4 of the best luxury resort kids’ clubs

Luxury hotels aren’t just for honeymooners and couples. Families with young children who truly want a relaxing vacation know to head to a luxury resort that offers a great kids’ club, so kids can have fun with other kids while parents get some time to themselves to explore, relax and recharge. Here are my top picks for luxury resort kids’ club programs. As an added bonus, all of these programs are complimentary and included in the room rate. There may be a nominal charge for extra activities or special sports or dance lessons, but there’s always  complimentary alternative. Four Seasons Kids for All Seasons Some of my son’s favorite resort experiences have been at Four Seasons Kids for All Seasons kids clubs, for example making Balinese pastries and playing tennis at the Kids for All Seasons kids’ club at the Four Seasons Bali at Jimbaran Bay, playing air hockey and making a pop up Father’s Day card at Four Seasons Maui at Wailea, painting coconut shells at Four Seasons Koh Samui, and playing games with other kids at the Four Seasons Marrakech. In each case, it was a great group of kids and very caring, charismatic staff. In fact, the only problem was getting him to leave when it was time for dinner or to go back to our room. Even some Four Seasons city hotels such as Four Seasons George V Paris offer incredible experiences for kids: a “treasure hunt” searching for answers to clues, a special tour of the hidden doors and passageways, and a wonderful pastry class making delicious mini madeleine pastries! Rosewood Rose Buds for Children Rosewood Resorts offer a complimentary Rose Buds for Children kids’ club for guests who are 4-12 years old at Rosewood Mayakoba in Mexico’s Riviera Maya, Rosewood Tucker’s Point in Bermuda, and Rosewood Little Dix Bay and for kids 3-11 years old at Rosewood Jumby Bay in Antigua. Activities include nature walks, scavenger hunts, folk art, yoga, cookie making and Spanish lessons. At Jumby Bay, youngsters have the unique chance to participate in the Hawksbill Turtle conservation program, watching a turtle nesting on Pasture Bay Beach, and help release the hatchlings into the sea. Amanpulo Kids Club Most Aman Resorts are very much luxury boutique properties that appeal mainly to honeymooners and couples on romantic getaways. Amanpulo, on Pamalican Island in the Philippines, has the best beach I’ve ever experienced in the world, and appeals to many returning families in addition to couples. So much so, in fact, that it offers a complimentary kids’ club, where in addition to the usual kids’ club arts and crafts, games and outdoor play, the kids learn to make their own pizza at the Windsurf Hut, where it’s fired in a traditional wood-fired oven, learn all about the marine animals that inhabit Amanpulo’s clear waters, and also plant their own tree. While not formally part of the kids’ club, another fun activity for older kids is being able to drive a golf cart around the island (each casita or villa has its own golf cart for the duration of the stay). Andaz Kids Club As with Amanpulo’s Kids’ Club, Andaz Maui at Wailea’s and Andaz Papagayo’s kids’ clubs are not heavily promoted, but are complimentary and available to children ages 4-12. There’s both indoor arts and crafts and games, including time for some unstructured play (my son helped build a cool fort) as well as outdoor games on the lawn and beach and pool time. What are your favorite complimentary luxury resort kids’ club programs? Hilary Stockton is the CEO at TravelSort. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.