Smith & KidsStylish family travel: child-friendly hotels, family holiday tips and insider guides

Quality Family Time: at Smith we’re all about ‘QFT’. It is the holiday Holy Grail for parents and their progeny, and the object of all our Smith & Family signposting efforts. And who better to seek out some especially delicious ‘QFT’ at Alain Ducasse’s Hostellerie de l’Abbaye de la Celle in Provence than one of our favourite cooks, Bill Granger?

The beloved Australian restaurateur was the perfect person to join our Parent Panel and review a hotel in France for us. Not just because he knows all about what makes a great place to stay, but because the father of three who divides his time between Sydney and Notting Hill is experienced at being on the hoof as a tribe. ‘We all lead such busy lives, that it’s rare for the five of us to find the time to really be together, without having to worry about rushing to the next thing,’ our anonymous reviewer told us after his spell en famille in Provence. ‘Hostellerie de L’Abbaye de la Celle gave us the opportunity to slow down and just enjoy some proper family time.’

Thankfully that’s exactly what the Grangers got at this 18th-century manor house in the village of La Celle. And because the expansive grounds are gated, they had no qualms about letting the children roam out of sight. As well as being a chic place to stay, whatever your age, it’s a feast for all the senses. There’s the Alain Ducasse restaurant, the Wine Conservatory (vineyards showcasing more than 88 types of grape), a fabulous turquoise pool and that rolling Provençal countryside to explore. But the Granger family’s most precious QFT? Time that was spent decadently together in the big bed.

‘We originally organised to have breakfast in our rooms, thinking Natalie and I would be having breakfast in bed while the kids were in the adjoining room. The reality was something quite different. On the first morning – and on all the remaining days! – the girls insisted on climbing into our bed to share the feast with us. It could have been a nightmare, but the crisp light was coming in through the shutters, the home-made pastries, omelettes and fruit, freshly squeezed juices, pots of hot chocolate, coffee and tea, an array of house-made cereals in individual glass jars, as well as house made preserves, spectacular French butter, served in the most elegant china and silverware, with piles of enormous linen napkins, were to die for and each breakfast was one of those moments you treasure.

As they were leaving, they were all ushered into the pastry kitchen to find out a little more about the Ducasse magic. ‘The girls were offered hard caramels in an array of flavours from salted to mango and were each left with a bag of bonbons to take home. Delicious, of course, and the way to our girls’ hearts, but the real treat was for me, because we got to walk through the entire kitchen to collect them – a beautifully spacious series of rooms, with gleaming copper pans everywhere. I definitely want a kitchen like that when I grow up!’

Their five-course dinner included the most spectacular classic fish soup with rouille, a succulent baby shoulder of lamb for two, with asparagus, and an incredible array of goats and sheep’s cheeses. ‘Realising the kids wouldn’t want to sit trough a long formal meal the wonderful staff offered them a choice of simple dishes and even Edie, who is quite a sophisticated eater, was grateful for the more relaxed option of gnocchi and fish.’

Granger says it was like being at a friend’s rich parents, friends who have impeccable taste and know how to live. ‘Traditional, beautiful, light and spacious. The rooms were possibly the most beautiful we have ever been in. They were so vast that once we opened up the adjoining doors and could see through, it was like being in an apartment. A really, really pretty apartment that we could happily see ourselves living in.’

This family-friendly hotel is in La Celle, a little rural village in the heart of Provence; Marseille is around an hour’s drive away, as is the coast. For more information or to book, ring our Travel Team on 0845 034 0700.

Tweet

Leonora Bamford, in her own words, is a mother of two children under four, wife and blogger, who loves to cook and look after her family (and tries not to take herself too seriously).

As founder of The Baba Blog she expores the practicalities and pitfalls of modern parenting, sharing her tips along the way; now, she’s sharing her top family travel accessories for busy (but still stylish) parents. These are a few of her favourite things…
_________________________________________ 

PACK IT IN
This wheelie bag is such a hit with bigger children and it means they really do carry their own things. My son drags his around proudly and likes to fill it the night before with a teddy, colouring, a few cars and some stickers. It has an easy-access front pocket, which I fill with snacks for check-in meltdowns.

I’m also a major fan of these Little Life backpacks, which come in adorable characters for toddlers (ladybird, bee, turtle etc). It can be scary travelling with little ones and this has a brilliant rein that pops out and you can grab if they run off in the wrong direction. Trunki also does great accessories, and I never leave home without them!

SNUGGLIES FOR SLEEPS
Thank god for Jellycat is all I can say! One glimpse of their bunny with its cute little attached snuggle blanket and my children are snoring. It’s comforting and I would always suggest taking your child’s favourite teddy or comforter.

