Shangri La Hotel, Paris
Royal Plaza Suite at The Plaza, NYC. Long the enchanted playground of Eloise, The Plaza’s red-carpeted entrances, luxurious accommodations and unparalleled personal service will enchant the fanciest of families. Book the one-of-a-kind Royal Plaza Suite, a magnificent three-bedroom, three-bathroom suite in a private area of the hotel overlooking Fifth Avenue and the legendary Pulitzer Fountain. The formal entertainment rooms include a living room with a grand piano, a dining room that seats 12, and a library that has been stocked with titles hand-selected by Prosper Assouline. A large Butler’s pantry and a state-of-the-art kitchen with Viking appliances facilitate sophisticated entertaining. The littlest guests will enjoy experiencing where storybook character Eloise lives by sipping fancy tea at the Palm Court and visiting the Eloise Shop to chat with the kid’s concierge.
Shangri-La Hotel, Paris. Open since December 2010, Shangri-La Paris tempts visitors with magnificent style, service, elegance and location in the tony 16th arrondisement. The intimate luxury hotel was originally built as a grand residence in 1896 and was once occupied by Prince Roland Bonaparte, nephew to Napoléon. Guests can experience casual dining under a stunning glass cupola at La Bauhinia, a French gourmet dinner at L’Abeille or an authentic Chinese culinary journey at the first Shang Palace in Europe. Le Bar offers parents the perfect place to enjoy adult time and a cocktail, while the hotel-supplied babysitter entertains les enfants. The Shangri-La is around the corner from the cool and vibrant Palais de Tokyo, which is dedicated to modern art and is a 20-minute walk to the Champ de Mars, where you’ll find acres of green space, three playgrounds, a carousel and even pony rides.
Necker Island, British Virgin Islands. Sir Richard Branson designed Necker Island to be his family’s holiday home, and his own children spent almost all their school holidays there growing up. So it’s no surprise that Necker Island is child friendly. The staff outnumbers guests on Necker, providing first-class service and catering to guests’ every whim. Each morning the Necker team will find out what everyone is interested in doing and will arrange activities accordingly. You can go sailing or maybe brush up on your tennis skills with the resident pro. Kids can feel all grown up with mini spa treatments, such as Nemo’s No Clowning About Manicure and Dory’s Unforgettable Facial. Necker Island is the ultimate all-inclusive private island resort. If it’s good enough for Oprah, Steven Spielberg, Google billionaire Larry Page, Posh and Becks and Lady Di, it’s good enough for you.
The Ranch at Rock Creek, Montana. This ranch is unparalleled among Montana vacation spots. Reflecting an evolution from the dude or guest ranch from generations past, travelers can now experience a new level of luxury for ranch vacations. The Ranch offers Little Grizzlies, a program for children ages 4 and up. The knowledgeable program leaders offer fun, educational activities that focus on daily life on the ranch, including themes like rivers and ponds, cowboys and horses, or even how to build a campfire. Picnic lunches, arts and crafts, ice skating, sledding, igloo building and the occasional make-your-own ice cream sundae are incorporated into the Little Grizzlies program to keep spirits high. Parents can fly-fish, hike, horseback ride, participate in shooting clays, visit the spa or just luxuriate by the pool.
Amanpuri, Thailand. A six-bedroom oceanfront villa finished with Thai furnishings, art and antiques is the perfect setting for your next posh family vacation. Villas enjoy private pools, plus living and dining salas (private outdoor terraces). Personal housekeepers and cooks are also on hand to make sure your vacation is nothing less than perfection. Amanpuri offers three restaurants, a fitness center, yoga and Pilates, a spa, resort pool, a beach with beach club that looks like Hollywood dreamt it, tennis and squash courts, babysitters and children’s activities. Family excursions to the jungle, nearby ancient villages or an elephant trek can be arranged in a snap by the solicitous and very capable concierge staff. As The New York Times said “if you’ve got baht to burn, the Amanpuri is the place to set it aflame.”
Get smart, firsthand family travel advice and tips from moms who refuse to leave their kids — or Jimmy Choos — at home. Poshbrood is a curated catalog of hip and chic family hotels, resorts and villas that are mom-tested and Poshbrood-approved.
