There is a myth amongst parents that having children has to mean the end to a luxury travel lifestyle. But there was no way that I was giving up on life’s luxuries just because I had started a family. It was really important to find luxury in our own family style! Here I, and some of the best luxury family travel bloggers round up how you can maintain your luxury travel lifestyle while having kids in tow.So firstly let’s addresss

Is Luxury Family Travel Possible?

Now being parent to a two year old, I can say that luxury family travel is definitely possible, and if anything is easier than in other types of travel.

Luxury travel accommodations are ofter much larger than their budget counterparts. And so long as you pick a hotel that allows children, then they are more often than not more set up for having children.

Helena from Baby Foote agrees saying “Luxury travel with kids is so much better, not least due to more space. The little extras like daily laundry, free snacks/drinks, and better facilities make hotels more family friendly”.

I personally love the menus that luxury hotels have for children. One of my pet hates about eating out with my toddler, is the awful children’s menu that undoubtedly consist of Mac and cheese,  burgers and hot dogs. My fast food hating toddler will not eat these and causes us a conundrum,whereas at luxury hotels, they often offer more adventurous children options like salmon and chicken dinners.

So now we’ve convinced you that luxury travel is possible here are our top tips for finding a family friendly luxury hotel!

Tips for finding a family friendly luxury hotel

Jenny over at Travelynn Family says that finding a kids pool at a hotel is often a good indication of family friendliness.

In the same vein, a good kids club with a good variety of activities and credentials of staff can also be an indication of children being welcomed!

Our friends at Global Mouse Travels hints that “looking for hotels that offer big buffet style meals, popular particularly in the Middle Eastern luxury hotels. You can pay really reasonable prices for kids meals at these which still gives them access to all the amazing food, including unlimited puddings (which always go down well). It’s a good way to eat at really high end restaurants in luxury resorts and know exactly how much it will cost and that there will be enough there that the kids can eat”

Ayla at Mama Ayla Adventures has a similar opinion “So many luxury hotels and resorts cater for children but my favourites so far have to be a cruise or all inclusive hotel. Both serve a huge range of amazing buffet food practically 24/7 which is so handy for little ones and they usually have plenty of children’s entertainment and activities. Some places offer babysitting services too so you can sit back and relax or even treat yourself to a bit of pampering!”

Another clear clue that a hotel is family friendly is if the hotel publicises that it has children amenities and toiletries. Added bonus that this means that you don’t have to pack as much.

Another great tip for looking for family friendly hotels, is to find out if a hotel has grounds. My little one loves being outside and having grounds where your little can escape the crowds of wherever you are sightseeing.

I think one of the important factors to look for when booking in a luxury hotel is finding about the atmosphere. If a hotel is publicizing itself as a purely honeymoon destination with a romantic air, chances are it might not be the best hotel for kids!

My final tip is using other review sites and blogger reviews as you will find honest feedback about whether a hotel is truly family friendly!

While ScandiMummy says ““We’ve found that luxury travel with children is definitely still possible. You will need to find places that provide excellent service yet cater to little ones as well. Sometimes that means spending a bit more but a lot is often included. It’s therefore worth seeking out these hotels and travel companies that specialise in superior holidays with kids in mind. We’ve found that Luxury Family Hotels here in the UK is a great option as is Club Med or Simpson Travel abroad.”

Is luxury family travel better in hotels or self catering options?

In truth both have benefits. A villa or luxury lodge can offer more freedom and a more private stay.

Carrier at Flying with a Baby advocates for villas saying “Consider a luxury villa and go with another family. It’s surprising how you can holiday in a beautiful villa, with pool etc and it’s often more luxurious and convenient than a hotel. If you visit far flung places you can usually have a chef or housekeeper included too!”

We recently spent time at Darwin Country Forest and Sandybrook luxury lodges that had amazing luxury features like private hot tubs. In truth I can’t choose between a hotel or self catering option and I really think it is best to chose depending on the location!

What type of destinations are best for luxury family travel?

In truth I don’t think there is a magic recipe for what type of destination is best for luxury family travel. I think most of it depends on the characters of your children and age. For instance when we travelled with our little when she was a baby, cities were our favorite destination with a particular highlight being our stay in Rome!

However, as she has grown, beaches and countryside have become more of a natural choice for our breaks but I am sure as she grows this will change again! I would say that no where is out of bounds. If you told me pre baby that the Maldives was a family friendly not just a honeymoon destination I wouldn’t have believed you! Having travelled there with a one year old I can say if you pick your resort carefully it definitely is!

Our favourite luxury travel recommendations

Europe

Westin Excelsior Rome 

AustraliAsia

Hilton Moorea

Asia

Bandos Maldives

Grand Hyatt Beijing

Grand Hyatt Hong Kong

The Conrad Tokyo

Sheraton Tokyo Bay

Best Luxury Hotels in the Middle East

Grand Hyatt Doha

Intercon Doha

The Conrad Dubai 

Bab Al Shams Desert Resort Dubai

What other blogger all’s have to

Tips for luxury travel with a baby by Luxury Backpack

Firstly, check that the hotel or resort is baby friendly. This doesn’t mean it is geared specifically towards kids and is as far removed from luxury as you can imagine, but just that they allow babies and kids to stay (some boutique hotels are adult only).

–       Secondly, be organised! Do some research and make sure you take everything your baby might need with you (again, check with the hotel what they have already). Also, plan your days well so that you go to that nice restaurant or spa pool when baby has been fed, changed, and isn’t tired. This way you can relax knowing that baby is happy, and you can concentrate on yourselves.

–       My next tip is to book an extra nice hotel room with a balcony. You might be staying in a fabulous location, but if your baby isn’t feeling it that day, you might spend more time in the room. If you have a balcony, bathtub, and extra large bed, this won’t be so bad!

–       My last tip is to relax! I was so worried about how our baby would be affected by messing with his bedtime routine the first time we travelled. But I shouldn’t have worried! Babies are so adaptable. He just went to sleep in his pram which meant we were able to go out for dinner and drinks with him with us (we personally don’t like the idea of booking babysitters as it is baby’s holiday too). I knew that having his normal routine was going to be impossible, so I just didn’t worry about it, and he definitely picked up on that.

Being that little bit more organised, giving yourself more time, and just relaxing are all key to enjoying that luxury experience with baby-in-tow. You will probably even enjoy it more now you get to enjoy it with your little one too!

Luxury travel with young children and teens by Curious Pixie

Luxury travel is still possible with a young family in tow with a lot of planning and research. I try and hunt down new hotels, to take advantage of the lower rates they offer to entice guests. Also for me travel etiquette is very important, it’s key to a successful luxury travel experience with young ones. Parents are the best judges of whether their kids are mature enough to handle certain situations. I find explaining in advance what to expect with role playing at home, for example being at a fancy restaurant, gives them a better understanding of the behaviour expected from them.

what are you top tips for taking the stress of family travel? Do you like luxury family travel? What are your top tips for finding luxury with kids in tow?