Playing video games in the gameroom of a luxury hotel

When I think of luxury, I usually think of shiny things and quiet spaces – neither of which are typically conducive to small children. Perhaps that’s why many families shy away from luxury hotels when planning their getaways. After all, there’s nothing less relaxing than spending a week (or even a long weekend) trying to make sure your kids aren’t breaking something expensive. And so, adults relegate themselves to the hotels with primary colored walls and scratchy bedcovers and meals with costumed characters. The pools are child-friendly, but they’re also loud and either dangerously large and overcrowded or painfully small and neglected, depending on the price point of your “family friendly” accommodations. This, my friends, is no way for anyone to enjoy a vacation.

Fortunately, there are luxury hotels that would actually make great headquarters for a family vacation – even normal families with normal kids who do normal kid things, like run when they aren’t supposed to. The trick is to find a hotel that genuinely caters to families, not just one that throws “and families” at the end tail end of their marketing materials.

The Ritz-Carlton resort in Amelia Island, Florida, for example, plays host to families and children in more than just name. One of their outdoor pools has a zero-entry splash pad; the list of activities offered by their recreation department includes family activities and an extensive children’s program. Guests aren’t expected to be romping through the lobby in their swimsuits, but sandals and shorts are seen all over the property. The Kiawah Island Golf Resort near Charleston offers its youngest guests admission to naturalist camp, and Tamarind in Barbardos invites kids to an after-hour “mocktail” party.

While luxury hotels that welcome – and even embrace – the entire family are available, it can be tricky to know where your booking dollars are best spent, especially because you can’t rely on a family-friendly policy to spread across an entire brand’s properties. The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island may boast a talking parrot in the lobby, but the Pentagon City location doesn’t even have a pool that’s open all day (an immediate no-go for families traveling with kids). The luxury name is the same in DC and Florida – and the thread count on the sheets should be similar – but the beachside resort clearly caters to family vacations, while the DC metro property is best suited for business travelers who appreciate a Metro station next door and hip first-floor lounge.

With so much on the line when you’re planning a family vacation, why bother with a luxury hotel at all?

Let’s not forget who’s paying for this party. Mom and Dad (or maybe Grandma and Grandpa) have worked and saved for a chance to take a break with the ones they love. Isn’t it only fair that they get to enjoy soft towels, luxury linens, and the kind of service adults usually give their own children? You’ll certainly pay more for a stay in a luxury hotel than you would at a dive motel that doesn’t mind screaming in the hallways, but you also won’t have screaming in the hallways. With a little shopping around, perhaps a brand credit card or other rewards program, you can often book a luxury hotel for a price that rivals the cost of a condo – which families routinely book without thinking twice about cost based on the “family friendly” credentials. When you use those dollars to book at a family-friendly luxury resort, you don’t even have to make your own bed.

Or argue with anyone else to make theirs.

Celebrate Valentine's Day with great hotel packages

Hotels all over the country are trying to woo couples into their guest rooms for the upcoming Valentine’s Day weekend.  But don’t expect deep discounts over Cupid’s holiday, especially at the hotels you really want to stay at for a special occasion.  You’ll still spend a pretty penny to spend the night at a nice hotel, but you and your sweetheart can get a lot more for your money if you take advantage of special Valentine’s Day amenities packages.

Instead of dropping prices, hotels are continuing with the “wow them with amenities” trend.  Some upscale properties aren’t expecting you to spend the night at all and instead offer guests a chance to experience the amenities without even checking in.

Here are some of our favorite Valentine’s Day hotel packages from around the country.

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The Ritz, Palm Beach

In recent years, hotels have slashed prices in an effort to fill vacant rooms.  But a deep discount pricing strategy doesn’t make as much sense for luxury hotels, many of which have also struggled during the recession with a slow-down in business and pleasure travel.  How can upscale hotels encourage guests to spend the night?

Many high-end hotels have started to get more creative with the amenities they offer guests.  The luxury experience goes beyond high thread count sheets and turn down service and may include VIP treatment when your away from the hotel.  Hotels in LA, for example, are offering guests tickets to exclusive industry events like the Golden Globe or Emmy Awards.

Hollywood hotels aren’t the only ones offering star treatment.  If you prefer sports to movies, The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach’s Take Me Out to the Ballgame package takes you out of the suite and into the dugout for baseball spring training.

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Disney's Grand Floridian

Headed to Orlando and not sure where to stay?  You might want to start with one of the seven area hotels that received  a “Top 100 Resorts on the U.S. Mainland” designation in the 2010 Conde Nast Traveler’s “Readers’ Choice Awards.”

The best of the best that Orlando has to offer, according to the readers of the luxury travel magazine, included:

#51 Disney’s Grand Floridian – this Disney property specializes in luxury for guests  of Walt Disney World.

#53 Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Studios - one of three hotels on site at the Universal Studios complex, this one is modeled after the Italian Riviera.  If you can’t follow in your favorite celebrity’s footsteps and jet off to the real thing, the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel is a lovely substitute for a romantic getaway – even if you have no interest in the nearby roller coasters.

$58 Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – no surprise, another Disney property makes the list, with this one catering to fans of the wildlife at the Animal Kingdom park.  Guests of the Animal Kingdom Lodge can watch giraffe, gazelle and other African animals frolicon the wildlife preserve that surrounds the hotel.

#71 Ritz Carlton Grande Lakes Orlando – I’ve been a longtime fan of the spa here, but the guest rooms aren’t too shabby either.  This luxury resort caters to visitors who come for the golf, the sun, and the relaxation instead of the amusement parks.

#88 Disney’s Wilderness Lodge – and we’re back to the parks.  Looking for family-friendly luxury?  Disney’s Wilderness Lodge fits the bill with campfire songs and marshmallow roasting in the evenings.

#96 Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Studios – another option for people planning a trip to Universal Studios, this is the slightly less expensive option.  You’ll still find spacious rooms, luxurious decor, sprawling swimming areas, and complimentary motorboat transportation to the heart of the Universal Studios resort.

#98 Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress – while it barely squeaks into the top 100, the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress is a worthy contender among Orlando hotels, especially if you’re a golfer; the resort includes 45 holes of Jack Nicklaus Signature Design golf.  If you’re coming to Orlando to enjoy the sun, consider this resort for swimming, golfing, tennis, and other Sunshine State-approved activities.

How’d they do?

Have you stayed at one of these resorts?  Do you agree with the rankings, or was your favorite left off the list? (Personally, I’d rank Gaylord Palms above the Royal Pacific Resort.)  Share your input in the comments!

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