MY FIRST PORT OF CALL…
When I’ve checked in, the first place I go is  always WH Smith, where I let the children choose one treat each. I then scurry around behind them filling my arms with Pez sweets, raisins and children’s magazines for ‘surprise’ presents for different stages of the flight, depending on the length of the journey.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST…
I never leave the house without a huge packet of baby wipes!

Read more of Leonora’s tips on The Baba Blog; or find stylish family hotels and child-friendly travel inspiration at Smith & Family.

Tweet

Long-haul flights with kids: words to strike terror into the heart of even the most hardy parent. Fear not – sage advice is at hand, courtesy of wise and lovely Pint Size Pilot founder, Tara Cannon.

The former fashion gadabout turned globetrotting mother of two helps parents survive (even enjoy) travel with babies, toddlers and kids of all ages with a website packed with helpful advice, product reviews, and even a baby-gear rental directory – a woman after our own hearts (and one we’d like on speed-dial).

Here are her top tips on surviving flights with children…
____________________________________

1 Minimize the time you spend on the plane

It sounds logical enough, but the problem with early boarding for families with small children is that it forces you to spend an extra half hour trapped on a plane. If you are traveling with a partner, have them take advantage of early boarding with all the gear, but no child. This parent can gate-check the stroller, claim the most convenient overhead bins, install a car seat (if applicable) and organize everything you will need handy for the first hour of flight with your little one. This allows you a few extra minutes of relative freedom, strolling on during final boarding. Also important to remember, and relevant even if you are traveling on your own with your child, is that the plane is not going anywhere until you hear (or see) that the flight attendants have secured the door (often announced over the PA). Until this has happened, there is no need have your child tightly held in your lap or secured in their seat.

2 Be kind to the flight crew

These people are the gatekeepers to a better flight experience. Treat them kindly and they may surprise you with their helpfulness. Warming bottles, keeping baby food refrigerated, offering kids activities, holding meals until a convenient time, and sneaking a glass of wine to you after your child finally falls asleep, are all conveniences that may be offered to you… but then again, maybe not. A smile and a thank you can go a long way in making this a reality.

3 Arm yourself with the right distractions

Leading up to your trip, notice the kind of toys and activities that amuse your child for the longest period of time. Put together an activity kit for the plane full of similar items, making sure you keep it hidden away so you can pull out things only as necessary. Older children will catch on to this game quickly, so don’t let on where these fun new things are coming from, as they will want break into the whole stash at once. Be careful to pace yourself throughout the flight. There is no need to present anything to your child if they are happy pressing the buttons on the entertainment system (which you have ideally cleaned with antiseptic wipes). Don’t forget to keep a few surprises for the trip home.

4 Remember: eating is an activity

Eating should be considered a great time-killing activity that keeps most children happily distracted. There is no need to provide any other entertainment at this time (save that Thomas the Tank Engine flick until you really need it). Do not rush into it: wait for your child to indicate to you that they are hungry. Most airlines offer some kind of children’s meal or snack option (you may need to request this ahead of time), but for babies and toddlers I’d recommend bringing what you need with you, plus a little extra in case of delays. A stash of bite-size toddler snack foods is not only fun for your child but can also take a really long time to eat if presented one at a time.

For toddlers and small children, you may also want to bring along a sippy cup that can be filled with juice or water by the flight attendant (milk is usually not available), rather than having to make sure they don’t spill the airline’s plastic cup. Obviously, healthy snacks are the best choice, but for an all-out emergency, you may want to keep something they really love tucked away (in 60 flights, I’ve only had to use the Smarties once).

5 The entertainment system

The iPad, iTouch, Nintendo DS, or other personal entertainment system can be a lifesaver on a plane with a child. Even for parents who’d rather limit their little one’s exposure to this kind of media, this may be the time to be flexible, and there are thousands of educational apps and games available for your little baby Mensa.

While it’s true that many planes have built-in entertainment systems, performance can be unreliable and sound quality poor. It is simply better to know that you have this taken care of yourself. To protect devices from little hands there are a number of child-specific protective covers available for purchase in stores and online. Also important is to invest in a pair of kids’ headphones designed specifically for toddlers or small children. These work much better than ear buds (which fall out) and have special features as volume limiters and smaller ear cups.

6 Sleeping time

To help your child fall asleep on a long flight (the most desired time-killing activity), set the stage for success. Ideally you want to position them in the seat furthest from the aisle, as the aisle is where most of the activity happens. Make sure they are well fed and in dry and comfortable clothing (sleeper set or pyjamas). Close the window shade and if possible create even more darkness by putting up a blanket (bringing along a few clothes pegs helps with this). Settle them in with their favourite comfort toy or blanket and read them a book or quietly sing them a song. Essentially, you want to reduce the stimuli as much as possible.

