Five Luxury Resorts Offering Little Ones Big Adventures and Big Ones Bonus Space

A family vacation is a great way to push the reset button away from the everyday “time to get up, go to bed” routine, to share new experiences and rebalance what’s important, or not, once home. Many of the families who visit Six Senses are well-traveled, with the children craving as much variety and adventure as the parents. That’s why every detail is carefully considered – from facilities to programming and extra space.

The aim of these hoteliers is to keep the kids off their screens and entertained in a more traditional way. It’s also a great way to give parents a chance to relax, recharge, and enjoy other activities at the resorts.

Vooc Village and Water Reserve at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay

Named after the Vietnamese langur and resort mascot, the Vooc Village keeps its younger resort guests entertained, whether hanging upside down at the jungle gym, splashing around in the aqua gym, or enjoying games or craft-making in the indoor play center.

Programs encompass everything from the active (organic gardening, yoga, little mixologist, being a therapist, junior photographer) to the relaxing (foot massage, herbal ball compress, make your own body scrub), and the creative with a local twist (traditional Vietnamese origami and snacks, Hoi An lantern making and trying to play traditional Vietnamese musical instruments). Never too young to inspire a passion for protecting nature, children can build their own coral reef, be a farmer, make beeswax wraps and homemade soaps, join an essential oil workshop, and learn about langurs with the resident biologist.

Vooc Village is the first of its kind in Vietnam

While journeying through each activity, children will receive a new stamp for their passport, which they receive on arrival, with a final surprise for when they collect enough stamps.

“The special Grow With Six Senses passport combines exploration, conservation, crafts, and sport into a fun and educational schedule that takes children to all corners of the resort; it’s the kind of program that makes you want to be a kid again. Sadly, parents cannot apply!” says General Manager Andrew Whiffen. “

Sleeping nine guests, the three-bedroom Water Reserve – comprising three free-standing pavilions – is set on dramatic rock formations right on the water’s edge of a private bay, with spectacular and uninterrupted sunset views. Completely secluded, the villa can be accessed by a private speedboat or walkway. An infinity-edge pool with a water slide also blends naturally with the horizon and surrounding boulders. A dedicated GEM (Guest Experience Maker) can arrange in-villa dining and spa treatments, private yoga sessions, a poolside barbecue, outdoor cinema screening, or schedule the day’s activities including snorkeling on the house reef.

Watery Delights at Six Senses Laamu

They say you can dust the sand off toes but not souls. Just some of the on-land activities at The Den include planting seeds in coconut shells, a fitness scavenger hunt, junior Zumba, healthy cookie making, face mask workshops, and a volcano explosion. Due to the location of this family-friendly resort on a private atoll, the real magic happens in the water. Budding conservationists aged six and up can complete exciting science experiments, explore the ocean in snorkeling adventures, and learn to make their own conservation videos as part of the Junior Marine Biology program.
The Family Villa offers beachfront living, with a panoramic upper deck, a personal pool, and an outdoor bathtub for fun bath times. There’s even a treetop deck offering comfortable seating, a dining area, and front row seats to keep an eye on any passing marine life too.

Wellies On and Capes Ready at Six Senses Yao Noi

Following themes of Farm, Nature and Re-creation, the three-day Junior Eco Warrior program at Six Senses Yao Noi aims to educate future changemakers through hands-on experiences and outdoor adventures. Children can collect fresh eggs, meet Kevin the goat, spend time sowing seeds, and head to the beach to learn the importance of keeping marine ecosystems clean. They can also have fun turning trash into treasure in a 3Rs Workshop and try their hand at building villas for the resort’s resident hornbills out of recycled timber.

With views overlooking the iconic limestone karsts of Phang Nga Bay, the three-bedroom Ocean Retreat has the option of a connecting one-bedroom Ocean Deluxe Pool Villa.

Larger Accommodations in Ibiza, Portugal, and Oman

“Extended family groups tend to need larger and connected rooms, more opportunities to be together en masse and activities that keep everyone happy in their own company too,” says Six Senses CEO Neil Jacobs. “As travelers return to us ready to embrace their time with their family and friends, the topic of reconnection continues to be more important than ever. In addition to space, everything you would expect from a Six Senses stay is included, such as priority in-room service and a dedicated Guest Experience Maker.”

Nostradamus once said, “Ibiza will be Earth’s final refuge”. Maybe he had his eye on the split-level ten-bedroom Pinnacle at Six Senses Ibiza, a mansion complete with open plan kitchen, spacious living room, ballroom, degustation room, and cinema. The garage and private parking lead to a separate and independent entrance, private pool, and private garden with sunset terrace. The three-level, five-bedroom Cliffhanger mansion, which combines a traditional Finca aesthetic with all the modern comforts, is located right on the honeycomb cliffs of Xarraca Bay. Outside there are a private pool and multiple terraces for lounging, sun salutations and sundowners. For larger parties, there’s also the flexible option to link to a four-bedroom Townhouse, enhancing the Cliffhanger to nine bedrooms and opening access to a spacious rooftop terrace.

From this Summer, Six Senses Douro Valley will open a range of new villa options for families seeking additional space. Featuring locally inspired architecture and furnishings, enhanced with an array of modern comforts and amenities, the one-bedroom and two-bedroom Pool Villas have a fully appointed kitchen, separate dining and living areas, fireplace, and wine fridge. Outside, there’s a separate entrance, heated pool, and private sundeck with day beds overlooking the vineyard. In addition, there are nine separate Valley Rooms and Suites sharing a plunge pool, lawn, and sundeck with vineyard views. These may be reserved individually or together to offer up to nine bedrooms.

Renovations are now complete on the Beachfront Retreats and Reserve at Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman.

The two three-bedroom Beachfront Retreats, built in a traditional Omani village style, are located at either end of the beach, overlooking the sea. They each feature an oversized infinity-edge pool, expansive outdoor seating area, new furnishings including handwoven fabrics and well furnishings, and modern amenities. This makes them perfect for bringing the whole tribe or – why not – leaving the tribe at home and luxuriating in one’s own company. The Reserve is a true Arabian palace of wonders, the largest of its kind in the Middle East. It offers four separate villas serving as bedrooms within the enclave of the property and is located on the tip of Zighy Bay, away from the main resort, on its own stretch of private beach. Along with a variety of separate living and dining areas for entertaining, groups can enjoy a self-sufficient vacation with a private spa suite, wine cellar, separate staff quarters, infinity swimming pool and playroom with oversized pool table, private cinema, and bar.

Happy Homes for VIP Residents

In addition to human hospitality, Six Senses provides homes for 10 species that are listed as endangered or critically endangered, including marine life (green and hawksbill turtles, ornate eagle rays, gray reef sharks, whale sharks, giant guitarfish, and Napoleon wrasses), land animals (Fijian crested iguanas and black-shanked douc langurs) and birdlife (Bali starlings). What’s more, in 2021 alone, 151 coral fragments were successfully replanted, chickens across the group enjoyed surround sound in their coops for happy laying conditions, resulting in 70,000 eggs, and Junior Eco Warriors continued the construction of Hornbill Villas at Six Senses Yao Noi.