parents

The one place you can holiday with kids and actually have a good time.

Holidays with small children = home with less space (but nicer surroundings)

 

 

 

 

As any parent of small children and/or babies would know, holidays are pretty much home, with less space but nicer surroundings.

Most of us cram as many toys and electronic devices as possible into the car, in the hope that the kids will be entertained long enough for mum and dad to relax or at least throw down a glass of champers undisturbed.

Because let’s face it, it only takes a day or so (sometimes just a few hours) for the kids to get sick of building sand castles or swimming in the resort pool.

So what we parents really need is a resort version of the sanity-saving play centre café – somewhere the kids can play, parents can relax and the whole family can spend some quality time together (and apart) in a holiday environment.

Well let me tell you that such a place does exist. It actually does.

Just as an FYI, you should know that this post is an advertorial by Paradise Resort. But all opinions expressed by the author are 100 per cent authentic and written in their own words.

Thumbs up to the kid-friendly Paradise Resort

It’s kind of hard to comprehend unless you experience it for yourself, but trust me when I say, Paradise Resort on the Gold Coast is DESIGNED with families in mind.

The minute we pulled into the resort my hopes rose, with the building itself resembling a kids’ theme park, with children’s characters and plenty of colour.

Then when I stepped inside to check in, I knew we were in luck.

Right there at reception was a huge indoor playground, completely fenced off, with slides, tunnels and all the bits and bobs you’d expect to find at an indoor play centre.

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Immediately eliminating that oft-encountered problem of keeping over-excited children controlled while you’re dealing with check-in at the front counter.

We then headed to our room, which was abundant with bright colours, and included a double and single bed plus two bunks, as well as a computer game console.

The bunks alone kept our two boys busy while we checked out the room, but it was upon opening the blinds to the large balcony area that we saw what would be the highlight of our stay –  basically two mini water parks, akin to Wet ‘n’ Wild’s Buccaneer Bay.

In other words, the resort is pretty much a water theme-park specifically designed for kids.

And if you’re not the type to join the kids in their water fun, then you can plonk yourself down at one of the surrounding tables and chairs, while sipping a grown-up’s drink from a water-safe plastic “glass”, purchased from the nearby bar.

So while the boys and their dad bonded in the water, I watched on, plastic champagne flute in hand, enjoying some girl-time with my bub.

Tables throughout the bistro all with the same level of noise and mess. Nice.

Of course, when there’s energy to burn, hunger soon follows.

Dining out is one part of holidaying I both love and despise. I love not having to cook of course. What I don’t love is monitoring the behaviour of tired and hungry little boys.

So it was brilliant to look around the resort bistro to find every table emitting the same level of noise, covered with similar amounts of mess, from a variety of different aged children, many without shoes – plenty of child-friendly meals and of course, colouring in to keep them happy while we waited.

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As well as being close to the beach and including other playground areas, the resort offers continuous organized activities for children throughout the day, such as cake decorating, colouring in and theatrical shows, as well as ice skating sessions on the resort’s own ice skating rink, Planet Chill.

While my kids weren’t quite daring enough, the ice skating rink is designed for children aged 3 and up and offers an adjoining area for teenagers to hang out.

Now if you really want to relax and sneak in some “alone time” with your significant other, the resort has an onsite kids club, suitable for babies upwards.

The kids’ club is amazing with heaps of age appropriate, fun activities, which will leave little ones feeling like they’re the ones winning, and even better every child gets one FREE session (up to 4 hours) per day valued at $40 each.

And if, like me, you love going to the movies and your kids haven’t conked out after dinner, Paradise Resort offers outdoor movies, which is a fantastic way for the whole family to unwind after an action-packed day.

Of course, being based at Surfers’ Paradise, if you do decide to leave the resort, you’ll get to experience one of Australia’s most iconic cities.

For us though, being Gold Coast locals, simply being at Paradise Resort was holiday enough for us.

More happy snaps from Nicole’s recent family holiday at Paradise Resort:

What makes a holiday ideal to you?

 

Where magical family moments create lifelong memories, Zagame’sParadise Resort is a heaven for kids and a paradise for parents. With facilities including the giant Zone 4 Kids water park, Ice-skating rink, Kids club, lagoon pool and spa, bistro, cafe and bar, the whole family will find their perfect holiday haven.  For Gold Coast family accommodation close to beaches and theme parks, where the kids will feel welcome, Paradise Resort Gold Coast is the perfect family getaway.  Heaven for Kids…Paradise for Parents! www.paradiseresort.com.au