Find destination inspiration and child-friendly hotels on the Smith & Family site, or read more travel tips at Pint Size Pilot

Tweet

QMS Medicosmetics’ miracle-working spa treatments mean that a visit to family-friendly boutique resort Almyra in Cyprus can now help turn back the clock – if you visit this Med hotel’s spa. Who says having kids adds years to your looks?

Sign up for a whirl at Almyraspa in Paphos and give your skin a burst of hydration in Cyprus’ winning Mediterranean climate…

Having been wowed by the results-driven QMS Medicosmetics range and skincare products concocted by surgeon Dr Erich Schulte and his line of facials at the Thanos Hotels, we can recommend a whirl in Almyraspa first hand: the 60-minute Age-Defying Collagen Facial and the indulgent 75-minute Pure Oxygen Facial New Skin Lift Facial and the hour-long body treatment the Body Definer are more effective than your usual hotel spa treatments. Not just a pretty space, this hotel. Almyraspa regularly scoops awards for its  therapies, sauna and steam rooms, indoor and outdoor infinity pools… and this Thanos hotel is a magnet for accolades for its family facilities too – so the combo is a winning one.

Here is a snippet from Smith & Family’s lowdown on the facilities at the hotel:

“Spa The award-winning AlmyraSpa is set in a purpose built adults-only complex, with six treatment rooms, three spa suites, a sauna, steam room, Vichy showers, yoga deck, mani-pedi station, hair salon, heated indoor pool and outdoor infinity pool. There’s a suitably lengthy spa menu of massages, facials, wraps, scrubs and other beautification rituals, and the therapists are excellent. Couples can book a double spa suite with a long private terrace overlooking the pool, and indulge in a quiet spa snack between Osea marine treatments. Outside the spa, the slickly photogenic grown-ups-only pool area also has a small restaurant (Eauzone) and bar with waiter service – it’s a real treat to be able to escape not only your own children but everyone else’s for an hour or two.

Crèche Almyra provides excellent childcare for all (4 months to 17 years is an impressive span) in its playroom and grounds from 9.30am–5.30am every day except Wednesdays, starting with the Globetrotters Club crèche for under-3s. The full-day fee for babies and toddlers (€60) includes all nappies (and swim nappies), milk, freshly made meals or purées, and snacks. Nannies will follow your home routine as closely as possible, including scheduled naps in the sleep room. Half-days (3.5 hours; €30 excluding lunch) are also available, or you can block-book six days at a reduced price (€300).

If you tire of hanging out by the pool en famille, the Unesco World Heritage sites, ancient fort and little harbour of Paphos are all a short walk away, with less culturally edifying distractions in the form of cinemas, waterparks, karting and bowling also within easy reach. Almyra staff can also arrange jeep safaris into the pretty Akamas peninsula and lush Troodos Mountains, or wine-tasting excursions to the Byzantine monastery of Chrysorroyiatissa; and there are glass-bottom boat trips to be had from the waterfront.”

QMS Medicosmetics is also available at its central London flagship skincare spa and store, 43 Cadogan Gardens, London SW3 2TB (+44 (0) 20 7730 8090; info@qmsmedicosmetics.com) and at Liberty London.

Tweet

Edmund and Ulrika Vallance took their sons Kasper, 4 and Ossian, 3 to The Ickworth to review this hotel anonymously for Smith & Family. A super family-friendly Georgian stately in National Trust parkland in Suffolk, they had a lot of fun as a family, of course, but this musician member of our Parent Panel also relished the period-drama appeal of this very grown-up getaway…

THE ICKWORTH Suffolk

Rooms 27, including interconnecting options and a one-bedroom suite. Rates Double rooms from £137, excluding tax at 20 per cent. Best for… Kids of all ages. 

In between cooking fish fingers and drawing dinosaurs, father-of-two Edmund Vallance (pictured left with Ossian in Morocco) writes for Conde Nast Traveler and Tank and is on our Parent Panel. He has released two solo albums, and has called Mexico, London, and Los Angeles home. The South Londoner spends most of his time now in Brooklyn, where his interests include whistling, humming and prevaricating. 

“Faced with the spectacular Georgian facade of Ickworth House, I immediately took on the persona of a louche aristocrat in the 1980’s BBC adaptation of Brideshead Revisited. I felt an urge to wander through the public spaces swigging from a bottle of Krug, huffing Sobranies, and flicking my foppish fringe like some terminally melancholic Jeremy Irons wannabe. Such is the power of Ickworth. My imagination was not only captured by the place, it was locked up in a fur-lined cage for the entire duration of our stay.

