8 Chic Family Retreats
Photo 1 of 21
-
Chic Family RetreatsWho says that you have to sacrifice style when you take the whole tribe traveling? Check out some of the child-friendly hotels featured in boutique travel specialists, Mr & Mrs Smith’s global hotel collection.
Carneros Inn, California
An unusual new-build resort, The Carneros Inn is the product of a bold, contemporary reworking of traditional local farm structures – the distinctive tin-roofed barns, silos and rancher's cottages dotted throughout Napa Valley have informed an ultra-modern 'agri-chic' aesthetic that marries old-school decked porches, cowhide rugs and rocking chairs with Le Corbusier chaises and a soothing, neutral color scheme. And you'd have to search far and wide to find a warmer welcome. -
Carneros InnFor the kids: The hotel can organize a host of family-friendly activities at the hotel or in Napa, from art classes, cheese-making and nature walks to horse- riding and helicopter trips. This child-friendly hotel's concierge team will contact you before you arrive to find out what sort of things you'd like to do, meaning that finding activities to keep you and your children entertained is a breeze. There are also bikes to rent.
-
Carneros Inn Rates
Rooms: 86 cottages, including 10 suites and 24 private homes.
Rates: US$505–US$2,700.
For more information, click here.
For weekend activities in Northern California, click here! -
Turtle Inn, BelizeBrightly colored hammocks slung between slanted palm trees, Balinese-style beach huts capped in thick thatch, and the sun-sparkled waters of the Caribbean are at the heart of this boutique hotel in Belize. One of Francis Ford Coppola’s trio of Central American resorts (its siblings are Blancaneaux Lodge and La Lancha in Guatemala), Turtle Inn is a rustic retreat with a sprinkling of glamour.
-
Turtle Inn - For the KidsChildren under 12 stay free – the two-bed villas are ideal for families. Extra beds are $50 a night (plus tax). 'Beach captains' supervise the two pools, and snorkeling, kayaking and sailing are also possible in the sea. Would-be Indiana Joneses will especially love exploring Belize's Mayan ruins.
-
Turtle Inn RatesRooms: 25.
Rates: Low season, $385–$1,600; high season, $400–$2,100, including Continental breakfast. Rates exclude 19 per cent tax and service charge.
For more, click here.
-
Calcot Manor, United KingdomSOURCE: Niall Clutton 2006A 14th-century farmhouse set amid the leafy rural Cotswolds, Calcot Manor offers the acme of family escapes, with child-geared facilities at every turn and a parent-pampering spa. Family-friendliness, however, doesn’t mean that the hotel’s a passion killer – the couples-only rooms in the main house, sophisticated fine dining, and an outdoor hot tub mean the manor’s as appealing a destination for twosomes as it is for toddlers.
-
Calcot Manor - For the Kids
A fully staffed crèche and an over-eights' entertainment area offer art dress-up, toys and games such as table football, Wii, Xbox, Playstation and a home cinema. Two hundred and twenty acres of grounds feature cycling trails (bikes with child seats, available free), tennis courts and during the summer months, a maize maze. Older children will love the in- and outdoor pools and the hot tub; younger swimmers have a dedicated pool beside the main one.
-
Calcot Manor RatesRooms: 35.
Rates: £230–£430, including breakfast and VAT. Dinner, bed and breakfast rates (from £293–£510, excluding drinks) are compulsory at weekends and peak periods and include £40 towards dinner each.
For more, click here.
-
East Hampton Point Hotel, Long Island, New YorkPeacefully positioned in landscaped gardens stretching back from the sailboat-studded marina, East Hampton Point Hotel & Restaurant has the air of a classic English country home, surrounded by a cluster of standalone clapboard cottages. With a welcoming village atmosphere, it’s ideal for family getaways. The traditional wood-shingled vacation rentals make an exclusive alternative to the traditional Hamptons Share House.
-
East Hampton Point Hotel - For the KidsThere’s a dedicated kiddies' jungle-gym playground to keep 'em busy. Close by, the tree-shrouded pool is fenced-in to protect any little ones on the run. Sports lovers will appreciate the tennis courts and that the hotel can organize horse riding.
