Sorry, but you’re a parent now and it doesn’t matter if it’s your favorite resort in the world — the one you had your honeymoon in all those years ago — because if the kids don’t love it, it’s a no-go.
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it → ’re → it
It’s a lesson every family learns, but there’s a silver lining: It’s never been easier, or happier, to travel with children.
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It → ’ → children
That’s because, news flash,
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That → ’ → ?
those little rooms with a TV and a few board games they had the gall to call “kids clubs” back in the day — the ones your parents dumped you in while they sucked down mai tais by the adults-only pool — are long gone.
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they → have → pool
These days what passes for a kids club would be considered a main attraction by elder millennial eyes.
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passes → pass → eyes
They’re not rooms, they’re complexes, parks, entire resorts within resorts.
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they → ’re → resorts
Nannies with correctional officer vibes have been replaced with real-life scientists, credentialed educators, caregivers and wilderness rangers.
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Nannies → replace → scientists
“Most families don’t want their kids in a room watching videos,” said Nadia Bess, owner of Besst Travels.
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Bess → want → Travels
“They want their kids to do full programming.
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kids → want → programming
They want it to be outside and learning based.
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it → want → ?
They want their kid to be learning about turtles if they’re in an ocean destination, or learning about the culture of the destination.
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they → want → destination
Still, not all clubs are created equal, nor are they suited for every age.
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they → create → age
“You don’t want your 5-year-old doing the same programming as a 13-year-old,” noted Bess.
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Bess → want → old
“You need different programming for different age ranges.”
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You → need → ranges
That’s a challenge for both resorts and parents.
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That → ’ → resorts
To find a solution, The Post queried a host of travel advisers from across the country to locate five of the best kids clubs and programs for a variety of ages from around the world.
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Post → find → world
Check them out before you check in.
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you → check → them
Forte Village Resort, Sardinia
Located on lush land on the southern coast of Sardinia, Forte Village is a complex of eight resorts, hotels and bungalows spread over 123 acres of amenities.
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Village → locate → amenities
Aptly dubbed the Children’s Wonderland, Forte’s dedicated play area has two children’s pools, a nursery and kids theater — all of which can be accessed via a toy-train shuttle service.
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all → dub → service
Well, there’s Mario’s Village (named after the resort’s parrot mascot), a full-size miniature town where children 3 and older can get busy, and a life-size Barbie House, too, with Barbie-themed experiences like hairstyling, pastry-making, nail art, fashion and makeup.
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children → ’ → hairstyling
“It’s the ultimate countryside playground for both adults and kids, with shooting, fishing, horseback riding, gundog training, ferret training (kids love this one), tennis, off-roading, Highland exploration,” said Bess.
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Bess → ’ → one
“Kids cry when they leave this hotel; it’s really that special.”
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it → cry → hotel
Your older kids will want to head to Leisureland, which has a full-size go-kart track and bowling alley, or Acquapark, an all-ages splash zone with water slides and a wave pool.
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which → want → slides
The resort also has over 21 sports and leisure academies for kids to try, ranging from a Real Madrid Foundation football clinic to fencing, tennis, basketball, rugby, a DJ academy and a magic academy.
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kids → have → fencing
Best of all might be the dedicated children’s restaurant with a fun menu of chef-made food designed to delight picky eaters.
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restaurant → make → eaters
“The resort has essentially created a destination within the property specifically for children,” said Lucia Ruggieri-Maynard, a travel adviser and founder of Wander With Lucia.
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Maynard → create → Lucia
“It’s particularly well-suited for families traveling with children of different ages because there is programming from infancy through the teen years.”
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It → ’ → years
Gleneagles, Scotland
Located beneath the Ochil Hills in Perthshire, Gleneagles is perhaps Scotland’s most famous country estate resort.
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Gleneagles → locate → Perthshire
It’s best known for whisky-fueled adult fun, but it’s quietly become a hot spot for striplings, too.
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it → know → striplings
For children ages 3 to 7, a Little Glen Adventure Guide helps them explore the estate; bigger kids get the Den Adventurer Guide, complete with a backpack, water bottle and snack box.
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kids → help → backpack
Both fully supervised programs allow parents to hit the spa or golf courses, or have leisurely lunches, while their city kids spend the day outdoors learning new skills.
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kids → supervise → skills
Should weather be inclement (this is Scotland, after all), there’s the Den, a hangout space with air hockey, a cinema, giant board games and gaming stations.
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this → ’ → hockey
(You can always drop off your future juvenile delinquent, 30- months-plus, at the crèche, as well.)
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You → drop → crèche
Kokomo Private Island, Fiji
Perhaps the ultimate all-rounder resort, Kokomo is designed for families with newborns, rambunctious toddlers, big kids and even adventurous teens.
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Kokomo → design → newborns
“I think Kokomo is amazing because, until your kid is of age for the club, they include a complimentary nanny, so you can still enjoy time with your partner,” said Bess, noting that there are adults-only areas.
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Bess → think → partner
“That saves you so much money, because you don’t have to travel with a nanny or pay for babysitting services.
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you → save → services
Little ones need to be at least 4 to join the Kaji Club, a completely separate, carefully designed kids zone — packed with wooden toys, a doll’s house, train sets, books, puzzles, dress-up clothes, musical instruments and crafts — run by childcare specialists.
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ones → need → specialists
It also offers full daily programs to get kids outdoors.
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It → offer → kids
Your little nippers will feed fish, practice snorkeling, play beach games, go on nature walks and treasure hunts and learn about Fiji’s culture.
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nippers → feed → culture
Meanwhile, teens get to unwind with independence at their own dedicated club with a pool table, arcade games, table tennis, air hockey . . . you get the idea.
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you → get → idea
…and 20 more, not listed.
The Aporia