Ickworth House only became the Ickworth hotel relatively recently. Until 1996 – and for over two hundred years – it was the property of the Hervey family. John Hervey, the seventh Marquess of Bristol, was the last private owner; his fondness for hard drugs and fast cars is legendary, and may – at least in some part – explain why he was unable to hold on to the estate. He burned through his entire £35 million fortune and died penniless in 1999, at the age of 44. You couldn’t make this stuff up, could you? It’s like Upstairs Downstairs on amphetamines.

Maybe it’s mean to dwell on Ickworth’s scurrilous backstory, but it seems a shame to skip over it; Andy Warhol and Mick Jagger were among the high-profile guests at John Hervey’s lavish parties, and after all, John was only keeping up with tradition. He was the last in a long line of lavish party throwers, and his booze-addled ghost roams the hotel corridors like Aleister Crowley’s petulant younger brother. There are still bullet holes in one of the basement doors where he enjoyed shooting his gun in the evenings.

 And so, as I’m deciding which Jane Austen character I should emulate for this evening’s dinner with Mrs Smith, we sweep up the marble staircase and dump our luggage into our rooms. That’s not a typo. That’s rooms: plural. One room for our two little boys, and one, slightly larger and more lavishly furnished room for us. There are two chandeliers (presumably for swinging off), a bed the size of a Lamborghini, and – to complete the impression of 18th-century entitlement – two enormous Georgian window seats perfectly framing the estate’s formal gardens and towering rotunda.

‘What in God’s name is a rotunda?’ I enquire of Lady Smith.

‘Buggered if I l know,’ she replies with blue-blooded aplomb.

It turns out a rotunda is a domed Italianate building, a bit like the Albert Hall but on an ever-so-slightly smaller scale. More Googling reveals that the fourth Marquess of Bristol’s widow donated it to the National Trust in the 1950s, along the adjoining west wing. Guests of the hotel gain free admission to the rotunda, including the wonderful ‘Ickworth Lives’ exhibition in the basement and servants’ quarters. The National Trust invites you to ‘discover the real lives of those who lived and worked in this party house in the 1930s’. Downton Abbey eat your heart out.

And so to dinner. Much to my dismay, the valet has neglected to pack my velvet tuxedo, my ebony opium pipe, and – this is the worst of it – my platinum pinky ring. You just can’t get the staff these days. Luckily for me, most of the couples in the formal restaurant are dressed pretty casually. Ickworth’s family-friendly ethos is a blessing for parents who don’t relish stiff formality. The food is faultless, too. And all the tastier knowing that the kids are safely tucked up in bed. The genius of Ickworth, in my humble opinion, is its evening monitoring service. This gives parents the chance to soak up the atmosphere and – in our case at least – the top-notch alcohol. And if the Marchioness Smith feels like an early night, never fear: there’s a family-oriented restaurant in the elegant conservatory.

Ickworth’s atmosphere of casual chic is reinforced by its decor; there’s a healthy dose of midcentury furniture and bold modern art mixed in with the prerequisite period pieces. Which makes sense to me. After all, if the entire hotel looked like the set of Gosford Park it would be pretty difficult to relax. Especially when your three-year-old is throwing a wobbly and you’re trying hard not to spill your malbec on the shag-pile carpet.

The next day we’re feeling a little wine woozy. Which does not pose a problem at Ickworth, as it would at home, since the hotel boasts a wonderfully toy-stocked crèche and an army of babysitters. (Not just some ropey Tonka trucks and a jam-encrusted Toy Story DVD). The carers at the crèche are very friendly too, and the boys settle in immediately. Which is handy because Mrs Smith and I intend to haul ourselves back to our gargantuan bed.

After a lazy morning in the double boudoir, the afternoon unfolds like a delicate English rose. Who do I think I am? Emily bloody Brontë? It’s true though. It really does. Unfold like a rose, I mean. As we stroll through the sumptuous gardens all four of us are slack-jawed with wonder. But it’s soon obvious that we’ve barely scratched the surface; the estate is enormous, about 1,800 acres of rolling Suffolk hills. Bikes are free for guests, so we strap the boys into their child seats and whizz off into the sun-drenched grounds. There is also an indoor heated pool to keep you busy.

The history of Ickworth is many-layered, and a weekend here is – in the words of John Lennon – like looking through a glass onion. (Our rooms, for example, are named after a French king and queen, Louis and Amelie, who stayed here in the mid-Eighteenth Century). Look out for the photos of the house dotted around the place. Peering at these, you can’t help but feel giddy with history, transported to an era where the Herveys would entertain weekend guests in a rotunda the size of an aircraft hanger, then cover up the stately rooms in dustsheets for the rest of the (non) working week. Such an existence may seem preposterous, and on many levels it probably was, but living extravagantly – and a little vicariously – for just a few champagne-fuelled nights is enormous fun. Why the hell not? The seventh Marquess of Bristol would surely have approved.”

