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.

I was going to suggest their Elix hotel. There was a real mix there - my 2yo and 9mo got on fine but it wasn’t all aimed at them and there were loads of child free people there.

Thanks, helpful suggestions and I’ll take a look.

I’m not necessarily looking for advice on whether I should be looking at family friendly resorts. We’ve travelled enough with DD now to know that we’ve got our requirements right. We don’t plan to book places that market themselves to families. That’ll be when she’s older. For now, we just need a high chair and the other things like private garden etc that aren’t specific to children.

I know some posters want us to book a family resort and think we should Howe er that’s not the plan. We’ve travelled enough with DD to know we don’t need that, Ikos look great for a couple of years’ time. For now, we plan to book somewhere for September that doesn’t have a kids club etc.

To those who don’t want children in g rut hotel - I get it. That’s why ore DD we booked adults only where this was our preference.

Long Beach in Mauritius

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

This is actually really good advice! We do both!

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

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.

I don’t care what you think.

We never did kids club places

but didn’t spend a fortune either

Bloody LOVE the Abu Dhabi Rixos!

Ahhh, the buffet! 🥰

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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/

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.

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.