The Ritz Kids Club.
Photo: Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton
10 Luxury Hotels Raising the Bar on Kids’ Amenities
From design-forward playscapes and hidden toy chests to immersive cultural experiences, these destinations are pulling out all the stops for even the littlest of explorers
Luxury hotels have always been about indulgence—five-star dining, world-class spas, and butlers who somehow know what you need before you do. But now, a new wave of properties is proving that family travel can be just as stylish. These aren’t just hotels with kids’ clubs—they’re design-forward playgrounds where jungle gyms look like modern art, secret doors lead to hidden surprises, and activities feel more like immersive experiences than plain old babysitting.
A seahorse tank inside the Kids Club. Photo: Courtesy of Marbella Club
The gardening area at the Kids Club. Photo: Courtesy of Marbella Club
1. Marbella Club in Spain
Some hotels give kids a playroom. Marbella Club gives them an entire Andalusian farmhouse turned 16,400-square-foot creative retreat. Here, imagination rules. One moment, kids are making gazpacho from scratch in a sunlit kitchen; the next, they’re blending their own perfumes or learning the art of flamenco-yoga (yes, it’s a thing). The setting, complete with rustic beams and charming courtyards feels like a Spanish fairy tale coming to life.
The Fife Arms Family Room. Photo: Sim Canetty Clarke
The Fife Arms Family Room. Photo: Sim Canetty Clark
2. Fife Arms in Scotland
Step inside The Fife Arms, and it’s like walking through a Victorian time capsule—grand hallways, museum-worthy art, and antiques at every turn. But hidden among the tartan-covered lounges and gilded frames is a world built for young explorers. The Family Room is pure whimsy, with vintage board games, hand-knit red squirrels, and a tiny play kitchen nestled among cozy reading nooks. Then, the real fun begins: a treasure hunt through the hotel’s winding halls, where cryptic folklore clues lead to a special prize—and major bragging rights.
POKO POKO. Photo: Courtesy of Hoshino Resorts
Pizza workshop. Photo: Courtesy of Hoshino Resorts
3. Hoshino Resorts Risonare Nasu in Japan
In the rolling countryside of Tochigi, Japan, this resort is part futuristic playground, part working farm. At its heart stands Poko Poko, a striking wood-and-glass structure designed for adventure. Inside, kids scale a 21-foot-high net playground, tumble into ball pits, and craft seasonal treats in the Risonare Kids Studio. Outside, they roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty, harvesting vegetables, foraging for herbs, and learning the art of traditional Japanese farming.
Explorer zone at Shangri-La Singapore. Photo: Courtesy of Shangri-La Singapore
Explorer zone at Shangri-La Singapore. Photo: Courtesy of Shangri-La Singapore
4. Shangri-La Singapore
Shangri-La tucks a world of wonder inside its sleek city exterior. Themed family suites turn bedtime into a storybook escape—kids can sleep in a submarine bunk surrounded by sea creatures, a turreted castle bed fit for royalty, or a rocket ship poised for liftoff under a glowing galaxy. A hidden tunnel connects their whimsical retreat to the parents’ suite, adding an extra touch of discovery (and privacy). Beyond the rooms, Buds by Shangri-La kids club is a design-lover’s dream, where sculptural jungle gyms twist through netted bridges, vibrant creative zones invite messy fun, and a sleek, glass-enclosed art studio and performance stage make every play session feel like its own masterpiece.
The cinema. Photo: Courtesy of Ashford Castle.
5. Ashford Castle in Ireland
Few things say “storybook” quite like a castle stay, and Ashford Castle leans all the way in. Tucked inside this centuries-old castle is a surprise straight out of Hollywood’s golden age—a private cinema made for unforgettable movie nights. Plush red-velvet seats, old-school charm, and a lineup of films that range from Disney favorites to the latest blockbusters set the scene. Cozy up with warm blankets and fresh popcorn, and suddenly, bedtime isn’t up for discussion—it’s up for negotiation.
Château de La Messardière’s Kids’ Villa. Photo: Courtesy of Airelles St. Tropez
6. Airelles St. Tropez, Château de La Messardière in France
Summer camp, but make it five-star. That’s the vibe at Château de La Messardière’s Kids’ Villa, a sprawling retreat set within the estate’s 32-acre grounds. Trampolines? Check. A mini-farm where kids collect eggs and bake cakes? Absolutely. Themed rooms that look straight out of a storybook—pirate hideaways, Lego-building workshops, a hidden cinema? Of course. The activities lineup is just as extravagant, with pony rides, outdoor laser tag, and treasure hunts.
The front desk at Four Seasons Boston hides a door that leads to a secret play space. Photo: Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel
The toy closet. Photo: Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel
7. Four Seasons Hotel Boston
At Four Seasons Boston, the check-in desk holds more than just room keys—it hides a secret. Perched behind an unassuming door, a speakeasy-style toy closet overflows with stuffed animals, puzzles, and surprises waiting to be discovered. (It should come as no surprise Ken Fulk is the design mastermind behind this fantastical interior.) Upon arrival, the Mystery Closet door swings open, revealing a wonderland of treasures for kids to choose as an arrival amenity. They’re next given the opportunity to follow a personalized scavenger hunt, winding through the hotel, solving playful clues, and building anticipation with every step. When the final riddle is solved, it culminateswith a sweet treat at signature restaurant Coteri. The magic continues upstairs with the hotel’s Enchantment Package, where a cozy tent awaits alongside a flickering faux campfire and, of course, a giant teddy bear.
Paws Up. Photo: Courtesy of Paws Up
8. The Resort at Paws Up in Montana
For thrill-seeking kids, Paws Up delivers the ultimate outdoor escape. Spanning 37,000 acres of untamed Montana wilderness, this high-end ranch swaps screens for real adventure—think archery, sapphire hunting, geocaching, and cooking over an open fire. When night falls, it’s all about s’mores under an infinite display of stars. Families can embrace the wild in comfort, whether bedding down in safari-style tents beneath the open sky or retreating to cabins with crackling fireplaces and deep soaking tubs.
The Ritz Kids Club. Photo: Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton
The Ritz Kids Club. Photo: Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton
9. The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands
In one of the most dazzling destinations on Earth, The Ritz Kids Club is a futuristic, design-forward haven that feels as much an art installation as a play space. Designed by Kerry Hill Architects, this circular wonderland features immersive napping pods, jungle gyms that twist like sculptures, and hands-on marine biology workshops through Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment Program. Want a truly next-level experience? Kids can pilot underwater drones or learn the Maldivian art of palm origami, blending tradition with cutting-edge exploration.
Lindblad Expeditions' National Geographic Global Explorers Program. Photo: Courtesy of Lindblad Expeditions
Explorers program. Photo: Courtesy of Lindblad Expeditions
10. National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions in Antarctica
Antarctica may seem like the last place to bring kids, but Lindblad Expeditions’ National Geographic Global Explorers Program turns it into an interactive learning experience designed just for them. With naturalists and field educators leading the way, young travelers track migrating whales, scoop plankton from the icy waters, and sketch penguins up close, making real-time discoveries alongside world-class scientists. Back onboard, they map out whale migration routes, design their own Antarctic creatures, and even make sundaes using glacial ice.
Cover: The Ritz Kids Club.
Photo: Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton
