It’s not just the adults you have to worry about. Rich parents beget offspring with high expectations. And if these little princes and princesses aren’t happy on holiday, you can be sure they’ll make their feelings known.
Happily, the luxury hotel sector is prepared. From tiny bathrobes and baby spa treatments to mini gladiator costumes and animal adventures, they’ve got it covered.
Wild West
Send children who love playing cowboys and indians to Vista Verde Ranch in Colorado. It employs full-time ‘kid wranglers’ to keep the young ones occupied, holding pow-wows in teepees, campfire parties outside the cabins, fishing lessons and boat races on the creek and even driving the fire truck to the local store to pick up ice cream with the sirens blaring! They’re also qualified to teach kids to ride.
Ancient Rome
Any fathers and sons who have bonded over Russell Crowe’s turn as Maximus should head immediately to the Rome Cavalieri for the hotel’s special gladiator training.
Guests over the age of seven can take part in the course, which takes place in the hotel’s park and includes instruction in ancient combat techniques and a guide to the life and times of the gladiators. They’ll also receive a gladiator kit with a Roman tunic, sandals, belt, gloves and training sword, and a medal.
Scottish lairds
Kids at Gleneagles Hotel can learn all the trappings of the upper classes, from golf lessons at the academy for children of four up, to falconry lessons with the resort’s friendly Harris Hawks.
There’s an Equestrian Academy for the pony-mad, and kids aged between four and nine can even get behind the wheel, driving mini-Land Rover replicas over a purpose-built. If it rains, they can pretend to be lords of the manor in the playroom.
Safari special
If The Lion King is constantly on repeat, send the family to Thanda Private Game Reserve in South Africa, where under-14s are invited to join the Bucks and Bugs Club and take part in the Junior Ranger programme. During game drives, kids will be taught about animals and their tracks, birds, trees and even stars.
At the end of their stay, their ranger will set a quick quiz, and if they answer the questions correctly they’ll take home a certificate.
Colouring books, modelling clay and badges are also provided, and at bedtime they’ll find a story, milk and cookies waiting for them. Kids between two and 12 sharing with two adults pay 50%of adult rates.
Dr Doolittle
Younger family members can walk and talk with the animals at The Botanico in Tenerife during the summer holidays. The hotel’s Botanico Kinder Aventura programme is run in co-operation with Loro Parque, the wildlife park that includes tigers, gorillas, meerkats and monkeys.
Kids get up close and personal with the wildlife, feeding parrots and dolphins and meeting the trainers and keepers. The programme runs from July 1 to August 31 and is open to kids aged from four to 12. Rates from about £18 per day.
Short attention spans
The KidsOnly programme at One&Only Reethi Rah in the Maldives should keep even the most easily-bored child happy. There are 12 hours of activities available per day, seven days a week, and the days are themed. Monday is Ocean day, with sushi making and a fish hunt.
Tuesday is fitness, with a mini-Olympics and yoga. Wednesday is Pirate day, and so on. One&Only Cape Town offers a similar daily themed kids’ club, drawing on local culture and geography, with activities such as pastry-making and African dance.
Teenage dreams
For those dragging reluctant teens away this summer, suggest Carlisle Bay in Antigua. Its new Crush programme in July and August for 13 to 19-year-old guests offers activities such as wake-boarding, zip-lining and tubing.
With the hotel’s Family Super Chill Out packages, teenagers up to 17 can stay in their own suite for 50%off the full adult price.
Spas for the spotty
Mums aren’t the only ones who can be pampered on holiday.
Four Seasons resorts in Bora Bora, Chiang Mai and Santa Barbara all offer special teen treatments, with options ranging from coconut scrubs and kiwi-fruit manicures to relaxing Swedish-style massages for ‘hyperactive, overachieving’ kids.
One&Only Palmilla in Mexico has a special family sanctuary where parents and kids over 12 can share treatments.
At the Hotel Cipriani in Venice, the Casanova Wellness Centre offers make-up lessons for teens, while The Spa at Rocco Forte Brown’s Hotel in London has a children’s spa treatment range.
More child-friendly offers
Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts is reintroducing its Kids Go Free summer promotion for 2010. Between May 14 and September 30 two children aged under 16 can stay for free when two paying adults book a minimum of three nights’ accommodation in one of nine Jumeirah resorts.
St Lucia’s Cotton Bay Village has teamed up with Friendship Travel to create packages aimed at single-parent families, with activities, entertainment and social events. The seven-night packages are for fixed departures, and start from £2,530 for one adult with one child.
