Travelling is often the first luxury to disappear when couples become parents. Baby gear, fidgety toddlers and overactive older children can turn a holiday into hard work. The solution? Try our roundup of family-friendly resorts that promise the best for both you and your kids.
Muscat, Nizwa & More, OMAN
Appearing on many hot lists for travel in 2018 is Oman, an adventure playground on the Arabian peninsula that’s just waiting to be explored – and perfect for families with children of all ages. You can begin with a few days on the coast, taking in some snorkelling or even staying at a turtle conservation camp, before heading to the desert and the mountains for a bit more action and off-the-beaten-track fun with expert guides.
The team from luxury tour operator Scott Dunn has been creating tailor-made family holidays for over 30 years – the kind of holidays that form the basis for so many happy childhood memories, from learning to ski to splashing in the waves. The company’s Oman itineraries take in everything from exploring forts and markets in the ancient city of Nizwa, to climbing dunes and riding camels in the Wahiba Sands desert, and discovering the Al Hoota Caves in Oman’s “Grand Canyon”.
Bookings & info: 3158 6530 | scottdunn.com
Riau Islands, INDONESIA
With 15 spacious overwater Sea Villas, a newly opened overwater spa, freshwater infinity pool, complimentary kids’ club, and a commitment to sustainable tourism, Telunas Private Island offers a genuine family-friendly respite from busy Singapore.
Staying at the more upscale of two sister properties from Telunas Resorts, guests of Telunas Private Island can enjoy exclusive access to the new spa on the tip of the 15-hectare island, plus the infinity pool and other Private Island-only amenities. You can also take one of two daily shuttles to the Telunas Beach Resort, so your kids can enjoy the sister resort’s calm half-kilometre stretch of sand.
Telunas is just 50km from Singapore, and a great option for families with kids of all ages who don’t want to spend so much time flying for their next holiday. The Private Island has a kids’ club that’s open to all ages, with a range of daily activities for children to join in.
As a special offer, when you book three weekday nights for February or March 2018, you can enjoy a stay at Telunas Private Island with one child’s accommodation fee waived – just add the comment “EL-TPI-Feb18” in your reservation notes.
Bookings & info: stay@telunasresorts.com | telunasresorts.com
Koh Samui, THAILAND
To celebrate its sixth birthday, the InterContinental Samui Baan Taling Ngam Resort on Koh Samui’s unspoilt west coast has launched two romantic offers that mix luxury and fun in unforgettable ways. Available to book until the end of March, the Summer Birthday Packages are available for families or couples, and they include a two-night stay in a Club Beachfront Pool Villa or Club Two Bedroom Residence Villa, with an additional night for free. There’s also daily breakfast, return airport transfers, a birthday cake, a 60-minute body massage for two adults, a cooking class for two children or two adults, a drinks and dining credit of 3,500 baht (around S$150), two hours of complimentary morning babysitting, kids’ club access and more.
The couples offer starts from 61,000 baht (around S$2,500) for two adults, and the family offer from 71,000 baht (S$2,900). Also, be one of the first 25 guests to book, and enjoy a Five Islands of Koh Samui tour as an extra.
Bookings & info: +66 (0) 7742 9100 | samui.intercontinental.com
Healthy holidays
An up-and-coming travel trend for 2018 is Family Wellness, with specific retreats being designed to suit adults and children alike, and featuring all kinds of health-oriented activities – from yoga and meditation to stand-up paddle boarding and surfing. Here, courtesy of the experts at Flight Centre, are just a few personalised programmes for nurturing mind, body and spirit, designed to help you and the family relax, rejuvenate and switch off.
• Embrace the great outdoors and switch the little ones’ attention from the iPad to the aquatic world at Fiji’s Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, whose resident marine biologist can teach little ones about the ocean and lead snorkelling excursions for older kids.
• The Siam in Bangkok offers one-day to one-week Muay Thai training programmes in its onsite gym.
• Set in the Blue Mountains, Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley Australia provides a natural playground for kids to go on an adventure with the Junior Rangers programme, with activities including bush survival, fossil hunting and “yabbying”.
• Hawaii’s Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa offers age-specific treatments for 13- to 17-year-olds at its Painted Sky Teen Spa.
• Preferring to promote quiet contemplation rather than overstimulation, Six Senses Maldives has music meditation, organic gardening and tai chi for kids.
Bookings & info: 6692 9764 | enquiries@flightcentre.com.sg
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This article first appeared in the February 2018 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!
