Amaryllis, the Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France’s mermaid

We’re on a bit of a kick at kodomo.com these days about places far and wide that offer little ones the opportunity to explore the underwater world and, as such, the stunning Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France has peaked our interest once again. We wrote about it last year for it’s sensational family-friendly facilities amidst some serious Caribbean luxury, but there is even more reason than ever to adore it: there is now a resident mermaid called Amaryllis who will delight young guests.

Located on Baie des Flamands – one of the island’s finest beaches – Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France is relatively quaint with its 40 suites, bungalows and villas, but this is precisely what appeals. And, being located in the Caribbean as it is, it’ll come as no surprise to you that there is some stunning, unadulterated, aqua-blue water to explore within minutes. Little swimmers armed with flippers, a mask and a snorkel (as well as lots of fully-qualified adult supervision, of course), can now head off the island to hunt for star fish, tickle local turtles and come face-to-face with friendly clown fish. It’s the perfect way to introduce them to the wonders of the ocean in an environment that couldn’t be more child-friendly or beautiful if it tried. And after some delightful play time in the water, they’ll delight at the appearance of the resident “mermaid” Amaryllis who chats with the children about her marine home.

The Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France facilities for parents

The Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France not too big and full of people – it is tranquil, calm and very luxurious. What was Hotel Saint-Barth Isle de France, the stunning St. Barth’s property has been acquired by LVMH (which testifies to the level of excellence you can expect on arrival). After much redesign, the hotel recently reopened as Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France (consider yourself informed) and it’s sumptuous, family-friendly, and full of wonderment for both parents and kids.

Now, if you have small children or you’re expecting and want somewhere lovely for the upcoming holidays, the summer is a better time to head to the island, because the temperatures aren’t quite so searing. The two-bedroom Fisherman’s Cottage is set in the beautiful tropical gardens of the hotel, making it an ideal island hideaway for families. With one king-size and two twin beds, there is room for everyone; doors open onto the living and kitchen areas, and there is a sheltered interior courtyard and outdoor garden where children can safely play.

Like any thoughtful, family-friendly hotel, the Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France offers a baby-sitting service so you can enjoy the evening beach club vibe of La Case de l’Isle, highly regarded for its elegant, light and colourful French cuisine (it has long been one of St Barth’s hottest dining destinations). And the spa? Well, it’s the only place to find Guerlain treatments in all of the Caribbean.

The four-treatment room Cheval Blanc Spa offers signature treatments by the iconic Guerlain brand – the first of their kind in the Caribbean – and created exclusively for this hotel. Signature therapies include St-Barth Solar Escape, a ritual that subtly combines the Terracotta range with Guerlain specialists’ know-how, offering a soothing escape for travel-weary skin. (A new Orchidée double treatment room and other novelties will follow when the hotel continues its extension throughout the 2015 – 2016 season).

If you don’t want to be inside the spa by day you can also enjoy treatments from leading skin-care brands, Natura Bissé and Intraceuticals, in the serene garden setting of the main house.

And for kids?

Aside from the arrival of Amaryllis and the wonderful underwater program now available to children, the hotel’s immaculate seafront swimming pool will no doubt prove a pull. If your little ones are active they will adore the mix of kayaking, paddle boarding, windsurfing and catamaran excursions on offer. There is also horseback riding above the white sands of Gouverneur Beach for budding equestrians.

And for families?

If talk of the sea leaves you hankering for a family-day on the water, top of the hotel’s well-curated services has to be “Big Blue Escape.” Escorted by a Majordome, Cheval Blanc’s dedicated butler, you can spend a day aboard a 69′ yacht whose experienced Captain will unveil St Barts’ most gorgeous bays. There are lots of little surprises spread on board by their Majordome throughout the day, such as the Maison’s beach bag, complete with panama hats and matching fans, sun lotions and other treats. After exploring the marvels underwater, you will drop anchor in front of the pristine Saline Beach and enjoy a fresh lobster lunch. I know. It’s heaven sent. The rest of the afternoon can be spent swimming, sunbathing or indulging in an exclusive, onboard Guerlain spa ritual. One last cocktail and delicious amuse-bouches will be served while you enjoy the sunset, before being brought back to shore.

It’s ever so easy in this day and age to book a fabulous holiday somewhere on an island, check in and hang by the pool for a few weeks and then return home, tanned and relaxed but having engaged little, if at all, in the community outside the doors of said resort. And when you’re somewhere culturally inviting, loaded with lovely locals and a society that is as interesting as it is relaxing (thanks to its climate and lovely accommodations), that is a real shame. So it’s fantastic to hear about the latest venture from Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort in Saint Lucia.

Why Saint Lucia?

