TODAY’S FAMILIES COME IN A VARIETY of shapes and sizes. And with that comes a variety of needs, especially when it comes to travel. With this in mind, the team behind Global Traveler and Trazee Travel decided to put our travel expertise behind whereverfamily.com, the trusted travel source for the modern family, in September 2017. Updated daily, the web publication delivers content across a range of topics, bringing a worldwide focus to family travel no matter the makeup of your family, your income or your child’s age.
Now we’re pleased to announce the winners of the inaugural Wherever Awards, the awards for the best in travel as decided by the readers of WhereverFamily. The ballot ran on whereverfamily.com Sept. 1, 2017–March 31, 2018.
Without further ado, we present to you the winners and offer congratulations to those travel companies and destinations winning accolades from family travelers.
When it comes to family-favorite airlines, Alaska Airlines, Best Family-Friendly Domestic Airline; TAP Air Portugal, Best Family-Friendly International Airline; and Delta Air Lines’ Delta SkyMiles, Best Family-Friendly Frequent-Flyer Program, earn kudos. If you’re driving, consider Avis, Best Family-Friendly Rental Car Company.
While your family might be used to your local gateway, if you can schedule your travels through these family-fun hubs, you’re guaranteed to kick off the trip with family-friendly amenities. The 2018 award-winning airports are Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, earning double honors as Best Family-Friendly Domestic Airport and Best Family-Friendly Airport Dining; Singapore Changi Airport, which nabs the Best Family-Friendly International Airport title; and Dubai International Airport, winning Best Family-Friendly Airport Shopping.
Martinhal Sagres, Algarve © MARTINHAL SAGRES, ALGARVE
After getting there, it’s time for some real family fun to begin, and these hotels and resorts ensure your crew has the best possible experience. Martinhal Family Hotels & Resorts takes two nods: Best Family-Friendly Resort Chain and Best Family-Friendly Individual Hotel for Martinhal Sagres, Algarve. The Ritz-Carlton takes home the top prize of Best Family-Friendly Hotel Chain. Catering to all the members of a family, even the furry ones, Westin Hotels & Resorts wins Best Family-Friendly Pet Hotel.
Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Esmeralda, Mexico © PARADISUS PLAYA DEL CARMEN LA ESMERALDA, MEXICO
Rack up the rewards with Radisson Rewards, Best Family-Friendly Frequent-Stay Program. Or let loose with the kids at Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Esmeralda, Mexico, Best Family-Friendly All-Inclusive Hotel, or Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas, Best Family-Friendly Hotel Kids Club.
Sometimes it’s easier, especially when coordinating a large family or a multigenerational trip, to leave the planning to someone else. Take advice from our family traveler readers and utilize these family-approved tour companies: Delta Vacations, Best Family- Friendly Vacation Company; Adventures by Disney, Best Family-Friendly Domestic Tour Company; and Thomson Family Adventures, Best Family-Friendly International Tour Company. Lindblad Expeditions is the first-ever Best Family-Friendly Travel Provider of the Year.
© ROYAL CARIBBEAN
If you’re taking to the high seas with the whole clan, consider Royal Caribbean, Best Family-Friendly Cruise Line, or Silversea Cruises, Best Family-Friendly MultiGen Cruise Line.
When it comes to paying for it all or collecting points on everyday purchases to cash in for your family travel, our readers think these two credit cards are tops: Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express, Best Family- Friendly Credit Card; and Marriott Rewards Card from Chase, Best Family-Friendly Credit Card Rewards Program.
Orlando © PFONG001 | DREAMSTIME.COM
And where to go? For an exotic family getaway, Fiji was named Best Family-Friendly International Destination. A bit closer to home, it’s no surprise Orlando reigns supreme as Best Family-Friendly Domestic Destination. Find fun in the sun with the fam in the Bahamas, Best Family-Friendly Caribbean Island. Bring the parents, grandparents, kids and siblings to Ireland, Best Family-Friendly MultiGen Destination of the Year. Find family thrills at LEGOLAND California Theme Park in Carlsbad, Best Family-Friendly Amusement Park, and Aquatica by SeaWorld, Best Family-Friendly Waterpark.
Here’s to the kid-tested, parent-approved winners of the first-ever Wherever Awards!
