Meet Oliver

Oliver the black Labrador, must have the best job in the canine world. He is the hotel dog at the Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire. That’s Hampshire in the UK, about an hour southwest of London. Oliver’s job description involves being stroked and cuddled all day long, breaking only to be walked or jogged around the hotel’s beautiful grounds or to take the occasional nap amidst the cosy luxury of the hotel’s interior.  Only the hotel’s guests are more spoilt …

Traditional county house design

Accommodation

On check-in, our luggage was whisked off and my two little girls were shown to the toy chest and asked to choose a gift. Grabbing their doll and model-car kit, they trotted after us as we were shown to our suite, and what a suite it was.

There is this awful trend amongst British hotel designers to try and fix things that aren’t broken. They take a perfectly lovely room in a traditional manor house setting and decide to jazz it up. They leave the four-poster bed, but they add a zebra-print carpet and a Philip Starck Ghost chair. Nothing wrong with any of these, but when I go to a British country house hotel I want to feel the luxury, sophistication and opulence of the period to which it belongs; in this case, a time when all people seemed to do was drink Highballs on the lawn and enjoy themselves.

The bedrooms, and indeed the whole interior, at the Four Seasons get this feel of traditional, understated grandeur just right, minus the delicate ornaments that would break if hit by a paper airplane. They do it in a welcoming family-friendly way. Our suite was enormous and there were a lot of wows and gasps as we took our initial walk through it.

In the lounge room there was fresh fruit; children’s magazines for the kids; and, a dish of sweet treats bearing each of their names in chocolate. In the bedroom there were pint-sized bathrobes and slippers to match our own. And in the bathroom sponge letters spelt out the kids’ names on the tub.

Garden and grounds

Spa

We then made our way down to the spa, where my 7 and 4-year-old were treated to their first manicure! I had a pedicure and the varnish remains unchipped after almost three weeks.

Suitably spruced up, we grabbed bikes and were furnished with bottles of mineral water and we set off on a cycle ride around the delightful grounds, which are a mixture of formal English gardens and pasture with a pretty canal running through it. You don’t realise how extensive they are until you pedal through them and we couldn’t wait to cool off in the pool afterwards.

Conservatory indoor/outdoor swimming pool

The indoor/outdoor infinity pool is housed in a lovely period-style conservatory, which is thankfully adjoined to the main hotel. I hate having to walk outside to reach an indoor hotel pool – another common feature in British hotels, trying to create additional income from non-resident leisure memberships. Grown ups can swim from the indoor section into the outdoor vitality pool complete with a selection of massaging jets, and there is plenty of room for the kids to play in the half of the pool that is not sectioned off for serious swimmers.

Eating

There are three restaurants at the hotel. Café Sante, which is attached to the spa and open during the day for light meals and snacks. You can dine in spa robes here, which gives it a quiet hushed air so we steered clear of this with the kids. The home-style food on offer at the Bistro is perfect for family meals, whilst Seasons offers a more sophisticated French/European inspired menu that’s best enjoyed whilst a babysitter waits on the little ones.

Ready for pony ride on Scooby Doo and Choice

Activities

After having the full works for breakfast, the kids were ready for their pony ride. We strolled down to the stables where Ella and Lily got hatted and booted before being introduced to Scooby Doo and Choice. They then climbed on to the ponies and set off around the course.

After collecting their rosettes, we explored the well-equipped kids club – Kids For All Seasons run a fantastic kids programme during weekend and school holidays – and then we searched out Oliver. Lily felt the need to take another animal for a stroll. He showed us where the croquet lawn was and took us down to the canal. Then the rain came. The Four Seasons Hampshire strives to make everything perfect for its guests, and it succeeds in everyway, but it can’t control the weather.

Canal boating, fishing, clay pigeon shooting, tennis and falconry will keep until next time.

Out and about

If you can tear yourselves away from the hotel and its grounds, there are a host of places and attractions to visit nearby. Windsor Castle, Legoland, Jane Austen’s House and the prehistoric circle Stonehenge are just some of the places you can check out. Alternatively, you can explore the picturesque villages dotted around the Hampshire countryside or venture into the New Forest.

Editorial Note: Ciao Bambino received complimentary accommodations at Four Seasons Hampshire in order to fully experience and review the property. As always, all opinions are our own. Photos by Four Seasons Hampshire and Anna Tobin

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Summer holiday at the Four Seasons Provence

Review of Four Seasons Miami with kids

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The Golden Gate Bridge is recognized around the globe. More than just a bridge, it’s an iconic symbol of the state of California. As many as ten million people visit the Bridge every year. If you’re lucky enough to visit with your family this year, you’re in for a treat. The Golden Gate Bridge is celebrating its 75^th Anniversary this year!