Hop over to the Smith & Family website to read Edmund’s full Ickworth House, or to check out more hand-picked family-friendly hotels in the UK. To book this hotel, ring 0845 034 0700.

   SMITH EXTRA Cream tea for the family when you book through us.

Tweet

Parenting expert, teacher, mother and journalist Anne Coates has a quarter-century of experience with children from babies to teenagers to draw on, and has written on subjects ranging from pre-school education and family-friendly holidays to nutrition. Her latest book – Parenting Without Tears: Living With Teenagers – tackles troublesome teens and their tempestuous ways. Here, the author and parenting site host shares her top travel tips for parents…

Babies: stick to your normal routine, or go with the flow?
Babies love routine, but can be amazingly adaptable. Make sure yours is getting enough rest and it not being overstimulated by her surroundings or people around her. Include some quiet times during your holiday activities but also be open to showing her new experiences. And remember that a longer-than-usual siesta may mean you can dine at a reasonable time in the evening.

Toddlers: how do you coax a tearful tot to sit down and do up their seat belt for take-off?
Have a treat at the ready! For travelling, have a pack of small new toys/books which will engage and distract. Keep calm and try not to worry about what other passengers are thinking. It’s a good idea to chat about flying in an airplane, what happens and wearing seat belts before your flight, so your toddler is prepared. Treats (like chocolate) that they don’t usually have can calm a difficult situation.

Teens: how much freedom should you allow on holiday?
How much freedom you allow your teens depends on their age: a 16-year-old already has more life experience than a 13-year-old. Plus you have to consider your location – I would be wary of relaxing the rules you normally go by too much. Alcohol in some places is far easier to get hold of and teens do not think through the consequences of their actions. Be circumspect. Once you have the lie of the land, you’ll know how relaxed you can be. Make sure your teen is aware of local regulations, cultural differences and customs. But basically, don’t leave your own comfort zone.

How do you deal with bad behaviour in a public place/restaurant?
That really depends on the age of the child. Expecting a toddler to sit through a meal of several courses with pauses in between is unrealistic. Only take children to restaurants that are relatively child-friendly if you are worried about their behaviour. Wherever you go, take something for them to do – a colouring/reading book or what have you – although many restaurants do have children’s activities for the table on standby. If some really unacceptable behaviour occurs, remove the child (go outside if necessary), but do not shout or make a scene that will only escalate the problem. Distraction and praising good behaviour helps – try to ignore minor misdemeanours. This way children learn to attract attention without being naughty!

What’s the parent protocol when your child hits/bites/pushes another in a holiday-resort playground?
My answer would be a question: what do you normally do? If age-appropriate, get your child to apologise and explain why it isn’t kind to push/bite. Hopefully the other child’s parent is nearby (if not, why not?) and can comfort their own offspring if the other child is really upset. Try not to overreact: you may have missed the beginning of the fracas when your child was pushed. Only remove your child from the area if you really can’t get the two children to “kiss and make up”. Apologise to the other parent but don’t get into a heated discussion.

Any tips for dealing with jet lag?
Most people agree that resetting your watch during your flight to the new time zone and timing your eating/sleeping schedule to coincide helps. On arrival, stay awake, if daytime, as long as you can, or vice versa. Some people find homoeopathic Arnica can also help. During the flight, avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages, and drink plenty of water and or juices. Similarly for children. For small ones make sure they have their usual bedtime toys/comforters on board. Think of some gentle activities for the first day. Hopefully for them they will be more susceptible to sunlight/darkness and will follow your lead.

Anne Coates’ latest Kindle edition Parenting Without Tears: Living With Teenagers (£2.99; Endeavour Press) is available to buy at Amazon.

Tweet

Ah, Mr & Mrs Smith love Paris – but is as much fun with your kids in tow? Travel journalist, parent, family-travel blogger and former Paris resident Rhonda Carrier says an emphatic ‘oui!’. If you book an apartment-style stay such as Résidence Nell, you’ll have freedom to relax and roam as you wish. Here, Rhonda shares her tried-and-tested child-friendly Paris tips in the first of a series of savvy-parent guest posts…

One of my favourite things about being a family travel writer is getting the chance to rediscover some of my favourite places from a wholly new angle. I lived in Paris for a year and stayed there countless times before even knowing about the eccentric ‘Dodo Manège’, a carousel featuring extinct and endangered species in the Jardin des Plantes, for instance, and without once visiting the quirky retro funfair of the Jardin d’Acclimatation in the Bois de Boulogne.