Nuzzled just northwest of Barbados in the Caribbean, Saint Lucia is a gem of an island that ticks every holiday box. There’s gorgeous weather, pristine beaches, and stunning, luxury family hotels galore. Even better, the time difference is less than the east coast of the US. From London it’s just four hours behind, making it slightly more tolerable when flying with small children used to a strict time schedule.

Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort, Saint Lucia

A particularly good choice if heading to this lovely Lesser Antilles island is Windjammer Landing. An all-inclusive, very luxurious villa-only family resort, this will delight families of all ages and sizes. Located on hills that tower across 60 acres above the sea and directly over the beach, the villas of this immaculate resort offer views right out across the ocean into the horizon. There are sensational three and four bedroom villas available which are ideal for those with children. You’ll enjoy your own private plunge pool or swimming pool and either a kitchen or a private chef (depending on which villa you choose), so you needn’t do much and you’re guaranteed space, comfort and privacy.

The resort’s Jacquot Fun Club offers tonnes of well thought out activities for children aged 4 to 12, as well as a separate programme for teens. Everything from limbo and reggae dancing to beachside cricket, watersports to coconut bowling, Patois language lessons to lizard hunts, crab races to movie nights and karaoke are on offer, and there is a dedicated children’s buffet in the Dragonfly restaurant during peak holiday time.

And starting from this month, the resort’s younger guests will have the opportunity to experience contemporary ‘island life’ through a new partnership with a local school, allowing children to meet their Caribbean counterparts and see how school life compares in this part of the world. So not only do they get to windsail, swim and enjoy some family time on holiday, they get a fascinating look into life for children their age in other countries, and make new friends.

Every Friday at 2pm during peak holiday season, the resort’s Jacquot Fun Club will organise visits to nearby The Grande Riviere Primary School just moments from the resort.  While there, they will have the opportunity to participate in school lessons with the local children and see how these differ to their own back at home.  They will also have a chance to let off steam alongside local pupils during break time, make new friends and learn how different, and sometimes similar, life is in Saint Lucia for their contemporaries. Young guests are encouraged to pack storybooks, stationery or toys to take with them to help replenish the school’s limited resources. And what’s really fantastic is the older students from the local school are invited to spend some time in the resort to understand the variety of careers available in hospitality and tourism.

To book this hotel click here.

Ok, so let’s be honest. As much as we’re adoring all the pictures of kids in neatly-pressed uniform currently gracing friend’s Facebook pages (and no doubt we’ve put up a few of our own), and as lovely as it is to have some time to ourselves without thoughts of how to entertain them every day, many minds are wondering to half term already and what to do if a trip away is on the cards. We’ve had a glorious summer in this house, thanks in part to the fabulous weather we’ve enjoyed here at home, but late October is a different story. Forget beach walks here – if heat is what you’re after then you’re going to need to get on a plane, and one destination we can’t recommend highly enough is St. Barths. And, just to make things really enticing, there is a fabulous new opening on the island that month.

Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France

Located on Baie des Flamands – one of the island’s finest beaches – Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France is relatively quaint with its 40 suites, bungalows and villas, but this is precisely what appeals. It’s not too big and full of people – it is tranquil, calm and very luxurious. What was Hotel Saint-Barth Isle de France, the stunning St. Barth’s property has been acquired by LVMH (which testifies to the level of excellence you can expect on arrival). After much redesign, the hotel will reopen this October as Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France (consider yourself informed) and it’s guaranteed to be sumptuous, family-friendly, and full of wonderment for both parents and kids.

Now, if you have small children or you’re expecting and want somewhere lovely for next year, the summer is a better time to head to the island, because the temperatures aren’t quite so searing. Head there soon, however, and you can expect some serious heat, turquoise waters and balmy nights.

The Accommodation

The two-bedroom Fisherman’s Cottage is set in the beautiful tropical gardens of the hotel, making it an ideal island hideaway for families. With one king-size and two twin beds, there is room for everyone; doors open onto the living and kitchen areas, and there is a sheltered interior courtyard and outdoor garden where children can safely play.

For Them

The hotel’s immaculate seafront swimming pool will no doubt prove a pull, while the beautiful beach is going to be just as popular with its shallow, clear, turquoise water (far more relaxing for you, too). If your little ones are active they will adore the mix of kayaking, paddle boarding, windsurfing and catamaran excursions on offer. There is also horseback riding above the white sands of Gouverneur Beach for budding equestrians.

For You

Like any thoughtful, family-friendly hotel, the Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France offers a baby-sitting service so you can enjoy the evening beach club vibe of La Case de l’Isle, highly regarded for its elegant, light and colourful French cuisine (it has long been one of St Barth’s hottest dining destinations). And the spa? Well, it will be the only place to find Guerlain treatments in all of the Caribbean.

