The outstanding Porto Elounda De Luxe Resort in Crete boasts enchanting suites with views of the Aegean Sea, an award-winning spa, and a play center for children called the Children's Ark. Inspired by the theme of an animal park and run by professional childcare specialists, the Children's Ark includes indoor and outdoor playgrounds, a vegetable garden and two shallow pools. Open six days a week, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; closed Sundays.
For more information: Porto Elounda De Luxe Resort
Kids under 10 get half-priced breakfast at London's five-star Athenæum Hotel, along with a toy box filled with age- and gender-appropriate games. A DVD lending library with children's favorites is available, and cookies and milk are provided with turndown service. For families with children under age two the hotel makes available a supply of "baby basics" like disposable diapers, bottle sterilizer, baby wipes and organic baby food that can be bought on demand.
For more information: Athenæum Hotel
The sky's the limit with the abundant children's activities at the Ritz-Carlton in Cancun. Daytime activities at the Kids Camp include piñata making, T-shirt painting and treasure hunts. The hotel also features a Kids Night Out evening program on Friday and Saturday, during which kids are served dinner from the children's menu and can sing karaoke, play musical chairs and enjoy a safari night to explore the outdoors. Full-day and half-day programs are available at cost.
For more information: The Ritz-Carlton
Children will fall in love with Chinese history and culture at Commune of the Children, the kid's club at this deluxe hotel resort designed by 12 Asian architects and located in the Shuiguan Mountains. Activities for kids include arts and crafts, storytelling in the children's bookshop, cooking classes, gardening, and hiking to the Great Wall. Infant care is also available.
For more information: Commune by the Great Wall
The legendary Cipriani offers a "Very Important Kids" package seasonally for families traveling with one or two children. The package includes three nights in a double room at half board for parents, a double room for children up to age 14 with complimentary breakfast, four hours of babysitting service, a PlayStation, non-alcoholic drinks in the mini-bar of the children's room, and toy boxes for younger children. Book in advance and call for availability.
For more information: Hotel Cipriani
Children get their own check-in cards at this family-oriented luxury hotel in the heart of Scotland's capital. The Balmoral's comprehensive services for kids include everything from baby toiletries to PlayStations and board games to a children's room service menu that features a "Cinderella Cocktail." The hotel also provides families with a unique list of Edinburgh attractions that kids are certain to love, including the Icelandic Pony Riding Centre and the Edinburgh Dungeon.
For more information: The Balmoral Hotel
At the Four Seasons Resort in Bali, kids will enjoy a range of seaside delights. The hotel offers a free "Kids For All Seasons" program and Jimba Club, inspired by turtles that lay eggs on Jimbaran Beach in front of the hotel. The program includes supervised activities like building sandcastles, learning a Balinese craft, taking boogie-boarding lessons and watching Balinese dancers. Children under age 12 share their parents' room at no extra cost.
For more information: Four Seasons Resort
Laurance S. Rockefeller found this stunning bay in 1952 while sailing the Caribbean. Caneel Bay has more recently been visited by the likes of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. The exclusive resort on pristine St. John boasts private beaches and "Turtle Town," a children's center with activities that include nature walks, playground fish hunts and magic shows. A resident artist is available to teach watercolor painting classes. Children's menus are available and nanny services can be arranged upon 24-hour notice.
For more information: Caneel Bay
Kids will be mesmerized by the adventures available at the One&Only Reethi Rah in the exclusive and pristine Maldives. The resort offers a supervised and complimentary "KidsOnly" program for children age four to 11 that features tree planting and Maldavian dance lessons, as well as sporting activities for older kids and teenagers. Baby-sitting services are available for a fee with 24-hour notice.
For more information: One&Only
This magnificent waterfront hotel presents children with a welcome gift upon arrival that includes a coloring and activity book depicting kid-friendly places to visit in Cape Town. The hotel features story time for children in its library every evening as well as DVDs and videos for in-room use. A children's menu is provided in the hotel restaurant and professional baby-sitters are available.
For more information: Cape Grace
Botanical gardens, theme parks and beaches make Thailand a family-friendly destination, and The Oriental offers a range of children's services that allow travel here to be even easier. The hotel has a supervised day care center (extra charge) with computers and video games, a wading pool for the little ones, and gifts for children upon arrival. Kids can also take tennis lessons with private coaches.
For more information: The Oriental