Luxury Family Holidays Handpicked for Parents

Asia


Renowned as a deeply historical yet brightly-lit city that is modernising quicker than you can say Good Morning Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City is unlikely to spring to mind when thinking of holiday destinations to experience as a family unit. Yet year-on-year, families exploring Southeast Asia add it to their bucket list, looking to experience the charming culture, fascinating history and world of outdoor adventure Vietnam has to offer – here’s how to experience the best of Ho Chi Minh when travelling with kids.

Ho Chi Minh skyline

Image source: Flickr

Water puppetry

No trip to Vietnam would be complete without catching this intriguing 11th century art form in its birthplace. Although the performance takes place entirely in Vietnamese, securing front row seats to the event will keep the kids occupied as they soak up the laughs, music and, naturally, the stray water.

Get outdoors

There’s only so much history and culture kids can take in one go, so activity-based trips that combine both are the best way to help keep them interested. A Mekong cruise is a fantastic way to explore Vietnam’s verdant countryside and learn more about the locals’ way of life, as you sample the locally-produced honey and coconut candy with a side order of culture. For a more historical slant, take a trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels. Although the realities of the war are hard-hitting and perhaps beyond the understanding of very young kids, the reward for their attention comes in the form of old war tanks and the opportunity to crawl through the 50 metres of tunnels open to tourists that the Vietnamese once used.

Ho Chi Minh Mekong River

Image source: Flickr

Dine like a Local

A busy local restaurant that’s jam packed with locals is usually a simple indicator of good food and should not be ignored. When doing as the locals do and indulging in classics such as pho and banh mi, make sure you stop to try what is guaranteed to be a big hit with the kids, Kem Xio – the mother of all Vietnamese desserts. Sticky rice and ice cream, usually coconut flavoured, is topped with coconut flakes to create a sweet treat of epic proportions. In fact, why not go dessert hopping? You’ll find plenty of ice cream, frozen yogurt and cupcake shops all over the city.

Ho Chi Minh dining

Image source: Flickr

Crossing the road

Before heading out onto the busy streets of Ho Chi Minh, give the family a full briefing on road-crossing etiquette and what to do in the event that you become separated amid the chaos. When crossing the roads, to avoid the hundreds of bikes that are careering towards you, always walk in a straight line as it’s easier for drivers to miss you. Stopping or changing direction is a proven way to end up in a cast with a hefty medical bill. If you do manage to lose anyone in the crowds, make sure they carry a card detailing the address of your hotel. Also, be aware that many roads here won’t have paths, so be vigilant.

Plan ahead

Where possible, book both excursions and hotels in advance, especially when staying in the city as the best hotels in Ho Chi Minh tend to fill up months ahead of peak season, particularly those with an outdoor swimming pool and central location. When taking longer journeys, book a private taxi. Air con and minimal time spent in traffic feeling hot and bothered is a luxury not to be underestimated.

Ho Chi Minh at night

Image source: Flickr

Prep accordingly

If you’re heading to the likes of the Mekong River, things like dengue fever are far more prominent, so bring protection against mosquitos and remember that kids love to scratch mosquito bites too, so relief is an essential. Sun block, hats and sleeves should all be top of the packing list, as due to heat and pollution it can be easier than usual to become dehydrated. That said, you’ll also need to prepare to get wet if you’re visiting during rainy season, so ensuring you have ponchos or a change of dry clothes when out and about is everything.

Ho Chi Minh bikes

Image source: Flickr

Take a cooking class

If you’re looking to take cover from the heat or even the rain, a cooking class is a fantastic idea when travelling with kids in tow. Not only is it an educational insight into the culinary traditions of a nation that highlights the differences between countries, but it’s a way for them to get hands on with the day’s activities and a huge bonus for parents, as you’ll sort out lunch in the process.

