The Best Luxury Retreats for Families

By Debra Kamin on February 23, 2017

The places to go—and the 16 hotels to book—around the world with the entire clan in tow.

Steve Glass

OF 17

Traveling with the kids doesn’t mean you have to put up with kitsch. For families seeking a luxury retreat that’s tailor-made for travelers of all ages, the options have never been better. From French wine country to the Great Barrier Reef to the wild jungles of Indonesia, these 16 world-class retreats strike just the right amounts of comfort and class for families traveling together.

Arctic Treehouse Hotel, Finland

Decked in custom Scandinavian furniture and boasting floor-to-ceiling windows to showcase the splendor of the Northern Lights, this brand-new property on the Arctic Circle offers families a Nordic adventure with all the right trimmings. The hotel is comprised of 31 sleek and spacious bungalows on stilts surrounded by evergreens and featuring plush sleeping alcoves for the kids, heated floors, and the requisite fur throws. If you can brave the temps (the mercury hovers around -11 Celsius at Christmas), there’s a full roster of winter activities available, including snowmobile safaris and dog sled racing. For younger kids, a visit to adjacent Santa Park (and reindeer farm) offers a charming escape into a real-life Christmas wonderland without the cheesy gimmicks. Rooms, from $343; Tarvantie 3 Arctic Circle; Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi 96930, Finland; 358 505176909; arctictreehousehotel.com.

Antti Kurola

The Asbury, New Jersey

A cheeky, design-centric property perfect for families looking for some East Coast Americana, the Asbury revels in the Jersey Shore’s musical legacy and the surging revitalization of its iconic boardwalk and beach scene. For families, it also offers freedom in the form of nonstop entertainment, plus ten different configurations of rooms and suites to fit groups of all sizes. Tweens and teens will love the ground-floor rec room, featuring ping-pong, pool, pinball, board games, and live music. By day, summer visitors can unwind at the pool or nearby public beach a short stroll away, and take in open-air rooftop film screenings by night. Winter guests can take advantage of the hotel’s own private outdoor ice rink, which sits right in the hotel's backyard. Rooms, from $126; 210 Fifth Ave., Asbury Park, NJ; 732-744-7100; theasburyhotel.com.

Courtesy The Asbury

Winnetu Oceanside Resort, Martha’s Vineyard

Family-owned Winnetu is modeled after the grand New England seaside resorts of yore, and its jampacked roster of activities and unpretentious charms help the property live up to it inspiration. Radiating the quaint, salty-air appeal that has long made Edgartown a summer-home magnet, Winnetu is a breezy, winsome choice for families seeking a hassle-free island retreat. This is an ideal spot for families who love to mingle and make like-minded friends; kids will socialize together in the extravagant playroom and on the pirate playground, teens will team up for kayaking and ropes courses, and every Wednesday evening, entire families gather together on the beach for Winnetu's legendary oceanfront clambake. Rooms, from $450; 31 Dunes Rd., Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, MA; 866-984-9308; winnetu.com.

Home Ranch, Colorado

This big-sky guest ranch in sprawling Elk River Valley, Colorado, offers families an all-inclusive weeklong glamping experience in the Rocky Mountains. Curated itineraries include fly-fishing, white-water rafting, live wrangling, and all number of opportunities to play cowboy and cowgirl. Every guest gets his or her own horse for the week, giving the entire family the chance to set off on a custom weeklong adventure that includes expert guides, all equipment, and a full calendar of outdoor thrills. If the adults want some time alone to savor the great outdoors, kids’ counselors can jump in to take the younger set on their own wilderness excursions. At twilight, families can reunite back at camp for a roaring campfire and live entertainment. Rooms, from $350 per night; 54880 County Rd. 129, Clark, CO; 970-329-1040; homeranch.com.

Chateau St. Pierre de Serjac, France

This magnificent chateau nestled in French wine country allows parents the luxury of a gourmet wine-tasting vacation that's just as fun for the little ones. While the adults set off to sip the chateau’s famed Languedoc varietals or take in a treatment at the onsite Cinq Mondes spa, kids are treated to sporting activities, boules and biking, movie nights, and gourmet, locally sourced cuisine served at special kids’-only dinners; plus, onsite, and fully vetted, babysitters ready to step in whenever mom and dad want to step away. Rooms, from $200; D30, 34480 Puissalicon, France; 33-9/70-73-16-00; serjac.com.

