Page 5 | To still want luxury holidays with a young child

Hadenough1234567 · 2024-08-17T19:53:04+00:00

DH and I have become used to holidaying in 5 star hotels. Usually Jet2 indulgent escape type places as an indication. We now have a 16 month old. We’ve been to Greece and long haul holidays with DD. We still want to have high end holidays but need to tailor them a bit. We like hotel facilities and our own outdoor space with sun beds. We like to be at the beachfront and avoid high rise hotels. (This is why we like the Greek islands) We like a good sized room, a junior suite at least but ideally a separate living area and bedroom. We’d like places that tick these boxes but possibly aren’t aimed at families, so the place isn’t necessarily over run with kids. All inclusive is preferred because we like breakfast and lunch buffets - ideal for DD. We still like high standard food and drinks, some all inclusive can be a bit questionable quality. We like a bit of room service too. Any tips? We have a decent budget - about £10K for 10 nights but a bit of flexibility here.

Original poster

Hadenough1234567 · 18/08/2024 23:56

Haroldwilson · 18/08/2024 14:51

£10k on a holiday? Blimey. Spend £2k and give the rest to a food bank...

Anyway. Luxury = freedom from irritation. Kids are inherently irritating, even with their many good points. What you're looking for only exists if someone basically takes your kid off you the whole time. Which is quite a sad way to spend a holiday.

Luxury places also cause stress if kids break something. They're not made for kids.

I give to charity but won’t be doing that, thank you. None of your business how I spend my money.

Absolutely not to someone taking my child. She is with us at all times. Who said otherwise?

We relax at naptimes, or when she’s asleep in the evenings, in her pram, with us.

OP posts:

Original poster

Hadenough1234567 · 18/08/2024 23:31

BeachBabbler · 18/08/2024 22:21

All sounds fine to me - it's a lovely age to travel. The only thing I'd say if you are probably limiting yourself unnecessarily by insisting on AI. All over the med, and definitely anywhere Greek, kids are so welcome in restaurants. They will have high chairs, they will be able to do small portions of the regular menu, or give you an extra plate to share your meal, or make fish fingers and chips and will be absolutely delighted to see you and DD. Most hotels have a buffet for breakfast (I agree that's easiest) but for lunch a local restaurant will easily meet your needs and that opens up a whole load of (non-AI) hotels for you to consider.

Thanks - something to think about. Re the buffet, we tend to go on holiday to chill and make life as easy as possible so we wander down to the hotel restaurant. At the buffet we can grab a main easily for DD, with veg or salad bits, no ordering or waiting. Then yoghurt/fruit. She eats dinner at 5pm so we ask staff to make up a takeaway box with bits from the buffet that’ll keep for her, for dinner. So the lunch buffet covers lunch and dinner. We then do bedtime routine and have her asleep about 7, put her in her pram and go to dinner. She usually sleeps through until we put her down when we head back to the room.

OP posts:

HappyAsASandboy · 18/08/2024 22:27

Sensatori resorts would tick your boxes well. Several in the Canaries and Mediterranean.

BeachBabbler · 18/08/2024 22:21

All sounds fine to me - it's a lovely age to travel. The only thing I'd say if you are probably limiting yourself unnecessarily by insisting on AI. All over the med, and definitely anywhere Greek, kids are so welcome in restaurants. They will have high chairs, they will be able to do small portions of the regular menu, or give you an extra plate to share your meal, or make fish fingers and chips and will be absolutely delighted to see you and DD. Most hotels have a buffet for breakfast (I agree that's easiest) but for lunch a local restaurant will easily meet your needs and that opens up a whole load of (non-AI) hotels for you to consider.

Original poster

Hadenough1234567 · 18/08/2024 22:16

notanotheronenow · 18/08/2024 21:51

You leave a baby alone in a hotel room while you're out on a sun lounger??

A room that dozens of strangers can unlock? And what about if there were a fire?

Edited

Show quote history

The room physically bolted on the inside so no one could access even with a key. We were right outside the patio door in our private garden. We could see her through the glass patio sliding door. We also had the baby monitor on (for sound - have to close glass door for air con to work) In a fire we’d have opened the door and lifted her from her crib in less than 60 seconds. We had a large private garden with pool right outside the hotel room. Ww we’re about 12ft away from her crib. We weren’t 4 floors down at the main pool. (Or across the road in a Taverna like the McCanns!) In a fire it would take longer to get to her nursery from our bedroom/the living room at home.

This is why we insist on private garden. We can put our loungers by the patio doors.

