Did you know? Current reports say that kids ages 6-12 have the heaviest involvement in selecting trip destinations. And when it comes to activities, parents want to spend time outdoors and away from digital devices. This summer, hotels around the world are catering to families’ wants and needs with new concierge and butler programs designed for the kids in traveling families. These hotels are offering unique, family-friendly programs.
The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island | Amelia Island, FL
New this summer, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island is offering an on-site Sand Castle Concierge. A signature Amelia Island experience that brings children and families together, join the Sand Castle Concierge to turn sand and water into art and memories. The experience includes instruction of sand building techniques, tools for sculpting and a memento to bring home. And for families who want to capture memories while disconnecting from their digital devices, the resort’s Photography Concierge will make sure it’s all on camera. With the Sand Castle Concierge and other programming, including a resident Naturalist who will teach families about the ecosystems, the resort offers a classic beach vacation, bringing vacation back to the basics and allowing families to reconnect with each other.
Jumeirah Carlton Tower + Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel | London, UK
For a limited time this summer, Jumeirah Carlton Tower and Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel are debuting a Family Fun package, which includes a Toy Butler for kids alongside a bespoke box of toys to use during their stay. Each personalized toy box will be filled with a hand-picked, age-appropriate selection of the latest toys, crafts, books and games courtesy of London-based Toy Box Club. Complete in the loaned toy box will be children’s tennis racquets for use in the private tennis courts in the gardens opposite the hotel alongside a British picnic for all the family. The package also includes: British picnic, Jumeirah bear and VIP amenities for children (i.e. Toy Butler). The resident ‘Toy Butler’ will choose the best spot in the garden for your picnic, set everything up and bring out your toy box. What’s more, once you’re finished, your Toy Butler will tidy everything up and deliver your box back to the room.
The Chanler at Cliff Walk | Newport, RI
A relaxing summer retreat with the best weather and scenery in Rhode Island, The Chanler is home to 20 uniquely designed rooms, many of which feature private gardens or personal terraces where guests can take in ocean views and the perfect sunny weather. The only hotel on Newport’s famous Cliff Walk, The Chanler exudes luxury and elegance while overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, but just because it’s highly luxurious and romantic doesn’t mean it’s can’t be appropriate for the whole family. Families will be thankful for The Chanler’s Beach Butler service during the summer, which includes round-trip transportation in a Chanler Buick Enclave to any of Newport’s beautiful beaches, a keepsake beach bag, a butler escort to the beach with an umbrella and a perfectly prepared picnic lunch, courtesy of Cara. The hotel also offers complimentary custom Tokyobikes, enabling adults or families with older children to explore the destination.
The Westin Los Angeles International Airport | Los Angeles, CA
Take advantage of the Southern California waves at The Westin Los Angeles International Airport. Only a 2.4 mile drive to El Porto in Manhattan Beach, The Westin Los Angeles International Airport offers an on-site Surf Concierge who can help arrange lessons for the adults, children or the whole family! Jenny is an avid surfer who will answer all guest questions about surfing from technique to the best place for lessons and even organizing a family Surf Camp Experience at the iconic El Porto in Manhattan Beach. She is also the hotel’s Westin Experience Specialist, dedicated to ensuring that hotel guests have exceptional experiences throughout their stay. The Westin Los Angeles International Airport also offers the Manhattan Beach Surf Package, ideal for surfers of all ages and experience levels. The package includes overnight room accommodations, 90 minutes of personalized surf lessons with Campsurf, Los Angeles’ premier surf school, surf gear and access to the Surf Concierge.
The Reeds at Shelter Haven | Stone Harbor, NJ
Stone Harbor — the “Jersey Shore” town you’ve never heard of — is the perfect hideaway for those looking for a shore town escape. Avalon and Cape May are known to swell during the summer months and travelers can forget about finding a cabana in the Hamptons heat. Located directly on the bay and just steps from the beach, The Reeds at Shelter Haven, a 37-room year-round luxury boutique property in Stone Harbor, is a hidden gem boasting breathtaking seaside views and suites with balconies. The Reeds offers a complimentary daily beach service, where a personal beach butler will usher guests down to the beach in electric cars along with branded beach chairs, towels, tags and umbrella — allowing guests especially families to relax at ease under the Stone Harbor sun, the the place to be seen on the shore in the summer. Beachgoers can get off the map and head under the radar for this unique butler experience to The Reeds, a southern Jersey Shore town that has made celebrity guests from Taylor Swift to Dave Matthews, to Kelly Ripa and Oprah feel right at home over the years.
Paséa Hotel & Spa | Huntington Beach, CA
Perched at the edge of the Pacific Ocean, the state-of-the-art Pasea Hotel & Spa replaces the chaos of a family beach vacation with the true ease of surf lifestyle born right out of Huntington Beach, California aka “Surf City, USA”. Paséa guests can catch a ride down to the sand on a pedi cab and let Pasea’s Beach Butlers set up an exclusive beach scene with chairs, towels, umbrellas and any other beach necessities to enhance fun in the sun (basics provided complimentary, additional cost may apply depending on request).
The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami | Miami, FL
The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami, a family-friendly island oasis tucked away outside of South Beach, has a Photography Concierge, meant to allow families to easily document their family vacation. A professional photographer will guide guests throughout the property in an interactive photo session. Following the session, the photographs are edited and prepared for a private viewing in a state-of-the-art studio on-property. Guests can choose one 8×10 print along with the photo session complimentary and purchase additional photos. Also available at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island.
Washington School House | Park City, Utah
Park City is well known as one of the best destinations in the U.S. for outdoor activities. In winter there’s plenty of skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing to go around, but in summer visitors explore the Wasatch Mountain ranges via hiking trails galore. At Washington School House, adventurous families who want to make the most their hiking time work with the Hiking Butler. The butler will provide trail recommendations tailored to the family’s experience and fitness level, while taking into account any preferences for length of hike and trail type (leisure, mountain, views). They can also arrange for private guides to accompany guests, and can provide picnic baskets by Chef Ernesto Rocha, sunscreen, bottled water, trail maps and more. And should the families get tired, the butler is just a quick phone call away to pick them up mountainside in the house car and bring them back to the boutique hotel.