middle east 10 best family hotels destinations

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Epic water parks and eye- children can feast on unlimited St Regis Saadiyat of manicured gardens and 4 5 popping aquariums would be free ice lollies on the private island resort, boasting its own dreamy beach, impressive attractions on any beach. Abu Dhabi this 231‑room hotel has all the family holiday, but when parents The 202-suite hotel has a kids’ This swish hotel is essentials for the ultimate family and kids can get to them without club for three to 12-year-olds, and 3perfect for families who don’t escape with its relaxed vibe and even having to leave their free entry to Wild Wadi water want to scrimp on luxury just top-notch facilities. resort, they make an even more park next door, which has 30 because they’ve got kids in tow. Set within the upmarket One convincing selling point. rides and attractions certain to It offers 24-hour butler service, & Only Royal Mirage complex, The Middle East is already a hit keep kids of any age entertained. an indulgent spa and 18-hole golf clients can enjoy an abundance with families seeking a hassle‑free Recommend that clients book course. Younger ones are equally of watersports, including holiday with wall-to-wall a family lunch at the hotel’s spoilt, as they’re provided with sailing, windsurfing, waterskiing, sunshine, white-sand beaches gorgeous Al Mahara seafood their own adorably tiny slippers kayaking and fishing. and endless entertainment restaurant, which has a floor-to- and dressing gowns, as well as Parents in need of a break can options. Now, helping to reinforce ceiling aquarium that’s home to cups of warm milk and treats left head off to the spa and hammam, that family-friendly reputation, stingrays and zebra sharks. on their pillows at bedtime. leaving children aged from four lavish hotels across the region Nature-loving little ones will to 11 in the safe hands of the 6 7 are pulling out all the stops to Beach like the spectacular location of kids’ club to try their hand at dazzle their younger guests with Hotel, this hotel on a five-mile stretch camel rides, henna painting, belly some standout features. With its striking wave- of gorgeous sandy beach, where dancing and more. From the budget to the brash, like design, this 619-room turtles nest and dolphins can be Fun for the whole family can we round up a handful of the 2hotel is one of Dubai’s most spotted cruising the shoreline. be found in the two pools and family hotels best family hotels across the instantly recognisable structures. Elegant Resorts’ senior sales on the tennis, volleyball and Middle East to please even the Ticking all the boxes for fun- and product manager Pam basketball courts. Pick a Middle East fussiest of broods. loving families, the hotel has six Rutherford rates the property property to suit kids swimming pools, including a highly. She says: “For one to JA Jebel Ali Beach , children’s pool with slides, a dive 12-year-olds, the hotel offers the hotel, Dubai of any age, writes Dubai centre, a climbing wall, tennis Sandcastle Club, an adventurous Parents can leave their Janine Kelso This luxurious sail-shaped courts, banana boat rides, Hobie and enchanting play area which wallets at home when hotel famously offers 17 Cat sailing, kayaking, windsurfing is set within a cave-themed space 5staying at this five-star hotel 1types of pillow, 24-carat gold- and unlimited access to Wild with a sandpit and an outdoor as it’s one of the only hotels plated iPads worth £4,500 in Wadi water park. pool. There’s also a family pool in Dubai to offer all-inclusive, 8 9 10 every room, chauffeur-driven There are 20 tempting and a children’s pool with a providing “an attractive price Rolls-Royces and an army of eateries to choose from, but water slide, keeping everyone point for families”, according to butlers. Its children’s offering is best for families is Beachcombers entertained”. Kuoni commercial and product no less grand, with youngsters restaurant, which has live cooking The 377-room hotel has manager Sheena Paton. being treated to bespoke bed, stations and a designated seven restaurants, including a Set on a palm-fringed 800m bath and beach attire, as well kids’ area. beachside seafood grill and a private beach, this 231-room as a personal consultation with Parents in need of some patisserie where sweet-toothed hotel’s newest star attraction is the chef to make sure the menus alone time can leave children families can gorge on handmade its inflatable water park, free to delight their delicate taste buds. aged two to 12 in the kids’ club, chocolates. all-inclusive guests. Located just Myriad watersports are which has longer-than-average steps from the hotel beach, the available for the whole family opening hours from 8am until The Palace at One & water park is open to anyone to enjoy, from windsurfing and 10pm, and has a huge area Only Royal Mirage, over the age of six who can swim. kayaking to scuba diving and devoted to playing, swimming Dubai There are also two children’s pools banana boat rides. Best of all, and chilling out. 4Spanning 60 acres for toddlers and older kids.