Use the cyclos to get around

A fun and novel way to get around is using the traditional Vietnamese cyclos. Fuelled by pedal power, passengers are offered front row seats. This is a really exciting way to see a city without having to drudge around on two feet with kids complaining every step of the way. You can even book an organised tour on a cyclo, passing the major highlights such as the Saigon Post Office, Reunification Palace and Notre Dam Cathedral.

Ho Chi Minh tuk tuk

Image source: Flickr

 


When our daughter was born last year, it was clear to my husband and I that our way of life would be changed forever. As would our way of travel. No longer fleet-footed and fancy-free, our one-time fearless forays into the unknown now had to be well-planned, flawlessly coordinated excursions into certainty. What better opportunity to test our new method, we thought, than a jaunt to Japan in the spring on a trip organized in collaboration with my parents (whose 40th wedding anniversary served as the raison d’être for our journey)? Our daughter was 14 months old and entering a very intrepid stage of her toddlerhood, a fact that upped the planning stakes; we laughed, we cried, we vomited, and all our follies eventually landed us with the following snippets of wisdom that I’d like to pass on to future, far-eastern travellers.

Vanessa Able Japan child

Rent a car

Most visitors to Japan get around by buying a pass for the Shikansen, the high-speed train network that’s a very efficient way to get around unless a) you have a baby-sized amount of luggage or b) you want to explore the countryside. A road tripper by DNA, I’ve always been a fan of the car and its flexibilities, and I imagined it would be a lot more practical than schlepping around train stations trying to decipher Japanese characters with my family and all our associated accouterments in tow. We rented an ark-sized Toyota Noah from the airport in Osaka, where we got to choose from an impressive line-up of baby seats, and we finally left the car, three weeks later in Tokyo. Our main concern was parking in the cities, which turned out to be easy – though pricey – due to the proliferation of private parking lots on every block. Another cost we massively underestimated was the price of the highway tolls, which were so numerous as to elicit gasps and curses from us all as we scrambled to rummage around our wallets every time the GPS warned us of an oncoming toll. On one four-hour journey from Nara to Kanazawa, we spent close to $100 on tolls, to give you some idea. But for me, the trade-off was worth it: door-to-door service between every hotel, toilet and nappy-changing stops on the way, and the chance to see something of Japan beyond the urban sprawl.

Vanessa Able child and father

Food heaven is 7-11

Until I went to Japan, I always thought of 7-11 as a walk-in vending machine to be called upon only in times of great intoxication or in the absence of all other options. But 7-11 in Japan (as well as other chains like Lawson’s and Family Mart) is a convenience store with bells on – not only is it one of the only places you can get money from an ATM with a foreign card, it’s also an excellent source of all sorts of baby-related treats, from yoghurt and fruit to boiled eggs and rice snacks, as well as things I probably shouldn’t publicly admit to having fed my toddler like hot dogs and some very salty-sweet white bread rolls. She loved them all, and she especially loved the miniature baskets small enough for her little hands to haul around and make her own selections of shopping goods like dried shrimps, canned coffee and facemasks. It was all fun and games until a pot of yoghurt bespattered the floor right by the cash desk and a disgruntled employee arrived with a mop to politely clean up my bad parenting.

Vanessa Able window shot

Brace for bugs

It’s true that Japan is an exceptionally clean country, but kids do have a way of tracking down even the most elusive germs, so you need to be prepared. We were nestled in on the tatami floor of a ryokan in the hills just south of Nara one night when I heard the labored retches of my little one bringing up her dinner all over the sheets of her cot. Then all over our bed. Then even a bit on the tatami floor. She had caught a virus, and though the vomiting only continued for 24 hours, she refused all food for the following week (even 7-11 hotdogs) and became listless and skinny. Luckily, we had friends in Kyoto who took us to a kids’ clinic and translated the exchange between myself and the doctor, but if you don’t have such a resource to hand, I recommend this page on expatsguide.jp that provides more solid information on finding Anglophone medical care in Japan.

Vanessa Able group shot

Embrace the Airbnb

When choosing where to stay, be sure to book well in advance and bear in mind that hotels in Japan come in three categories: ryokans that are the old-style Japanese guesthouses, budget hotels, and expensive hotels where one night will cost you the equivalent of a month’s rent back home. If you can afford the latter, god bless your fortune and enjoy every extra inch of space that is thin on the ground in the budget options. Despite the wide-angled photos flaunted on Hotels.com, many of the rooms we encountered, especially in the big cities, were barely large enough to fit a suitcase, let alone a baby with a cot. The ryokans tend to be more spacious, with rooms valued by the number of tatami mats that make up their area, and the futons on the floor are a very practical way of sleeping with a toddler. However, the walls here are often literally paper-thin, inducing cardiac arrest each time your child goes within arm’s length of one with a pokey object, and – if your little one is vocally expressive – regaling other guests with night-time screams and early-morning squeals. (The owner of one ryokan in Nara actually asked me to take my daughter outside until 8am for the sanity of fellow guests. We went straight to 7-11). The best answer I found to the price/space/noise riddle was to rent an apartment. In the big cities, they’re easy to find, they’re bigger than hotels and, if you are several people, the price per head works out much better. Besides, the prospect of a kitchen with a fridge and dishwashing facilities alone should be enough to clinch the deal.

Vanessa Able playground shot

Divine the fun spots

Whereas pre-baby travel used to be all about food and cool cultural experiences, post-baby travel has become all about food and finding cool places to play. The good news is that Japan has no lack of neighbourhood play parks, and a lot of the sightseeing can be fun for little ones too: our daughter LOVED the deer park in Nara, the bamboo forest in Arashiyama, the Kanazawa contemporary art museum (especially the swimming pool sculpture), the Roppongi Hills Observation Deck in Tokyo and any Japanese garden in any given spot. All outings were marked by frequent photo ops with locals who repeatedly declared her to be kawaii, the Japanese term for ‘cute’, ostensibly one of the most overworked words in the language, and lots of hugs with local kids who were curious to find a blondie in their midst.

Vanessa Able pool

Watch where you eat

Back to food: one of my favourite bits about Japan is the food there and the range of dining options from sushi bars to sizzling okonomiyaki and yakiniku joints. But how to negotiate these composed, beautifully choreographed meals that involve the delicate layout of fish and rice or a sizzling hotplate/open flame just inches from the edge of the table in the company of a spirited fourteen-month-old? I discovered three solutions: firstly, the take-away. Lots of places we came across – especially sushi bars – were more than happy to prepare food for us to go, which we could take home and eat in the comfort, noise and chaos of our apartment. The second option was babysitting: I struck up an excellent rapport with our Airbnb host in Kyoto who had a team of babysitters ready to farm out to her guests, and so we hired an Indonesian PhD student to come over and look after our sleeping daughter while we indulged in a kaiseki dinner. The third and most genius idea was arranged by our friends in Tokyo who have a toddler of their own: reserving a private room in a restaurant. I imagine this is only an option in larger establishments, but it comes highly recommended. It meant we had a room to ourselves, were waited on by the staff as though we were part of the restaurant, but the kids could run around at will, and there was nothing to break in the room and no strangers’ handbags to rifle through or open kitchen doors to run into. Japanese dining bliss.

Vanessa Able outdoor play

Vanessa Able is a travel writer and author of the book Never Mind the Bullocks: One Girl’s 10,000km Adventure around India in the World’s Cheapest Car.


Ski season has been upon us for a while but, if an active vacation to burn off those left over Christmas calories is on the agenda, we’ve some fabulous and very family-friendly ski holidays on which to do just that. From kiddie spa treatments (and gorgeous ones for you, of course) to top ski concierges, Michelin-starred restaurants to outdoor hot tubs with Alpine views, we’re happy to ensure they’re all at your fingertips.

