Mandarin Oriental embraces families with children

Little guests mean big business in the hotel industry, and increasingly luxury hotels in Europe are ditching the frosty attitude toward families that used to be commonplace — long after properties in other destinations, like the Caribbean and Hawaii, had adopted a friendlier tone.

Case in point is Mandarin Oriental, which is not only doing backflips to attract families with children but is doing so in a way that is attuned to what today’s parents consistently say they want for their vacation dollars: experiences that are specific to the destination, and even a little bit educational.

In Turkey, for example, two of the brand’s properties offer kid-friendly amenities that make the most of their locations. 

The Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus, Istanbul can arrange a privately guided family tour of the bazaar and attendance at the traditional dance of the whirling dervishes at the Hodjapasha — a 15th-century hammam transformed into a theatre to showcase the centuries-old practice. And family members of all ages can view the city from the water on a private boat tour on the Bosporus that sets sail from the hotel’s dock.

The Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum, on the other hand, offers a Kids Club for guests ages 3 to 12 that was designed in collaboration with child-development specialists GymBoree Play & Music. Available daily, activities include ceramics, cooking, hat designing, jewelry making, T-shirt dyeing, sports and indoor and outdoor games.

A Guest Experience Ambassador is on hand to personalize itineraries for families looking for interesting excursions in the area.

In Switzerland, the Mandarin Oriental, Geneva can arrange a visit to the medieval hilltop village of Gruyere, where the famous “holey” cheese has been made since the 15th century. They can also take in the Maison Cailler factory to make their own chocolate to take home. 

The Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London encourages younger guests to become Little Rangers during their stay with a treasure chest full of toys and dress-up clothes and a treasure map marked with some of the city’s most famous sites near the hotel. 

Customized Ranger activities can include feeding the horses of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, a sensory game to play in Hyde Park and even a kid version of a shopping experience at Harvey Nichols. 

Or go exotic at the Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech, where a Kid’s Kasbah mimics a majestic, fortified citadel in the shaded gardens near the resort’s farm and the chef’s vegetable garden.

There, children can discover Moroccan culture through arts and crafts workshops, cooking classes and outdoor activities; participate in yoga and stretching sessions designed especially for them; and watch movies under the stars in an open-air cinema.

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