For the parent who loves to travel, there’s no need to check your wanderlust at the nursery door. Traveling while your baby is young has some real advantages. They’re lightweight, portable, sleep a lot and best of all, you don’t have to pay for an airline ticket until they’re two years old. With more and more parents choosing to bring their babies with them when they travel, modern hotels are offering baby amenities, kids programs, childcare and rooms specially designed for families.
For the trendy married-with-children set who are looking for a luxury hotel when traveling with a baby, fear not…we’ve got you covered. Here are some of my favorite high-end hotels that offer baby and toddler services to ease the stress of travelling with small children.
Top Luxury Hotels When Traveling With a Baby:
Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji
Photo credit: Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort
The South Pacific conjures up images of idyllic white sand beaches and tropical palm trees. Add a screaming, overtired baby with a diaper rash to the mix and suddenly things get real. Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, an all-inclusive five-star resort, tries to make things easier so parents can actually enjoy their vacation. A former coconut plantation on the island of Vanua Levu, Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort works to provide families with an authentic Fijian experience.
Each child five and under is assigned a dedicated nanny for the duration of their stay! Plus there is a complimentary award-winning children’s program called Bula Club, open from 8:00am to 9:00pm. In addition to a swimming pool with a waterslide, a toddlers’ pool, a jungle gym, zip-line, trampoline, sandbox, and arts & crafts center, the Bula Club also incorporates child care so parents can go snorkeling or go for a romantic candlelit dinner while baby rests. With lots of fun activities for older kids as well, like a farm-to-table, junior chef program and building with sustainable materials like bamboo, so – regardless of age – you’ve got the whole family covered.
Martinhal Family Hotels & Resorts, Portugal
Photo credit: Martinhal Family Hotels & Resorts
Give your baby her first holiday experience at Martinhal Sagres Beach Family Resort, a group of four beachfronts resorts located in Portugal. They’ve introduced a ‘Baby’s First Holiday’ package that includes: 4 or 7 nights stay in a beach room at Hotel Martinhal, breakfast and a baby welcome pack upon arrival (think diapers, baby wipes, diaper cream, a bottle warmer, sterilizer, changing pad, bath towel and bath toys). The package also includes two hours of babysitting services so you and your partner can enjoy your complimentary, 55-minute couples massage and romantic three course meal. Martinhal Family Hotels & Resorts also has a Baby Concierge service that will help parents pre-order baby products prior to their arrival, anything from cribs to safety gates. If that wasn’t already enough, each property has a kids club for all ages, from 6 months to 16 years old.
Four Seasons, Denver
Photo credit: Julia Dimon
The Four Seasons has properties all over the world that roll out the red carpet for the luxury family traveler. Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort, for example, offers baby amenities upon arrival including baby-friendly bath products, complimentary logo-bibs, Florida themed stuffed animals and organic baby food pouches. The resort also offers a 5-acre Water Park on property with a baby-friendly Splash Pad, along with an award-winning Kids For All Seasons program that has supervised activities for kids ages 4-12.
I recently checked out the Four Seasons Denver with my own family. The room came equipped with a crib and cozy lion themed blankets, a kit of Honest bath and body lotions, a diaper bin and a sporty pint-sized tent for my toddler to sleep in. The kids loved it! After a day splashing around in the hotel pool, then running through the water fountain outside of Union Station in downtown Denver, our gang headed back to the hotel for naptime. There was a knock at the door. No, it wasn’t room service… It was candy service! Jelly beans, chocolate, lollipops, M&M’s, the works. Needless to say, my daughter was thrilled. The sugary delivery was also accompanied by an invitation to join the pastry chef in the kitchen for a behind-the-scenes tour and chance to make your own sundae. These added touches made my little one feel more at home… and probably made our dentist happy too!
To find out the rest of the “Best Baby Friendly Hotels” visit Travelocity for my complete story: https://www.travelocity.com/inspire/5-best-baby-friendly-luxury-hotels/