HOKKAIDO, JAPAN

Home to deep-powder skiing and luxury family hotels, Niseko is the name given to a group of village ski resorts clustered around the base of Mount Niseko Annupuri, on Hokkaido, Japan’s north island.  Most slopes have a bracing view of the neighbouring Mount Yotei, a perfectly cylindrical volcanic cone, almost identical to Mount Fuji.  Niseko may not have the glitz of St Moritz, but it has classier snow – vast swathes of knee-deep powder driven in by Siberian winds.  It is also one of the few truly international parts of Japan (English is widely spoken), while retaining exceptionally high Japanese standards of service, food and even multi-functional, heated lavatories.

Where to stay?

The Green Leaf Niseko Village

Start your après-ski the holistic way, with deep tissue massages and hot buttered rum hand and feet treatments.  Then pour yourself into a pony-skin print armchair by the fireplace in the Tomioka White cocktail bar.  Do not miss the outdoor ‘rotenburi’ onsen, where you can relax the traditional Japanese way, surrounded by snow and pine trees.

An exciting menu of activities for kids includes snow tubing, reindeer sledding and a “magic carpet” ride – a snowy conveyor belt for little beginners.  There are a range of ski-school options, as well as child-friendly spa treatments for those aged seven and older.

To book this hotel, click here.

Green Leaf Niseko Village water

Annupuri Village Niseko

Massages are available in your chalet to ease aching muscles after a hard day on the slopes.  Babysitting is provided should you fancy a night out, and for hassle-free nights in, there is a food delivery service, featuring local Sapporo beer and a good selection of Australian wines, thanks to Niseko’s popularity with Aussie ski-fiends.

The chalets can be baby-proofed with gates, and each one has a garden and BBQ area for summer visitors.  In winter, staff can advise on a range of ski schools and kids’clubs, and Annupuri has several great gondola rides up Mount Niseko Annupuri.

To book this hotel, click here. 

Annupuri Village Niseko exterior

The Niseko Company

It may be self-catering, but that doesn’t mean you have to lift a finger.  A team of concierges can organise every minute of your day should you so desire, from ski schools, pottery classes and snow-mobile rides, to Japanese cookery lessons and tours of local onsen (hot spring baths).  A personal chef can prepare every meal, from children’s fishfingers to fine dining.

Each property is equipped with child-sized futon mattresses and Snoopy dining sets.  Welcome packs for kids are handpicked by local mothers.  Most homes are stocked with board games, family DVDs, toboggans and the latest videogame consoles.

To book this hotel, click here.

The Niseko Company pool

THE FRENCH ALPS

Most ski resorts in the French Alps are geared up for children of all ages – even if yours aren’t yet old enough to ski, many resorts have nurseries and crèches – or you can choose a hotel or chalet with its own private childcare. There’s also more to snow than simply skiing, but don’t forget that the Alps aren’t just for winter – most resorts are open during July and August and have a host of activities for children, when resorts are uncrowded. But for this ski season, here’s what we recommend….

Where to stay?

Altapura Hotel Val Thorens

The Pure Altitude spa has the usual saunas and steam rooms, but what makes this spa really special is the indoor – outdoor pool: swimming in an uber-heated outdoor pool while the snow falls around you is unforgettable and the huge beanbags around the indoor pool are the perfect place to doze off after your swim. The hotel has three restaurants – one buffet style, one fine-dining restaurant and another just for fondues. The variety and quality of the food, particularly in 2 Mille 3 (the buffet restaurant), is breathtaking, and the array of homemade desserts (especially the marshmallows) deserves a special mention.

A kids’ concierge, a free kids’ club and Mac Minis in all the bedrooms are just some of the lovely touches for little guests. The fabulous buffet-style evening meals offer an unbelievable choice, from exquisite amuse bouches to fresh, cooked-to-order seafood, incredibly tender meat and inventive pasta dishes.

To book this hotel click here.

