roknroll

We have always had a great time traveling with our son, but being with an infant changes things and eliminates some things that we used to enjoy doing (i.e. napping/relaxing poolside). Just about every hotel or resort I've looked into has kids club options only for older children, usually starting around 4 or 5 years old and up.

We just went to the Melia Puerto Vallarta, and the only reason we chose that resort was because they have a great kids club and offer day care and evening babysitting for children as young as 6 months. We didn't use it a lot, but having 1-2 hours each day to ourselves by the pool really made our vacation. We also utilized the babysitting service in the evenings for about 2-3 hours so we could go see the show and get a drink in the lobby (son would just be sleeping in his crib).

I'm hoping there are more places like this. Does anyone else out there have experiences with hotels or resorts that have childcare services for the very young travelers (i.e. under 2-3 years old). Right now we are limiting our trips to city destinations, since relaxing beach trips or ski/adventure trips aren't really possible with a toddler.

Eclipsepearl

There are but they are few and far between.

Large AI resort chains will often have a few properties that offer under 3 childcare.

A travel agent explained to me that IATA has regulations for under-3 childcare. It's hard for most properties to meet those requirements so many give up and just offer it from age 3 onwards.

I remember we went skiing with friends. Their daughter was school-aged but mine was only a year and a half. The mother organizing it said that it really limited her choice, the fact that my son was under age 3.

Club Med or here in France, Pierre Vacance, among others will have a small selection of properties where they have under age 3 facilities. You can probably find them on line but usually there was a chart in their brochures so I could easily look up where we could go. Club Med also has "Baby Welcome" resorts which don't offer any kind of childcare but are equipped with the facilities.

We actually stopped going to Club Med because they used to have a system for buying drinks on site. They they revamped it to make all drinks free but raised their prices. We aren't big drinkers so we felt like we were underwriting other's drinking binges. But decide for yourself.

What some parents on this forum have done is bring along a babysitter. Usually, there is some teenager you know who would love a paid-for vacation, if that can be worked out. That would give you a wider selection of vacation resorts.

Just to mention, you can run into limits with hotel babysitters. Many parents aren't comfortable with the idea but we had good experiences. My problem was availability and was often told it couldn't happen. If you know in advance, it's best to mention specific times as soon as you book.

If you're interested in cruising, there are a few lines/ships that do provide under 3 childcare, especially if you want to go to the Caribbean, less so with other markets. Look at NCL and Royal Caribbean, among others.

Some people were judgemental about our wanting to have some sort of time without the little one. They would say things like "Our family stays together" or whatever. I was single until age 35 and then had three kids in 4 1/2 years. I kind of needed a breather.

There's also the safety element. My daughter fell into a pool when my husband (and sister-in-law) were supposed to be watching her so I had trust issues after that, not to mention never vacationing with them again! If I wasn't watching them, I wanted someone paid whose job was to do so, in a secure area. Vacationing with family might be a solution for others but it was ruled out for us.

6rugrats

Franklyn D. Resort, where you have your own personal nanny:

http://www.fdrholidays.com/

TravelinTX

Beaches will take infants. I found it easier to take a niece as a babysitter.

http://www.beaches.com

mechteach

They aren't cheap, but the Kinderhotels in Southern Germany and Austria have great childcare, including for very young kids. We stayed at the Neubichler Alm (http://www.neubichler-alm.com/), and our children loved it (as did we). We went in the summer, but you can do the Kinderhotels for ski vacations as well.

DLP3

Recently returned from the Club Med in Malaysia and the child care was great for both our daughter (4) and son (17 months). It is not cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but well worth it for a day or two.

juuceman

The concierge at a lot of high end resorts will refer you to a babysitting or nursing agency if they do not handle this in house.

Ritz Calrton and Four Seasons hotels tend to refer to nanny services in the local area. I have used them in various beach, city, and ski locations, and been perfectly happy with them. The rates vary - you're usually looking at a three or four hour minimum, with the charges being between $15 and $20 per hour. We've used their recommendations in Sarasota, FL, Miami Beach, FL, and Philadelphia, and explored the options and availability in Bachelor Gulch, CO.