OP posts:

Original poster

Hadenough1234567 · 18/08/2024 22:12

notanotheronenow · 18/08/2024 21:51

You leave a baby alone in a hotel room while you're out on a sun lounger??

A room that dozens of strangers can unlock? And what about if there were a fire?

Edited

Show quote history

The room physically bolted on the inside so no one could access even with a key. We were right outside the patio door in our private garden. We could see her through the glass patio sliding door. We also had the baby monitor on (for sound - have to close glass door for air con to work) In a fire we’d have opened the door and lifted her from her crib in less than 60 seconds. We had a large private garden with pool right outside the hotel room. We weren’t 4 floors down at the main pool. In a fire it would take longer to get to her nursery from our bedroom/the living room.

OP posts:

Peabody25 · 18/08/2024 22:08

We stayed here last October and it was amazing! Family friendly but not over run with children, lots of different pool areas, plenty of restaurants and bars to choose from and entertainment every night. www.edenroc.gr/

Original poster

Hadenough1234567 · 18/08/2024 21:51

suburberphobe · 18/08/2024 21:45

Maldives? Seychelles?

Not with a 16-month-old...

The flight alone is too long. Maybe tropical innoculations are needed. No idea if they have Malaria etc. there....

How about Spain? Kids are out with the families there. Playing out at 10.30 PM. in Summer holidays.

We did Maldives this year. 2 flights and a seaplane. DD had a blast. No jabs needed for resort islands.

We put DD down in her pram at bedtime after her usual routine then go dinner. That’s best for her. She’s then tested so the data are all about her and we get our evenings.

OP posts:

notanotheronenow · 18/08/2024 21:51

Hadenough1234567 · 18/08/2024 21:34

Thanks. We’ve had 3 holidays with DD, one this summer so know what’s involved. Not all relaxation for sure. But we do chill on our loungers during naps with baby monitor! We won’t be leaving her with anyone on holiday - we go to enjoy our time with her. She sleeps in the pram after bedtime routine and we go for dinner. That’s our time.

Show quote history

You leave a baby alone in a hotel room while you're out on a sun lounger??

A room that dozens of strangers can unlock? And what about if there were a fire?

LettyToretto · 18/08/2024 21:50

Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives

Six Senses Zighy Bay in Oman

I've been to both. I don't have kids. For Oman, all rooms come with a private pool. Both also have kids clubs/nanny services if you want.

I don't have kids. Have never seen another kid for more than 5 seconds at either of these places.

suburberphobe · 18/08/2024 21:45

Maldives? Seychelles?

Not with a 16-month-old...

The flight alone is too long. Maybe tropical innoculations are needed. No idea if they have Malaria etc. there....

How about Spain? Kids are out with the families there. Playing out at 10.30 PM. in Summer holidays.

Carjo21 · 18/08/2024 21:44

If you would consider the flight to Mexico there are some breathtaking hotels that would fit your budget. Riviera Maya to take you out of the party zone, and then avoid hotels with water parks etc.

I first took my son at around 18 months and the flight was no issue at all.

BugBugTheTornado · 18/08/2024 21:43

bigageap · 18/08/2024 15:02

If you are happy to travel to the UAE I can highly recommend the Rixos in Abu Dhabi.

Bloody LOVE the Abu Dhabi Rixos!

Ahhh, the buffet! 🥰

Tescovalu · 18/08/2024 21:42

We never did kids club places

but didn’t spend a fortune either

Original poster

Hadenough1234567 · 18/08/2024 21:42

ButtonNoses · 18/08/2024 18:57

The actual cheek of you to take your DD but say you don’t want the place run over with kids. Laughable OP

I don’t care what you think.

OP posts:

Original poster

Hadenough1234567 · 18/08/2024 21:40

MichaelandKirk · 18/08/2024 16:23

I sort of understand what the OP is trying to find but she has made a fatal error is assuming that HER child will be beautifully behaved and won’t make a scene at breakfast or start screaming the place down just when others are enjoying pre dinner drinks. I have been to many many luxury hotels and there is always one child who will kick off at the wrong time.

I make no assumptions. DD isn’t in the tantrum stage just now. We deal with disruption swiftly. Those who don’t want the risk of children should book adults only like we did pre DD.