Altapura hotel Val Thorens relaxation

Au Coeur du Village Hotel

The Cristal Spa has five treatment rooms (including one devoted to body wraps) and a large pool with massage jets and bubble beds in which to unwind after a day on the slopes. Upstairs (no kids allowed here) is a relaxation room and a particularly fabulous steam room with a light-studded ceiling that mimics a twinkling sky. Downstairs, Le Cinq restaurant serves imaginative fine-dining French food and you can also enjoy cocktails served in the comfy and stylish lounge, complete with pianist.

The fifty suites (there are just seven “ordinary” rooms) are all divisible so that children have their own separate sleeping area and bathroom. The duplex suites are particularly spacious and have a small lounge area as well as two totally separate bedrooms. During school holidays there is a kids’ club, as well as a nanny who will look after your children during mealtimes should you wish.

To book this hotel click here. 

Au Coeur du Village Hotel interior

VIP Club Bellevarde Val d’Isere

The heart of this hotel is the cosy lounge with squashy sofas in front an open fire; the twin hot tubs on the outdoor deck and the delectable treatments and massages available will totally repair you after a day on the slopes. Rooms are equipped with iPod docks, robes and slippers, and staff will even bring a wake-up drink to your room in the morning. (This stylish and comfy timber and stone ski-in, ski-out chalet is ideal, especially for those with children too young to ski who want English-speaking childcarers).

The hotel offers private, specialized nannies who will look after children as young as 12 weeks, baby equipment, toys, freshly prepared purees and children’s crockery and booster seats. Within the chalet, there are also toys, a children’s DVD library, a Playstation and Wii and even Freesat for those who can’t live without children’s television.

To book this hotel click here. 

VIP Club Bellevarde chalet

Hotel de Charme Les Airelles, Courchevel

Wood paneled bedrooms, enormous beds, a stunning spa with pool, indoor and outdoor Jacuzzis and a real snow grotto can be found at this Couchevel gem. Service and attention to detail is second to none – the large numbers of staff (including two ski valets on hand to warm your gloves and boots) all dress in traditional Austrian costumes (no joke). You can even hitch a lift back from your day on the slopes in the hotel’s own horse-drawn carriage designed by Hermès. The hotel’s restaurant, Pierre Gagnaire for Les Airelles, has two Michelin stars.  If you’re after a bit more space, there’s also a private four-bedroom apartment, which includes a cinema room, dining room, bar, private spa and its own butler.

Children will adore the playroom that is staffed by two nannies where they will find a custom-built, child-sized castle along with a Playstation, Wii and stacks of toys. There is also a cinema room with cartoon-style oversized sofas, while in the restaurant there are child-sized buffet tables with matching mini-crockery. Outside, there is a private ice-rink (with skating valets in period dress), a heated tree house and, at Christmas and New Year, a vintage carousel. There are even post-ski children’s treatments available in the spa.

To book this hotel click here.

