Celebrity-favorite family-friendly resorts
By Rowena Carr-Allinson
Las Ventanas Al Paraiso (Courtesy Rosewood Hotels)
Just imagine, you’re a famous face looking for a family break away from the public eye. You’re looking for sun, sea, fun and, of course, privacy and luxury. Where do you escape to? We’ve rounded up five great hideaways the A-listers love to relax in with their families in tow.
If you’re looking for a luxurious vacation and travel like a star, even for just a short time, splurge a little at one of these family-friendly resorts and travel like the stars.
Las Ventanas Al Paraiso (Los Cabos, Mexico)
Right at the tip of the Baja California peninsula in Mexico, Los Cabos is wedged between the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific. It’s been attracting Hollywood’s finest since the 1940s, and today, it’s still a hot favorite with the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow and Cindy Crawford. Just two hours by plane from LA, it’s an ideal beach escape for A-listers. The hottest address in town? Las Ventanas Al Paraiso, the ultra swanky resort with luxurious adobe casita-style rooms, a glorious beach with fringed hammocks, fabulous pool, sleek service and regulars like Goldie Hawn and Simon Cowell. A Rosewood resort, it’s also family friendly with useful amenities for kids like cribs, baby monitors, baby proofing, child-sized bathrobes and slippers, and any little extras like diaper pails, changing tables or bathtubs or even in-room bottle warmers!
Forte Village Resort (Forte Village, Sardinia, Italy)
Forte Village Resort (Courtesy Forte Village Resort)
Sardinia in Italy, just south of Corsica, might be a tiny little island in the Mediterranean, but it’s a hot destination for Europe’s jet set. It’s got it all: beautiful beaches, clear waters and a VIP fan list that includes the likes of British rugby players and footballers, Tina Turner, Annie Lennox, and Sting. Not to mention Gordon Ramsay has a restaurant on site! The Forte Village Resort is known for being really kid-friendly, especially the new Hotel Bouganville with its lovely beach, bespoke family bungalows and superb kids’ facilities including a child-friendly restaurant and a nursery. Forgot the sterilizer? No problem. Need a nanny? It’s done! Cots, buggies and even diapers are available too!
Atlantis Resort (Dubai)
Atlantis Resort (Courtesy Atlantis, The Palm)
Dubai is a hot celebrity haunt attracting everyone from British footballers to Kim Kardashian. Apparently the Beckhams even own a property on Palm island, which is also home to the huge Atlantis resort. With 1,500 rooms, it’s a great place for a family vacation in Dubai, thanks to its Aquaventure waterpark, choice of pools (including the baby-friendly shallow ‘Zero Entry’), and 17 restaurants to pick from including Nobu! Kids will love the opportunity to swim with dolphins, the kids club with its painting, underwater safaris and cooking classes, and the 24-hour ice-cream parlour while parents will enjoy peace of mind thanks to the qualified nannies and babysitters on hand.
Parrot Cay (Turks & Caicos)
Parrot Cay in Turks and Caicos (Courtesy Parrot Cay)
Christie Brinkley, Bruce Willis and Donna Karan all have homes there. Bruce Willis got married there, as did Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, while Sandra Bullock, Robert De Niro and Penelope Cruz have all been spotted relaxing in the resort! One of the smartest and most luxurious hideaways in the Caribbean, it boasts a stunningly soft one-mile long white sandy beach, beautiful individual villas, as well as rooms and a huge spa, tennis courts and a gym. You’ll also find a stunning infinity pool and two great restaurants on site. Kid-friendly amenities include the complimentary beach toys, kites and games, as well as video games, board games and movies. Staff organize entertainment, like scavenger hunts, sailing or sand castle competitions! Babysitters are available as well, while kids under 12 stay free and kids under 2 eat free too. What more could you ask for?
(MORE: Best All-Inclusive Resorts in the World for Families)
North Island (Seychelles)
North Islands (Courtesy North Island)
This is the place to really get away from it all. Set less than 19 miles from the main island of Mahé in the Indian Ocean, North Island is a truly ‘barefoot’ luxury experience and enjoyed by A-listers such as the Beckhams. Perfect beaches, perfect service and 11 perfect villas await on this unspoiled tropical island. Each eco-friendly villa comes with a lounge that can accommodate a family with two kids easily. You’ll also find a well-stocked library, a spa featuring Dr. Hauschka products, and a gym, as well as a top-end dive center and gorgeous pool. It’s the ideal spot for a luxurious Robinson Crusoe-style family vacation in the Seychelles. Even better, kids under 17 stay free!
Rowena Carr-Allinson contributed this to MiniTime. Since the arrival of her son in 2011, she has taken him everywhere from Bangkok to NYC, writing family friendly articles en route.