I may no longer get much chance to sample the latest hip restaurants and bars when I’m exploring with my kids, but I have lots of fun tracking down great family-friendly places to eat – whether we’re on or off the tourist trail. The following are some of my favourite ‘finds’.

THE EIFFEL TOWER
It doesn’t matter how often we go to Paris, we always have to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Happily, you can now book ahead, meaning no more queuing for hours on end. The Tower itself has a funky, child-friendly first-floor café with brightly hued Perspex chairs and tempting sandwiches and pastries, but my boys – ardent fans of ‘Ratatouille’, the movie about a rat who dreams of becoming a famous chef in Paris – like nothing better than a French feast at the Café du Commerce. This old-school bistro a few blocks west of the Tower is always packed with locals tucking into classic Gallic fare such as eggs mayonnaise, leek vinaigrette, wild Burgundy snails, grilled pigs’ ears and excellent steaks. There’s a good kids’ menu for tiddlers.
Café du Commerce Rue du Commerce, Paris 75015 (+33 (0)1 45 75 03 27)

LE JARDIN DES PLANTES
We never tire of visiting France’s main botanical garden with its mini-zoo, quirky carousel of extinct animals, maze and natural history museums (no less than four). But serendipity has it that when we do need to refuel, the Jardin is just a few steps away from the Grande Mosquée de Paris with its lovely cedar-panelled restaurant. Here, ensconced on benches or cushions, you can partake of everything from tagines, couscous and grills to Middle Eastern pastries and ice cream – don’t miss the Oriental Bowl with its dreamy mix of flavours (mint tea, honey, nougat and pine kernel). There’s also a courtyard tea-room for pastries, mint tea and coffee – plus, strictly for parents, a luscious hamman.
Grande Mosquée de Paris Rue Saint-Hilaire 75005, (+33 (0)1 43 31 38 20 39)

BOIS DE BOULOUGNE
The northern end of this wooded expanse more than twice the size of New York’s Central Park is the place to find the Jardin d’Acclimatation with its enchanted-river ride, fairground attractions, play equipment, vast paddling pool with mist machines, mini-zoo and farm animals, and kids’ museum and puppet theatre. Whenever we’re here I delight in reminding the kids that the Jardin, which started life as a royal menagerie under Napoléon III, once served as a human zoo exhibiting African bushmen and other ethnological ‘curiosities’! Of the snack kiosks and restaurants on-site, our favourite is La Crêperie de la Petite Ferme – a kitsch faux Breton cottage where you can watch the farm animals as you munch delicious savoury and sweet pancakes.
La Crêperie de la Petite Ferme Jardin d’acclimatation, Paris 75116 (+33 (0)1 45 02 11 61)

JARDIN DU LUXEMBOURG
With its toy boating lake, pony-rides and superb playground, the Luxembourg Gardens are the classic place for a Sunday stroll to work up an appetite for a big family lunch on the Boulevard du Montparnasse, with our favourite venue being the legendary La Coupole. The fact that this art deco gem is so famous doesn’t stop it from being excellent – or from taking pride in offering kids the same standard of food as their parents, in a bid ‘to develop their palates’! We especially love the year-round ‘terrace menu’, featuring oysters, club sandwiches, lobster salad with French beans and fresh mango, and Guanaja chocolate cake with ice cream.
La Coupole 102 Boulevard du Montparnasse, Paris 75014 (+33 (0)1 43 20 14 20)

PARC DE LA VILLETTE
Another site with heaps of different things to do, Paris’ biggest green space – once home to the city abattoirs – comprises the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie, a museum of science and technology including kids’ discovery spaces, a planetarium, and IMAX and moving cinemas, plus the Cité de la Musique, a concert space and museum of musical instruments, hosting family shows and events. On-site events include contemporary circus and cabaret, and there are themed gardens, sound installations and play areas. But we like to branch out from the La Villette’s own eateries in favour of Café Antipode a few minutes’ walk away. Part of a houseboat hosting kids’ theatre and puppetry in the daytime and grown-up plays and concerts in the evening, it offers Fair Trade, artisanal fare including soups, open sandwiches, and charcuterie and cheese platters.
Café Antipode Opposite 55 Quai de la Seine, Paris 75019 (+33 (0)1 42 03 39 07) 

Fancy a French family fling? Find family-friendly hotels in Paris; or read more about motherhood and beyond on Rhonda Carrier’s parenting blog, Mothermind…

Tweet

Ah, the festive season. So.… frantic! If you’ve planned a Christmas holiday with the kids (or are heading off to visit family), ‘festive’ to most parents will at some point on the journey become ‘frustrating’. So with that in mind, we’ve rounded up some of the Smith & Family team’s best Christmas travel tips and packing reminders to help divert tantrums, organise everyone and stay merry on the road or in the air.

