If you’re looking for a fuss-free getaway with children in tow, then established hotel brands are often the way to go. They offer peace of mind, excellent service and reliability, as well as impressive facilities catering to children. These include kids’ clubs, check-in counters just for little ones, sensible menus and healthy discounts on that second bedroom. Here are four of the best hotel groups that deliver dependable family travel, wherever your family cares to roam.
Le Méridien Family
Among Le Méridien’s hotel choices, it’s the brand’s spacious resorts that really stand out as family-friendly destinations. Top locations include Siem Reap, Hainan, Bali, Chiang Mai and even Shanghai, where the hotel’s tranquil location inside She Shan Tourist Park makes for a welcome respite from the city’s frenetic sprawl.
Children are greeted at check-in with a free toy, along with a thoughtful family area guide that gives valuable insider tips on the best spots in the area to visit with your tots in tow. Kids’ clubs come jam-packed with fun activities and are carefully designed to be engaging and exciting places to hang out, learn and explore – they’re kept so busy that they won’t even notice that these areas are all tech-free. With 50 percent off a second room booking and kids-eat-free promotions for under-12s, mums and dads are kept every bit as happy.
Six Senses Grow
With spa-focused Six Senses and Evason resorts located across Asia, including Koh Samui, Phuket, Bali and Nha Trang, it’s never been easier to indulge in parental pampering. But what about the kids? With spacious villa and suite accommodation catering also for little ones, it’s possible to have a serene spa break that’s also family-friendly.
The new Six Senses Grow family programme focuses on six dimensions of wellness – social, environmental, physical, spiritual, emotional and intellectual – offering kids an experience that fosters a connection with nature and helps them make new friends. In practice, this involves physical activities such as yoga, mindfulness and meditation, learning about the local culture, exploring sustainability and enjoying fun group activities. From toothpaste-making workshops to exciting scavenger hunts on the beach, there are plenty of things for kids to make and do at Six Senses – when they aren’t simply learning how to be.
Novotel Family
Novotel has family-friendly properties all over Asia and beyond, including in Beijing, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur, Danang and Taipei. Mindful that families are often looking to maximise their holiday budgets, the brand offers spacious family rooms with sofa beds and optional cots, and will accommodate up to two children free of charge. Alternatively, spread out in a second room at a generous 50 percent discount.
But there’s far more to Novotel’s family focus than its wallet-friendly deals. Play areas near the check-in counters ensure that the admin runs smoothly, while young guests are also treated to a welcome gift – a small toy for tots or music download credit for elder siblings. Meanwhile, Novotel’s resorts also offer the MyKids package, where, for a small fee, children get a day pass to enjoy the on-site kids’ club, including unlimited refreshments, popcorn and movies, along with themed activities that vary by destination.
Ritz Kids
You might be planning to cuddle pandas in Chengdu, hit the beach in Bali or scale Tokyo’s Skytree, but The Ritz-Carlton’s Ritz Kids programme makes the hotel stay just as memorable. The adventure begins on arrival, with a dedicated check-in area just for the youngest travellers. Kids are given a welcome kit that includes a lion backpack, a ‘passport’ for collecting stamps around the hotel and, most exciting of all, a wristband that entitles them to complimentary ice cream at any of the property’s restaurants.
While on-tap ice cream is pretty hard to top, Ritz-Carlton is giving it their best shot with its new Night Safari Adventures programme. Kids are invited to camp in the comfort of their own hotel room, in a tent that’s fully laid out with cosy bedding. Then it’s time to dim the lights and read storybooks by torchlight, accompanied by milk and cookies, before drifting to sleep with a cuddly lion toy.
Discover more
Flight and hotel packages are available from Cathay Pacific Holidays