The four-treatment room Cheval Blanc Spa will offer signature treatments by the iconic Guerlain brand – the first of their kind in the Caribbean – and created exclusively for this hotel. Signature therapies will include St-Barth Solar Escape, a ritual that subtly combines the Terracotta range with Guerlain specialists’ know-how, offering a soothing escape for travel-weary skin. (A new Orchidée double treatment room and other novelties will follow when the hotel continues its extension throughout the 2015 – 2016 season, so you might want to book to come back again).

If you don’t want to be inside the spa by day you can also enjoy treatments from leading skin-care brands, Natura Bissé and Intraceuticals, in the serene garden setting of the main house.

A Big Blue Day Out

And top of the hotel’s well-curated services has to be “Big Blue Escape.” Escorted by a Majordome, Cheval Blanc’s dedicated butler, you can spend a day aboard a 69′ yacht whose experienced Captain will unveil St Barts’ most gorgeous bays. There are lots of little surprises spread on board by their Majordome throughout the day, such as the Maison’s beach bag, complete with panama hats and matching fans, sun lotions and other treats. After exploring the marvels underwater, you will drop anchor in front of the pristine Saline Beach and enjoy a fresh lobster lunch. I know. It’s heaven sent. The rest of the afternoon can be spent swimming, sunbathing or indulging in an exclusive, onboard Guerlain spa ritual. One last cocktail and delicious amuse-bouches will be served while you enjoy the sunset, before being brought back to shore. Can we go now, please?

For more information click here.

Summer family fun at the Viceroy Anguilla.

So, want to know my latest travel crush? The Viceroy Anguilla. Family friendly? Tick. Guaranteed heart-melting sunsets? Tick. Luxurious, five-star beachfront property with full kitchens and butler service? Tick. And this summer this fabulous Caribbean property has a slew of summer specials that make it more enticing than ever….

The lesser-known Caribbean island of Anguilla is located in the Eastern Caribbean just 5 miles from the island of St. Martin, accessible by either a small plane or brief boat ride. This might sound like an unbearable trek with children on board but, get there, and you’ll be seriously glad you made the effort. Spread out over the 3,200 feet of soft, powdery beachfront and bluff-top cliffs on Meads and Barnes Bay, Anguilla has some of the finest snorkeling in the area, no less than 33 beaches to explore and even boasts a swim-through grotto between the bays with phosphorescent fish and coral.

And if your children are too small to head underwater with you, there is a fabulous kids’ club called ‘Generation V,’ with a carefully curated array of activities for 4 to 12 year olds.  Bigger kids will love the on-site NBA basketball court, tennis courts, rock-climbing wall, volleyball and badminton courts and the croquet lawn.

This summer the smart folk behind the Viceroy Anguilla have put some serious thought into making this luxurious and very family-friendly property even more appealing with a fine range of fantastic things to do for all the family.

Beach BBQ

On June 28^th, July 12^th, July 19^th and July 23^rd the Viceroy Anguilla will host an island style BBQ, complete with sunset, roaring fires, and s’mores (happy kids), cocktails (happy parents) and even a fresh coconut station.

Bamboo Family Night

On June 27^th, July 18^th, July 25^th and July 6^th, you can all revel in the complimentary candy floss, popcorn, sundaes and fresh milk served by staff in front of a movie. And the best bit? This takes place poolside. The views across Meads Bay may distract you from what’s showing on the screen, but between the specialty pizzas on offer, that previously mentioned stunning sunset and the relaxed family vibe, it’ll be fabulous regardless of what is showing. And if the kids aren’t asleep by the end of the film, there will be live music to enjoy as soon as the credits have finished rolling.

July 4^th extravaganza

Let’s face it, whether American or not, July 4^th is always a great excuse to party. And if you’re at the Viceroy Anguilla this Independence Day, there will be fireworks galore, all from a secluded private beach fringed with palm trees. I’ve certainly never celebrated that way.

Basketball camp 

From Monday July 7th to Friday July 11th, a week long basketball camp is being hosted by Chicago Bulls NBA player, Carlos Boozer on the hotel’s NBA court.  The camp will be free for Anguilla’s resident kids but will be open to children staying at the hotel for a daily donation of $100.  This can be paid using their offer ‘Summer Give Back, Daily $100 Resort Credit’.  All proceeds will go to the Anguilla Youth Foundation.

How to get there: You can fly to Antigua or St Martin and the short island hop by plane or boat will be organized by the Viceroy Anguilla’s concierge.

Book this hotel here.