W New York
What kid wouldn’t want a gift card for F.A.O. Schwarz, coupons for free gelato, plus a teddy bear, a T-shirt, and big tin of chocolate candy? Lucky children whose parents indulge them in the W hotel’s “Wee New York” package get all that and more, including attentive concierges who can make ideal suggestions for activities for sophisticated youngsters. (Rates begin at $239 per night.)
Fitzpatrick Hotel
New York
The tiniest V.I.P.’s at the Fitzpatrick’s two New York hotels aren’t kids, they’re American Girl dolls, who stay at the properties as part of a popular package aimed at the dolls’ young owners and their parents. With their own restaurant seats and miniature-bedding turndown service each evening, the dolls are treated like respected guests. (Rates average $260 nightly.)
The Little Nell
Aspen
The restaurant in this acclaimed hotel has just revamped its children’s menu to offer dishes that appeal to young eaters but are on par with its grownup selections. Instead of the ubiquitous chicken fingers and macaroni and cheese, the new fare includes kid-pleasing options like handmade fresh pasta and olive-oil smashed golden potatoes. (Nightly room rates start at $750 in peak season.)
Ritz-Carlton Hotel
Wolfsburg, Germany
For the child who just can’t wait until he or she is old enough to pass the driving test back home, this crescent-shaped, luxury property offers the next best thing: a junior driver’s license for kids ages 3 and up, which plants them behind the wheel of a special miniature Volkswagen convertible at the nearby Autostadt theme park. (Rates typically start at 210 euros per night.)
Vivre/Cove Atlantis
Paradise Island, Bahamas
The recently opened Cove Atlantis offers special workout classes for younger children and anti-acne facials for teens in its spa. If kids need a little retail therapy after a day of swimming, exercise, and spa treatments, the Vivre boutique offers toddler bikinis and mini designer swimming trunks. (Nightly room rates range from $475 to $745, depending on season.)
The Grace Bay Club
Turks and Caicos
This small oceanfront hotel has dubbed its youngest guests V.I.K.’s: Very Important Kids. While staying at the property, they’re treated to specially sized robes to wear by the pool, sweets at bedtime, and even a kids’ virgin-cocktail hour, with fruity beverages like the Flight of Delight and Red Runner. (Off-season room rates begin at $500 per night.)
Dylan's Candy Bar
New York
Known for its stylish and fun sweets, New York’s most popular candy store has partnered with several city hotels to appeal to savvy families. For the W’s “Wee New York” package, it has created a customized container of M&M’s in the hotel chain’s trademark purple and white. Dylan’s also has sweet-tooth-satisfying tie-ins with the Pierre and Carlyle hotels, farther uptown.
Back to: A New Age for Luxury Travel