Chewton Glen Hotel and Spa, U.K.

Fans of Harry Potter and Lemony Snicket will get a kick exploring this lavish 18th-century chateau in the English countryside, which sits on 130 acres of dazzling gardens and is packed with secret storybook nooks for playing hide-and-seek. Take family time to the next level in one of the property’s Treehouse Suites, which hang 35 feet above the ground, feature a galleried bunk space for the kids, and include a breakfast picnic basket delivered each morning. Rooms, from $390; Christchurch Rd., New Forest National Park Hampshire, New Milton, England; 44/1538-542041; chewtonglen.com.

St. Regis Mauritius Resort, Africa

On the soft white sands of Mauritius’s Le Morne Beach, this grand Indian Ocean retreat offers all the luxuries travelers have come to expect from the St. Regis name, but with a relaxed, sun-drenched African flair. Water-loving families would be hard-pressed to find a property with better facilities for exploring the ocean; from kite surfing to stand-up paddleboarding to world-class scuba diving, the St. Regis Mauritius’s renowned water sports center caters to aquaphiles of every skill level. Small children and those who aren't strong swimmers needn’t be left out either; the resort also offers glass-bottom boat rides and swimming with dolphins. Rooms, from $475; Le Morne Peninsula, Le Morne, Mauritius; 230-403-9000; stregismauritius.com.

Kulm Hotel, St. Moritz

A five-star property best experienced in the winter, the Kulm is a mecca for ski aficionados, be they of the bunny or black diamond proclivity. St. Moritz is where winter sports were born, and the Kulm—a 160-year-old Alpine property that saw bobsledding invented at its very doorstep—takes immense pride in its legacy. Guests between the age of 3 and 12 get lessons on the slopes for free, free skates at the hotel ice rink, and their own supervised dinner service at the on-site kids’ club so mom and dad can slip away. Adding to the snow-capped charm: saunas, steam baths, and a salt-water grotto at the Kulm Spa, and unlimited (complimentary) hot-fudge sundaes and hot chocolate at all the hotel’s restaurants. Rooms, from $413; Via Veglia 18, St. Moritz, Switzerland; 41-81/836-8001; kulm.com.

Lizard Island Resort, Australia

Both an island resort and a national park, this white-sand paradise of 24 private beaches and a lagoon sits smack on the Great Barrier Reef. Some of the world’s best snorkeling and scuba diving can be found here, paired with warm Down Under hospitality and—perfect for families craving some smartphone-free bonding time—zero mobile phone coverage on the entire island. Accessible only by private plane, Lizard Island is remote, wild, and spectacularly unspoiled. It's also exceedingly family-friendly, with kids enjoying birdwatching and stargazing through the Lizard Island Junior Rangers program and offered a special under 16 spa menu for little bodies in need of R&R. Rooms, from $1300; 61-7/4043-1999; Via Cairns, Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia; lizardisland.com.au.

Soneva Kiri, Thailand

For families craving a barefoot luxury vacation that pairs indulgence with education and mindfulness, Soneva Kiri, located just a quick one-hour flight from Bangkok, shines. The onsite kids’ club is housed in a bamboo fortress where play is used as the foundation for exploration. There are Thai music lessons, group excursions into the rainforest, and arts and crafts activities that teach sustainability and social responsibility. For families that prefer to play together, Soneva offers father-son fishing expeditions and mother-daughter spa dates, private sunset cruises, family cooking classes, and private family viewing sessions in the resort’s open-air cinema. And to make things extra sweet, kids are always welcome to indulge as much as they would like in the onsite chocolate room. Rooms from $898; 66-82/208-8888; 110 Moo 4, Ko Kut, Thailand; soneva.com.

Mandapa, A Ritz Carlton Reserve, Indonesia

The countryside of Bali is dotted with pillared, handsome temples—mandapas in Sanskrit. So ubiquitous is their presence that they offered inspiration for this sprawling resort surrounded by lush rice patties in the heart of Ubud. Rather than be cut off from the outside world, guests at Mandapa’s 60 villas and suites are immersed in Ubud’s local culture via Balinese dance performances, daily prayer blessings, and a personal butler who offers guidance in the Balinese calendar and all its accompanying rituals. Little ones are never forgotten, either: The Mandapa Mini Explorers program offers children a portal into Bali’s healing traditions through activities like kiddy yoga, make your own herbal drink workshops, and the playing of traditional Bali games. Rooms from $530; Jl. Kedewatan 9, Banjar Kedewatan, Ubud, Indonesia; 62-361/479-2777; ritzcarlton.com.