The Hotel de Charme Les Airelles pool


Soneva Fushi is one of the Maldives’ largest island resorts, and one of the most family-friendly. So much so, that it was recently shortlisted for Best Long-Haul Accommodation for Families in the Family Traveller Awards. Holly Tuppen was lucky enough to sample their Robinson Crusoe-style luxury with her two year old in tow.
For people like me (not filthy rich), Soneva Fushi is a once in a lifetime experience. Sadly, my two year old won’t remember what was, probably, the most magical holiday he will ever go on. But that’s not to say it hasn’t had an impact – one month later and he still gets excited seeing sting rays and turtles whenever we go near open water and I’m convinced Blue Planet is watched with a little more intensity. For myself, it is still (and will be for a long while) my happy place when London seems unbearably hectic and life is filled with more chores than joy.
Soneva Fushi son
Whereas some Maldivian resorts are designed for a quick ‘fly and flop’ experience, often tied in with Sri Lanka or Dubai, Soneva Fushi is a destination in its own right. The island takes 45 minutes to circumnavigate by foot (many take only 10 mins) and having been an island resort for over 15 years, the vegetation is lush and dense. The owners, Sonu (who founded Six Senses) and his wife Eva, have been involved every step of the way and they have embedded a sustainable ethos throughout. Within an hour of us arriving at Soneva Fushi, shoes became obsolete and the barefoot luxury vibe was fully embraced.
Soneva Fushi beach
My fear of ‘getting bored’ on a tiny tropical island was completely futile. Sunbathing is not my thing, but I could happily while away a couple of weeks at Soneva Fushi. I spent hours weaving around the island’s sand paths by bike past the giant banyan trees and dodging scuttling lizards beneath a canopy of greenery alive with birdsong. That was my favourite part of every day. Beyond the villas there’s plenty to explore – a house reef full of marine life, beaches for all occasions, an outdoor cinema, a garden growing everything you could imagine, an observatory, a fabulous kids club, a dive centre, a sensational spa, the yoga retreat and eco centre – the list goes on.
Soneva Fushi bikes
Our personal ‘Mr Friday’ worked out our interests and planned as much or as little action as we liked for each day we were there. A key component of said ‘action’ was obviously eating and drinking. With seven dining options throughout the island and much of the produce made or grown on site, food is a serious past time. A special mention should go to fresh sushi, the chocolate room, homemade sorbet, breakfast juices, Fresh in the Garden jungle-top feasts, sunset cocktails and the beachside BBQs. In between such delights, we lounged on our own private beach, snorkelled with a marine biologist, learned to free dive and enjoyed sunset dolphin cruises.
Soneva Fushi villa
Often catering for families that lead busy, urban lives, Soneva Fushi’s ethos is very much embedded in traditional family values. This is a place for kids to be kids again and for adults to switch off and get involved as much as they like. The kids’ club, The Den, factors in ‘family time’ throughout the day and children are made to feel very welcome throughout the entire island. Childcare is top notch, even when kids are too young for The Den which, for those old enough, offers everything from music lessons to snorkelling trips.
Soneva Fushi kids
Villas come in all shapes and sizes, each providing guests with their own slice of island paradise. Living in one of these villas was a complete break from the norm – simple but beautiful inside and out with huge open air bathrooms, sandy gardens and sea views. Our two-bed Soneva Fushi Villa Suite had every luxurious touch we could want, whilst also feeling simple and calming. It was also big enough not to have to worry about a restless toddler. The outdoor saltwater pool offered the perfect respite to the afternoon sun and our upstairs terrace was a little haven for evenings spent stargazing. If holidays are about luxuriating in a more simple existence filled with childlike excitement, then this place has hit the nail on the head.
For more information click here.
For more Maldivian family-friendly accommodations click here.


When I awoke this morning to jet black skies and heavy rain (it was very, very early as my three-year old is jet lagged), I was in high spirits. The air may be damp, the days still short, and my bank account on the dry side, but after three weeks of natural Vitamin D from dense sunshine, papaya breakfasts and massages that cost less than a Starbucks, I’m immune to winter weather. Smug, I hear you say, but we all know the world of difference a tropical getaway makes in piercing the heart of a long English winter. Long haul flights and jet lag with tots may not appeal but, take it from me, it is well worth every penny so, next winter, get booked up. And if you need some inspiration, Thailand has it all.

WHERE WE STAYED

After an eleven-hour flight, I wasn’t elated at the idea of a further three hours in the car but Hua Hin, a town southwest of Bangkok on the mainland, is a haven of fabulous spas, elephant sanctuaries (the good kind), luxury hotels and sensational local food. The Thais couldn’t be more family-friendly if they tried, so adoring are they of children we had many pulling out iPhones and simply snapping shots of our daughter in the local market; the fact that she was a stranger didn’t see to bother them. They found her adorable and it’s easy to see they feel that way about all little people. As such, there isn’t a five-star hotel, a restaurant or even a bar that doesn’t welcome families with open arms.