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The resort’s 10 restaurants aged from four to eight, which serve an array of international offers a range of Omani-inspired cuisine, including Italian and activities such as henna painting Mexican fare, but do suggest and camel rides. that parents spoil themselves Older kids in search of at least once by dropping their adventure can have a go at sample brood off at the crèche, kids’ or diving or sailing, while teens can product teens’ clubs, and enjoying a meal spend their days in GameZ, a at DiVAZ, a floating restaurant games room loaded with video where diners can tuck into games, electronic darts, air just‑caught fish while soaking up hockey and snooker. Kuoni offers five the stunning views. Family rooms have nights’ all-inclusive For an extra charge, there’s interconnecting bedrooms, all of at the JA Jebel all‑round family entertainment which feature a DVD player and a Ali Beach Hotel in the form of camel rides, horse PlayStation. As an added selling from £3,647 for a left: riding, watersports and diving. point, guests can also use the Atlantis The family of four, with facilities of the sister properties Palm, Dubai Gatwick flights Al Waha at Shangri- Al Bandar and Al Husn, including departing in July La’s Barr Al Jissah 11 gourmet restaurants. FAR left: and transfers. Resort & Spa, Oman Shangri‑La’s kuoni.co.uk Barr Al The largest of the three hilton, Jissah Spa 6hotels at this five-star resort, Abu Dhabi & Resort, Carrier offers five the 262-room Al Waha has been Located on the buzzing Oman nights’ B&B at created with families in mind, Corniche, this plush Abu Shangri-La’s Barr with pools for toddlers and older Dhabi stalwart is set right on its 7 Al Jissah Resort kids, a water play area and a own sandy beach. shallow children’s pool, ideal for Jumeirah Zabeel the largest wave pools. flexible half-board dine-around & Spa – Al Waha cheery kids’ club for children The 327-room property has a timid paddlers, while kids over Saray, Dubai There is a kids’ club for and complimentary water park from £2,370 per the age of seven can engage There’s all‑round A climbing wall and children aged from four to 16, access, and the hotel offers family, based on in an array of watersports, cinema are just a few with more than 50 activities on fantastic kids’ and teen clubs, two adults and one including sailing and powerboat family entertainment of the cool facilities on offer for offer, including a mini water park which is all you need to keep the 9 child and including courses. There’s also a sizeable in the form of camel children at this Ottoman-inspired and soft-play area for little ones. children busy while relaxing.” flights and private playground where little ones can rides, horse riding, hotel. Set on a glorious stretch Active families can also enjoy transfers, for travel let loose, and with 15 restaurants watersports and diving of sandy beach, the opulent tennis and watersports, and if JUMEIRAH during the May and bars, there are plenty of 405‑room property is located at parents fancy some quiet time, MINA A’SALAM, half‑term. dining options. the western end of the dramatic babysitting can be arranged. Dubai carrier.co.uk Travel 2’s assistant product palm-shaped island Jumeirah Palm. “The Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Little nippers manager for the Middle East, Families can enjoy one free is a great option for families will love feeding sea turtles in 10 Elegant Resorts Nathalie Jones, says: “The Hilton broad an appeal, with seven entry to Wild Wadi water park, with plenty to do,” says Hayes the lagoon of this 291-room offers seven nights’ Abu Dhabi is a family-friendly heart-pumping water slides – two which boasts ’s first & Jarvis Middle East destination boutique hotel, which sits within half-board at the hotel offering great activities for of which catapult riders through barrelling wave ride and one of manager Sheryl Drane. “It has the expansive St Regis Saadiyat young children and teens. The shark-filled lagoons – alongside resort. With an emphasis on Island Resort, Abu hotel also has a private beach.” a gentler water playground for water-related fun, guests travel Dhabi, from £3,820 fun‑loving tots to splash about in. around the resort via its two- for two adults Atlantis The Palm, That’s not the end of the story mile network of waterways in and two children, Dubai at this property, which is as small traditional boats, as well as including flights This Vegas-like resort much an entertainment complex enjoying unlimited access to the departing May 9, hotel is a favourite as it is a family hotel: there are Wild Wadi water park. transfers and destination for families thanks dolphin swims at Dolphin Bay; Grown-ups can indulge in the 8 lounge passes. to its on-site Lost Chambers a kids’ club for three to 12-year- spa or shop in the traditional-style elegantresorts. Aquarium and Aquaventure olds boasting activities galore, souk, after dropping children co.uk water park, which is free and including two climbing walls and off at the kids’ club (for four to unlimited for hotel guests. The underwater movie screenings; 12-year-olds). Hayes & Jarvis former offers a dose of wow- while older siblings can head to For all-round family can arrange four factor, teeming with 65,000 teen hangout Club Rush to watch entertainment, there are tennis nights’ half-board exotic marine animals, including movies and play video games. and squash clubs, a range of at Jumeirah Zabeel sharks, jellyfish and a rare albino On a more practical note, the watersports – from windsurfing Saray from £2,049 alligator, and is one of those rare resort’s 20 restaurants cater to LEFT: to waterskiing – and more per family of four, attractions which should be a hit even the fussiest of eaters, with Sinbad’s than 40 restaurants. Parents including flights Kids’ Club, with kids of every age. allergy-conscious menus and who fancy a date night can Madinat departing June 14. Aquaventure, the Middle East’s cuisines that cover everything Jumeirah, take advantage of the hotel’s hayesand largest water park, has just as from sushi to pizza. Dubai babysitting service. jarvis.co.uk

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