2021
Great Wolf Lodge Northern California, opening summer 2021 in Manteca, adds the brand’s first Bay Area resort. The indoor water park features the Sequoia Splash raft ride, while the Great Wolf Adventure Park offers a ropes course, mini‑golf, and an arcade. The resort’s themed rooms separate sleeping areas for kids, and dining options include a farm‑to‑fork restaurant.
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LEGOLAND Hotel at LEGOLAND New York Resort – Goshen, New York
Opening Date: 2021
LEGOLAND New York Resort, slated to open in Goshen, NY, will include an on‑site LEGOLAND Hotel. The hotel will feature themed play areas, daily entertainment, an outdoor pool, complimentary breakfast, and rooms with separate kids sleeping areas and in‑room scavenger hunts.
Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser – Orlando, Florida
Opening Date: TBD
Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, the most anticipated 2021 launch, is an immersive two‑night experience at Walt Disney World. Guests will sleep in a Passenger Cabin overlooking galactic vistas, learn to wield a lightsaber, explore the Engineering Room, operate the ship’s navigation and defense systems on The Bridge, sip themed drinks at the Silver C Lounge, and mingle with other crew and passengers in The Atrium. Disney has announced that the opening will be pushed to 2022.
Editor’s note May 2021: Disney has recently announced that Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will now make its debut sometime in 2022.