FOR THE FLIGHT
• Send some of your gifts ahead with a luggage-forwarding service, or order online for deliveries to your destination, to avoid nightmare unwrapping-or-breaking-your-gifts scenarios at Customs/having to remove them from hand luggage.

• Queues will be longer, planes will be busier, shops will be packed with child-luring gewgaws, so be prepared, be patient, and be equipped with a lucky-dip bag of ‘distractions’ – small, inexpensive toys, games, snacks, stickers and colouring-in/activity books to be doled out periodically at times of need (during incessant wait at your gate for delayed flight; to keep them sitting still during take-off; to distract them so you can finish your meal).

• As well as any milk/baby food you need, bring a selection of snacks – you can never have enough of these and it means you won’t have to cave in and buy sugar-packed rubbish from an airport shop. Popcorn, nuts, dried fruit, cereal bars, blueberries, carrot sticks… all ideal.

FOR THE ROAD TRIP/STAYCATION
• Don’t forget to pack their advent calendars.

• Some festive tunes for singalong sessions in the car will help keep spirits up on lengthy car journeys; Putumayo Kids’ Christmas music CDs cover a great selection of world music if you’d rather avoid the tinny pop or Disney variety.

• Consider taking something to leave out for Father Christmas and the reindeer (you could improvise with miniatures from the minibar for the big man, but a hotel may not be able to supply carrots for the reindeer, or a mince pie).

• Wellies and wet-weather gear for obligatory Christmas morning family walk. Hunter’s Original Tour wellies roll down so they are easy to pack – they come in adults’ and kids’ sizes.

• Board games for post-lunch family fun. Some self-catering stays will provide you with a Christmas tree, so bring some cheap and cheerful baubles or – even better – bring some supplies to make your own decorations with. It’s amazing what you can make with some paper, pens, glue and a bit of glitter. (Note we said ‘amazing’, not ‘impressive’.)

GENERAL FESTIVE TRAVEL TIPS

• Reassure little ones that xmas continues as usual at your destination. Depending on where you’re going, an explanation of Santa’s magical ability to locate everyone on his list might be necessary – show them where you’re going on a map to make them feel involved; alternatively explain that he only delivers very small gifts to people who are travelling, since that’s a special treat already.

• Don’t forget your Christmas stockings – Mrs Smith’s favourites are these oversize ones from the White Company (right).

• Allow plenty of time to get where you’re going: sounds obvious, but build in a ‘safety zone’ by leaving 30 minutes earlier than you think you really need to. And tell the rest of your family your departure time is 15 minutes earlier than that. At worst, you’ll have an extra half an hour to kill at the airport or at your destination –but let’s face it, somebody’s bound to need the toilet/require a snack/want to touch every Christmas tree decoration ever made.

• Load up your iPad or other phablet with Christmassy films and favourite games to ensure you carve out a little quiet time for yourselves.

• Have yourselves a merry little Christmas!

Psst – have a little read of Mr Smith’s packing tips for dads; or if you haven’t booked a Christmas getaway yet, have a peek at our collection of child-friendly hotels on Smith & Family. 

Tweet

Treehouse accommodation: from a kid’s perspective, it’s right up there (literally) with castles, canal boats and camping out – because as far as children are concerned, comfort comes well below novelty, adventure and unlimited sweeties on the holiday ticklist. Smith & Family couldn’t wait to check into Chewton Glen‘s amazing new treehouse hotel rooms; Mr Smith tells the tale of how he took his brood to nest high in the treetops of Hampshire‘s New Forest…

The first ‘tree houses’ I remember are the sort life-threatening contraptions I used to build in trees with my mates, scavenging floorboard offcuts and bits of old wood from various dads’ garages and hoisting them up to be nailed into a suitably branchy old oak. The knee-scritching bunk-ups and nervous climb-downs required to access those uncomfortable (and frankly dangerous) platforms was scary to say the least, but boy, was it worth it when you sat down with your picnic cheese and penknife and took in the elevated views with your compadres.

You see, there’s just something about being high up that’s irresistible – that’s why we love a penthouse so much – but being high up among trees is even more special; it’s something that instinctively satisfies in a way that other hideouts do not. So when we were invited to stay at one of Chewton Glen’s brand spanking new luxury treehouses, I have to confess to getting a little bit of that excited schoolboy back. This time though, I’d be with Mrs Smith, our 5-year-old son Tom and our toddler daughter Alex, with not a rusty old nail or hammer in sight.