Photo by Zoonabar of Flickr

Celebrate on Your Own

Part of the beauty of the Golden Gate Bridge is its pivotal role in so many of the best things to do in San Francisco and beyond. It’s more than just a backdrop. It’s an inspiration to get out and about whether the sun is shining or the fog is rolling in. There are endless fun things you can do to mark the occasion with your family. But here are a few of my favorites.

Pedal Power

Biking is a great way to see San Francisco. You’ll get some exercise and best of all never have to worry about parking a car! Blazing Saddles rents bikes in all shapes and sizes for families; trailers, tag-a-longs, tandems, you name it. The guided tour of San Francisco is a great option for first time visitor.

After rolling through the Palace of Fine Arts, the Presidio and soaking in an assortment of views of the Golden Gate, you’ll start biking your way across the 1.7 mile span into Sausalito. The bikes are yours to keep for the day to cruise around. When you’re ready to call it a day, you ride home on the waves instead of wheels. The tour includes ferry tickets back to San Francisco. You just roll the bikes right on the boat with you.

Whale Watching

If the idea of cruising the Bay sounds like fun, consider going whale watching with the non-profit Oceanic Society. May through November tours head to the Farallon Islands in search of blue and humpback whales, coastal gray whale watching runs December through April. Bring extra batteries for your camera, between the whales and the Bridge, you’re going to need them.

Fly a Kite

Some of the best activities are the simplest. Take the kids and fly a kite at Crissy Field. The former military airfield turned park showcase offers postcard views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay at every turn. Crissy Field Beach is always a hit, and The Golden Gate Promenade is a great place to go for a stroll. If hunger strikes, the Warming Hut (located at the west end of Crissy Field) sells snacks, sandwiches, and drinks.

Catch Some Air

If the kids still have energy to burn after running laps with a kite, consider another high flying adventure. House of Air indoor trampoline park is just steps away from Crissy Field in a historic airplane hangar.

Spend the Night

Kid-friendly Cavallo Point Lodge offers a different view of the Golden Gate every time you blink. Most of the lodge is comprised of turn-of-the-century buildings that were part of the original Fort Baker army post.

Along with seeing the Bridge, expect to hear it as well. To help guide vessels safely through the Golden Gate Strait, foghorns have been mounted on the Bridge since its opening in 1937. The foghorns cry out, on average, about two and a half hours a day. But during the summer, the Bay Area’s prime fog season, foghorns blare on average for more than 5 hours a day.

Maybe throw some earplugs in your camera case? I doubt you’ll need them, all that hunting for views of the Golden Gate pretty much guarantees the entire family a good night’s sleep. But don’t forget to set your alarm, there’s always the Bridge at sunrise to consider.

Relevant Links:

Ciao Bambino recommended San Francisco family hotels

Visiting Golden Gate Park in San Francisco with kids

Review of CA Academy of Sciences with kids

Things to do in San Francisco with kids

Tips for checking out San Francisco’s tourist spots

Zeum San Francisco, a museum your kids will love

Things to do in the Presidio with children

Visiting Angel Island with kids

I finally made it to Burano on our last family trip to Venice. This colorful fishing village is an island in the Venetian archipelago. There’s not much to do there other than stroll, shop, and eat a fresh seafood lunch, but it’s unique and fun to pair with a trip to a glassblowing factory in Murano. Burano also is famous for traditional lacemaking and there’s a lacemaking museum, Museo del Merletto, to visit as well. Although, that was a tough sell for my boys so we didn’t go.

When I say colorful village, I mean colorful … as this picture of Burano shows, the palette is seriously bright. The more colors clash, the more they are combined. It’s something to see!

ACTV, the Venetian public transport company, has regular boats from Venice Fondamente Nuove and the Murano Faro stop. The trip from Venice directly takes about 45 minutes.

For more Photo Friday posts, visit Delicious Baby.

Relevant Links:

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Mask making class for families in Venice

Family-friendly activities in the Veneto Region

This is a guest post by Paloma (9 years old) and Giulia (11 years old) Martinez-Brenner about their experience on Context Travel’s Symbols and Legends of Florence Tour.

Symbols and Legends of Florence Family Tour

Paloma and Giulia were both born in Rome and essentially have grown up in a hotel, The Beehive, which their American parents own.  They went to a private British School until 2009 when they moved to Bali and attended Green School, and ambitious all bamboo school in the middle of the jungle, for two years.  In the summer of 2011 they moved to Orvieto, a small medieval hill town in Umbria, an hour north of Rome, where they go to Italian public school.  They have a little sister named Viola and their parents run their hotel, as well as an accommodation website called Cross-Pollinate, mostly from home, or wherever else they may be.

