BellaOnline Forums Relationships Married No Kids child free travel -- looking for interviewees

Hi all!

I am working on a freelance story for the Boston Globe about child free travel. I am looking for anyone who has either:

1. Taken a trip to a child free location
2. Planned a "strategy" while traveling to avoid children
3. Runs a child free establishment (resort, hotel, B&B, etc.)

If this describes YOU, please send me an email -- marriednokids at bellaonline dot com.

If you are not willing to use your true identity, I will use a pseudonym for you.

Thanks!!

Kim
MNK Editor

I can do this...I work for an airline and my DH and I travel often. How soon do you need it?

Cindy

We found a strategy completely by accident. Traveling the week before and into the first week of school is a great way to avoid families clogging the beaches, restaurants and hotels. Prices also tend to be lower this time of year.

We try to go to theme parks, zoos, tourist attractions during the week. Generally you avoid children, however there can be pesky school groups.

we like to go on cruises and we plan them when kids are in school. we also tend to do activities both on the ship and shore excursions that are more for adults. to me cruises are nice b/c they have a separate program for kids so you don't always see a lot of them b/c they are too busy doing their own thing. we also go to the dining room for dinner every evening. there tends to be less kids there.

indigo

Hi again everyone. I haven't been posting for a while but have been checking in every day. My husband and I intentionally choose hotels and holidays where there will not be many or preferably any children either because the hotel does not allow them or we travel in the off peak season. There is nothing worse than children running around shouting and roaring when you are trying to relax and it seems to me that the parents are completely oblivious to what the children are doing alot of the time. We found a really nice hotel on the Canary Islands a couple of years ago which did not allow children at all so that was a really relaxing holiday. For the past number of years we had been going to a really nice hotel here in Ireland for weekend breaks but the hotel has changed its marketing strategy and is really pursuing the family holiday market. We were there over the New Year and it was a complete waste of time and money because there were so many children ranging from new borns to teenagers and they were in the bar and in the restauruant at night running around and generally making a nuisance. We would have had a quieter time at home and saved money as well! The children also took over the pool. We really could not relax and have decided not to ever go back there which is a pity because we were regular guests there for the past number of years when not as many parents took their children there and it was a real retreat. It's a sign of the times here when parents can afford to take their children to good hotels becasue this one is not cheap. Anyway,enough ranting - we will just have to start searching for a new one.

That stinks, becki! It's always sad when someplace you've loved changes like that.

We also usually travel during the school year to avoid lots of families (plus shoulder season rates tend to be good). Overseas, I tend to prefer small un-family-friendly B&B's (no pools, lots of stairs, small cozy rooms) to hotels. Here in the US, we try to stay with the business class or in quirky places (such as small cabins in the Adirondacks, rental home in the Smokies, etc.).

Check out this link I found on About.com...it lists a whole bunch of places for adults only. I thought it was funny to learn that one hotel in Barbados allows children only during hurricane season.

Adult-Only Hotels/Resorts

Links also featured on the page for adults only are the Honeymoons/Romantic Travel and the Nude Beach Guide.

P.S. Would any of you ever have the nerve to partake in the nude beach/nude resort thing?? I wonder if they keep them childfree? How awkward would THAT be if they didn't!!

We have only gone on a couple of major vacations so far in our marriage of 6 years and 5 months, but both were to adults-only Couples Resorts, both in Jamaica - the first was our honeymoon in Couples Negril, and the second was in 2006, to Couples San Souci. Both were WONDERFUL, and the best thing was, outside of the couple of activities we did outside of the resorts, we saw NO KIDS the entire time we were there. It was so peaceful and relaxing. I highly recommend seeking out resorts that are childfree!

We try and travel outside school holidays, and
stay at smaller resorts & hotels - usually more expensive...that offer no facilities or discounts for children. (hint, hint)
ie Meridien Port Douglas & Tubkaak - Klong Muang Beach, Koh Samui, Thailand.
In Japan we stay at really nice ryokans - many of the smaller ones do not cater for kids - rice paper walls, share bathrooms with deep timber bath, candles and incense = not suitable for kids.
Business trips last year included stays at Le Palais, Prague and Pestana Palace, Lisbon - both members of Leading Hotels of the World - I didn't see children at either Hotel - I doubt they would actually exclude them but it would take a brave parent to take a young child into these Hotels - decidedly child unfriendly - antique vases, French polished tables, formal dining rooms, clubby type bars and library...heaven!
If there were kids staying at these Hotels they were being well supervised - I didn't see or hear a thing...

We often do walking tours of Paris & other cities - off the beaten track - away from tourist sites - visiting bookshops, galleries, nice wine bars etc...never see kids under about 12...they'd be bored stiff...also, wine tasting weekends and dinners - always CF...
Spa resorts, health and gourmet retreats are usually free of kids - people attend for a couple of days of pampering...

We also, rent apartments - we rented a beautiful apartment in Bonifacio, Corsica a couple of years ago...the smaller, nicer Hotels were booked out and we didn't like the sound of the larger resorts ie."Children stay free"...
The apartment dated from about 1780 and was furnished with antiques - we also, had a small balcony overlooking the Port...the buildings are usually accessed by very steep staircases so that would also, put off parents with young kids - far too dangerous and awkward with babies and toddlers - there were wall to wall couples in our apartment building....oh, and a few cats and dogs.

We find its fairly easy to avoid the families - just do your research before leaving home, check out the Hotels and resorts on the Internet - do they cater for kids, offer kids clubs and activities, discounts for kids...and keep your ear to the ground - lots of places have been recommended to us by other people - even parents have recommended places and also, steered us away from other places.
Parents also, enjoy a break without their kids from time to time and then, don't want to put up with other people's kids - defeats the purpose...