OP posts:

Original poster

Hadenough1234567 · 18/08/2024 21:37

Laughinglama · 18/08/2024 15:31

As the above poster said- at 16 months we also had the types of holidays you describe. Now 3 and 7 would be absolute hell- nothing to keep them entertained at those types of holidays which then makes life a whole lot harder and less relaxing. We still go on lovely holidays however have had to adapt and accept we now holiday in NICE but family friendly resorts with slides/ kids clubs etc and the restaurants serve chips/ burgers and plain pasta 🤣🤦‍♀️ we will return to our luxury in a few years when they’re older and happy to sit and chill and enjoy the finer things in life.

Show quote history

Thanks - this sounds like how we’ll do things as time goes on!

OP posts:

Original poster

Hadenough1234567 · 18/08/2024 21:35

CurlewKate · 18/08/2024 15:22

In my experience, whey you're having a holiday with children, the best options are as high end as you can possibly get or as low end. It's the ones in the middle that are sometimes difficult.

This is actually really good advice! We do both!

OP posts:

Original poster

Hadenough1234567 · 18/08/2024 21:34

ZenNudist · 18/08/2024 15:09

Fine to want luxury holiday but need a child friendly hotel. There's tonnes of them if you're willing to pay £££. Be wary of splurging as with a 16mo you won't be chilling on a sun bed. Kids clubs not much fun and potentially not very good staff looking after very young dc so be wary there.

Thanks. We’ve had 3 holidays with DD, one this summer so know what’s involved. Not all relaxation for sure. But we do chill on our loungers during naps with baby monitor! We won’t be leaving her with anyone on holiday - we go to enjoy our time with her. She sleeps in the pram after bedtime routine and we go for dinner. That’s our time.

OP posts:

CoralBear · 18/08/2024 21:32

Costa Navarino in the Peleponnesse is very family orientated, but the Romanos next door is much more adult. You can use both hotels facilities and restaurants. We get a private pool family suite with sea view which would be in your budget. Not AI but plenty of food options and buffet (breakfast and dinner) is varied and tasty. Heated lagoon pool until 1st June great for little ones and there is a small water park but you don't need to go there. We will be going back for the 5th time as we combine it with visiting family in Athens.

Original poster

Hadenough1234567 · 18/08/2024 21:31

GrandHighPoohbah · 18/08/2024 14:12

I read it that the OP is looking for somewhere not specifically aimed at young families, and therefore pretty much exclusively has young families there. She is looking for somewhere more mixed, which has a different vibe to everything being aimed at kids. Plenty of people choose places like this. We do now our DC are older. No objections to young children, we just don't want exclusively young children.

Show quote history

Thanks - that’s exactly it. We’ve enjoyed a few trips like this but looking for other places to try.

OP posts:

Original poster

Hadenough1234567 · 18/08/2024 21:29

sunsetsandboardwalks · 18/08/2024 14:03

I don't think you'll necessarily have a good time at a hotel that's not family friendly, even though they may allow kids on paper.

Thanks but we have on three occasions. That wasn’t the Q.

OP posts:

Original poster

Hadenough1234567 · 18/08/2024 21:28

neverbeenskiing · 18/08/2024 13:50

We’d like places that tick these boxes but possibly aren’t aimed at families, so the place isn’t necessarily over run with kids.

So you want to go to a resort that isn't aimed at people with kids so you can avoid other people's kids, whilst subjecting other guests who've chosen that resort hoping to avoid kids to your kid?

Yes. Plenty adults only hotels for those who have a problem with a few kids.

OP posts:

Original poster

Hadenough1234567 · 18/08/2024 21:24

KvotheTheBloodless · 17/08/2024 21:17

You'd be mad to actively seek out a place that isn't child-friendly. Aye, yes, I'm sure your DD is well behaved and lovely, but other guests who've booked somewhere non-child-friendly will be pretty pissed off that a child is present, no matter how sweet she is.

Also, tiny kids really don't enjoy sightseeing, they just want a beach/pool.

Sorry OP, but actively choosing somewhere that doesn't specifically cater for families is asking for trouble.

This is really poor advice and doesn’t answe the Q.

OP posts:

Original poster

Hadenough1234567 · 18/08/2024 21:22

cunoyerjudowel · 17/08/2024 21:01

I would avoid places that aren't aimed at families as people go there to avoid children- like yours.
So they may be less tolerant and your child's presence may not be as welcome
Plus the facilities for your child may not be as good and there may be less to do for your child

I would choose a location without a long transfer and with good flight times

Thanks but we’re not fussed about what others think. Adults only is an option for people like that.

We’ve done three holidays with DD now so basic advice like transfers etc isn’t needed. She travels well and we just get a taxi with car seat pre booked. Flight times don’t matter, we’ve done all sorts with her. Daytime she’s happy, night time she sleeps.

OP posts: