11 of the best kids' clubs to win over your littlest clients
Lucy McGuireThe format has changed beyond recognition, says our family travel expert, highlighting some of the ways in which hotels are innovating in this space
Think back to the hotel kids’ clubs of 20 to 30 years ago and they were incomparable to what they are today. Gone is the one-size-fits-all setup of jolly mascots and sand pits. Many family holidays are now a class act, with hotels housing sophisticated spaces where highly trained staff deliver educational and cultural programmes. It’s no wonder kids’ clubs now influence how families book their holidays. Here are some of the best for 2024.
SUMMER SEASON
Villaggio Fantasia, Delphina Hotels’ Resort & Spa Le Dune, Sardinia
With creative workshops, archery and cookery lessons in four age-specific clubs, three- to 17-year-olds are rarely bored at Resort & Spa Le Dune’s Villaggio Fantasia (free). Collecting vegetables to cook in the Peter Pan restaurant are among its many activities, with Ericaland at sister hotel, Valle dell’Erica Thalasso & Spa, entertaining two- to 13-year-olds with dance shows, jewellery-making and more (from €14 per hour for under-threes, free for ages three-plus). Its Robinson Crusoe experience invites youngsters aged 10-plus on an island camping adventure, with qualified staff; delphinahotels.co.uk
Kids Club, Marbella Club, Marbella
Children who like potion-making will love Marbella Club’s onsite Aroma Lab: those aged 12 and under can enjoy candle and perfume-making sessions using local herbs. Other activities across this 5,000-square-metre space include pottery, gardening and learning about Spanish culture through dressing up and Andalusian cooking in the cocina. Adults must accompany children under four and prices start from €45 per child; marbellaclub.com/kids-club
Heroes Village, Ikos, Andalusia
Children can “discover their superpowers” at this creche and kids’ club, via sustainability-led activities like creating bug houses and eco-crafts, using items from the natural environment (€30 for four months to three years, free for three-plus). Their Just4Teens club invites kids aged 12-plus to hone team sports and Andalusian cooking skills; ikosresorts.com
Kijo Club, Lujo Hotel, Bodrum, Turkey
This 4,500-square-metre venue of theatre, arts and science-led activities for under-18s sets the kids’ club bar high. There’s an art room, wood work-shop, dance academy and music room, and under threes have a designated play area, if accompanied by a parent (free); lujohotel.com
Book it: Scott Dunn offers seven nights’ half-board at Marbella Club from £7,600, based on a family of four sharing, departing the UK in March 2024 (scottdunn.com) while Olympic Holidays offers seven nights’ full-board at Ikos Andalusia, from £1,719pp, based on a family of two adults and one child sharing, departing Gatwick in May 2024 (olympicholidays.com).
Caribbean
Top tips
“Every family is different,” says Becky Hughes, sales manager at Inspiring Travel. “However, it’s always useful to consider these common questions and requirements when selling kids’ clubs to families”:
- What is the adult-to-child ratio in the clubs?
- What educational activities are offered?
- Are daily activity programmes followed and viewable in advance so parents can choose suitable sessions?
- What age-appropriate care is offered? Will multi-age siblings be separated?
- Are there sign-in and out procedures for all age groups (can teens come and go freely)?
- Is pre-booking essential? Are chargeable sessions refundable if parents change their minds?
- Is a doctor’s certificate required before children can attend?
