With the right attitude and proper planning, an intergenerational family trip can be the best way to bond as well as the best way to ensure that you will receive some much needed help during your vacation. I have done some extensive research on the top baby-friendly travel destinations for
families with children 2 years of age and under. The following 9 locations resurfaced many times in my research so they became the obvious top locations to share with you. Surprisingly, I could not find a 10th…which should tell you something about the amount of baby friendly destinations available to you! Most of the destinations I came across were on or around the east coast of the United States but I happily welcome any other new suggestions that you may have.
Top 9 Best Baby Friendly Travel Destinations
- The Atlantis- Bahamas Babies may not need a lot of gear but it sure does help. How great would it be for a hotel to provide these conveniences, and that’s just what you will find at the Atlantis. The Atlantis Bahamas already has a lot of baby visitors: the resort furnished more than 6500 cribs last year. As of June 1st, the Atlantis has partnered with Johnson & Johnson -- maker of baby products-- to give families a Gentle Travel Kit and a couple of extra services. The Atlantis has a new Prompt Response line, so parents can order (and quickly receive) things that baby needs: extra crib sheets, baby bathtubs, bottle warmers, sterilizers, strollers, even a small fridge for bottles and baby food. More than 100 babysitters are available, all qualified in CPR and childcare, and trained about the Gentle Travel process. The resort will offer custom meals at any restaurant for kids with severe food allergies. When a guest requests a crib in the room, the Gentle Travel kit gets delivered too, including: tips about keeping up baby's routine while traveling, Johnson & Johnson products including Bedtime Cream, Head-to-Toe baby wash, and Soothing Naturals moisture cream, lullaby CD, and specialty nightlight.
- The Franklyn D. Resort, Runaway Bay, Jamaica is the Caribbean's only all-inclusive family resort that gives you a full-time nanny as part of your package! Indulge in a friendly, carefree, relaxing all-inclusive family vacation in Jamaica - doing as much or as little as you wish. Your holiday will feature all your favorite activities; all the food and drinks you want - day and night; shopping on site at the Gift Shop, the Jamaican Craft Shop or Duty Free shop, and regular shopping trips to Ocho Rios. Imagine the luxury of an aromatic seaside bath, soothing massage or refreshing facial at the Spa. Venture out to sea in a kayak, on a sailboat or windsurfer. Help the children build sandcastles. Work out in the gym/fitness center. Cruise the reef with fins and snorkel. Play tennis day or night. Travel just across the road and tee off for a round of golf at the Breezes championship par 72, 6870 yard course. Take a stroll on the adjoining mile of white sand beach. Have a romantic dinner for two at The Pier Restaurant while your Vacation Nanny looks after the kids. Take little trips to exciting and extraordinary places nearby.
3. The Nickelodeon Family Suites by Holiday Inn in Orlando, Florida offers many opportunities -- interactive teas, breakfasts, and meet and greets -- for resort guests to mingle with characters. But that may not be what kids remember most. Two admission-worthy water parks that are free for all guests feature seven slides or flumes, a four-story interactive water tower, and a 400-gallon dump tank. Toddlers will enjoy a sandy area with a slide and a shaded play space with a splash zone. The parks are both staffed by lifeguards, and life jackets, offered at no charge, are required for kids less than 4' tall when using certain water slides. On 26 acres, a mile from Walt Disney World, this all-suite resort has semi-private Nickelodeon-character-themed kids' bedrooms that can only be accessed via the common living room; most of the 777 suites are 485 sq. ft., and all are nonsmoking and equipped with a refrigerator and microwave. Nick Jr. month is in September with activities and characters from TV shows for preschoolers; last year's programming included story time with Joe and Blue from Blue's Clues and a Dora the Explorer fiesta with arts and crafts. Also offered are spa treatments, such as hair-braiding and manicures, for kids as young as 2.
4. Deer Valley, Utah- The Children's Center is a state-licensed facility providing supervision and activities for non-skiing children ages 2 months to 12 years. Activities include story telling, art projects, imagination activities, singing and a lot of play time and toys, along with quiet time. The Center provides separate rooms, dividing and managing children of like age groups more effectively. The Center also offers built-in reading nooks for entertainment purposes and performances, an indoor playground and additional space for the children's ski programs.
