Want luxury family holiday in europe with two kids 5 and 3 - any ideas?

Question

Want a luxury apartment complex preferably (4or5 star) with lots for kids to do, outdoor kids pool, walking distance to a town, walkable to beach, kids club. Basically lots to amuse kids with good accommodation.

Answer 1

I agree 100% with the answer above me, what PBLEEK said.
Because a lot of the 4-5 star luxury complexs, hotels and resorts don't allow small children under the ages of 12 to16 because they got too many complaints from other older guests who whine, moan and complain "I paid a LOT of money for peace and quiet! If I wanted to listen to screaming kids - I would have stayed home!" So, most of these places are NOT Child Friendly anymore. So Europe might be a no-go until your kids are older. (So Sorry!)

My German friend who lives in Frankfurt is in the same situation - she has a 4 year old and can't really go anywhere NICE until her sweet little girl is older. (and she's so well behaved and quiet too!) My friend said "Europe is family friendly if you LIVE here - but not if you want to TRAVEL around here". And I really, really, really, hate to say this, but she's right. I've seen it twice in Europe. Once at the Connaught Hotel in the Mayfair section of London - a family came to check in and the desk clerk said "We weren't aware when you made your reservation for 4 that the 2 other members were under 16 - I'm sorry, we don't allow guests that age to stay with us. We have some of the world's most powerful CEOs having important meeting here and the last thing they want to hear while negotiating a 100 million Pound (the British currency) deal is a child screaming "mummy give me candy! mummy give me candy!!!!!" They father nearly blew his stack, this was a place that charges $650 a night for your basic room. The manager came out and backed up the clerk and said that children under the age of 16 were not permitted at the hotel under ANY circumstances, because they offer their clients exclusive service and guarantee them peace and quiet, which means no children who might spontaneously burst into tears and scream at any given moment. It "disturbs and unsettles the rest of the clients" The poor guy was told "maybe the Hilton or some other AMERICAN hotel chain can help you". Gee Whiz!!

The 2nd time I saw this was in Paris at the Crillion Hotel. Again, it was an American family that was told the minimum age was 12 for all guests: no young children permitted because they didn't want them jumping on the furniture and smearing their "peanut butter jelly finger" all over their expensive fixtures, or having an "accident on the rug" or "breaking the fine china". The family was also told: "You Americans have such a attitude of entitlement. I've been to the states and you Americans bring your children to places that are totally inappropritate, like restaurants and you do nothing to control your child and ruin dinner for everyone else - well if that's how your country wants to live - fine - but in Europe we have a high standard of living and Europeans know when and where is appropriate places to bring children - and when to leave them at home." WOW! So there you have it. That's how Europeans feel about American's bringing small children over there.

Sorry to tell you all that - I just don't want you and your 5 & 3 year olds to fly all the way over there only to find out a great deal of establishments aren't going to welcome them. I don't want what happened to those families to happen to you.

If you really have your heart set on Europe - rent a HOUSE. Because no one can complain about noise then. AND, you'll have privacy. -OR- Do you have family or friends you could stay with? Then you'd have no problems with a place to stay. You still won't be able to go out to dinner with the kids, so you'd have to get a babysitter if you and your wife wanted to dine out with friends/family. Or if you are renting a house, go grocery shopping and cook dinner, at least you'd be in Europe. (One of you will have to stay at the house while you do the grocery shopping because the grocery stores tend to be very cramped with tiny aisles and trying to manuever down those narrow aisle with a 3 & 5 year old would be stressful, especially if the grocery store is crowded. Also, you would no be allowed to let your children wander around the store. It just isn't done over there. If you went together as a family, you husband would have to hold one child and you the other. Also, you have to bring your own shopping bags because the grocery stores do not provide them in Europe. People bring they own bags from home, usually a tote bag or one of those stretchy mesh things.

Lunches would not be a problem because there are lots of street vendors so you don't have to worry about being snubbed at any restaurants. Also, a FEW (emphasis on "few") cafes allow children - as long as you sit outside. But that's only for lunch. Children are "persona non grada" at the restaurants at dinner time. Also, Europeans do not eat dinner until very late, so restaurants don't even open or serve food until 8pm in some countries and 10pm in others.

Unfortunately it sounds like you are looking for something on the resorty side, and that's just not happening in Europe for children. It's a grown-ups playground.

Instead of Europe - you might want to consider "Sandles resorts". They definately have family friendly packages that are all inclusive. In fact - I believe they even have one resort that is "Families ONLY", no "singles" and "no couples" allowed. And your kids will love that more than Europe. Pools, swimming, aquariums and all sorts of kids activties. That would be your best bet. Stick with places that state "Family Friendly" or mention "Activities for the Whole Family" etc... Otherwise - you could end up at an "Adults Exclusively" place and that will be a problem.

