To still want luxury holidays with a young child

[Hadenough1234567]

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.

If a luxury hotel is not adults only then you can reasonably expect to encounter kids there, as their parents, who are used to luxury holidays, may want to continue. Like OP. And Ikos/Grechotel/Sani type of places are great with tiny kids, and they have family rooms, so you don't have to sneak around when DC is in bed. 1-2 year olds won't really make use of all the playgrounds/water parks/clubs/mini discos of a family resort, so why go to a hotel like that?

Thanks to those who’ve offered suggestions.

To those suggesting cognitive dissonance- definitely not. Before DD arrived we always went to adults only resorts. If staying at a resort that allows children then people simply aren’t entitled to expect them to be child free.

Our previous three trips have been to places that haven’t been aimed at families but have been suitable for our child’s stage. We’re mindful that it’s not a family resort so intervene quickly if DD makes noise. (We would do this anywhere TBH) She’s a very settled child and people comment on that when we’ve travelled. The problem is that some people do allow their children to run feral and that’s not suitable especially with a small child.

At this stage we don’t need kids clubs etc. DD is a water baby so loves the pool and beach. We do however ideally need a breakfast and lunch buffet, much easier with a little one.

We really do prefer Greece to Spain and travel at the start of June or end of September so the heat isn’t really an issue at those times.

Thanks but I don’t think we are. We’ve had 3 great trips so far. I’m not saying we can’t come up with our own ideas. We’ve done exactly as you suggest. The list of high end places with private outdoor space and decent AI isn’t that long. Lots of the great places are half board and lots of the AI places can be a bit big standard with the food. We’ve exhausted the Jet2 options and have a shortlist and are simply looking for other ideas. We do a lot of research to get the best for our needs. We never travel in school holidays - it’s too hot. But some places become overrun with pre school children just before and after the holidays, it’s not as simple as saying just book out with school holidays

I don’t agree as we’ve done this successfully 3 times now. We know what our needs are and ensure they’re met. There’s a difference between children being unwelcome and needing a resort aimed at families with kids club, water slides, mini disco etc. Our DD doesn’t need these. She needs/we need:

Outdoor space to play (pre walking we had a private pool but Won’t now for safety - we’ll go to main pool) We also lie on our loungers while she naps so the private space is for us too.

Breakfast and lunch buffet. High chair available. We ask staff for things for dinner for lunch time.

Swimming pool

In the evening we do bedtime routine, get her to sleep, put her in the pram and go for dinner and a cocktail.

We have done on 3 occasions so far. I’m not asking if we’ll have a good time. I know we will. I’m asking for places I’m not aware of that tick the boxes.

It might be different with older children but children at DD’s age don’t need much to entertain them. A swimming pool and space to run around. Suitable good.

You are a family now, so you should probably look at family holidays. That way your child will be happy and you won't upset the clientele looking for quiet grown up holidays of the type you used to have. Consider luxury weekend with your child being looked after while you're away?

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

OP ask to get this moved to the travel section. AIBU brings out the idiots.

No, thank you. We used to book adults only holidays. Those who want adults only are free to do the same. We’re free to book anywhere that accepts children. We’d never go away without DD. We love our holidays with her.

There are degrees of these things. We don’t want a resort full of families. But we’ve happily stayed at places which have some other families, just not every person there with kids.

We don’t inflict DD on people. We are attentive parents and don’t let her disturb others. She’s an easy child so it’s quite easily done (and people comment positively when we travel), with a different temperament it would be difficult I realise.

it's not laughable to take children to places that are not specifically child-oriented. Just because I have children, does it mean I should spend my life at soft plays only from now on.

Ikos but you could luckily go outside of school holidays otherwise it would be outside of your budget. For three of us in school holidays it's £2k a night.

tui sensetori I think it’s called for family friendly luxury

Places that aren't aimed at children may be full of people who resent your child

My friend takes her young kids to Maldives 6 times a year. Apparently it’s really good for kids

We have been to Ritz Carlton Abama in Tenerife when our child was 2, 4 and 6. We return because our ideal is exactly what you describe and it ticks all the boxes. If you can afford the villas they’re gorgeous.
If you go in early and mid June it has a buzz but it’s before school holidays so not overrun with children. Otherwise we are planning to do Ikos and Sani next.

Elounda in Crete has lots of 5* hotels with private pools and family facilities.

With that budget you can get the Almyra in Paphos / the St James’s club Antigua and any of really excellent luxury hotels in the emirates or Oman. Call a decent travel agent like best at travel, sovereign or kenwood and they’ll find you something.

I don’t worry about this. Id they choose resorts which aren’t adults only and resent kids they’re fools.

My child isn’t allowed to create a disturbance and is quite a happy settled little thing. I wouldn’t waste any time worrying about people who have a problem with a child simply being there. On the rare occasion she’s upset we immediately distract or remove her.

Lolol at Jet 2 and luxury in the same sentence

Absolutely- this was our long haul trip and whilst it wasn’t an island that really markets itself to families, it was fab and so accommodating. A few families there but not like being in a soft play cafe!

Have a look at Marbella in Corfu. We went not that long ago and there were kids there but not that many. It was a lovely hotel with excellent facilities including some activities for the kids but plenty to do for adults away from kids too.

Neptune resort.on Kos. Grecotel Amirandes (and also anorher vote for the Iberostar Anthelia on Tenerife!) As other.posters have said, a child friendly is preferable.

You’re right that many places they offer aren’t luxury. However there are a few pretty expensive 5 star places that get 5/5 on trip advisor. When people pay a high price then expectations come with it, so these places must be doing something right. We’re not looking for really exclusive places (although we’ve stayed in these sort of places before). Just a nice hotel, decent gardens and pool, plenty of space or separate living are, beachfront location, sea view. private outdoor space, good service, decent quality food and drinks, good restaurants, decent room service menu.

IKOS