-
East Hampton Point Hotel RatesRooms: 7 suites and 13 cottages.
Rates: Hotel suites: low season, $375–$520; high season $650–$865, including breakfast and beach passes; excludes taxes. Cottages are $375–$1,095 a night, including breakfast. Open June to Labor Day only.
For more, click here.
-
Esencia, MexicoThe main three-story Casa Grande of this boutique-style resort on the Mayan Riviera was built to satisfy the whims of a wealthy European duchess and designed for her guests. It combines sophisticated simplicity with all mod cons, including black-out curtains to guarantee a good night's sleep. Seamless service, miles of lush tropical beach, expertly mixed tequila cocktails and a pampering spa… we'll be very impressed if you even make it out to see the Mayan ruins.
-
Esencia - For the Kids
The resort has a team of multi-lingual nannies available to book. The sandy beach is ideal for little dippers, gently shelving into clear, calm waters. All sorts of water sports are available – children aged 12 and over can try scuba diving as the resort has instructors on site. One of the resort's two swimming pools is a designated family pool (the other is adults only).
-
Esencia RatesRooms: 29 in total, including 17 suites and two cottages.
Rates: $525–$2,800 a room a night, including breakfast; excluding 10 percent service and 14 percent tax. Cottage rates cover two children and two adults. Up to two under-2s stay in parents' rooms free.
For more, click here. -
Masseria Torre Coccaro, ItalySOURCE: Masseria Torre CoccaroThis family-friendly boutique hotel in Puglia is set in a historic fortified farmhouse a short distance from the Adriatic. The rooms are exquisitely furnished with linen bedding, silky sofas, large baroque mirrors and antique furniture. The hotel has an Aveda spa, Turkish baths, gym and large outdoor pool. Guests may also use Masseria Torre Coccaro's beach club and a private 14-meter yacht.
-
Masseria Torre Coccaro - For the KidsSOURCE: Masseria Torre CoccaroDuring summer, the Mini Club caters to children aged three to 10 years old. Children can let off steam in the hotel's garden, or in the surrounding farmland (the Masseria is a working farm). There are bikes to borrow free of charge (but no baby seats or children's helmets). The large pool has a shallow end and a lifeguard during the day.
-
Masseria Torre Coccaro RatesSOURCE: Masseria Torre CoccaroRooms: 37
Rates: €262–€1,272, breakfast and taxes included.
For more, click here.
-
Trisara, PhuketThe international jet-set comes to Trisara because there’s nowhere else quite like it. Set over a private bay along Phuket's less developed north-west coast, each suite or villa has a jaw-dropping ocean view and its own pool. Its Sanskrit name means 'Third Garden in Heaven', and the exclusivity and top-notch service more than live up to it.
-
Trisara, Phuket - For the KidsTrisara has an all-singing all-dancing kids club, which is fully staffed (kids younger than four are welcome, but need to be accompanied by a parent or nanny). On tap are movies, computer games, books and activities including card making, cupcake baking and even Thai dancing. Beach activities, at this resort include swimming, kayaking and snorkeling to exploring rock pools. As for the pool, there’s a shallow area and a lifeguard on duty in the day.
-
Trisara RatesRooms: 39, including 27 suites
Rates: Low season, US$660–US$2,150; high season, US$835–US$2,900, including breakfast and airport transfers. Tax is extra at 18.7 per cent.
For more, click here.
For more great boutique hotel options, check out Mr. & Mrs. Smith's Web site. And for more travel tips, click here.
Chic Family Retreats
Who says that you have to sacrifice style when you take the whole tribe traveling? Check out some of the child-friendly hotels featured in boutique travel specialists, Mr & Mrs Smith’s global hotel collection.
Carneros Inn, California
An unusual new-build resort, The Carneros Inn is the product of a bold, contemporary reworking of traditional local farm structures – the distinctive tin-roofed barns, silos and rancher's cottages dotted throughout Napa Valley have informed an ultra-modern 'agri-chic' aesthetic that marries old-school decked porches, cowhide rugs and rocking chairs with Le Corbusier chaises and a soothing, neutral color scheme. And you'd have to search far and wide to find a warmer welcome.