I'm sure there has to be at least ONE place in each country in Europe (owned by an American or Austrialian) that might be "kid friendly" but it's not going to be 4-5 stars! No way! More like 2 stars. They don't want to spend the money making a "family friendly" place nice over there - because the know the children will only wreck it. Hence, the attitudes at the Connaught in London, and the Crillion in Paris. That's why they suggested an "American establishment" because American hotels TRY to cater to American wants and needs but not always. Also, the "American establishments" are not 4-5 stars. 3, maybe 4 stars tops. But if it is 4 star - they might give you a hard time like the Hilton in Paris gave my parents when my sister and I went there when we were 12 & 15. This American establishment had the European policy: "Only 2 people to a room." They FORCED my parents to decare us "Adults" which means my sister and I had to get our own room (goodie for us!!!!) but they found 2 rooms that were ajoining, so it was sort of like having an apartment with 2 rooms. My parents were really pissed though because each bedroom had 2 full size beds, so we have 4 people and 4 full size beds. My parents we pissed they had to pay for an extra room when all 4 of us would have fit comfortably into one room - but Hey! That was the policy. They do that to discourge people from bringing children.

Sorry, I'd really re-think Europe until the kids are MUCH older. In all honesty, it's really out of the question for at least another 10 -12 years for you I'm afraid. Hotels might not take you, you can't take your kids out for dinner, shops won't allow kids that young inside, neither will museums, ugh! You'd have to rent a house, by your own groceries, bring your own shopping bags to the store, then come home cook dinner, Ugh! Forget it! Too stressful.

My parents knew about this and had to wait until my sister and I were 12 & 15 before they took us over there and even then there were some restaurants that refused us because my sister was "too young". And this was back in the 1980's when they were more "relaxed" about the "no kids" thing. They are even more strict now.

I'm really, really sorry. I know you probably feel like you are being punished for having kids, but, outside the USA - things are different with family life and you have to go by what the local custom is. Europeans feel family is important, and children should be in the home - not in the restaurants and hotels. That's just their way of life and its not going to change. One other example of how the try to discourage children out of public: My European friend and I were going to a department store with her 2 year old daughter and they would let her in because she had a stroller!!!!! They said "no strollers" because it causes congestion in the aisles.

The reason I just remembered that was because I saw on the news last night that a Barnes and Noble put up a sign in their windows saying "no strollers". So, it looks like the states are about to start implementing the same policies over here.

Answer 2

This is a joke right? You want a 5 star luxury complex in Europe that will take a 5 year old and a 3 year old? Get Real! Thats an oxymoron. The whole point of a place being 5 stars is because it doesn't allow stupid kids!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why do you think people pay all that extra money to stay some place that is 5 stars? Use you common sense man! I agree with the 2 people above me. The only place that would take you is maybe, a HoJo's or a Days Inn.

What are your kids supposed to do over there? You think a 3 year old wants to see the Mona Lisa? You think a 5 year old wants to see where they stormed the Bastille? What are they supposed to eat? Escargot? Drink unpasturized milk and eat unpasuteurized cheese? Well, there's always McDonalds! Use your common sense man! Europe is no place to bring babies and small kids to. What are you thinking? You can't have your cake and eat it too! If you have children, you're going to have to make sacrifices like trips to Europe. You should have thought of that before you had children. Forget it man! You and your wife missed the boat. You 2 should have gone to Europe before you had kids. It's too late for you now. Maybe after they go to college you can go.

Answer 3

No. They don't exist in Europe. Well, they do - but children are now allowed at them. Unless you are Donald Trump's wife with billions of dollars, willing to rent a Villa, a private jet and bring a staff of Personal Assistants, Personal Chefs and a Nanny - you ain't going to Europe no matter how much money you have. If you are thinking of EuroDisney - it went out of business. It's closed - forever! Children are banned from most business in Europe except for IKEA, McDonalds, Burger King and Kentucky Fried Chicken. Therefore the kids will have to stay at your Villa with your Nanny for the entire trip. Villas start at $30,000 a week.

Answer 4

Oh God! You must be one of those people who thinks they did the world a favor by having kids and you are entitled to a special reward for doing so. I bet you are one of those parents that brings your kids to restaurants that you're not supposed to, but because of discrimination laws in this country, the management can't say anything but you ruin everything for the rest of us. I hate parents like you. You need to learn when to hire a nanny or a babysitter if you want to go certain places. Kids are not supposed to be in certain places - Europe is one of them, unless you are a European child. Please stop thinking you did the world a favor - it's overpopulated and you added two more kids to it You owe the world some consideration by keeping your kids home most of the time. Remember, when your kids throw a tantrum you are the only one who thinks it's precious. The rest of us don't! Geeze. Do you believe the nerve of some parents?

Edited to say: Just read some of the above answers. I'm glad to know that America is finally starting to crack down on parents like these. It's about time. I will support Barnes and Nobel from now on because of their ban. Yes, please take your kids to Mexico if you insist on a family vacation which you do not deserve. Good Answer pbleek!

Answer 5

Go to Disneyland in Paris

Answer 6

Europe is about history, culture, architecture, cafes, art galleries, night life, exciting food, exploring, etc.. what you have in mind is an all inclusive in Mexico.

Answer 7

Disney Land Paris!!!!!!
:D

xxxxxxx

Answer 8

go to italy !!! cant beat it