5. Walt Disney World- Florida Magical Beginnings Disney World has a 7-week "Little Ones Travel Time", August 13 to Sept. 30 2006 (during the quiet season), with: special packages, special concerts, early Extra Magic Hours in Fantasyland for toddlers (which sets them up nicely for afternoon nap break)
6. Club Med Sandpiper- Florida Baby Club Med (4-23 months) is offered at this all inclusive family resort. The children are divided into two groups: children who are not yet walking and those with a certain level of mobility. Open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Baby Club Med is a paid service with an additional charge. The baby club provides: Engaging activities including learning games, puppet shows, and much more, nap time, indoor/outdoor play area, individual dining room and personal chef who prepares fresh baby food daily from natural ingredients for lunch and dinner , 24-hour convenience room equipped with sterilizers, blenders and bottle warmers.
At the front desk, you’ll find strollers, bathtubs, bottle warmers, potty trainers, steps and safety kits at your disposal. In the restaurants, special children’s corners provide privacy while microwaves, blenders, bottle warmers, high chairs and booster seats keep everyone happy. And just in case you forgot something at home, the Club Med Boutique keeps plenty of diapers, wipes, lotions, sunscreens, swimsuits, clothes and bottles in stock so you never even have to leave the village.
7. Sesame Place- Bucks County, PA is geared toward kids 2 to 13, with an emphasis on the younger end of the age range. Kids get to meet Big Bird (8 feet tall!), Elmo, Bert, Ernie, Zoe, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch, and the rest of the gang that hangs out in Sesame Neighborhood, a full-size, outdoor re-creation of the Sesame Street TV show set. The characters appear in musical revues and as larger-than-life inflatables in the daily "Rock Around the Block" parade. There's also a computer gallery, hands-on science exhibits, and kid-sized amusement park rides and water attractions. Sesame Place is small for a theme park (at just 14 acres), but relaxed, clean, and easy to get around. They also provide single or double strollers for your convenience, just be sure to call ahead to reserve one.
8. Loews Coronado Bay Resort & Spa, San Diego, CA- Coronado Bay Resort & Spa offers many kid-friendly features and more in a relaxed beach setting. Last summer, Loews piloted parent-attended playgroups for children ages 6 to 18 months and 19 to 36 months at the resort before launching them chain-wide. During the 45-minute sessions, toddlers spend "A Day at the Castle," hearing fairy tales and trying on dress-up clothes. Infant sessions focus on movement and creative play with baby toys.
9. Smugglers’ Notch, Vermont- the ideal year round mountain family vacation spot. Over the years, Smugglers' Notch has been single-minded in its approach to providing exceptional family vacations. That's why they built their state-of-the-art child care center - TREASURES. They have created a wonderland for infants and toddlers that is more accessible and convenient for parents. Most importantly, while your children frolic in this fully-licensed center, you can rest assured that they continue to care for them with the same dedication and professional staff that has always been here for your family. Treasures has some very special features for both kids and parents including radiant floor heating, giant fish tanks in every room, a multitude of age-appropriate toys, tiny toilets and small sinks, 5,400 square feet of indoor space, over 4,000 square feet of outdoor playground, one-way mirror viewing for parents, heated snowmelt walkways and easy drop-off and pick-up including ski-in/ski-out convenience. At Treasures your infants and toddlers are in good hands with the caring counselors. Many of the staff are trained in first aid, CPR, child development and behavior management. And, the child-to-caregiver ratio assures full attention and the best possible care. Entertaining your kids will be no challenge at all!
A 10th unofficial option for vacationing with a baby, that many resorts now offer, are private villas with pools for a totally private and relaxing way to spend your vacation. These are perfect because you still get all the conveniences of staying in a resort, like the resort facilities, restaurants, housekeeping, room service etc. I would only recommend this option if you have a very young baby who does not crawl or walk yet. Your very relaxing vacation comes to a quick end as soon as you start to worry about your baby falling into the pool! A less costly option is to rent a beach or ski house alone or with another family. Many popular vacation destinations offer this option and if you visit the destination’s website they usually provide contact information for these types of accommodations.
Karen White (BebeBuzz) is a mother of two and the Founder/President of Bebebuzz.com. She also runs an online baby boutique at http://boutique.bebebuzz.com, featuring unique and trendy baby gifts that any savvy new parent would be excited to receive.
BebeBuzz.com is a site built in response to the tons of questions that the baby books just don't cover. Filled with tips tricks and advice for surviving pregnancy and motherhood.
“Please visit my site, and keep the Minti feedback coming.” ~Karen
(August 2006) (