Kids camps at Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, Dominican Republic
Imaginations young and old are captured by the replica 16th-century village Altos de Chavon. The staff of Casa de Campo Resort & Villas’ kids’ club often take children to the Regional Archaeological Museum, exploring artefacts of the Caribbean’s first Indigenous people via artistic workshops, storytelling and educational tours (fees from $25). The club comprises four age groups (from $44 per half-day/free for all-inclusive guests), and the options span origami, puppet art and pony rides; casadecampo.com.do
Kids Town, Grace Bay Club, Turks & Caicos
While children and teens can enjoy a wide range of play and nature-inspired crafts at the stylishly designed Kids Town, its complimentary programmes place a big emphasis on outdoor activities and local marine life. Perhaps most unique are the field trips this club runs to a local conch farm, enabling kids to explore its life cycle; gracebayclub.gracebayresorts.com
Koko Kids Club, Eden Roc Cap Cana, Dominican Republic
With a man-made lagoon used as a kids’ kayaking zone and a treehouse-like hub, Eden Roc Cap Cana gets an A* for its kids’ club setting. Inside, children become environmental buffs, thanks to the Cap Cana sustainability and planting expert. Pizza-making workshops and Spanish, piano and dance lessons are available (at no extra cost); edenroccapcana.com
Book it: Elegant Resorts offers seven nights’ half-board at Eden Roc Cap Cana from £12,525, based on a family of four sharing, inclusive of UK airport lounge access and return resort transfers, departing from a UK airport in March 2024; elegantresorts.co.uk
Rest of the world
Ritz Kids programme, Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi
Set between the centuries-old rainforest and Andaman Sea, this club is ripe for butterfly walks, nature trails and traditional Malaysian games (included). Children can enjoy kite making and batik painting, too (from £10). Perhaps most intriguing is the sea cucumber reproduction project, which four- to 12-year-olds can explore with the resident marine biologist at the onsite Eco-Discovery Center. They can join kayak sessions, helping to release the creatures into the sea; ritzcarlton.com
Young Wanderers Club, The Nautilus Maldives
Every colour of the rainbow features in the vibrant Young Wanderers Club (free for three-to 11-year-olds) where yoga, meditation and language classes help foster confidence among its youngest guests. Its Mini Chef experiences teach basic kitchen knife skills while children aged eight-plus can attend scuba diving lessons (from around £250), exploring corals in the Baa Atoll, situated within a Unesco Biosphere Reserve; thenautilusmaldives.com
Book it: Gold Medal offers eight nights’ half-board at the Nautilus from £6,449pp, based on two adults and two children sharing a Beach House with Private Pool, departing from Heathrow on 10 June; goldmedal.co.uk
Two clubs for kids that 'don't do clubs'
Pine Cliffs, Algarve
My seven-year-old is a kids’ club refusenik, writes Antonia Windsor. She’s shy in new company and doesn’t normally leave my side. However the club at Pine Cliffs, set inside a wooden pirate ship climbing frame, is instantly appealing. As we walk past, it is she who pulls at me to check it out. That first time she doesn't feel ready to be left, but clambers on the pirate ship, played on the swings and begs me to spend a few euros for the bungee trampolines. Then having familiarised herself with the area, she is less daunted when I try to leave her on a separate occasion and the friendly English-speaking staff soon distract her with bracelet making.
More details: Porta Pirata is open daily and provides supervised activities for children from six months to eight years. Facilities include a basketball court; children’s swimming pool; a “racetrack” for toys on wheels; bouncy castle; Angry Birds shooting game and mini-golf. A Junior Club is also available for eight to 12-year-olds; pinecliffs.com
Hard Rock Hotel, Tenerife
“We’re too old for kids club,” my 10-year-old and 11-year-old wail. We are only at the Hard Rock Hotel in Tenerife for one day and I’ve heard good things about the kids' club so despite the resistance I take my older children up there and drop them off. “I’ll be back at 3pm,” I tell them, and head off with my youngest for lunch. When I return they beg to be left longer. My daughter is holding a certificate to say she’s become a DJ and my son is in the basketball court. With the free-to-play video games a highlight too, “This is the best kids club ever!” is their feedback.
More details: What makes it different is the focus on music, with dance classes, DJ workshops and music competitions along with the usual kids club activities of treasure hunts and sports. Lullaby Club is for six months to three years, Hard Roxity Kids Club is for children aged four to nine and the Teen Spirit Club is for 10-16-year-olds; hotel.hardrock.com/tenerife
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