Multiple Regions Resorts
Ten of the best overseas luxury properties for families
Here are the ten best overseas luxury properties for families, as voted by our readers in the 2017 Gold List Awards.
Luxurious resorts in Fiji, Indonesia, Dubai and Singapore make the cut in our list of the best overseas luxury properties for families
Vomo Island, Fiji
Just a 15-minute helicopter ride from Nadi International Airport or a 75-minute cruise from Denarau Marina, Vomo Island is the only family-friendly luxury resort in the Mamanuca Islands.
The Kids Village is situated on the resort across a short suspension bridge. Children are allowed to use a variety of facilities, including a playroom, media room, cubby house, outdoor play areas, dress up wardrobe, and craft tables. Infants under three years can visit the facility with their parents or stay under the care of one of Vomo’s Baby Butlers. The village is open from 9am to 9pm and includes breaks for lunch and bath time.
Vomo also offers PADI-certified diving courses for children at the Bubble Blowers Course in the swimming pool. Children must be 8-12 years old to participate.
Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji
Set on the coast of Savusavu Bay, Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort is an idyllic getaway for families. The resort offers a range of activities suitable for children of all ages, including snorkelling, glass boat tours and rain forest waterfall walks.
Children under 12 can go to the Bula Club, a complimentary service for all families at the resort. Children can spend time at the junior pool and water slide or play on the trampoline, jungle gym, or tree house. The club offers a variety of activities tailored to different age groups, ranging from exploring coral reefs to helping with mangrove re-planting.
Rates start at FJD$2,175 (about A$1,375) and includes private airport transfers, a la carte meals and beverages, on-site activities and five off-site excursions per week, nanny services, and the Bula Club for Kids.
InterContinental Bali Resort, Indonesia
Overlooking the Jimbaran Bay on the southern end of Bali, InterContinental Bali Resort offers scenic sunset views over its stretch of white sand beach. The resort features a variety of family-friendly activities as well as the Planet Trekkers childcare facility, complimentary to all resort guests.
Designed for guests aged four to 12 years, the Planet Trekkers clubhouse features an arts and craft station, monitored Internet connection, video game consoles, and an outdoor playground with a children’s swimming pool. Kids can also participate in educational programs that teach young guests about Bali culture and the Indonesian Bahasa language.
The resort’s Get Together program includes a stay in any suite for up to four guests with no additional charges as well as unlimited gelato for children under 12.
Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai
Set on the edge of the Palm Jumeirah archipelago in Dubai, Atlantis, The Palm resort offers a variety of programs tailored to guests of all ages. The resort’s Kids Club offers different activities depending on the time of year. During the summer months from July to September, Atlantis, The Palm offers five different camps for kids and teens. Year-round, the club offers Evening Adventures with a different theme for each night.
There are several facilities offered at Club Rush just for teens, including a chill-out lounge, Internet café, and game zone. At night, teens can head to the entertainment lounge or sugar rush bar for some creative mocktails.
The Aquaventure Waterpark and Lost Chambers Aquarium are a short walk or monorail ride from the resort accommodations.
Castaway Island, Fiji
Though it’s just a short boat, helicopter, or seaplane ride away from Fiji’s mainland, Castaway Island offers a secluded escape suitable for all ages. The free Castaway Kid’s Club offers Fijian and modern day games and activities such as ice cream eating competitions, snorkelling, crab hunting, and lali drum playing.
The resort also features a variety of family activities to do together, including banana boat rides, kayaking, paddle boarding, a Monoriki Island Tour, volleyball, and fishing.
The resort offers a Castaway Five Holiday Package for families of five as a FJD$100 (about A$63) add-on to the normal nightly rate. The package includes accommodation in a large bungalow as well as an extra full-size single bed. Accommodation rates start at FJD$989 (about A$624).
InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa, Fiji
Situated on Fiji’s main island on Natadola Bay, InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa offers a variety of activities tailored to guests of different ages. Older guests can spend time at the spa or on the golf course while their children learn and play at the Planet Trekkers kids club.
At Planet Trekkers, children can spend a four-hour session in the morning, afternoon, or evening that includes either lunch or dinner. Nanny services are also available for kids under the age of four. Teens can partake in the Recreations Team and play football, cricket, touch rugby, or volleyball.
The resort offers a Family Escape package that includes five nights accommodation, buffet breakfast, FJD$600 (about A$378) resort credit, daily complimentary Planet Trekkers sessions, complimentary lunch and dinner for guests aged four to 12, rollaway bed, non-motorised water sports, and airport transfers.
Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa, Singapore
Located on the coast of Singapore’s island resort Sentosa, Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa offers a selection of packages and activities suitable for family holidays. In addition to family-friendly recreational activities including the Flying Trapeze, the resort features a Cool Zone with water slides and a splash pad.
At the Cool Zone, children can go to the Toots Club, where they can spend time playing games, exploring the tree house slide, or participating in one of the club’s daily themed activities. The resort also offers three water slides, a children’s swimming pool, and a kid-friendly splash pad.
The resort offers a Family Fun Package starting at SG $485 (about A$456) per night that includes breakfast and dinner, full-day registration at the Toots Club for children between the ages of five and 12, 15 per cent discount on a la carte treatments at the spa, one-hour daily use of selected water sport facilities, a child’s sofa bed, free entry to Sentosa Island, and Sentosa Express tickets.
shangri-la.com/singapore/rasasentosaresort
Turtle Island, Fiji
Though Turtle Island is a private island for couples only, the resort offers a family week several times per year. Depending on the week, Turtle Island offers a variety of family-friendly activities around the resort.
Every child five years and under is provided with a personal nanny, and children six and older have their own Bula Buddy who acts as a playmate during their stay at the resort. The client managers at the resort tailor the Family Week activity program depending on the needs of each family and child. Activities include fishing, sporting events, swimming and water activities, and crafts and games.
W Bali, Seminyak
Situated in Bali’s Seminyak beach resort area, W Bali offers a family getaway with a number of activities for all ages. The resort’s WET pool offers expansive views of the beach and lounge chairs where parents can watch over their children while receiving a hand or foot massage. The resort’s Whatever/Whenever service will handle any requests and plan family trips in the area for guests.
W Bali offers a Little VIPs Family Package that includes 50 per cent off a separate kids’ room for children up to 21 years old. Children under 12 will also receive complimentary lunch or dinner with the purchase of an adult meal and complimentary participation in kids’ activities.
Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, USA
Nestled on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort offers a variety of outdoor and cultural experiences for the whole family. Guests can take hula and ukulele lessons or spend the day at one of five resort pools with waterslides and kid-friendly shallow areas.
The resort offers a kid-friendly movie night under the stars every Wednesday and Saturday at sundown. Kids can spend either a full or half day at Camp Penguin and join in on a variety of activities, including building a volcano or seashell hunting. The counsellors will also take children on excursions to the Waikiki Aquarium and Honolulu Zoo.
The resort’s Family Fun Package includes breakfast for families of up to four and free Internet access.
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