Six Senses, Hua Hin pool

Now, we stayed in a private house deep in the divine confines of Baan Ing Phu, but I highly recommend the Six Senses Evason if you head to Hua Hin. A luxury resort of villa residences, every home-from-home on the property has lovely touches, such as a private balcony and 24-hour room service, while the hotel itself can arrange a car with a driver or a private boat ride, should you want one. There isn’t much they won’t do for you and the setting is one of the most beautiful, located just outside of the Hua Hin itself in Pranburi, which perches delicately on the Gulf of Siam amongst 20 acres of tropical gardens. (The town of Hua Hin itself is useful but it’s far from pretty so don’t worry about not staying within its centre). The beauty of this area lies in the fact that it sits next to a national park at the base of Black Mountain (home to the SoutheastAsian PGA course) and this particular Six Senses beauty is stunning. The Earth Spa is a must for parents, while kids will adore the Just Kids! Club, which comes complete with its own swimming pool. You’ll rest in peace knowing that professional supervisors arrange everything from Origami to model-making, Thai lessons to mobile-making and, should the kids want a real break away, supervised sleepovers are organized nightly, giving you a lovely lie-in.

Six Senses, Hua Hin bedroom

WHAT WE DID

Lola and I, admittedly, spent a lot of time by the pool. She loved donning her armbands; I adored reading in the glorious sunshine and recovering after another battering Christmas of too much wine, too much food and too little sleep. Between stints, we strolled to collect Frangipani, read and talked about all we do together in 2015. Her father played endless rounds of golf; we ventured to local animal sanctuaries. There are a few “sanctuaries” in the area, but some of them are far from humane. We recommend the Hua Hin Elephant village just on the outskirts of town. The elephants there have plenty of room to roam, they are extremely well-loved and children will adore feeding them and washing them (all supervised by volunteers, of course).

Lola and elephantLola with bananas for elephants

The Centara Grand Beach Resort located in Hua Hin itself is a gorgeous old 1920’s building that came about thanks to the introduction of the railway line that connected Hua Hin – then a sleepy fishing village – with Malaysia. The topiary is sculpted into elephant, deer and bird shapes (which delighted Lola), they serve delicious ice cream alongside the large pool area and the birdcage seats that dot the beachside are fabulous. Whether you stay there or not, it’s well worth a lunchtime or afternoon tea visit.

Thai FrangipaniLola on the sea in Hua Hin

WHERE WE ATE

The Bubble is a restaurant located in the residential area of Baan Ing Phu, a short drive out of the main town towards Black Mountain. It is open to everyone though and the food is, by far, better than anything else we have had there (and we’ve been back a few times). The cuisine is incredible – whether you order the yellow crab curry, chicken satay or rice dishes – you can have everything as hot (or not) as you wish so it’s perfect for children, too. A garden of greenery sits adjacent to both eating salas so children can play freely (and safely if they are really little as there are no nasty steps or areas of hard terrain) and the staff all adore children so they’ll happily whisk small tots off for a cuddle while you sip on your G&T at sunset.

The Bubble restaurant, Hua Hin

WHAT WE WORE

This was the first time I was lucky enough to wear swimwear by Heidi Klein and I loved it. My body hasn’t quite bounced back after childbirth the way I had hoped, but the gorgeous design of my bikini boosted me in the right places, sucked me up in others, and left me feeling far more confident in a two-piece than I have done since wiggling about with a big baby bump. Lola adored her one-piece, which features in the new collection of Heidi Klein girls’ wear, a stunning blue creation donning white anchors and gorgeous frilled-lining that left her good enough to eat, as far as I was concerned.

READ OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH HEIDI KLEIN ON LAUNCHING THE NEW GIRLS’ RANGE HERE.

Heidi Klein blue dressLola poolside in Heidi Klein