In January 2016 my husband and I celebrated our 10-year wedding anniversary (and renewed our vows!), so I was looking to mark the occasion in true traveller style, with a holiday to remember.
As a travelling mum, one thing I thought I would have to give up once my little adventurers arrived was luxury holidays. But just because you have kids doesn’t mean there aren’t occasions when you want to splurge and treat yourself to a luxury holiday (with a side of family fun). Our 10-year anniversary was one such occasion.
Surely, I thought, there must be some luxury resorts that cater to the needs of families, so I set off on a mission to find truly luxurious resorts that are great for family fun too. Below are three of my favourites, but be warned: You will feel the need to book a holiday after looking at these places!
The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi (Maldives)
The Maldives needs little introduction as a truly luxury, exotic escape that also makes for a wonderful holiday destination. Finding a family-friendly resort in the Maldives is somewhat harder, so when I came across The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, I truly fell in love and booked it for our vow-renewal honeymoon.
Located on a beautiful island, to which you have to take a sea plane (My little adventurers would be so excited!), it’s the perfect setting for a family escape.
What makes this hotel great for both luxury and family?
- A fantastic kids club — It’s available to children from as young as three years old without a parent.
- Varied activities for children — There’s something for every child to enjoy, including indoor and outdoor activities.
- Water bungalows — These look amazing, and it’s sure to feel like a true adventure, being out over the sea. The resort has lots of villas too, which are perfect for families.
- Arrival by sea plane — This would be incredible for children (and adults alike). My daughter loves to read about lost islands, and visiting here would be her wish-come-true!
- The opportunity to make a difference — The resort has a list of items that it recommends you pack for children within the country. I love the idea of giving something back to the community that you visit and would love to do this with my little adventurers.
- A good atmosphere — We have stayed at world-class hotels, which, though amazing, were totally unsuited for family travel. Lots of families visit The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, so your children will easily make friends. The feel of the resort is family-friendly and family-focused.
Qasr Al Sarab (Abu Dhabi)
As I was hunting Star Wars locations, I came across Qasr Al Sarab, which totally wowed me (and inspired me to book it for a trip in August)!
Located in the legendary Rub’Al Khali, the largest uninterrupted sand desert in the world, I think it will make a truly memorable holiday with breathtaking sand dunes in every direction.
Why did I choose this hotel?
- Uniqueness — As a beautiful hotel set in the middle of the desert, it will likely be one of the most unique places you will stay as a family.
- A fantastic range of activities — There are activities for the whole family to enjoy, from desert sailing to dune bashing and from falconry to desert walks.
- Amazing accommodations — Think: plunge pools and private pools and villas to suit the various make-ups of families that stay there.
- A sky full of stars — Because the hotel is set in the middle of the desert, as nightfall approaches, you will be treated to a star-speckled sky that is sure to leave a lasting impression on you and your family. After all, it’s awe-inspiring for children and humbling for adults to sit and watch the night sky and think about how vast and great the universe is.
- Star Wars! — Follow in the steps of the new Star Wars film; the location for the latest film was set in the surrounding deserts!
Dhara Dhevi (Chiang Mai)
We stayed at Dhara Dhevi this summer, and it was beyond amazing. From the moment we arrived at the hotel, we were swept off our feet by the experience.
What did we love about the resort?
- Breathtaking buildings — The hotel buildings are truly breathtaking. It feels like you are in a temple, with some of the most ornate and stunning buildings to explore.
- Escape-worthy villas — The villas were a true escape from the outside world. The layout of separate buildings within your villa make it easy to stay with older children because both of you have your own private areas.
- A private pool — Having our own private pool was a fantastic feature and will be great if you have little ‘fish,’ like we do. The children loved the experience!
- A fabulous kids club — It provided my children with so many unique experiences and really promoted Thai culture. It’s important to me that, when travelling, my children get to learn and experience the countries that we visit.
- Family activities — I loved that the resort had special activities for families. Rice-planting was one of the highlights of travelling with our children to date!
- Convenient — It was great that this hotel is located only 10 to 15 minutes away from the activities in Chiang Mai but that it still felt like a million miles away. It’s a fantastic setting for an active family that wants to explore and experience but also wants an amazing place to bed down.
Where do you go when you want to feel luxurious but keep yourself entertained as well? Share in the comments!
Featured image courtesy of Dhara Dhevi.