Mexican law prohibits children who are in diapers from using daycare facilities. The Rosewood and the Banyan Tree, both located in the Mayakoba resort in Playa Del Carmen, provide sitters from an in house rotation. We've used the sitters in both locations and been very happy with them. $15-20/hour, three hour minimum. They can also be flexible if you like, especially if they handle the sitting in house.

In most of these instances, we've used the sitters in the evenings when we want to head out for dinner. We'll put our child down to bed, then have them ensure that nothing happens when we're out.

This winter we decided to bring a babysitter from home with us when skiing, as our son was comfortable with spending time with her during the day, and it worked out for everyone from a financial standpoint.

Certain resorts in Jamaica and the Caribbean will also provide nanny's upon request, sometimes for an additional fee.

Kagehitokiri

four seasons kids clubs >
2 years old - jimbaran, koh samui
3 years old - palm beach, nevis, hampshire

in general >
some hotel accommodations include live-in staff
some hotel packages include some babysitting
re pools - some hotel accommodations have private pools

fredandgingermad

There are Thomson Family Resorts in Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza, Cyprus, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Turkey, Greece, Egypt, Spain and Tunisia, that offer creches for 0-3 year olds 6 days a week, expect it costs a fair amount though
http://www.thomson.co.uk/editorial/f...0to3years.html

roknroll

Are you sure about that? The Melia I mentioned in the OP has childcare/daycare services starting at 6 months. Our 14 mo old was there for a few hours each day (in diapers) and they had a changing table in the bathroom of the young kids room (6mo-4yr). I have read that the regulations for hotel childcare for kids that young are quite strict, which is a major reason that you don't see many kids clubs for under 4 years old, but Melia adheres to them all.

The thing I really liked about the Melia in PV was that the kids club during the day was free of charge, and open from 9 or 10 in the morning until around 4 or 5 in the evening. Sitters at night were extra, but only $12 an hour and it was the same people from the kids club during the day doing the sitting. We always paid extra though, since the people were so great and we felt bad that they had to stay so long. Our sitter, Lala, worked in the kids club from 8am until close, then worked elsewhere on the resort until 7pm, and if she was hired as a babysitter it was added on to that long day!

The Club Med properties with the baby care also looked great, but after reading into more it seems like it can be quite expensive. I think I remember reading it was $60 per day to have them in the kids club, and it had to be decided in advance and paid for the entire length of the stay (regardless of whether you used it every day or not).

juuceman

I've been told by Rosewood's US operations that Mexican law prohibits children in diapers and pullups are not permitted in organized childcare. All of the Rosewood hotels in Mexico with childcare have a statement to this effect on their website. I have asked whether having a babysitter would permit them to use the kids club space and told no, it is not permitted under the law for children in diapers to be in the physical space of an organized childcare facility.

I only took a quick look at the Melia's website, but they state that they provide babysitting for children four and under. They might make a distinction that complies with the law, Rosewood might be misinforming me, I really don't know more than this though.

englisha

We had an amazing holiday in Fiji in Mana Island resort, which offer 5 hours free babysitting a day for children under 3, and an all day kids club for older kids if you book for at least 5 days. We went when our daughter was 23 months and have only good things to say about the experience. For the under 3's its 1 to 1 care and they will do whatever you ask with your child in that time. They can leave them inside in the shade, take them to lunch or dinner, do arts and crafts or play in the playarea. At first we were nervous and just left her for an hour but she didn't want to leave. As we don't have any family to look after our daughter, this was an amazing option for us on an amazing island and gave us the chance to do some snorkelling over the reefs. I'd really recommend it to anyone. Whatsmore, the accommodation isn't super expensive, rack rates start at about $230 USD but we bought during a 50% sale on expedia.

silentbob1974

Meaning that FS won't offer babysitting services to those under 2 years?

swise

We haven't been here yet but would like to go sometime:

http://www.skiportillo.com/vida-en-p...ninos/?lang=en

It looks like they have both daycare and nannies available for kids 0-3 for a fee, and then kids 4-7 can participate at no additional charge.

PWMTrav

I don't know, I'm not leaving my 1 year old with a stranger anywhere, let alone with a stranger (far) away from home. I don't need the time away that bad.

My vote is to pick where you want to go and bring someone with you that you trust. That way you get all sorts of flexiblity, albeit at a higher cost.