My infectious enthusiasm for the treehouse invitation was passed on to my family in a heartbeat; the kids were in heaven from the moment we were driven down Chewton Glen’s gravelled pathways in a golf buggy (who doesn’t love miniature vehicles with diddy wheels?).

There may not be a ‘Danger: keep out!’ sign or a rope-ladder entrance, and the suites may not physically built into the trees like my ‘shelves’ were, but they are surrounded by beautiful woodland and you do cross a raised walkway that interconnects with the other suites to get in. Wow: this is treehouse living, Jim, but not as we know it.

The sweeping balcony with its 180-degree view and Villeroy & Boch Jacuzzi (just in case you needed an even more dramatic viewing spot) is quite something to behold. Needless to say, our kids immediately raced over to the edge to peer down – thankfully the decked terrace is cleverly wrapped in sturdy safety glass, allowing small noses to be pressed right up against it for uninterrupted views without the worry.

Always the first thing my wife looks at, the bathroom turns out to be just wonderful, with a beautiful freestanding half-egg shaped bath and voluptuous curved shower area with rainfall shower head.  There was a large vase holding freshly cut small oak branches to gently remind you it’s not any old luxury suite you’re staying in. The kids also loved the so-called ‘monkey staircase’ (double-staggered steps that rise with a step to the left then to the right, rather than consecutive steps) that took them up to their lofty bunk den.

With all the necessary kit in the kitchen and an exciting breakfast picnic delivered in a hamper through a secret butler hatch, you can help yourself when you wake up rather than having to deal with the ceremony of wheeled-in trolleys and complex nappery in your suite. (Dinner, snacks etc can be ordered through ‘tree service’ on your in-room tablet device – modern tree living, this is).

We loved our terrace and view so much we decided to dine in, despite concerns that the food would not travel well all that distance from the main house kitchen; any qualms were crushed when we started to dig into the array of fantastic dishes that chef Luke Matthews had cleverly designed specially for the other branch (sorry) of guest dwellings – dinner was divine.

So what with the swimming pools in the main house (plus an outdoor one hotter than my bath at home in season), activities galore and the very well-conceived kids’ tea (buffet-style, so no tantrum-inducing wait for food), Chewton Glen goes go to the top of the tree for a return visit from this family…

Psst! If you fancy a sneaky stay before Christmas, check out our 3-for-2 treehouse offer at Chewton Glen. Find out more about Chewton Glen’s family-friendly treehouse accommodation, or browse our collection of child-friendly hotels on the new Smith & Family site…

Tweet

Well, it certainly hasn’t been an easy pregnancy (or a short one), but ‘he’ (or is it a she?) is finally here: we’re delighted to announce today the Beta birth of our brand new child-friendly hotel collection – Smith & Family. With 35 hotels across Europe for this soft launch, our new site (which this blog is a part of) brings you a glimpse of more to come: we’re delighted with the result and hope all you busy parents out there like what you see and read.

Come the new year, we should have approximately doubled that figure, and we will be growing the collection by adding several new properties a month from there on in.

COOL WITH THE KIDS
Because parents deserve great holidays, too
Having looked after everyone’s romantic weekends since 2003, it was only a matter of time before the first weekend away together turned into an engagement, perhaps a wedding, the honeymoon and of course the pitter patter of tiny feet.  But where do you go when you have little ones? How do you find your new type of perfect hotel? Sure you want some style, but substance is more important than ever with kids in tow. We set about asking our trusted friends who they turned to for family holidays, and soon discovered they found it tough to find a source they could rely on. So we thought we’d better go and do it ourselves.

Each Smith & Family hotel is hand-picked, personally visited by a member of the Smith team and parent-approved, so you can rest assured when you book your precious family holiday through us that we’ve left nothing to chance. We will have a wide range of properties to choose from, as all families want different things from their break.  Some want kids clubs, some want activities galore (see our local guides packed with ideas for rain or shine) and some just want to be by the sea.

But, what every Smith & Family hotel must deliver is a great time for the kids (of course), a memorable time for the whole family unit together and equally importantly, a bit of ‘treat time’ for the grown-ups – whether that’s thanks to a spoiling spa, a reliable babysitter, or a baby-listening service so you can indulge in that wonderful dinner you’ve been looking forward to all day.

You can book as a family or a group of families online or via our expert 24-hour travel team. You’ll find hotels in exciting cities to explore, beautiful countryside and of course hotels beside the sea. So start your holiday search here and please do send your feedback to us (website.feedback@smithhotels.com) – we’re still in Beta mode, and we know we still have a bit of growing still to do.

Tweet