Barcelo La Bobadilla, Spain

Tucked away in a small Andalusian village, surrounded by fragrant olive groves and manicured gardens, Barcelo La Bobadilla is a palatial five-star retreat that begs its guests to slow down and savor. Rooted in the Slow Travel philosophy, this estate feels more like a quaint village than a hotel, albeit one with a spa offering hydrotherapy and milk baths; suites with private solariums; and four top-notch restaurants. Also on offer: wine, oil, and olive tastings; family bike rides with a catered country picnic; rural off-roading, and a teens’-only lounge. (Best for families with slightly older kids.) Rooms from $193; Agregado Ventas Salinas Km. 65.5, Finca La Bobadilla, Loja, Spain; 855-231-3765; barcelolabobadilla.com.

Four Seasons Resort Lanai, Hawaii

This sprawling resort on Hawaii’s most pristine island is a standout when it comes to fostering fun family together time. From deep-sea fishing to off-road Jeeping to whale watching, the resort offers ample programs for adventure. For those craving a better understanding of Hawaii’s cultural heritage, the resort has a Hookipa Cultural Heritage program in which parents and kids alike can learn about Hawaii’s oral storytelling and traditional art in courses designed by the island’s elders. For those with babies and very young children, the resort also delivers with in-room babyproofing, kid-size bathrobes, and complimentary children’s toiletries. Professional babysitters make it easy to slip away for a quiet dinner at the onsite Nobu Lanai or for a few rounds on the stunning golf green. Rooms from $980; 1 Manele Bay Rd., Lanai City, Lanai, Hawaii; 800-321-4666; fourseasons.com.

The Peninsula Hong Kong, China

Hong Kong’s oldest hotel is an island of old-world luxury within a throbbing city, and a new emphasis on attracting children while maintaining white-glove service has also made it a magnet for well-heeled parents. Families can spread out in one of three configurations of the property’s Deluxe Rooms or take a second room for 50 percent cost; kids are pampered with gourmet kids’ menus and pint-sized bathrobes. For entertainment, families are offered helicopter tours of UNESCO sites, cooking courses, and shopping with a personal stylist. (Don’t forget the famed Peninsula afternoon tea.) Rooms from $476; Salisbury Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong; 852/5808-5771; hongkong.peninsula.com.

Llao Llao Hotel and Resort, Argentina

Llao Llao (pronounced yao-yao, or zhao-zhao if you want to sound like a local) combines rugged Patagonia with utter luxury. Surrounded by clear lakes and Andean peaks, this resort is a modern spin on the grand mountain lodge, with all the activities to match. Adrenaline junkies will feel especially at home here, with snow sports and extreme mountain biking on offer, as well as a top-tier golf course, full-range spa, and four restaurants. The private marina off of lake Nahuel Huapi boasts water activities in the summer, and in the winter, Mt. Catedral is just a 40 minute drive away. Customized kid-friendly activities and staffed babysitters on hand make the vacation effortless for parents. Rooms from $303; Av. Ezequiel Bustillo km 25, San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina; 54-294/ 444-5700; llaollao.com.

Grand Velas Riviera Maya, Mexico

This grand resort along Playa Del Carmen is the postcard child for Mexican hideaways—turquoise waters and white sands beaches, and some 500 posh suites set among acres of mangroves in three separate buildings. (Two of the buildings are designated family-friendly and one is designated adults-only.) With a customizable kids’ club that operates until 11 p.m., eight all-inclusive onsite restaurants and Yucatan hospitality in the heart of the Mayan jungle, this is an ideal retreat for parents who want a hands-off, hassle-free beach escape. An added perk for nontraditional families: Grand Velas offers a special package for single parents, good for one adult and two kids, with extra amenities and special pricing. Rooms from $737; Carretera Cancun Tulum Km. 62, Municipio de Solidaridad, Quintana Roo, Playa del Carmen, Mexico; 1-888/409-6543; rivieramaya.grandvelas.com.

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