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY DOMESTIC AIRLINE
1. Alaska Airlines
2. American Airlines
3. JetBlue
4. United Airlines
5. Delta Air Lines
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE
1. TAP Air Portugal
2. Alaska Airlines
3. Qatar Airways
4. Air New Zealand
5. EVA Air
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY FREQUENT-FLYER PROGRAM
1. Delta SkyMiles
2. United MileagePlus
3. American Airlines AAdvantage
4. Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles
5. JetBlue TrueBlue
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY HOTEL CHAIN
1. The Ritz-Carlton
2. Martinhal Family Hotels & Resorts
3. Hyatt Hotels
4. Westin Hotels & Resorts
5. Sheraton Hotels
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY RESORT CHAIN
1. Martinhal Family Hotels & Resorts
2. Hyatt Hotels
3. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
4. Crowne Plaza
5. Westin Hotels & Resorts
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY INDIVIDUAL HOTEL
1. Martinhal Sagres, Algarve
2. Martinhal Cascais
3. Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas
4. LEGOLAND Feriendorf, Gunzburg, Germany
5. Atlantis The Palm, Dubai
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY FREQUENT-STAY PROGRAM
1. Radisson Rewards
2. Loews First
3. IHG Rewards Club
4. Marriott Rewards
5. Hilton Honors
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY ALL-INCLUSIVE HOTEL
1. Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Esmerelda, Mexico
2. Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa
3. Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
4. Club Med Pragelato Vialattea, Italy
5. Tortuga Lodge & Gardens, Costa Rica
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY PET HOTEL
1. Westin Hotels & Resorts
2. Loews Hotels
3. Kimpton Boutique Hotels + Restaurants
4. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
5. Sheraton Hotels
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY HOTEL KIDS CLUB
1. Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas
2. The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, Colorado
3. Club Med, Sandpiper Bay, Florida
4. Sea Island, Georgia
5. Beaches, Turks & Caicos
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY VACATION COMPANY
1. Delta Vacations
2. United Vacations
3. SAA Vacations
4. American Airlines Vacations
5. Holiday Inn Vacation Club
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY DOMESTIC TOUR COMPANY
1. Adventures by Disney
2. Globus
3. REI Adventures
4. Trafalgar
5. Intrepid Travel
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY INTERNATIONAL TOUR COMPANY
1. Thomson Family Adventures
2. Abercrombie & Kent
3. Classic Journeys
4. Lindblad Expeditions
5. Austin Adventures
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY CRUISE LINE
1. Royal Caribbean
2. Holland America Line
3. Viking Ocean Cruises
4. Princess Cruises
5. Celebrity Cruises
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY MULTIGEN CRUISE LINE
1. Silversea Cruises
2. Regent Seven Seas
3. Viking Ocean Cruises
4. Azamara Club Cruises
5. Royal Caribbean
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY CREDIT CARD
1. Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
2. Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card
3. Alaska Airlines Visa Credit Card
4. United MileagePlus Explorer Card from Chase
5. Citi / AAdvantage MasterCard
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY CREDIT CARD REWARDS PROGRAM
1. Marriott Rewards Card from Chase
2. Royal Caribbean Bank of America Visa
3. Delta SkyMiles American Express
4. Chase Sapphire Preferred
5. The Ritz-Carlton Card from Chase
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION
1. Fiji
2. Africa
3. Italy
4. London
5. Hawai’i
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY DOMESTIC DESTINATION
1. Orlando
2. California
3. Philadelphia
4. Washington, D.C.
5. Texas
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY CARIBBEAN ISLAND
1. Bahamas
2. Grand Cayman
3. Curaçao
4. Aruba
5. St. Lucia
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY MULTIGENERATIONAL DESTINATION OF THE YEAR
1. Ireland
2. South Africa
3. Italy
4. Patagonia
5. Mexico
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY AMUSEMENT PARK
1. LEGOLAND California Theme Park, Carlsbad
2. Magic Kingdom, Disney World, Orlando
3. Sesame Place, Langhorne, Pennsylvania
4. Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio
5. Six Flags Fiesta Texas, San Antonio
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY WATERPARK
1. Aquatica by SeaWorld
2. LEGOLAND Water Park, Winter Haven, Florida
3. Great Wolf Lodge
4. Zoombezi Bay, Columbus, Ohio
5. Disney’s Blizzard Beach, Orlando
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY RENTAL CAR COMPANY
1. Avis
2. Hertz
3. National Car Rental
4. Enterprise
5. Budget
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY TRAVEL PROVIDER OF THE YEAR
1. Lindblad Expeditions
2. Austin-Lehman Adventures
3. REI Adventures
4. Thomson Family Adventures
5. Ecoventure Family Cruises
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY DOMESTIC AIRPORT
1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
2. Denver International Airport
3. San Francisco International Airport
4. Chicago O’Hare International Airport
5. Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1. Singapore Changi Airport
2. Munich Airport
3. Hamad International Airport, Doha
4. Incheon Airport
5. Frankfurt am Main Airport
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY AIRPORT DINING
1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
2. Chicago O’Hare International Airport
3. Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
4. George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston
5. Dubai International Airport
BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY AIRPORT SHOPPING
1. Dubai International Airport
2. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
3. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
4. Hamad International Airport, Doha
5. Singapore Changi Airport
Read This Next
Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedDaily
Apr 29, 2025Château de Berne Reopens in Provence, France
Located deep within the lovely landscape of Provence, 5-star Château de Berne provides a stunning setting for a leisurely destination getaway or unforgettable corporate event.
