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Times
4 days ago
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- Times
Over-the-top kids' clubs are creating an entitled generation of travellers
This summer my eight-year-old son will be installed in a kids' club at a resort on Santorini learning how to animate a robot arm as I sip a tropical negroni (pineapple-infused rum!) at an Aegean-side beach bar. Typical of its type, Andronis Arcadia's luxury kids' club offers Lego Education robotics workshops in a dedicated Lego lab; 'yoga for the young', 'mini spa experiences tailored for little people' and expert-led cultural and nature excursions around the chic Greek island. It assures worried parents like me that the ARCADemy follows a Steam-based educational philosophy 'encouraging innovation, imagination and the development of soft skills'. Contrast this with my childhood experience of being deposited in a kids' club on Costa Daurada in Spain in the 1980s. Of this I recall a long walk in midday sun to collect the shells of dead snails ('Caracol muerto! Caracol muerto!'), and that my brother, Adam, had a sugar crash after consuming too many syrupy grenadine drinks and tried to pull a limb off my baby doll toy Samantha. In truth, resort kids' clubs have been on an upward trajectory since the 2000s, because 'conscious' parenting has become the norm, safeguarding standards have improved and resorts have stretched to ever greater lengths to hook the affluent middle-class family traveller. 'Luxury kids' clubs are all part of resorts adding experiential services to stand apart,' says Noel Josephides, the head of Sunvil Travel, who says he 'remains unconvinced' about such elite services' appeal. 'It's unclear whether they do drive family footfall, or whether they just increase the overall cost of package rates where they are offered,' he says. • 14 of the best kids' clubs in Europe Dr Jo Mueller, a clinical psychologist and parenting expert, has mixed feelings too. While structured and educational offerings may benefit children with special educational needs, 'free play and relaxation' that holidays offer 'are also essential for child mental health and learning'. It is also good to be bored. That said, Mueller adds, child-free time can 'contribute to parental mental good health and create a virtuous circle [of family well-being]'. The all-inclusive provider Club Med was a pioneer in kids' clubs and launched its first in 1967. Nicolas Bresch, its UK managing director, says the original iteration of Mini Club Med was to give 'parents a proper moment to relax' (AKA get on the Babycham and do the twist). However, trends have shifted through the decades. In the 1980s Club Med installed the first flying trapeze at Club Med Eleuthera, paving the way for the sporty 1990s. These days, parents are after 'personalised, socially conscious and tech-savvy experiences for their children', with the brand's baby-to-teen offerings including a circus school by Cirque du Soleil and collaborations with elite sports academies. This summer ambitious parents can send their offspring off on everything from reef snorkelling with a marine biologist (at the new Teens Hut at Seaside Finolhu Baa atoll in the Maldives) to an expert-led archaelogy dig at a Minoan excavation site on Crete. • Seven of the most fun-filled kids' clubs at sea Smaller and one-child families like mine are partly behind the rising spend on individual kids' holiday experiences, according to the economic theorist Ali Shourideh. We are able to invest more in our lone offspring or 'resource concentrate'. The cost of summer camps — middle-class parents spend an average of £1,000 a month — puts it in perspective. Of course, this doting carries risks: are we creating an entitled generation who expect their niche whims to be catered for at home and abroad? Is there anything wrong, after all, with a can of pop and a few desultory board games? This summer isn't my son Leo's first rodeo. In 2024 we spent a spring weekend at Château Capitoul, a vineyard hotel in Languedoc. Here Leo took a junior wine buff's class: quaffing merlot and grenache-blanc grape juice with his pinkie stuck out and concluding that merlot 'tastes a bit like socks'. This year's cohort there will enjoy a viticultural school amid the vineyards of La Clape (which is as middle-class aspirational as it gets). So would Leo rather be drinking syrupy sodas and collecting snail shells in the sun than swotting up on his coding and construction this summer? 'Robots please,' he says, without pause. 'But can I have the pop too?' What experiences have you had with kids' clubs? Please let us know in the comments
The Independent
12-02-2025
- The Independent
British tourists undeterred by Santorini earthquakes – but the holiday hotspot has larger problems
UK holidaymakers planning holidays in Greece are so far undeterred by the seismic activity rumbling through the Aegean, travel industry sources say. Over the past two weeks thousands of tremors have been recorded on the island of Santorini – culminating in a 5.4 magnitude earthquake on Monday evening. The Greek ministry of civil protection has declared a state of emergency for the island until 3 March. The islands of Anafi, Ios and Amorgos are also affected. Santorini 's tourist season traditionally begins at Easter, with very few British visitors currently on the island. Richard Slater, director of Henbury Travel in Macclesfield, said: 'Greece has always been a key part of our bookings, and like many, we were saddened to hear about the recent tremors affecting the island. Our thoughts are with the residents and hoteliers as they navigate these challenging times. 'Of the few clients already booked for the upcoming season, only one couple reached out with concerns. However, they expressed confidence in having booked through us, knowing that they are fully protected. Interestingly, we've noticed a slight decline in interest for Santorini over the past year. 'Santorini, traditionally a 'fly and flop' destination in the spring and autumn months, has seen some caution among travellers in peak summer. The influx of cruise ships, especially on days with multiple arrivals, has led many to seek quieter destinations. 'More guests are opting for other destinations such as Crete as well as Corfu, Skiathos, Kefalonia and Parga. We remain confident, however, that once the seismic activity subsides, Santorini will regain its appeal, and holidaymakers will eagerly return to the island.' The long-established specialist tour operator, Sunvil, is reporting strong demand. The chairman, Noel Josephides, said: 'So far we have not seen any impact on bookings to Greece, which are running a little above last year. 'Of course we have no control over the earth's machinations as we are simply observers. We hope it will quieten down and allow us to have a safe and prosperous season.' Ashley Quint, director of the Hertfordshire agency Travel Time, said: 'There doesn't seem to be a concern at the moment – possibly a bit early with the season not starting for a couple of months. 'We've had a couple of questions asked, but it's difficult to assess what impact it's going to have on the summer – and/or itineraries for cruise lines. Greece is generally doing OK otherwise, although good value for money seems to be a key driver at the moment.' According to newly published figures from the Greek Tourism Confederation, arrivals by British visitors increased 7.2 per cent in 2024 – though spending dipped by 3.9 per cent. 'Greece's tourism industry remains well-positioned, supported by a stable macroeconomic environment, competitive pricing and a strong international appeal,' the organisation concluded.