Over the Easter break we went to Florence and met up with Monica and Elena of Context Travel who took us on their “symbols and legends” walk.  It’s a tour for families where you walk around and learn about interesting stuff.

Our guide gave us pictures of the different symbols hidden all over Florence

We started at the Palazzo Vecchio in Piazza della Signoria where Monica gave us pictures of different symbols that are hidden all over the city. The Palazzo Vecchio was a government building, made over 700 years ago.  It looks like a castle and it was built to show how important Florence was in the world.

Florence used to be a Roman city. The name came from Flora, the goddess of flowers and plants.  The Iris, the symbol of the city, is everywhere. During the renaissance, Florence grew to be a really rich city by making and selling fancy fabrics.  All this money that was used to trade all over Europe needed to be exchanged safely, so they started banking too.

The statues of David are famous in Florence

We talked about the statues and how the people of Florence started to appreciate ancient things from the Romans during the renaissance.  The statues of David are the ones that most people know. The people of the city had Michelangelo carve the statues because they felt that Florence was like David in the bible story of David and Goliath.

Probably the most important family of Florence were the Medici.  They were very rich and paid for a lot of things to be built in the city. One of the Medicis, Cosimo, declared himself the Grand Duke of Florence and he had the Uffizi built, first as offices, then as an art gallery. A corridor was constructed so that they could walk from the Palazzo Vecchio to the Uffizi and then cross the river to the Palazzo Pitti, which is one of the many palaces that they lived in.

At the Ponte Vecchio, which means “old bridge” Monica explained that back then, they had this good idea to move all the butchers onto the bridge so they could just throw away all the scraps of meat into the river instead of stinking up the city.  But then the important Medici who were crossing the bridge in their corridor didn’t like the smell.  So they decided it would only be used for goldsmiths.  And still today it is filled with jewelry stores.

Rubbing Porcellino’s nose for a guaranteed trip back to Florence

Next we walked to the Mercato Nuovo (which means “new market”).  Since the 1500′s it’s been used as an outdoor market – so it isn’t really “new” at all.  We saw the Porcellino (which means little pig), but it’s not that little – it should be called “Porcellone”.  We rubbed his nose which is supposed to guarantee a trip back to Florence.

We went to a building where they used to store grain which was important to make food.  Here were statues of all the patron saints that represented the guilds, which are groups of people who do the same thing.  So there was a blacksmith’s guild, a doctor’s guild, a banker’s guild, and they all had their own symbols.  but only the more important ones got to have statues.

We saw what was once the original Roman Forum at Piazza della Repubblica

When Italy came together as one country in the late 1800′s, Florence was the capital of Italy before it was moved to Rome.Next we went to the Duomo – Florence’s enormous cathedral.  It’s real name is the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore – which means St. Mary of the flower.  They started building it in 1296 and finished it in 1436, over 100 years later.

Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore and the Campanile

Back then, cities used to compete with each other to be the best and richest, so Florence decided it had to have a bigger dome and better cathedral than Pisa and Siena which were its rival cities.  The dome alone took 15 years to build, which was pretty quick for such a complicated construction.  you can go up to the top, which I bet has a great view. There’s a huge bell tower called the Campanile.  Monica asked if we knew why the belltower was important.  Back then, people didn’t have clocks, so the ringing of the bells told everyone what time it was and what stuff they needed to do. In front of the Duomo was the baptistry.  The doors on it are called the doors of Paradise and they have pictures in bronze which tell stories from the bible.

We kind of made Monica tell us each story which took awhile, but she new them all by heart, and you could tell she liked explaining them. Then it was time for us to get one last gelato and catch our train back home.

We were very tired, but it was much better than walking around trying to figure out everything for ourselves. Before, I felt like Florence was just any other city, but now that I’ve done this tour, I understand the city better and feel closer to it.

Photos by the Martinez-Brenner family

Relevant Links:

Ciao Bambino review of The Beehive in Rome

Things to do in Florence with kids

Most popular family-friendly itinerary in Italy

Family-friendly luxury in Florence at Villa La Massa

Fantastic personal chef in Tuscany

Art and culture camp for kids in Italy

My friend Amy recently had misgivings about going on a family reunion cruise (not Disney).  She had wanted an educational and adventurous experience in Costa Rica but other family members thought a cruise would be easier.  The Bahamas won out but it brings up the question of how do you evaluate if a cruise or more specifically, a Disney family cruise, is right for you?

I’ve been on three Disney Cruise Line cruises, all to the Bahamas and on three different ships; the Wonder, the Dream, and the Fantasy.  My family had amazing experiences on each occasion. We enjoyed our family time together, but also appreciated the plentiful opportunities for adult-only time and our kids loved the activities in the youth clubs.

The Experience Versus the Destination

Cruising is about the on-board ship experience: the service, the food, the entertainment and the activities.  Someone else plans it all for you.  That’s why people love cruises – they are stress free and easy.  No navigating, no getting lost.  It’s a vacation for everyone.

What will you miss on a cruise?  The maps, the hours of trip planning and possibly the road mistakenly taken that leads to the little restaurant that becomes a highlight of your trip.  There isn’t enough time to explore off-the-beaten path.

This was one of Nancy’s revelations when she cruised on the Disney Dream.  With sometimes just hours in port, your experience is a super condensed version of the destination.  When we stopped in Nassau, many guests never left the ship and were never sorry about it as the endless activities offered on-board means there is always something to do.

Disney Cruise Special Service

When I tell my friends that the waiters on our Disney cruise cut up my kids’ food for them at the dinner table, they’re sold.  Where do you ever receive this type of service?  And if your kids have food allergies, Disney sets the bar high to ensure that your child can enjoy the cruise safely.

The staff makes you feel pampered and surprises meet you at every turn: ketchup in the shape of Mickey Mouse ears, animal art towels on our beds at turndown that make bedtime more fun, an unsolicited private cooking class with the chef when my daughter missed a kids’ cooking class, the list goes on and on and every family has a story to tell.

Disney Cruise Kids’ Clubs

The Disney Cruise Line kids’ clubs are legendary.  They are so engaging that your kids may want to spend more time there than with you. They are contained, organized, very clean and safe.  Kids have electronic wrist bands for check-in and with the complimentary wave phones provided to guests, they can text you if they want to contact you.

Even the tweens and teens love them.  On the Disney Fantasy the teens have their own pool and lounge area.

The youth clubs all accessible practically around the clock as they are open all day from early morning until after midnight.  Your kids can drop in anytime. If your kids would never use a youth club, this is something to consider as they are such a big part of the experience.

Disney Cruise Entertainment and Activities Aimed at Families

I went on a girls getaway cruise on the Disney Dream and had loads of fun in the adult areas of the ship and Castaway Cay.  They really do allow you to escape the kids and completely relax.  However, the main musicals and activities are family-oriented and there are no casinos on Disney ships.  While these factors may not affect a single family, it’s something to consider on a multi-generational trip where there may be adults with no children.

Disney Cruise Line Prices

Alas, the Disney cruises may be more expensive than other cruise lines, so it’s important to prioritize what you want to get out of the vacation.  I wanted to go on a family reunion Disney cruise to Alaska but price was the primary reason we chose not to do it.  The price difference for the same category stateroom was enough that some family members wanted to try another cruise line while we wanted to stay with Disney based on the service and quality of our previous experiences.  The compromise was no cruise at all and we chose a different vacation.

There are a lot of extras on the Disney cruise ships to consider when factoring in price.  For better or worse, soda is complimentary.  The kids clubs are open all day, shows are Broadway quality and the split bathrooms in the staterooms are a huge plus.  And it’s Disney.  They are masterful storytellers and entertainers and they design activities for all ages from babies through grandparents.  And for parents, the excellent youth clubs mean you’ll get coveted adult time – priceless in my book.

And what happened with my friend Amy?

She said a cruise still wouldn’t be her first option for a family vacation, but that she liked it more than she thought she would because it was so easy with a big group.  Her kids and their cousins loved the kids’ clubs so much that they wanted to spend time there instead of with their parents.  She was fine with this, but did note that the clubs had limited hours and were not always open when the kids wanted to go.

Editorial Note: Kristi received complimentary airfare and cruise accommodations from the Disney Cruise Line.  They did not ask her to express any particular point of view.

Relevant Links:

Family Vacation on the Disney Fantasy

Health and Safety Tips on a Disney Cruise

10 Surprises on the Disney Dream

Disney Dream inaugural cruise ship pictures

Getting ready for the Disney Dream cruise ship

Preparing for Disney Dream Cruise

Girls Getaway on the Disney Dream

Disney Cruise Line vacation review

Tips for an optimal Disney Cruise

Acqualina Resort & Spa is a luxury kid-friendly beach resort in North Miami.  The elegant Mediterranean villa-style property takes full advantage of its ideal oceanfront position with multiple swimming pools and a wonderfully-appointed beach. This location, plus exceptional rooms, amenities, and services, makes Acqualina one of the best family hotels in Miami. 

Multiple pools and large beachfront grass areas are perfect with kids

Casual Chic with an International Vibe

What’s fun about Miami Beach is its global appeal.  Everywhere you go you see a variety of people and hear multiple languages, Acqualina is no exception with an international vibe.  It doesn’t attract the bathing suit high-heel crowd that you get at some resorts in Miami. Its casual chic and hosts plenty of young families throughout the resort.

That said, with three pools and an expansive beach, the property never felt crowded or overrun with children. One young mom of three said, “I was nervous to bring my kids to such a nice resort, but they have been so welcoming, even at Il Mulino (the fabulous on-site restaurant).”

Kids’ play area in the sand has plenty of shade

The pools run right up to the beach area. The service in both areas is top notch.  Even at full capacity, we never had to wait for lounge chairs or drinks, clearly one of the reasons this hotel earns a five-star rating.  Also, unlike some of the South Beach hotels, there was no techno music pumping through the pool speakers.  In addition, the thoughtful design of the landscaping provides plenty of shaded areas.

There’s an “adult only” pool which means that ‘those people’ — the ones that give the dirty glare when your kids start making some noise in the pool — can retreat to another space, and parents can relax and let kids play without worrying about disturbing others.

Sipping smoothies by the pool

Complimentary Kids’ Club

They complimentary kids’ club is a great childcare option with excellent counselors.  What I really like about it is that the some of the kids’ club activities take place at the main pool. I was able to read my book while my kids were engaged in pool games and had a chance to play with other children.

Stocked gourmet kitchen

Wonderful Guest Space and Amenities

Condo-hotels are my favorite set up with the best of both worlds, space and amenities.  The large accommodations at Acqualina are ideal with kids and feature gourmet kitchens, allowing families to eat some meals in and save significantly on food costs and hassle.

Hot Rod Heaven

Every time we went into or out of the hotel, my sons’ jaws would hit the ground as they ogled over the multiple Rolls Royces, Aston Martins, Bentleys, Masaratis, Ferraris, etc.  This is hot rod heaven.  You won’t find a luxury car collection like this outside of an exotic car dealership.

The sandy beach extends for miles

Epicurean Delight

The first thing my husband said when he looked at the Acqualina website was, “They have my all-time favorite New York restaurant, Il Mulino!”  For my foodie husband, meals are a major element of any vacation experience. Sure enough, the food here is sensational. Il Mulino at Acqualina offers the best classical Italian dinner we’ve had outside of Italy.

We were treated to an additional surprise when Piazzeta, a new casual dining venue, opened its doors for the first time during our trip. It offers delicious charcuterie, as well as pizzas and small dishes, and has outstanding service.  It’s also worth noting that Piazzeta serves a wonderful daily breakfast buffet and Sunday brunch.

Mommy Time at Acqualina’s ESPA Spa

Although I’m a spa junkie, ESPA, a premier European spa company, was a new experience for me.  They’ve won all kinds of awards for design and treatments, so I was excited to check the ESPA experience at Acqualina.

I booked the “Chakra Balancing with Volcanic Stones” to “relieve deep-seeded tension and muscular stress.”  I can say that two hours later, I transformed into full vacation mode.  The spa features a unique cave-like tile steam room which is used light therapy with a rotation of colors through little holes in the ceiling. Very relaxing!

To understand the full Acqualina resort experience, check out our video of the resort and beach!

Fun Family Miami Activities

As far as family-friendly activities in the Miami area, the concierge desk is terrific about recommending different types of options.  Oftentimes when we ask a concierge for family-friendly ideas, we get a mediocre list. Given that I’m a research fanatic, I usually find better options.  Not so here, the Family Brochure is comprehensive with good descriptions of the many available family activity options in the Miami area.

North Miami Beach

Where exactly is North Miami Beach? I wasn’t sure as in past trips, we’ve always stayed in the South Beach area.  I learned that Miami Beach encompasses much more than just South Beach. This gorgeous white sand beach bordered by warm turquoise water stretches for many miles. Clearly, this is prime real estate as its the only beach in the United States that is lined for miles with luxury high-rises.

Acqualina’s location is very convenient, just 20 minutes from Fort. Lauderdale and 30 minutes from South Miami.  Although the area around the hotel was mostly strip malls, this provided easy access to both local markets and convenience stores.

We loved Timo, the Italian restaurant across the street and had the best time picking out gourmet lunch foods at Epicure Market, the upscale deli down the road. If you are looking for high-end posh shops, Bal Harbor, a luxury shopping center, is only 10 minutes away.

For more Photo Friday posts, head to Delicious Baby.

Editorial Note: Nancy received complimentary accommodations at Acqualina Resort & Spa. As usual, all opinions expressed on Ciao Bambino are our own. Photos by Nancy Solomon

Relevant Links:

Great things to do in Fort Lauderdale with kids

Ultimate road trip through the Florida Keys

Walt Disney World for all ages

Family vacation in Collier County Florida

A family safari in Africa makes for a memorable adventure-filled vacation. Amie covered luxury safaris for kids in Kenya and Tanzania after her trip last year. Botswana, in southern Africa, is also a great safari destination because its diverse landscape made up of desert, delta, grasslands and savannahs means the wildlife is among the most varied on the continent.

Botswana’s landscape also allows for game viewing by air, land or water, and on our recent vacation there, we were able to experience a bit of each.

We stayed at Camp Okuti, a Ker & Downey property in the Okavango Delta. Our guide met us at the airstrip and took us to the camp via the scenic route, getting in a short game drive before setting in for the evening. Though we were exhausted after traveling for more than 24 hours, we all perked up when we saw a dazzle of zebras and a cheetah in quick succession.  We oohed and aahed, and as ominous grey clouds in the sky darkened and were soon accompanied by thunder, we quickly snapped a few pictures and headed toward the camp, praying we’d make it there before the skies opened up.

We did not. And the plastic canvas that covered the usually open top safari vehicle, and rain ponchos found in the back seat pockets did not prevent us from getting soaked. The excitement and adventure had officially begun. When we arrived at the camp, several members of the staff came to the vehicle to greet us with umbrellas, and a couple even swept Paris and Vanessa into their arms, carrying them to the shelter of the lobby, where we received a wonderful singing welcome.

Camp Okuti

The camp, which sits on the banks of the Maunachira River and is in the middle of the renowned Moremi Game Reserve, is stylish and intimate, with only fourteen rooms, two of which are family rooms.

Don’t let the word “camp” scare you.  And while not luxurious enough to qualify as glamping, all the comforts of home were present.  The two-bedroom accommodations was perfect for our family of four and had running water, a toilet that flushed, and both an en suite bathroom with double sinks and an outdoor shower.

The rounded tent was set on raised wooden deck had a balcony with views of the river. The thatched-ceiling units were touted as being insect-proof.  Larger creatures, however, like bats apparently have free reign, as we learned when one came crashing from ours ceiling one night, much to the delight of 10-year-old Paris and 7-year-old Vanessa and to my absolute horror.

Mosquito nets draped around the beds served as both protection against the pesky insects, and as the perfect prop for Vanessa, who remarked that it made her “feel like a princess.”

Camp Okuti has several common areas, including a lounge area with an open bar, a dining area, a campfire area and a small swimming pool.

All the meals were a community affair, where we ate with the other guests staying at Camp Okuti and the staff.  Breakfast and lunch buffets offered a nice variety of foods, and since Vanessa chose to be an especially finicky eater this trip, this meant she didn’t starve.

Dinners proved to be particularly special. We would meet in the boma for an aperitif before being summoned by beating drums to the dining area.  After the meal, we would return to the boma and linger, chatting with the other guests, looking at the stars and listening to the eerie and wonderful sounds of the safari at night.

Game Viewing

Games drives are a lot of fun, and as much as you hope to see the Big 5 – lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino – much of the thrill comes from driving through the bush in the all-terrain safari vehicle as you hunt for the animals. We “only” saw two of the Big 5, however we saw plenty of other animals, including several of the 400 species of birds that are indigenous to the Okavango Delta.  A motorboat ride on the delta provided another opportunity to see the birdlife in the area.

Botswana is home to the largest remaining elephant population in the world, and I think we saw most of them. On one of the drives, in fact, we saw no fewer than eight packs of elephants, all with at least six elephants in the pack, and many of which were babies. And for the girls, seeing little animals is much more fun than seeing big ones.

Botswana with Kids

Camp Okuti is described as being a family-friendly safari camp.  While this is true in the sense that they have accommodations designated for families, there is no kids’ club or activities specifically for children.  However, between the game viewing, socializing with the other guests, and of course, the bat, my children were thoroughly entertained.

Many safari tours in Africa have age limits, and Botswana is no exception. In allowing children as young as 7 years old, Camp Okuti is unusual in this respect, since most camps in the Okavango Delta are not available to families with children under 12.

I never felt that my children were in danger, you know, other than the fact that they, we, were often in close proximity to wild animals, albeit in a safari vehicle. It was sometimes a challenge to keep Vanessa, my 7-year-old, from getting bored, so having a camera to take her own photos and letting her use the binoculars was key in keeping her interested.

Those traveling to Botswana with children should also be aware that it is a malaria zone, and should consult with their physician about the appropriate prophylactics.

Photos by Monique Rubin and Camp Okuti

Relevant Links:

Adventure travel with kids, tips for taking a family safari in Africa

AndBeyond Africa lodges with kids

Africa with kids, visiting The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya

Giraffe heaven in Nairobi, Kenya

Review of Sanctuary Retreats Olonana tented camp for families

Review of Ngorongoro Crater Lodge for families

Hot air balloon ride over Masai Mara with kids

Lion hunt for Photo Friday

In a jet set resort town like Zermatt, finding luxury hotels is not an issue. Uncovering the very select few properties that cater to families in a meaningful way, however, is much more challenging. After experiencing the 165-room Hotel Mont Cervin Palace this winter, I’ll be adding it to our Ciao Bambino’s Switzerland kid-friendly accommodations portfolio in the next few weeks. This old-school hotel icon is an exceptional place for families.

Part of the prestigious Seiler Hotels Group, the Mont Cervin Palace has been hosting guests for over 150 years; there’s a strong sense of history here, starting with the pick up at the train station by a horse-drawn carriage. Kids and parents alike will start grinning at this point, and the vacation hasn’t even started.

Zermatt attracts an international crowd and the guests at Mont Cervin reflect this diversity. Families from all over the world choose to stay at this luxury icon, and many of them return annually.

Why are families choosing Mont Cervin Palace over all the other luxury options in Zermatt? After our overnight, I figured it out:

Array of Room Configurations

One of the best features for families at the Mont Cervin Palace is their wide variety of room configuration from gorgeous remodeled suites with Matterhorn views, to traditional apartment-style units in the Residence with full kitchen facilities, to the boutique annex Le Petit Cervin.

The hotel easily accommodates independent families and large, multi-generational groups.

Variety of Experiences

While public areas are old-world and grand in the Mont Cervin Palace, remodeled rooms feature fresh, Alpine-themed décor. We stayed in a glorious suite with front and center Matterhorn views.

Meanwhile, for families who want a more intimate boutique experience, the chalet-style Le Petit Cervin is connected to the hotel via an internal walkway and offers multi-room suites, as well as a number of connecting configurations for large families.

This diversity extends to the dining experience too. The Dine Around program includes all Seiler Hotels in Zermatt and enables guest to seamlessly eat at the different properties in the portfolio, while keeping expenses on a single bill. The program also includes the stunning Ciao Bambino Approved Riffelalp Resort at 2,222 meters above the village.

Magnificent Indoor/Outdoor Swimming Pool

The swimming pool is quite simply out of this world. A magnificent indoor/outdoor pool with lounge chairs entertains families for hours. The facility also includes the biggest kids’ splash pool filled with toys I’ve ever seen.

The outdoor section is open all winter too. We swam in a snowstorm — one for the memory books! Although I didn’t get a chance to use the spa, the English/German spa menu is 38 pages long, i.e. there are extensive treatments for the entire body available.

Nico Kids’ Club

The Mont Cervin Palace is one of just a few hotels in Zermatt to offer a kids’ club. The club is set up in a their sister property Hotel Schweizerhof, a few blocks down the road and offers supervised care for ages 3 months to 8-years-old during the winter season.

The club is set-up for younger kids and perfect for families with children who aren’t old enough for a rigorous ski school program.

Heart of Zermatt Location

Located in the heart of Zermatt, guests walk out the door into the center of all the best dining and shopping. Be sure and ask for room with a Matterhorn view if that’s important, as it’s not available in all room categories. For skiing, the property is a short walk from the Sunnegga Funicular and there’s an efficient bus service available to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise gondola.

When to Go

Although Zermatt is most famous for skiing, the summer is an outdoor enthusiasts’ dream with 400 km of hiking trails. The extensive network of gondolas allows families to create short, kid-friendly hikes to mountain huts for lunch. You can also ski year-round on the glacier.

Take kids skiing in the morning and hiking in the afternoon. Not your average family vacation!

Editorial Note: Ciao Bambino received a complimentary overnight at Hotel Mont Cervin Palace. As usual, all opinions are our own. All photos by Amie O’Shaughnessy except for suite photo by Hotel Mont Cervin Palace.

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Ciao Bambino recommended family-friendly hotels in Switzerland

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If you’re looking for a memorable kid-friendly activity in Rome, Gladiator School is an event your children will never forgot. Nancy has raved about her experience at for years and my 9-year-old Devon was thrilled to finally give it a go over our spring family vacation in Italy.

Although the swords are fake, the skills learned in class are real. Scantily clad men of yesteryear lead the troops through vigorous training.

The two-hour class begins with a Gladiator history lesson in the Gruppo Storico Romano Museum with artifacts, models, weapons, and costumes from Ancient Rome. Our instructor was extremely entertaining and great with the kids. The session includes an opportunity to try on Gladiator paraphernalia. Giggle-producing for all!

The core class activity is learning to duel. But first, there’s a Gladiator-style warm up. If you are worried the class will not engage your children, watch this video. Non-participation is -- literally -- not an option.

The class ends with certificate and Gladiator name distribution. Meet Maximus!

The Gruppo Storico Romano website has quite a bit going on. It’s easiest to book the two-hour class through Viator. Pricing starts at $72.44 per person. If you have a big group, it may be worth reaching out to Gruppo Storico Romano directly and asking for a special group rate. The minimum age to participate is 6. Given the fight-focused subject matter and complex moves required to participate, I recommend Gladiator School for ages 8 and up.

The class takes place at Via Appia Antica 18, a 15-minute cab ride from the Coliseum. A perfect day pairs a visit to the Coliseum followed by Gladiator School so the context is fresh and exciting.

For more Photo Friday posts, head to Delicious Baby.

Editorial Note: Gruppo Storico Romano provided us with a free session to review the class on Ciao Bambino. As usual, all opinions are our own. Photos by Amie O’Shaughnessy. Video by the Brown family

Relevant Links:

Ciao Bambino recommended Rome family hotels

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There are many family hotels to choose from on the Fort Lauderdale beach but as I found out on a recent stay, The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale stands out for its exceptional service.  Fort Lauderdale is all about fun and sun, and at The Ritz-Carlton you get all that plus a bit of pampering.

Beautiful pool and endless ocean and beach views

In the Heart of Fort Lauderdale

I have to admit that before my stay, I was curious how staying in the heart of the Fort Lauderdale beach scene would be with a family.  I had two concerns: 1) Would the hotel be noisy? and 2) Would I mind that access to the beach is via a pedestrian bridge over the road? … As it turns out, I had nothing to be concerned about!

From our ocean view room, the vista was pure blue-green ocean and outlines of distant ships.  The cantilevered design of the hotel makes the road virtually disappear from view and with it any road noise. And the beach access is a breeze.  The secured skywalk from the pool deck proved to be a shorter walk to the beach than if we had been in a large resort.  Chairs, umbrellas, towels and water are complimentary and available at the beach.

Oceanfront king suites are spacious

Rooms with a View

A great advantage of staying in Fort Lauderdale is the endless water views.  There is water everywhere here with the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal waterways; a system of residential canals running throughout the city that are perfect for lazy days of kayaking or boating.

At the Ritz-Carlton, there isn’t one perfect view.  The full ocean view is in-your-face gorgeous but the view at night is of a dark ocean.  On the other hand, the Intracoastal view has something to look at all day because it’s a residential area and lighted at night.  What’s the best view? Maybe a little of both!

Note: All Residential Suites and certain ocean view King rooms have access to the Club Lounge with a dedicated concierge.  This is a huge perk and very convenient for families as it serves high quality light meals, snacks and drinks throughout the day – with a view of course.  There are also board games and computers available.  It’s very comfortable with kids.

The sweet loot at the end of the scavenger hunt

Kid-Friendly Amenities

The hotel is compact and while there are no large open spaces for kids to run around, there are programs and amenities available for kids which my 6 and 8-year-old children enjoyed.

Scavenger Hunt at Check-in. This is a fun scavenger hunt that ends with a very decadent surprise.

Kid’s Meal Plan. This is a great deal.  For $30 a day, kids 12 and under can order breakfast, lunch and dinner off the children’s menu, which offers the standard chicken fingers fare but also includes healthier options.   The standout feature for my kids was unlimited beverages (parents beware).  It was a huge treat for them to be able to order smoothies at the pool.

Perfectly Sized Pool for Kids. It’s not a kid’s pool, but it’s very easy with a baby, toddler or small child.  It has large graduating steps which are a perfect hangout for little ones that aren’t confident swimmers. Did I mention the ocean view from the pool area?  Between 4:30 and 6 PM you’ll see a parade of cruise ships leaving the port which is just a few miles away.

Funky Fish Craft Program. The Ritz Carlton offers a complimentary 2-hour mini-Funky Fish crafts program during peak season where kids make tie-dye t-shirts and other crafts.  (If you want the full day Funky Fish ocean camp the concierge can help you arrange this.) Parents need to be in the pool area but the staff manages the kids during the program.

Additional Holiday Activities. During busy school holidays there may be additional activities for the kids.   During our holiday stay there was always something going on; ice cream sundae making or a craft project at the pool and even a game room set up on another floor for the older kids.

Walking Distance to the Water Taxi. While not onsite, the water taxi is a fun way to see Fort Lauderdale with kids.  Take it North to see the iguanas hanging out under the bridge.

Kid-Friendly Spa

If you are looking for a mother daughter spa date or a relaxing day, the view alone in the spa will put you in the right mood.  The entire spa has gorgeous ocean views and the pedicure — well, I can’t rave enough.  For an hour, I sat in a very comfortable chair with a foot rest and looked at the ocean.  All this was possible because the attendants were so accommodating and patient with my inquisitive 6-year-old who finished her little girl manicure early. A very relaxing way to end our stay …

Editorial Note: Kristi received a complimentary night stay at the Ritz-Carlton.  She was not asked to express any particular opinion. Photos by Kristi Marcelle (room photo by Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale)

Relevant Links:

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