The woman at the pool was my parental doppelgänger; we both had four-year-old singletons and two-year-old twins. Our accommodations were managed by the same company and shared grounds, only I was staying at the family-friendly water park lodge and she was staying at the luxury resort down the road.
She got the beautiful room with lush hotel beds and amazing coffee, I got a dated suite with a synthetic blanket and automatic drip. Once we compared notes she decided that I had the better set-up, and maybe she was right. Although there wasn't a huge differential in the price and we got to take advantage of the same amenities, there were a few things that made our stay easier than hers.
Our suite had a kitchenette and dining table that seated six. The other family's room had a wet bar and they had to take all of their meals at one of the resort's restaurants. It got expensive and they felt like child-free guests weren't so thrilled to take their meals alongside their spirited posse. We had all of those same restaurant options but our kids were happy to eat their meals in their bathing suits and hustle downstairs to splash around some more.
Although the spectacular pools, decks and recreation areas on the grown-up side were stunning (the gorgeous Prairie Style design had met Hef's standards when the facility originally opened as the Lake Geneva Playboy resort in the 1960s, which explains the airport, stables, endless golf course and other over-the-top amenities), there were no lifeguards. There might have been a LEGO moose greeting us at the entry to the faux rustic lodgings on the family-friendly side, but it was a fine tradeoff for plenty of lifeguards at the pools and slides designed for all ages and abilities.
I realize that family vacations mean redefining my idea of relaxation. At the end of the day, we didn't take advantage of the on-site childcare to duck out for spa services and cocktails, we chilled on our balcony and read while our kids napped. Our wardrobe options were predicated by the driest swim suits and the closest pair of flip flops. By my fiftieth trip down the lazy river I had enough, but the kids had an incredible time and we can always go back for a swankier adults-only weekend. That doesn't mean that I didn't look down the road longingly once or twice. At home we go for aesthetics and functionality, but on a family vacation with three little ones, practicality came first.
(Images: Timber Ridge Resort and Grand Geneva Resort & Spa)
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Great post!!
Good lesson here. When you're taking a vacation with kids, it's better for you, your kids, and other guests if you've got their enjoyment in mind and make your plans accordingly. This includes eating arrangements because some resorts aren't geared toward children or don't accommodate them frequently.
totally agree. We went to the first time with our large extended family to a 3star at best Mexican resort catering to families. The dated yellow duvet cover and no-spa on site were a complete afterthought as we were relaxed, eating grilled burgers in wet swimsuits each night and really enjoying ourselves and the setup. Never in a million years would I have thought we would have liked it considering the luxurious places we have previously stayed at.
We stayed at a place in Panama City Beach last May with out 9 month old. The indoor lazy river was the best thing ever! We could put him in his infant swim gear (And all helpful floatie attachments) & he "floated" between mine & DH's tubes safely. He felt like a big boy & we were able to relax. Our room wasn't amazing but it was clean, comfy & had an ocean front balcony. We'd for sure stay there again!
My parent's never took my sib and I on vacations like the above. I always wished they would have taken us to a family resort (especially one with a water or theme park), but now I realize that they were perhaps making an even greater sacrifice carting us around to more cultural and educational places. That would be much more difficult than laying in a lazy river!
Your experience might have been good for you but there are many pros to the other side too - we have always upgraded to the private side, royal service, etc. to stay in more-adult only but still kid-permissible places in the Caribbean. I have always been relaxed knowing that I didn't have to deal with everyone else's kids and my own. I find that it's exhausting worrying about all the rude kinds shoving and pushing my younger ones and love that with less kids comes less stress. I have never regretted it and we expect our kids to behave as they should when dining or in common areas. It's the parents who go on vacation to ignore their kids that you want to steer clear of and I find they are often on the family side. Obviously, that's a big generalization but I just wanted to say there are definitely pros of the other vacation style too.
I too had to redefine my idea of relaxation when the kids arrived. I suppose it all boils down to one's priorities. I discovered early on that the lazy river was the best thing since sliced bread. In the evenings, we can sit ringside & enjoy some good convo and/or reading material & an after dinner coffee (in peace!). Bonus: it wears the kids out & they go right to bed after hitting the shower. They are well rested (read that well-behaved) for any cultural activities on the schedule the following day. Family resort facilities are a win-win all around.
No way - I was just at this resort two weeks ago! The strange part was, I was there alone - no kids, no family; on a business trip. The company put us all at the family resort for some reason instead of the fancy hotel down the road. Given that we were...12 single people all in our 20s and early 30s, it was kind of a strange choice. Still, it was pretty enjoyable - I liked having the options of chillin in my low-key space or walking up to the fancy restaurant/bar/pool.
I really did want to go on the lazy river, but I felt kinda weird doing it without a kid to use as an excuse.
You sound like a really good mom.
Travel with children can be improved by the simple addition of a microwave and refrigerator plus included breakfast. And a simple no frills pool.
"I realize that they were perhaps making an even greater sacrifice carting us around to more cultural and educational places.That would be much more difficult than laying in a lazy river!"
^ Yeah, my 9 month old really isn't into art galleries & wine tastings. We do things for our son. Not drag him around every vacation to crap he doesn't want to do or see just because we want to do whatever we want. Everyone in our family is considered when it's vacation time.
Call me a bad mom, but you couldn't pay me to go to an indoor water park.
Hey @Skeemer,
I assure you, I wasn't going to wine tastings when I was 9 months old. And by cultural, that just means, to me, going to places that aren't specifically designed for tou
rists, like water parks and resorts. More like, going to cities, historic places, markets... When your kid grows up, he won't remember what you did with him at 9 months, so whatever you decide to do should be for your enjoyment. If that's a lazy river then so be it! That's probably what I would choose if I were in your shoes!
Just my experience on the vacation activities topic:
My mother and father, each and both, made time regularly to take us to everything from the State Fair to live classical music to crawfish boils and the French Quarter -- all the culture we could soak up.
When we went on vacation, we went to the beach. Lots of fun playing together with the rare chance to involve both parents in bridge, sand-castles, and long walks on the beach.
Other people would do it the other way around, spreading play activities throughout the year and concentrating on culture during vacation.
I think it's okay to decide for one to decide for one's self how to balance this.