Sponsored Content
Royal Air Maroc Introduces Groundbreaking Safety Video: A Captivating Invitation to Discover Moroccan Heritage
Royal Air Maroc continues to elevate the passenger experience with the launch of its new in-flight safety video — a cinematic journey that seamlessly blends essential safety instructions with a celebration of Moroccan cultural heritage.
Daily
Apr 29, 2025Four Seasons Hotel Boston Unveils Driving Experience with Lucid
Four Seasons Hotel Boston recently announced a partnership with Lucid Group, an electric vehicle maker. The initiative is part of a larger partnership between Four Seasons and Lucid to blend history, culture and sustainability.
Daily
Apr 29, 2025Big Sky, Montana, Ranch Introduces Venue for Cigar and Whiskey Aficionados
Lone Mountain Ranch, in Big Sky, Montana, recently announced the opening of The Trapper’s Den, a freshly restored 1915 cabin that trappers once used as a base for hunting. The new space now offers a distinguished retreat for cigar enthusiasts and whiskey lovers.
Sponsored Content
Find Your Perfect Escape with Paradisus by Meliá — More Than Just All-Inclusive
Luxury travel today is about more than just beautiful accommodations — it’s about experiencing the destination. Paradisus by Meliá takes traditional all-inclusive resorts to the next level by offering indulgence with immersion, experiences and authenticity. Each resort is shaped by its location, local flavors and curated Destination Inclusive® experiences that bring you closer to the heart of the destination.
Daily
Apr 28, 2025Buffalo, New York, Welcomes New Hotels, Culinary Venues, Museum Expansions, More
On the heels of a $230 million expansion of Buffalo AKG Art Museum in late 2023, as well as a slew of new restaurants, hotels and architectural restorations, Buffalo, New York, gears up for one of its most exciting years yet with a series of new attractions, renovations and expansions rooted in the city’s rich waterfront history and African American heritage. This is the year to visit the Buffalo Niagara region.
4 Hotels Worth a Stay for National Golf Day
Daily
Apr 28, 2025What’s New in Bahamas’ Nassau, Paradise Island?
Daily
Apr 28, 2025Hotel Spas Launch Oncology Care Programs
April 2025
Apr 26, 2025Daily
Apr 25, 2025This London Afternoon Tea Honors Art and Japanese Techniques
Feeling peckish? If you’re lucky enough to be in England’s capital, head to Rosewood London’s Mirror Room, where a fabulous new afternoon tea menu has been introduced, featuring a selection of Japanese-inspired savories and delectable art cakes curated by Executive Pastry Chef Mark Perkins. It’s inspired by artist and printmaker Katsushika Hokusai, widely regarded as one of Japan’s most celebrated creatives and known for works including the woodblock print series Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji (1830–1832) and The Great Wave off Kanagawa (1831).
Sponsored Content
A Summer Sojourn Along Europe’s Rivers with AmaWaterways
This summer, elevate your vacation experience with award-winning AmaWaterways. Offering a seamless blend of unparalleled luxury, authentic cultural experiences and unrivaled service, AmaWaterways cruises are the perfect way to uncover the heart of Europe during the sunniest season with itineraries that glide along the continent’s most iconic rivers, including the Danube, the Rhine, the Seine and the Douro.
Daily
Apr 25, 20255 Spa Escapes for Mother’s Day
Book a fabulous spa getaway for the mother in your life. Check out these five properties offering serene spa experiences.
ShareThis