FAMILY • January 2018
Four signs of a totally amazing kids’ club
Holidays can be a challenge with little ones in tow, no matter what age they are. A great kids’ club lets you relax in the knowledge your youngsters are having the time of their lives, but it’s important to do your homework before booking. Family travel expert Janine Clements shares her top tips on what to look for
First-class facilities
Little holidaymakers will beg you to sign them in for the spectacular Club Abami (for four to 12-year-olds) at Ritz Carlton, Abama in Tenerife. One of Europe’s biggest kids’ clubs, it features eight play zones with a planetarium, plus wildlife and aquatic areas. Designed like a treehouse, Angsana Laguna Phuket (pictured) has a dedicated children’s area (for three to 16-year-olds), featuring a jungle gym and even a kids’ spa.
Action-packed activity programmes
Whether you have toddlers, tweens or teens, an array of age-appropriate activities is key to keeping them entertained (and wanting to return). Not only is the kids’ club (for three+) at Atlantis The Palm, Dubai filled with super-cool spaces to hang out in, there are endless activities, from mini Olympics to cookie decorating and dolphin encounters. There’s never a dull moment at The Peligoni Club’s Kids Club (age four+) in Zakynthos. Its dizzying schedule is especially popular with older ones, with a teen programme that includes water sports, parent-free boat trips (pictured), and even revision sessions during the May half-term.
Out-of-the-ordinary experiences
From star studying to raft building, the best kids’ clubs offer experiences designed to immerse little VIPs in local culture. The club (for two to 17-year-olds) at Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti in Tanzania aims to educate youngsters about Africa’s wildlife and cultures, including spending the morning with a Maasai warrior (pictured) or learning Swahili. The many experiences on offer at Six Senses Zighy Bay Resort in Oman (for four to 18-year-olds) include wadi biking, survival skills, learning Arabic, feeding the resident goats and crab hunting.
Tots to teens
Choice of resort can be limited by the age of your youngsters. Many don’t take babies or toddlers, or have facilities for teens. However, some exceptional places do cater for all ages. From 9am to 9pm at Jamaica’s Beaches Negril Resort & Spa (pictured), babies are cared for by certified nannies, while teens will be enticed by water sports, boat cruises, a night club, and pizza and soda bars. Babies staying in the kids’ club at Club Med Da Balaia (four months to 17 years old) in Portugal’s Algarve will be nurtured by a specialist team, while older teens can have a blast at creative activities such as circus skills.
For more information on family travel with BA, visit ba.com/familytravel
This article has been tagged Adventure, Travel Tips